South West Commercial Real Estate

Right on TrackEasy Steps to Mounting Track Lights


Your five-year-old son is going to be the next Picasso, you can already tell. You want to hang his latest masterpiece on the wall and make it the focal point of the room, but how to achieve the effect?

Track lighting, of course! Track lighting offers the opportunity to much better control the mood and emphasis of a rooms lighting. With so many colors and styles, it is just as beautiful as it is functional.

If wiring through a junction box would tax your electrical skills past their limit, track lighting kits are available that simply plug in to the wall. They cant be beat for ease of installation, but they do not look as professional and unobtrusive as those that are actually mounted through the ceiling.

If you are ready for installation that is a little more challenging, follow these easy steps to mount track lighting and give Juniors pice de rsistance the attention it deserves!

Materials Needed
Drill / screwdriver
Electrical cable and tape
Ladder or stepstool
Long-nose or electricians pliers
Neon tester / voltage meter
Tape measure
Toggle bolts
Track light kit
Wire nuts
1. Turn off the power. Turn off electrical power to appropriate junction box through the breaker box or service panel. Ensure that the circuit is dead with a neon tester or voltage meter. Once you are certain the power is off, remove the existing fixture and carefully disconnect wires, keeping exposed ends separate from each other.
2. Wire the live end. Put live end into the track and secure it by tightening the setscrew. Attach the live end to the mounting bracket.
Use pigtail leads to finish wiring the live end. Pigtail leads are short wires connected to terminals. Wire nuts are then used to connect the pigtail leads to the home wiring. Secure the black pigtail lead to the brass screw, the white pigtail to the silver screw, and the green (or bare) pigtail to the green grounding screw.
3. Lay out the track location. Decide on track location based on the existing junction box and which areas youd like the lights to bring focus to. You can purchase fittings for Ts or angles; but double check that the fittings you want are offered by the manufacturer of your chosen track light system.

Mark mounting holes to indicate position. Ensure the track runs parallel to a wall by measuring out an equal distance from the wall to either end of the track. Remember to place tracks an appropriate distance (at least 6") from potentially flammable materials. On the marked places, drill holes for toggle bolts or screws.

4. Mount the track. Place circuit and fixture wires in junction box and install the mounting plate on the box. Snap the track into place on the junction box by following instructions provided for your specific track lighting system.

Put toggle bolts/screws through new track mounting and lift the track to the ceiling. (Recruit helpers beforehand if the track if very heavy or unwieldy.) Into the mounting holes, insert toggle wings but do not tighten. Attach any fittings (Ts or angles) and additional track sections desired, and insert end pieces at the end of the completed track.

Insert the electrical adapter into the track and twist to attach it. Install the cover over the mounting plate assembly and adapter. Place fixtures into the track and twist to secure.

Screw in appropriate bulbs as recommended by the manufacturer.

2. Make connections to house wiring. Twist wire connectors onto the matching colored house and pigtail wires to lock them together. Secure the mounting plate to the ceiling box with the screws provided. Tighten toggle bolts/screws.

3. Apply the finishing touches. Turn the power back on and test the lights. If they fail, turn off and double check the current with a neon tester or voltage meter. Also check your work for missing connections.

Once power has been restored, adjust head angle and position to shine light where you want it. For added versatility, consider purchasing a dimmer to make subtle changes in the strength of the lighting. Relax and enjoy your next dinner party when Juniors masterpiece is lavishly complimented, thanks to the superior showcasing.

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Five Important Things to Consider Before Tiling

Picking a new floor can be overwhelming. Even after youve narrowed it down to one particular type, it is still challenging to find the right tile because there are so many different varieties to choose from these days. And then once youve purchased your new tiles, there are still quite a few things to consider before you begin laying the tile. Here are the top five things you should know before you began tiling.
1. Is Ceramic Tile Suitable for Your Space?
There are many advantages to ceramic tile. It is really durable and easy to clean. It isnt the best option in some spaces though. During the winter months, ceramic tiles can really hold the cold, so you might not want to use them in a basement space. Certain types can be slippery, so you if you are considering tile for an entryway, you should go with a more slip-resistant variety.
2. Select the right Size, Style and Texture
Ceramic tiles come in all sorts of shapes anywhere from one inch to two feet. The most common size tiles are between one and one and a half feet in size. Choosing the right size is actually easier than you might think. Just figure out the size of your room and then choose a size that suits it. For example, if you have smaller room, a large tile would not be the best option because it would look like panels rather than tiles. A large tile is really best suited to larger spaces because they look less busy than smaller tiles do.
Currently, there are many styles of ceramic tiles to choose from. The easiest way to narrow down your options is decide on the type of look you are going for. It you want a rustic, natural look than you might want to consider a rugged, natural looking tile instead of a polished marble.
Choose a tile with the texture that will best suit your rooms theme. If you go for a rustic, natural looking tile, it will be rougher than a polished marble surface. When choosing a texture, you do need to take safety into consideration. The smoother that a surface is the more likely it is to be slippery when wet. If you have children or elderly people in your home, then a high-gloss tile is not the best option from a safety standpoint.
3. Choose an Appropriate Grout Color and Width
Grout is a cement mix that has color added to it to compliment your tile. Grout fills the space between tiles so you need to choose a grout width and a color that works in your space.
4. Installation Materials and Methods
There are different installation methods and a successful installation will really depend on the materials used and the energy and patience put into the project. You will want to make sure that you do the proper preparation and have all the materials you need at hand. You will need to make sure that you purchase a high quality bonding material, grout (as discussed above), a sealer and the right tools to get the project done.
Laying tile can be a bit tricky. You need to make sure that your cuts are correct and that the space around each tile is even. If you feel overwhelmed by the prospect of installing it yourself, then you might want to look at contracting the job out to a tiling professional.
5. Maintenance
Ceramic tile is one the easiest types of floors to clean and if you take care of them, they will maintain their shiny, new appearance for years to come. To clean tile, all you really need is water and any household cleaner product. You can start by removing any dirt and dust with a broom or vacuum and then using a sponge or mop you can apply the mixture of water and cleaner to your tiles. Its as simple as that! You will need to be cautious about dropping heavy objects on tile. If tiles split, crack or chip, it is impossible to replace just one tile. Odds are youll have to live with any cracks or chips until youre ready to re-do the entire floor.