Crystal Chandeliers – Are They a Good Choice?
If you are thinking of purchasing a crystal chandelier and are beginning the process of finding the right chandelier for your home, you have come to the right place. In fact, although chandeliers have been around since the domination of Egypt as far back as 5000 years ago, crystal chandeliers only came to be in the 17th century with the advent of flint glass. This new type of class was easier to cut and has a prism component to it. These crystal additions to the chandelier helped to further illuminate the light produced by the candles that were in use at that time.
Although crystal chandeliers have been around for some time now, they don’t seem to be going out of style any time soon. As it happens, they have only gained in popularity over the years. So, as to whether it’s a good choice, it can be concluded that the answer is yes! Crystal chandeliers can add value and prestige to a home unlike any other kind of chandelier. However, what should you consider when purchasing a crystal chandelier specifically, and what is involved with getting them installed? Let us see…
What To Know When Shopping Crystal Chandeliers
First of all, it should be noted that all crystal chandeliers are not created equally. So much of the value of the chandelier is based on the quality of the glass used, the cuts accentuating these crystals and the designer of these chandeliers. There are, of course, chandeliers available for all budgets and areas. Price ranges for chandeliers can range from under $100 to over $100,000. Budget chandeliers are often found in the traditional big box stores or online. The more exclusive (and more expensive chandeliers) are found at exclusive dealers like Perigold.
Budget chandeliers are often made of premanufactured components and there are minimal quantities of crystals. On the other hand, some chandeliers can contain upwards of 50,000 crystals. This brings up an important point to consider when shopping for chandeliers and that is weight. The more crystals on a chandelier, the heavier the chandelier. In fact, some chandeliers can weight up to 4700 pounds.
All of these things should be considered since the above mentioned considerations would impact the cost of installation of these chandeliers. How so?
Costs of Installing a Crystal Chandelier
As you have seen, before purchasing a crystal chandelier, several things need to be considered. This would include the weight of the chandelier, the number of crystals, location and height of chandelier. If the chandelier exceeds standard fixture weights, special bracing may need to be installed at the location of the chandelier. Outside of that, the number of crystals have a significant impact on the cost of installation. If there are many crystals to attach to the chandelier, this can add substantial costs to the installation of the chandelier. Each of these individual crystals would need to be attached to the chandelier at installation. This can be a tedious and arduous process and a great deal of liability can be involved. Of course, the height of the ceiling has an impact of installation costs as well. If the ceiling height is higher than average, additional costs will be factored in. For particularly high ceilings, special lift equipment may be called on for installation. Beyond that, location of the chandelier would be a factor as well. For example, if the crystal chandelier is over a stairwell or in another hard to reach areas, more costs could be incurred.
After considering the costs of installation, it is clear that these costs should be considered as a part of the purchase price of the chandelier. If the location, height of ceiling, location or number of crystals depart from the standard all of these factors should be considered in the actual cost of the crystal chandelier installation.
Find an Experienced, Qualified Electrician
If you are looking to install a chandelier in your home, be sure to reach out to an expert to get a good idea of what the actual costs would be. If you are located here in the Tampa Bay area, be sure to call the crystal chandelier installation experts Small Jobs Electric. We would be happy to help you through the process of getting your crystal chandelier installed. Be sure to check out our Chandelier Gallery for some inspiration on your crystal chandelier shopping journey.