My theater is a retro-fit of the old owners TV room.

The room is 24'11''L x 13'6''W x 7'6''H

There was already 6 pot lights installed in the room before. I took down the ceiling tiles and track and had a contractor frame me a roof so I could have a nice drywall ceiling in the theater.

I just had an electrician come by, keep in mind the pricing is from Ottawa, Canada so if any of you have experience this would be of great help.

I told the electrician I needed an electrical outlet installed in the ceiling behind te PVC pipe I put up there and I wanted 3 more pot lights added. 2 more upfront and 1 more in the back.

He told me he would run the plug off of my panel and he could bridge the extra pot lights off the existing pot lights. He asked me where I planned on getting my lights from towhich I replied "Home Depot". He said they are garbage, the ones they install are $35 each come in any color and are higher quality. Everything sounded great from our walk through.

I ask him how long of a job he expected it to be, his reply was "less than a half day". He then wrote up some numbers for a quote and handed me a paper that said $1350.00 roughly!!!

Does this sound right for bridging 3 lights and adding a recepticle? the cost in materials including the lights is under $400, should I expect to pay $900 for half days labour?

On another note, he is a master electrician and a member of the ESA but come on. I honestly was expecting about $700 maybe I was out of line thinking that. Anyone with similar experiences care to share a rough estimate on what they would be expecting it to cost...

I haven't run into it yet with electrical, but my plumber's hourly rate is right around $130. I'd expect nothing worse for electrical, so I'd say you're right in the ballpark with $700.

Well I have to comment on the line that the Home Depot lights are garbage. First off he will be using the same lights and Home Depot only sells the Halo line...ask him the brand of lights he will be using and I bet it's Halo. ;)

Hang the pot lights yourself and call a different electrician to wire them up.

I am a General Contractor in Iowa and do not have direct experience in Canada, but I have access to data through the MEANS Construction Calculator and an electrician in Canada ranges from $25 to $45 per hour for wages. If your electrician is a master electrician he might make a little more than the high end, but not much. As a rule, electricians, plumbers and HVAC contractors tend to charge a higher rate for smaller jobs, but you really need to get a couple more bids because that job shouldn't be anywhere near what they are trying to charge you.

I agree with Wizard that your electrician is probably going to use HALO brand which is what HD carries and it is a good solid fixture.

I must be getting underpaid. You will find that most electricians don't like the Home Depot brand of pot lights, but they will work. I prefer Lightolier myself. Insulated pots are roughly $40 with trim and bulb and non insulated about $10 less. That is cost. I can't imagine it taking longer than 2-3 hours so even if it is 4 @ 50/hr that's $200. Is it getting inspected? Add about $50-60 if so.

Drew

The materials seem way high too. $400 total materials less $105 for the lights means $295 for an outlet, work box, plate, and some wire. I would ask this guy what his hourly rate is. It sounds to me that this person does not want to do your job for some reason. I know lots of companies that double a quote that they do not want to get. Although, it seems those are the quotes that are always accepted.

Yeah, my electrician (top notch commercial installer) installed Halo lights in my basement. They are a little different from the ones at HD, but it looks like they're actually a little less robust. You can get them at HD or Lowes for about $12 a piece without the trim. Go get them yourself and find another electrician. He's hosing you...