Covered on a Rosemead visit
- Plug-in LED light bars mounted and linked, with cords run tight to the cabinet bottom
- Old halogen puck lights and fluorescent strips replaced with LED fixtures
- Hardwired fixtures swapped where wiring and a switch already serve the cabinets
- Low-voltage tape light with a plug-in driver, cut to each cabinet run
- Wall switches, dimmers or plug-in remotes added to control the set
- Light rails or valance strips fitted to hide the fixtures from view
Outside what we take on
- Roof and foundation repairs.
- Opening framing or the roofline to reach a new fixture location.
- Projects big enough to need a general contractor.
Why it suits a Rosemead kitchen
Rosemead’s housing has a median build year of 1959, and kitchens from that era were laid out with one fixture in the middle of the ceiling. Any light that does reach the counter comes from behind you, so your body shades the work. Task lights under the cabinets fix that without opening the ceiling.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s brief on LED undercabinet lighting says the directional light from LEDs makes them well suited to task lighting, and it lists low operating temperatures that reduce burn hazards compared with halogen. Its consumer guide to lighting adds that LEDs use up to 90% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
How an install goes
Measure each run
We measure every upper cabinet, find the nearest outlet or existing feed, and pick fixture lengths that leave no dark gaps.
Mount the fixtures
Bars go toward the front edge of the cabinet bottom so the light lands on the counter rather than the backsplash.
Route the cords
Linking cables jump between cabinets and are clipped flat, so no loose wire hangs over the counter.
Set the control
We connect the switch, dimmer or remote and check every bar at full and low output.
Bigger jobs, free estimate
Adding a new circuit, cutting new switch boxes into the wall, or fishing wire inside walls for a fully hardwired system is a bigger electrical job with its own free estimate. We work with existing outlets and existing wiring.
While we’re out for this, Rosemead customers often add outlet, switch and GFCI replacement, cabinet door and drawer repair, light fixture replacement or range hood installation.
What to text
A photo of the counters and upper cabinets, one looking up at a cabinet bottom, the nearest outlet, and any lights you already bought.
Under-cabinet lighting questions
Why are my under cabinet LEDs blinking?
Usually a failing driver or a loose wire. We test and replace the driver.
How much does under cabinet lighting cost to install?
It depends on cabinet length and the power source. Send a photo and the measurements.
Plug-in or hardwired?
Plug-in bars need only a nearby outlet and go in fast. Hardwired looks cleanest but needs existing wiring at the cabinets.
What color temperature should I pick?
Match the rest of the kitchen. Warm white feels softer; neutral white shows food colors more clearly.
Will the lights get hot?
Not much. LED bars run far cooler than halogen pucks, which the DOE brief notes for burn safety.
Can you hide the cords?
Yes. We clip them to the cabinet bottom or tuck them behind a light rail.
My cabinets have a recessed bottom. Does that matter?
It helps. The recess hides the fixture, so the bar is invisible from a standing height.
Can they be dimmed?
Many LED fixtures are dimmable. The DOE brief lists dimming among their useful attributes. We check the label before buying.
Do you remove old fluorescent fixtures?
Yes, and we take the tubes away.
What about glass-front or open shelves?
We can light them from inside with slim strips if there is an outlet or feed nearby.
Will the bars work with a smart plug?
Plug-in sets usually do. Turn the plug on and every linked bar comes on.
How long does it take?
Depends on the job; we’ll let you know after we see photos.
Nearby: under cabinet lighting in Alhambra, and under-cabinet lights in San Gabriel for homes on the San Gabriel side.
Can you light the corner cabinet too?
Yes. A short bar or a puck fits the corner, linked to the runs on either side so one switch controls the whole kitchen.
Lighting tips for Rosemead homes
- Swapping old fixtures for LED lightsHow to choose and install LED light fixtures in a Rosemead ranch home, from flush mounts and kitchen lights to porch lights and dimmers.
- Smart switches in older Rosemead homes: the neutral wire questionWhy a smart switch may not fit in an older Rosemead switch box, how to tell if a box has a neutral wire, and the options when it does not.
Jobs like this one are everyday work for our Rosemead handyman service, from the blocks off Garvey Avenue to the streets near Rosemead Park. A photo by text gets you a quote first.
Part of electrical repairs. You can also browse all our services or read about repairs in postwar Rosemead homes.