Soffit lights, only problem is soffit is concrete

Wilko said:

I might have misunderstood, but the soffit board is usually light weight, I assume that's because it's overhanging. A 50mm thick concrete slab 30cm wide (say) would weigh a ton by the time you went round the house, surely?
Edit - just seen the pics

Click to expand...

MFS Electrical said:

I thought I was going mad thinking it was concrete with all the replies I’m still going to get it tested before I go all gung ho with the SDS I like both of those fittings but as there is no overhang I think I might need something a little more low profile... have you ever installed downlights on something similar?

Click to expand...

MFS Electrical said:

Near the hospital? Done quite a bit of work over there too nice wee jaunt

Click to expand...

Martyn Fletcher said:

Not me personally, but believe it or not I watched someone bore a recess into the soffit then proceed to channel the cable in (unprotected, but who cares up there?). His arguement was that his recess was 150mm deep for the 80mm halogen and the heat would dissipate across the soffit. He may have been right because they were still there in Winchester last I passed (many years ago). But I never did get an answer regarding his boring of holes into a soffit every 90cm weakening it's structure. It was only 40cm wide as I recall.

Click to expand...

ruston said:

Duplicate

Click to expand...

MFS Electrical said:

I was at first thinking of coring holes and recessing led downlights but I didn’t fancy the corer getting snagged above my head and throwing me off the ladder or the soffit raining down around me, not to mention the bill of replacing it/insurance claim

Click to expand...

Martyn Fletcher said:

It's not worth the risk, seriously. Buildings that old are fragile and prone to throwing tantrums and falling apart. Don't risk it mate. Please.

Click to expand...

Midwest said:

Can I just ask, why does your customer wish to highlight the fact that they live in a slightly undesirable house. I know everyman's home is his castle, but its not like its a des res on the Sandbanks, is it

Click to expand...

MFS Electrical said:

Don’t worry that idea was booted out my head almost as soon as I thought of it. The customer has agreed to these fitted high up on the wall as close to the soffit as possible but I really don’t know if it’s going to be the look that either myself or the customer is after...

There are better looking down lighters than that for sure.
I'm too tired to go searching now but I saw some IP65 domed ones for around £38. I'll have a look tomorrow after I've lifted my lawn (I'm multi talented see).

Click to expand...

Martyn Fletcher said:

There are analogies like "Why shine a light in a tird?" and "The more light you throw on ****, the more it looks like ****."
But people love their homes and want to advertise that fact and show that they take pride in them.
So, if you're happy in your little pile of poo, shine a light on it. Bugger what the nay sayers say.

Click to expand...