Based in Matawan | Serving Central NJ & the Jersey Shore
The new ceiling fan is in the box. The TV has been leaning against the wall for two weeks. The shelves you ordered arrived, but mounting them on plaster is not something you want to guess at. The dimmer switch you bought has been sitting on the counter since last month. Instant Home Repair handles the installs that take us an hour and would take you a frustrating afternoon.
Light installs are the category of handyman work that homeowners most often attempt themselves before calling us. The ceiling fan instructions look straightforward. The TV mount came with hardware. The shelf bracket has three screws.
Then you discover the junction box is not fan-rated and will not support the weight. The wall behind the TV is plaster over lath, and the toggle bolts you bought are cracking the plaster. The shelf bracket needs to hit a stud, but the stud finder is giving false readings through the old plaster and lath.
These are not difficult jobs for someone with the right experience and tools. But they can become expensive mistakes for someone without them.
Instant Home Repair has over 30 years of general contracting experience. We have mounted on every wall type found in New Jersey housing: modern drywall, pre-war plaster, exposed brick, concrete block, and every combination. We carry the right anchors, brackets, and tools for each surface. The install goes in correctly the first time and stays where we put it.
Modern Drywall: Standard half-inch drywall from newer construction. Stud finding and anchoring is straightforward.
Plaster & Lath: Three-quarter-inch plaster over wood lath, common in homes built before 1970. Requires different anchors and techniques.
Brick & Masonry: Exposed brick in older homes and coastal properties. Requires hammer drill and masonry-specific anchors.
Concrete Block: Common in basements. Anchoring requires sleeve anchors or tapcons.
We assess the wall before drilling. That takes 30 seconds and prevents expensive damage.
We remove the old fixture, verify or install a fan-rated junction box, assemble the fan, mount it, wire it, and test all speeds and the light kit. We handle standard and vaulted ceilings with downrods.
Chandeliers, pendant lights, flush mounts, semi-flush mounts, recessed light trim swaps, vanity lights, and wall sconces. We remove the old fixture, connect the new one, and verify everything is level and working.
Standard dimmer switch installation takes about 15 minutes per switch. We verify compatibility with your bulb type and ensure the wiring supports the dimmer. We also install smart switches, timer switches, and three-way switches.
Wall-mount your flat screen on drywall, plaster, brick, or concrete. We mount the bracket, hang the TV, and route cables. Wire concealment available on drywall. On plaster and masonry, we use surface-mount cable covers.
Floating shelves, bracket shelves, closet shelving systems, pantry shelving, and garage shelving. We install on every wall type with the right anchors for the material and expected load.
Knobs, pulls, and handles for kitchen and bathroom cabinets. This includes drilling new mounting holes when switching styles, filling old holes, and aligning hardware across an entire kitchen.
Curtain rods, drapery rods, roman shade brackets, and blind mounting. We install on every wall and window frame type with appropriate anchoring for wide windows or heavy drapes.
Hardwired or battery-operated smoke and CO detectors. We replace old units, install new ones, and verify proper placement per NJ fire code. For landlords, we ensure compliance.
Nest, Ecobee, Honeywell Home, and other programmable and smart thermostats. We handle removal of the old unit, wiring of the new one, and initial setup. C-wire adapter kits available.
Replacement of existing exhaust fans with new, quieter, more efficient models. Proper bathroom ventilation prevents mold growth, critical in New Jersey's humid climate and coastal homes.
Assembly of flat-pack furniture from IKEA, Wayfair, Amazon, and other retailers. We wall-anchor tall bookshelves, dressers, and TV stands for safety, particularly in homes with children.
| Installation | Typical Price Range | What Affects the Price |
|---|---|---|
| Ceiling fan installation | $130 - $290 | Existing wiring, box rating, ceiling height |
| Light fixture swap (standard) | $75 - $175 | Fixture weight, wiring condition, location |
| Chandelier installation | $150 - $350 | Weight, height, box capacity, assembly |
| Dimmer switch installation | $60 - $120 | Switch type, wiring compatibility |
| TV mounting (with bracket) | $90 - $210 | Wall type, TV size, wire concealment |
| Floating shelf installation (per shelf) | $50 - $110 | Wall type, shelf length, anchoring |
| Closet shelving system | $175 - $450 | System size, material, wall type |
| Cabinet hardware (per kitchen) | $125 - $300 | Number of cabinets, new holes needed |
| Curtain rod installation (per window) | $45 - $95 | Window width, wall type, rod weight |
| Smart thermostat installation | $85 - $175 | C-wire availability, system compatibility |
| Bathroom exhaust fan replacement | $150 - $300 | Fan type, existing ductwork, accessibility |
| Smoke/CO detector installation (per unit) | $35 - $75 | Hardwired vs. battery, location |
| Furniture assembly (per piece) | $55 - $175 | Complexity, size, wall anchoring |
Note: These ranges reflect typical pricing across our service area as of 2025-2026. Your quote may differ. Every quote is free, and the price is locked once you approve it.
Just like our Small Repairs service, the most cost-effective way to use our install service is to bundle everything into a single visit. The ceiling fan, the three light fixtures, the dimmer switch, and the TV mount can all be done in one trip. You save money compared to scheduling each install separately, and we save drive time.
Tell us everything you need installed. We will quote the entire visit.
A significant percentage of the homes in our service area were built before 1970. Many predate 1940. Working on these walls requires specific knowledge that most homeowners and many younger contractors lack.
Drilling into plaster without cracking it requires controlled speed and the right bit. Standard drywall anchors fail in plaster because the material is harder and more brittle. We use plaster-rated anchors and toggles designed for the thickness and composition of plaster-and-lath construction. For heavy loads like TVs and large shelves, we locate the wood lath or studs behind the plaster and bolt through them.
Stud finders often give unreliable readings through plaster and lath. The wood lath itself can register as a stud, and metal lath causes complete false readings. We use physical detection methods—small probe holes, magnet methods—to locate actual studs behind plaster walls.
Older homes in Jersey Shore cities, row houses in urban areas, and basement walls often have exposed brick or concrete block. Mounting on masonry requires a hammer drill, masonry bits, and masonry-specific anchors. Tapcon screws, sleeve anchors, and expansion bolts each have different applications depending on the material and load.
Swapping a light fixture in a home with knob-and-tube or cloth-insulated wiring requires caution. We inspect the wiring at the junction box before connecting a new fixture. If the wiring is in good condition, we proceed with the swap. If it shows deterioration, we stop and advise you before proceeding.
Drywall, plaster, brick, concrete, lath. We carry the hardware for all of them and know which anchor belongs in which surface.
We have installed thousands of ceiling fans, light fixtures, TVs, and shelving units across every era of New Jersey housing.
You know the cost before we start. No hourly billing, no surprise charges.
Multiple anchor types, masonry bits, stud finders, levels, and all standard mounting hardware travel with us.
Every fan gets run on all speeds. Every fixture gets switched on and off. Every mount gets a pull test before we leave.
Drilling creates dust. Packaging creates waste. We clean all of it before we leave.
We serve the full region. From Matawan, we serve the Jersey Shore, the Bayshore, and Central New Jersey. Call (732) 984-1939 to confirm availability.
Ceiling fan, light fixtures, TV, shelves, thermostat, or all of the above. Send us the list and we will respond with a clear, no-obligation price.