Undercabinet fluorescent lights are ideal for lighting countertop work areas in a kitchen. Home centers sell plug-in undercabinet lights that are easy to install but not as convenient as a string of fluorescent lights controlled by a single wall switch.
Some undercabinet fluorescent lights have a single outlet. Thin fixtures (1-inch thick) are more difficult to wire than standard (1-1/2-inch thick) fixtures.
Checklist
Time
About 4 to 6 hours to cut holes and run cable and another half-day to install the lights after the cabinets are up
Tools
Voltage tester, drill, hammer, drywall saw, level, stud finder, fish tape, screwdriver, strippers, long-nose pliers, lineman's pliers
Skills
Stripping, splicing, and connecting wires to terminals; installing boxes; running cable through walls and ceilings
Prep
Find power source and check that the new lights don't overload the circuit. Clear the room of all debris and lay a drop cloth on the floor.
Materials
Fluorescent undercabinet fixtures, cable, remodel box with clamps, single-pole switch, wire nuts, tape
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