Under-Cabinet Lighting in Monterey Park, CA

Census Bureau estimates count 12,586 of Monterey Park's 22,134 housing units as built from 1940 to 1969. Kitchens from that era were usually lit by one ceiling fixture, and later updates often added halogen puck lights that run hot and burn out.

The U.S. Department of Energy's brief on LED undercabinet lighting says LEDs are well suited to task lighting because they emit light in one direction, and that their low operating temperature reduces burn hazards compared with halogen. Its consumer lighting guide adds that LEDs use up to 90% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

Where these facts come from: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates, table B25034 (via Census Reporter); U.S. Department of Energy, Residential Undercabinet Lighting with LEDs; U.S. Department of Energy, Consumer Guide to Energy-Efficient Lighting.

Fixtures go near the front edge of the cabinet bottom so light falls on the work surface, not just the backsplash. We size each bar to its cabinet so there are no dark gaps between runs, including the stretch beside the range where you need it most.

For a wok station or a counter used for prep, a neutral white light shows the color of meat and vegetables more clearly. Warm white suits kitchens where the counter also serves as a place to eat.

Plug-in bars need only an outlet nearby. Linking cords jump from cabinet to cabinet, clipped flat, and the last one drops to a backsplash outlet. Where a kitchen already has a feed and switch for old pucks, we replace them with LED fixtures on the same wiring.

Slim LED tape suits shallow cabinets. We set it in an aluminum channel screwed to the cabinet, because adhesive alone tends to let go in a warm kitchen.

We measure each run, find the outlets or existing feed, and lay out fixture lengths. The fixtures are mounted, cords routed and clipped, and the switch, dimmer or remote connected.

Then we turn everything on, check each bar at full and low output, and take away any old halogen or fluorescent fixtures.