Can lights and ceiling fans look like simple upgrades until you get into the attic. Here is what actually drives the price, the code rules that apply in Wasatch Front cities, and how long a typical job takes.
Recessed lighting and ceiling fans are two of the most requested electrical upgrades we do, and they are also the two people underestimate the most. The fixture is cheap. The labor behind the drywall is where the job lives. Here is a straight breakdown before you buy anything.
The single biggest factor is what sits above the ceiling. An open, accessible attic over a single story ranch is the best case. We can walk the joists, drop cans where you want them, and fish wire without cutting the ceiling open. A second floor above the room, or a vaulted ceiling with no attic access, changes everything.
People often ask for a number of cans. The better question is where the light needs to land. A common living room layout runs 4 inch or 6 inch LED cans about 4 to 5 feet apart, kept roughly 2 feet off the walls so the light washes the room instead of the baseboards. Over a kitchen island we tighten spacing and aim for the work surface. We will walk the room with you and mark the ceiling before a single hole gets cut.
Most flickering LED complaints come down to a dimmer that was built for old incandescent bulbs. LED loads are tiny by comparison, and a legacy dimmer cannot hold a stable output that low. Pair LED trims with an LED rated dimmer from the same or a compatible line and the problem disappears. If you want app or voice control later, tell us now so we can pull a neutral to the switch box while the walls are open.
A standard light fixture box is not rated to hold a spinning fan. Fans need a listed fan rated box anchored to structure or braced between joists. Every fan failure we get called out for traces back to someone hanging a 40 pound fan off a plastic light box. If you are swapping a light for a fan, plan on the box being replaced.
A like for like fixture swap generally does not require a permit. Adding new circuits, adding recessed cans on new wiring, or adding switch locations does in most cities we work in, including Salt Lake City, Provo, Lehi, and Springville. We pull the permit and handle the inspection as part of the job.
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