Install track lights myself or pay a pro?

[Stroker Ace]

So I finally bought this (http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100462776) after my wife asked for years if we could get track lights. Should I try to install it? I've installed a chandelier by myself (in place of an existing fixture) and I once helped my dad run wire, mount a box, and install an outdoor motion-detector light.

What are my chances? Would it be worth paying Home Depot? How much is a good install price anyway?

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImage/800ccc72-096a-4163-b261-5c3959c2bbb2_300.jpg

[Brandon Clements]

If you've installed a light fixture before, it's pretty easy.

[amiller320]

If you have an existing ceiling fixture in the area, it won't be so bad. Running a new wire might be a bit much for a rookie.

The nice things about those types of fixtures is that the electrical hookup can be placed anywhere along the track.

Don't pay Home Depot. They just use local contractors, but charge you extra to subcontract the work. Just call a local handyman or an electrician that will do small jobs. Offer to pay in cash and they'll me more likely to fit you in after hours and just pocked the money.

[Aeon221]

If you have an existing ceiling fixture in the area, it won't be so bad. Running a new wire might be a bit much for a rookie.

The nice things about those types of fixtures is that the electrical hookup can be placed anywhere along the track.

Don't pay Home Depot. They just use local contractors, but charge you extra to subcontract the work. Just call a local handyman or an electrician that will do small jobs. Offer to pay in cash and they'll me more likely to fit you in after hours and just pocked the money.

Presumeably, the advantage to using Home Depot is that they vet out the contractors a tad. Whenever we've used contractors, they've invariably done a shite awful job that has to be redone.

[Lizard_King]

If you have an existing ceiling fixture in the area, it won't be so bad. Running a new wire might be a bit much for a rookie.
Exactly what I was thinking, if only because I've done plenty of the former lately and it was no big deal. It's especially interesting when you see the quality of the job done by your installation's predecessor.


Don't pay Home Depot. They just use local contractors, but charge you extra to subcontract the work. Just call a local handyman or an electrician that will do small jobs. Offer to pay in cash and they'll me more likely to fit you in after hours and just pocked the money.
The only thing I trust in these matters is word of mouth from reasonable people in your area. I haven't had anything bad come from Home Depot, but I don't really think their style lends itself well to this sort of thing.

[Enidigm]

My experience with Home Depot / Lowes' contractors has been universally bad. Basically they get the cheapest contractors they can find - even if they're based as far as 2 hours away. There may be differences of course in different markets and store managers may have different practices. The quality of the work store-contracted labor performed was inadequate. Imo, stay away.

[Timemaster Tim]

Presumeably, the advantage to using Home Depot is that they vet out the contractors a tad. Whenever we've used contractors, they've invariably done a shite awful job that has to be redone.

You presume incorrectly. I had a friend go through Home Depot to do some of her kitchen upgrades. Despite her contract being with Home Depot, they basically washed their hands of any responsibility and told her that it was between her and the contractor that Home Depot had subcontracted with. However, my friend is a tenacious lawyer. But the upshot of it all is that Home Depot don't seem to take much care in their contractor selection.