Replacing ceiling and wall fixtures in a 1920s house

Quick answer

Expect small or missing boxes and older wiring in 1920s ceilings. Check the fixture weight, switch to LED bulbs, and have the box and wire insulation checked before hanging a heavy lantern or chandelier.

Changing a light fixture in a newer house is often a half-hour job. In a 1920s Alhambra home, it can be the same, or it can open up a small surprise: a shallow box, no box at all, a crumbling plaster edge, or old cloth-wrapped wires. Spanish and Mediterranean Revival houses from that era were often lit with wrought iron lanterns, chandeliers hanging from chains, and wall sconces beside fireplaces and arched mirrors.

Many owners want to keep that character with period-style fixtures, while others want brighter, more efficient light.

Here is what we look at before replacing a fixture in an older home, what you can prepare, and what the visit involves.

What you might find in the ceiling

Shallow or small boxes. Older ceiling boxes are often round pancake boxes or shallow octagons, sometimes with a center stud, a threaded post that held the original fixture. Many newer fixtures expect a deeper box with two screw holes for a crossbar.

No box. Occasionally the original fixture was mounted directly to a wood block or a strap in the ceiling, with the wires coming through the plaster.

Plaster edges. The plaster around the opening may be cracked or loose, especially if fixtures have been changed many times.

Older wiring. Cloth-insulated or rubber-insulated wires were common in houses of this age. The insulation can become brittle from decades of heat from incandescent bulbs, which is one reason to switch to LED bulbs or fixtures.

Weight matters

Wrought iron and glass lanterns can be heavy. Before you buy, check the fixture weight on the box. A light fixture box should be rated and secured for the load, and anything heavy needs solid support from framing above.

Ceiling fans need a fan-rated box, which is a different requirement from a light fixture. If you are thinking about a fan instead, see our ceiling fan replacement page.

What you can do yourself

Plan the fixture. Measure the room and ceiling height, decide how far down a chandelier or pendant should hang, and note the bulb type it takes. Take a photo of the existing fixture and its canopy, and if you can do it safely with the power off at the breaker, a photo of what is behind the canopy.

Switch to LED bulbs in your current fixtures. They produce much less heat, which is easier on older wiring and fixture sockets.

What we do not recommend is pulling down an old fixture yourself in a home with older wiring. Brittle insulation can crack when the wires are moved, and that is easier to deal with carefully than after the fact.

When to call us

• You want to replace a fixture like-for-like in the same location
• The existing fixture flickers, buzzes or has a scorched socket
• The canopy is loose or the plaster around it is cracking
• You are installing a heavier lantern or chandelier
• You want to swap a fixture for a ceiling fan on an existing box

What the fixture replacement involves

We shut off the circuit, test to confirm it is dead, and take down the old fixture carefully, supporting its weight. We inspect the box, the mounting, and the wire insulation. If the wires are in good condition, we connect the new fixture with fresh connectors.

If the insulation is brittle near the ends, short sleeving can sometimes be used to protect the conductors where they enter the fixture.

If the box is undersized, loose, or not rated for the new fixture, we replace or reinforce the mounting from below where the ceiling allows, using retrofit boxes or braces designed for existing ceilings. Plaster around the opening gets stabilized and patched so the new canopy sits flat.

We hang the fixture at the height you want, level it, install bulbs, and test it. If the switch is worn, we can replace that at the same visit. See our light fixture replacement page for more.

If we find wiring that is damaged beyond the fixture connection, like charred insulation, splices hidden in the ceiling, or wire that crumbles when touched, we stop and tell you, since that is a job for an electrician to assess.

Choosing fixtures that suit the house

Spanish Revival homes look good with simple wrought iron, aged bronze, and seeded or amber glass. For brighter light without losing the look, choose fixtures that take standard medium-base LED bulbs and pick a warm color temperature, around 2700K, which looks close to incandescent.

In rooms with coved or beamed ceilings, flush or semi-flush fixtures can avoid crowding the ceiling line.

Wall sconces

Original wall sconces were often fed by wiring in the plaster wall and mounted to small boxes or blocks. Replacing a sconce in the same spot follows the same steps: check the box, the wires, and the mounting before hanging the new one. Many owners keep original sconces and simply rewire the fixture itself with new sockets and cord, which keeps the character while updating the parts that wear out.

Exterior lanterns at the entry

Many Alhambra homes have a lantern beside the front door or hanging in an arched entry porch. Outdoor fixtures take more weather than indoor ones, and after years of sun and rain, gaskets dry out, sockets corrode, and the mounting screws rust into the stucco.

When we replace an entry lantern, we check that the new fixture is rated for wet or damp locations, seal the top and sides of the canopy against the wall so rain does not run behind it, and leave the bottom edge open so any moisture that gets in can drain out.

Text us a photo of the old fixture, the new one you are considering, and its weight. We will let you know what to expect before we arrive.

If we are swapping fixtures near West Valley Boulevard around midday, a bowl of something spicy at Chengdu Taste usually follows.

Want us to handle it?

Call or text (626) 684-3505, Mon–Sat 8:30 AM–7 PM. Send a photo and we will give you an upfront quote.

Call or text (626) 684-3505