Stop putting in pot lights without checking the attic first

Got called to fix a job last week. Guy put 15 pot lights in his kitchen ceiling. Looks great from below. Problem is the attic insulation is now completely messed up. Ice dams forming already. Battleship number was $800 to fix the vapor barrier. Why don't people check before cutting holes? Has anyone else seen this hack job? My buddy does this all the time and it drives me nuts.

2 comments

2 Comments

the_sage5d ago

Pull down that insulation first and check the whole ceiling for obstacles. Saves everyone a headache and keeps the vapor barrier intact.

noahw535d ago

Last time I skipped that step in a 1970s ranch I seriously regretted it. Found a massive ductwork boot sticking down a full 3 inches below the joists, would have torn the vapor barrier to shreds if I didn't catch it. Plus there was old knob and tube wiring buried up there that looked fine from below but was completely degraded. Spent an extra hour patching holes I could have avoided if I just pulled the insulation first. Now I tell everyone to make it a rule, not a suggestion, pull it all down and look before you do anything else. Saves the barrier and your sanity honestly.