Good lighting changes how a room feels and how much it costs to run. We install LED downlights, replace old halogen fittings, hang pendants and feature lights, and fit dimmers and smart switches in Auckland homes, from villa hallways to new open-plan kitchens.
Swapping a bulb is a five-minute job you can do yourself. The value we add is in the fittings that go into your ceiling, the circuits behind them, and making sure the result is safe next to insulation. If you are renovating, we plan lighting alongside new power points so the cables only go in once.
Pricing: a free quote and a fixed price agreed before we start. You get a written, itemised quote, and small jobs can be quoted from photos.
Lighting the garden, deck, driveway or security lights? See outdoor lighting.
Why switch to LED
Gen Less, the government's energy efficiency campaign run by EECA, says LEDs use up to 85% less electricity than old incandescent bulbs and can last up to 15 times longer. The biggest savings come from the lights you use most, such as the kitchen, living areas and any light left on outside.
Old halogen downlights are a common target. They run hot, the transformers fail, and many were installed with large holes cut in the ceiling. Replacing the whole fitting, not just the lamp, gives you a sealed modern unit with a driver matched to the LED.
Downlights and ceiling insulation
This is the part most people never think about. Building Performance, the government's building guidance site, explains that recessed downlights carry ratings that say how close insulation can come. Fittings rated IC or IC-F (insulation contact, fire resistant) can have insulation installed up to and over them. CA-rated fittings let insulation sit against the sides but not over the top. Older downlights with no rating need a 100 mm gap all round, which leaves bare patches in the ceiling where heat escapes.
If you are topping up ceiling insulation, the official advice is to replace old downlights with IC or IC-F rated LED fittings at the same time. We use IC-F rated fittings as standard, so your insulation installer can lay batts straight over them.
- IC or IC-F: insulation can go over the fitting
- CA80 or CA135: insulation may abut the sides but not cover
- Unrated older fittings: keep a 100 mm clearance
- Reinsulating? Replace old downlights first
How It Works
Choosing colour, brightness and beam
LEDs are sold by lumens (brightness) and colour temperature in kelvin. Warm white, around 2700 to 3000 K, suits living rooms and bedrooms. Neutral or cool white suits kitchens, laundries and garages where you need to see detail. Many fittings now switch between colours with a small selector on the driver, which helps when you cannot decide.
Spacing matters as much as the fitting. Too few lights leaves dark corners; too many makes a room feel like a shop. We mark positions on the ceiling with you before cutting, and avoid joists, beams and the bathroom extractor fan duct.
Dimmers and smart switches
Not every LED dims smoothly on every dimmer. A mismatched pair flickers, buzzes or will not dim below half. We choose the dimmer to suit the driver, and check the low end of the range before we leave. Smart switches and app control are possible in most homes, though some need a neutral conductor at the switch, which older wiring may not have.
If a lighting circuit is still on old rubber-insulated cable, we will tell you. Adding new fittings to brittle wiring is not a good idea, and it is cheaper to plan a partial rewire now than after the new ceiling is painted.
- Trailing-edge dimmers matched to LED drivers
- Two-way and multi-way switching for hallways and stairs
- Smart switches where the wiring allows
- Under-cabinet strip lighting on its own switch
Paperwork: when you get a CoC
WorkSafe says a Certificate of Compliance is needed for fixed wiring work, but not for maintenance such as replacing light fittings like for like. So swapping six old downlights for six new ones in the same holes is maintenance, while adding new lighting points, new circuits or a new switch position is wiring work and comes with a CoC.
Under the Electricity (Safety) Regulations, homeowners may legally replace light fittings in their own home if the work does not involve the switchboard. Legal is not the same as easy. Ceiling spaces are cramped and hot, older cables crumble when moved, and the fitting's rating still matters. We are happy to quote either way.
Why Choose Cheeky's Electrical for LED Lighting
Insulation-safe fittings as standard
We install IC-F rated downlights so ceiling insulation can go back over the top without gaps.
Positions marked before we cut
We agree every light position with you on the ceiling first, clear of joists and ducts.
Dimmers that actually dim
Dimmers are matched to the LED drivers and tested across the full range before handover.
Fixed price from photos
Send photos of the room and the existing fittings and we can usually give a fixed price without a visit.
LED Lighting FAQs
Can I put insulation over LED downlights?
Only if they are IC or IC-F rated. CA-rated fittings allow insulation against the sides but not over the top, and older unrated fittings need a 100 mm clearance.
How much power do LEDs save?
Gen Less says LEDs use up to 85% less electricity than incandescent bulbs and can last up to 15 times longer. The actual saving depends on what you are replacing and how long the lights are on.
Do I need a Certificate of Compliance for new downlights?
If they replace existing fittings like for like, that is maintenance and no CoC is required. New lighting points, circuits or switch positions are wiring work and come with a CoC.
Why do my LED lights flicker on the dimmer?
Usually the dimmer and the LED driver are not compatible. A trailing-edge dimmer matched to the driver normally fixes it.
Can you reuse my existing downlight holes?
Often, yes. Many modern fittings come in cut-out sizes that match older halogen holes. Where they do not, we enlarge or patch the hole.
Can I have smart switches?
In most homes, yes. Some smart switches need a neutral wire at the switch box, which older homes may not have, so we check before quoting.
LED Lighting Near You
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