That light fixture swap that turned into a 5 hour ordeal

Went to replace a simple ceiling light in my buddy's kitchen. Figured 30 minutes tops, right? First screw stripped because the previous guy used drywall anchors on a 30 pound chandelier. Had to drive to the hardware store twice because the mounting bracket holes didn't line up with the new fixture. Then I spent an hour just getting the connections right because the old wiring was twisted up in some weird way I'd never seen before. Has anyone else had a simple job blow up like that for no good reason?

2 comments

2 Comments

tyler_bell11d ago

You know you're in for a long day when that first screw strips and you haven't even made a full trip to the hardware store yet. My own record is four hours to swap a thermostat, which I still maintain was the wiring's fault.

henry60411d ago

Read somewhere that something like 80% of home improvement projects take way longer than people expect, and stripped screws are the number one reason. I TOTALLY believe that after my own adventures. That twisted wire thing you described sounds like some kind of 'grandfather wiring' from like the 50s where they just twisted everything together and called it good. I had a bathroom fan install turn into a 3 hour mess because the old junction box was nailed into a stud in the most inconvenient spot possible. Makes me wonder if electricians back then had a contest to see who could make the worst job for whoever came after them.