Residential Lighting Services
Lighting Installation
in Vancouver, WA
Newman Electric installs every type of residential light fixture across Vancouver and Clark County. Chandeliers, recessed cans, pendants, under-cabinet strips, bathroom vanity lights, outdoor sconces. If it connects to a junction box, our crew handles it.
Fixture Types
Every Type of Lighting Installation,
One Crew
Newman Electric handles residential lighting installation across Vancouver, WA. These are the fixture types our crew installs most often.
Chandeliers & Pendants
Dining rooms, entryways, kitchen islands. We mount the bracket, connect the wiring, and make sure it's supported properly. Heavy fixtures need a fan-rated box or structural bracing. We handle that.
Recessed Lighting
Can lights are still the most popular request we get. New construction or retrofit cans, IC-rated for insulated ceilings, airtight housings. We space them correctly and put everything on a dimmer.
Under-Cabinet & LED Strips
Kitchen counter task lighting, stair treads, accent shelving. We wire LED strips directly so there's no visible plug or adapter. Clean runs, hidden connections, and a dedicated switch or dimmer.
Vanity & Bathroom Lights
Bathroom lighting installation requires damp-rated or wet-rated fixtures depending on how close they are to the shower. We follow NEC clearance requirements and install GFCI-protected circuits.
Outdoor & Landscape Lighting
Porch lights, wall sconces, path lights, floodlights. We use weatherproof boxes, run conduit where needed, and tie everything into a switch or timer inside the house.
Ceiling Fans with Lights
Fan combos need a fan-rated junction box and proper bracing. We install the box, run separate wiring for the fan and light if you want independent control, and make sure it's balanced and quiet.
What to Expect
How Newman Electric Handles
a Lighting Installation
Most single-fixture lighting installations take under two hours. Multi-room projects (recessed lighting across a kitchen and living room, for example) run a full day. Newman Electric follows the same process every time.
You pick the fixture
Buy it yourself or tell us what you're looking for. We'll confirm it fits the box and wiring you have. If not, we'll let you know what needs to change.
We check the existing wiring
Before mounting anything, we verify the junction box can support the weight, the wiring is correct gauge, and the circuit has capacity. Older homes in Vancouver WA sometimes have boxes that aren't rated for heavy fixtures.
Installation and testing
We mount the fixture, connect the wiring, and test everything. If a dimmer is part of the plan, we install that too. LED fixtures need LED-compatible dimmers or they'll flicker.
Cleanup and walkthrough
We clean up, show you how the switches work, and answer any questions. If we added a new circuit or modified existing wiring, we'll explain what changed and why.
Permits & Code
Lighting Installation Done to Code
in Vancouver, WA
When You Need a Permit
Swapping a fixture on an existing circuit (same location, same switch) doesn't need a permit in most cases. But if Newman Electric is adding new recessed lights, running wire to a location that didn't have a fixture before, or adding a new circuit, that work requires an electrical permit.
Inside the City of Vancouver, permits go through the city's Development Review Center (360-487-7890). In unincorporated Clark County and Cowlitz County, permits are handled by Washington State L&I (lni.wa.gov). Newman Electric handles all the permit paperwork.
Code Requirements for Lighting
- AFCI Protection
Per NEC 210.12 and WAC 296-46B, any new or modified 15/20A branch circuit in a bedroom, living room, or dining room must be AFCI-protected. If we run new wire for your recessed lights, it gets an AFCI breaker.
- Junction Box Rating
NEC Article 314 requires that the outlet box supports the weight of the fixture. Fixtures over 50 lbs need independent structural support. Ceiling fans always need a fan-rated box.
- Bathroom Fixtures
NEC 410.10(D) requires that fixtures within a shower or bathtub zone be rated for wet locations. Fixtures above the tub but outside the direct spray zone must be damp-rated at minimum.
- Recessed Light Clearance
NEC 410.116 sets clearance requirements for recessed fixtures near insulation. IC-rated cans can be in direct contact with insulation. Non-IC fixtures need 3 inches of clearance on all sides.
Customer Reviews
What Homeowners Say About Our Lighting Work
"The best electricians in town! We loved working with Roman and Chris. Their expertise in wiring, solving problems and installing of light fixtures was impressive! Both are very professional and work well with the homeowner (us) and our dog who was always helping them out!"
"The Newman guys were very prompt, friendly and professional. I had them install multiple new light fixtures and they were done in no time. I would definitely hire them again!"
"Gary and Roman installed canned lighting and a floor electrical outlet, as well as wiring for an AC unit. They were the best! There was a hiccup with one of the projects due to the way my house was constructed. They took the time to ask which work around was preferred rather than just going ahead with what would be easiest for them."
Common Questions
Lighting Installation FAQs
It depends on the fixture and the situation. A straightforward swap (same location, existing wiring) is the simplest job. Adding new fixtures where there's no existing box, running new wire, or installing recessed lighting across a room costs more because there's more labor and material. Newman Electric gives free estimates, so the easiest way to get a number is to have us come look.
Absolutely. Most of our customers buy their own fixtures from Home Depot, Lowe's, Wayfair, or wherever they find what they like. We install whatever you pick. The only time we'll flag something is if the fixture needs a different box rating or wiring than what's currently there. We'll let you know before we start.
If we're adding new recessed lights where there weren't any before, yes. That involves running new wire and possibly adding a circuit, which requires a permit and inspection in Washington state. If we're replacing existing recessed cans with new ones (same location, same wiring), that's usually permit-free. Newman Electric handles the permit paperwork when it's needed.
General rule for kitchens is one recessed light per 25 to 30 square feet of floor space. A 150-square-foot kitchen usually gets 5 to 6 cans. We space them evenly, keep them about 2 to 3 feet from the walls, and make sure the counter areas get good task lighting. We'll map it out with you during the estimate.
Usually it's the dimmer switch. Older dimmers were built for incandescent bulbs and don't handle the low wattage of LEDs well. The fix is an LED-compatible dimmer. Newman Electric installs these as standard when we do any lighting installation that includes dimmable LEDs.
Yes. We run new wiring from your panel or an existing circuit to the new location, install a junction box, and mount the fixture. We can also add a switch in whatever location makes sense. If the ceiling is open (unfinished basement above, for example), it's a quick job. If we need to fish wire through finished walls and ceiling, it takes longer but we do it all the time.
Related Services
Often Paired with Lighting Installation
LED Lighting Retrofit
Upgrade existing fixtures to energy-efficient LED
Ceiling Fan Installation
Fan-rated boxes and balanced installation
Outdoor Lighting
Porch lights, path lights, and floodlights
Dedicated Circuits
Separate circuits for heavy lighting loads
Kitchen Electrical
Undercabinet lights, pendants, and outlets
Bathroom Electrical
Vanity lights, exhaust fans, and GFCI outlets
Electrical Panel Upgrade
More capacity for new lighting circuits
Remodel Electrician
Full electrical for renovation projects
Service Area
Lighting Installation Across
Vancouver & Clark County
Newman Electric has installed light fixtures in homes all over the Vancouver, WA area. Kitchen pendants in Salmon Creek, recessed cans in Camas, outdoor wall sconces in Ridgefield, chandelier swaps in Hazel Dell. We know the housing stock across Clark County and what kind of wiring to expect in homes from every decade.
We also handle lighting installation jobs in Cowlitz County. Longview, Kelso, Woodland, and Kalama. Same crew, same quality, same free estimates.
Need a Light Fixture
Installed?
Newman Electric handles lighting installation jobs across Vancouver, WA and Clark County every week. One fixture or a whole house full. Call for a free estimate, and we'll get it on the schedule.