If you’re planning a lighting project, obviously cost is a key consideration. Although it’s possible to give some general figures that are indicative of the price range you might be looking at, the reality is that each job will be costed according to its own set of variables. For this reason, the best way of getting accurate costings for your lighting installation is to request a FREE, no-obligation quote from your electrician. They will be able to tailor the cost according to the unique nature of your job, ensuring you get the very best value.
Detailed below is a description of the main factors that will be taken into consideration when it comes to pricing up a lighting installation job.
Preparatory work
The amount and complexity of the preparatory work that’s required can make a big difference to the overall price of your lighting. Whilst some lighting installations will be a simple case of swapping one type of fixture for another, in most cases, further changes will be needed to support the new lighting. The type of tasks that could add $$s to your lighting installation price include:
- Installing fresh wiring to support lighting fixtures in different locations.
- Replacing the fuse board (consumer unit). In some cases, additional lighting circuitry means the existing fuse board will need to be upgraded.
- Replacing old or faulty wiring.
In addition to the preparatory work an electrician will carry out, you may also need preparatory work completed by other trades before your lighting can be installed – plaster may need to be replaced, for example.
Whether design work is required
Depending on the type of lighting you’re planning, you may need help to come up with a suitable design. In addition to being attractive, lighting also needs to be functional. Commercial lighting requires a different approach to residential work. Many electricians that specialise in lighting will be skilled in designing a system that’s going to give you the outcomes you want.
In addition to deciding on the type and location of the lighting, energy efficiency will also need to be considered. Lighting installations need to be as energy-efficient as possible, at the same time as doing what you need them to do. Part of the design process involves consideration of how best to make the lighting installation as economical to operate as possible, which means opting for energy-efficient technology where possible.
Type of lighting
There are a large variety of different lighting installation choices. The price will vary, depending on what you opt for. Some of the options include:
- Ceiling mounted fixture
- Wall-mounted lighting
- Recessed lighting
- Track lights
- LED downlights
Frequently, a room’s lighting will consist of a mixture of these lighting types, depending on what the lighting is needed for and the type of effect that’s required.
In addition, LED lighting continues to grow in popularity, due to its energy-saving properties. In most cases, a fresh lighting installation will use one of the modern, low-energy bulbs on the market. This might be an LED bulb, a CFL bulb or a wireless bulb. Although homeowners may still choose to install lighting that uses halogen bulbs, the higher energy usage these bulbs require mean they’re not the most economical or green choice out there.
Size of the property/number of lights
In general, the larger the number of lights that need to be installed, the more it’s going to cost. Larger properties, or those that require sophisticated, multi-fixture lighting, are going to cost more than a smaller residence that simply needs a traditional ceiling light in each room.
Installation is also influenced by economies of scale – there are certain costs that remain the same whether the electrician fits one light or a hundred (the cost of travel to the site, for example, or the time it takes to carry equipment on-site). This means that if you think you’re going to need several installations completed, it’s better to combine them in one job if possible.
Hourly rate
The hourly rate for an electrician in Sydney is estimated to be somewhere between $90 to $130/hour. Although it can be tempting to simply opt for the trade offering the lowest price, remember that you may get a more experienced tradie by paying slightly more. Experienced workers also tend to work faster, which can mean they end up costing less than using a rookie electrician.
The reality is that it’s very difficult to work out exactly how much a lighting project is going to cost without obtaining a detailed quote for the work that you want to be completed. In the first instance, we recommend finding an electrician you can trust, then ask them how much they would charge for the job.
If you have some light installations that you want completing, the friendly, professional team at Olympic Electrical will be happy to give you a FREE, no-obligation quote.
