Well-lights are almost similar to spotlights. They are recessed to the ground to achieve a smooth seam; seamless appearance for a landscape setting. They produce minimal subtle but focused light that can be used to light up trees, art or walls.
Another landscape light similar to path lights only that they are heavy duty and can be used to light up a large space. They can be used to emphasize and create an architectural appearance or style up an area. Bollard lights can be used to create a barrier between driveway and yard; or, they can be used as guiding posts. Pond lights are similar to spotlight only that they are aquatic.
They are usually submerged in water to create an exotic look and create a real dramatic effect to the outdoor water landscape features. As you can see, you have a variety of different types of lights to choose. The key is to choose the type of light that will bring out the best effect. While choosing the type of lights to use, you will also have to consider whether to settle for LED, halogen or fluorescent lighting. Your choice of lights will depend on the quality of light you want. For example, halogen bulbs tend to give out more intense white light and brighter as compared to fluorescent lighting.
However, halogen bulbs use more electricity and produce a significant amount of heat as compared to fluorescent lights which emit low heat and instead gives off subtle, cool and visible light.
Compared to halogen bulbs, fluorescent lighting is way cheaper and its considered to be more energy efficient. However, fluorescent bulbs contain mercury which is very toxic and so, the bulbs pose a health risk in case they break. LED lights are considered to be one of the best choices for landscape lighting. They are rapidly becoming popular among most people for their outstanding performance. They consume less energy making them energy efficient. More so, LED lights last longer as compared to other light choices.
Even though LED lights cost more than halogen and fluorescent light bulbs, the cost evens out with time as they last longer and consume less energy. Your electricity bill will be lower if you use LED lights as compared to halogen or fluorescent lighting. In addition, LED lights are safe to use in your outdoor space as they are eco-friendly.
Another important factor to consider when planning to install landscape lighting is the color produced by the light source.
The color temperature is usually measured using a temperature scale normally referred to as Kelvin K. The Kelvin value is usually indicated on the packaging of the bulb so, make a point of checking out the K value before making a purchasing. For example, if you want your light source to emit an amber hue, you should go for a bulb that has an output range of about K to K. For instance, if you want to light up trees or other green plants, you should consider using a bulb with K light.
It will give off a faint to blurry blue which in turn makes the green in the tree to become greener. The color temperature of your lights will emphasize and enhance the color of your landscape features. As you choose your lights, make it a point to factor in the Kelvin value and choose the right bulb depending on what you plan to light. When planning to install landscape lighting, you have to figure out lighting effects.
Different lights will create different effects; even the way you place the lights around your property will achieve different lighting effects. Here are some of the landscape lighting effects that are worth trying. Shadow lighting is used to radiate light to an area or surface that is already in front of another feature or object. The feature can be a wall, tree or any stationary object.
To achieve shadow lighting, the light fixture is usually installed at ground level pointed upwards towards the surface. The light fixture will cast a shadow to the stationary object behind the surface that is illuminated by the light.
With this kind of lighting effect, you will be able to create a soft, subtle, moody effect. You can achieve shadow lighting by using spotlights, flood lights, or well lights. This lighting effect is perfect for highlighting special features or bringing out unique shapes that are hard to see when its daylight. For example, you can create a dramatic effect with a tall tree or a building. It works by placing the light source behind the object and let it light off towards the direction where the focal point will be.
Install the light source in a spot where it cannot be seen, such that all that will be visible is the silhouette effect. To achieve silhouetting lighting effect, use spotlights or well-lights for a dramatic effect. If you have large trees in your yard, moonlighting effect will bring out your space much better.
To achieve this particular effect, you should place the light source at highest points of your trees and then aim it downwards. The light will wash down through the branches to the ground below the tree.
As a result, lighting will create a beautiful effect especially if the tree has open branches. Spotlights are the best types of lights for creating moonlighting effect. Grazing effect is achieved by placing the light source near a flat surface and then directing the light up or down to the flat surface. It creates a dramatic light effect with successive shadows.
You can make the light graze up or down according to your preference. The aim is to make use of the texture of the flat surface to create uneven dramatic patterns across the surface. This kind of lighting effect creates an upscale effect and is most dominant in restaurants or hotels. Well lights work best to create grazing lighting effect. Some areas in your landscape will require ambient lighting; subtle and inviting mood, especially in an entertaining area. To achieve a washing lighting effect, you will need to lit the space by flooding a wall in that particular area with light.
The lights will kind of wash the areas with light. For this, use a light source with a wide beam and position it between the main focal point and the surface to direct the beam of light to create an even soft and gentle effect over the entire area. This kind of washing lighting effect can only be achieved using floodlights.
Path lighting can seem like an easy and quite basic lighting effect to achieve, but, if not keen, you might not achieve the desired effect.
The key to achieving the ideal path lighting effect is to balance the lights and keep the number of fixtures on the minimum. Most people install too many light fixtures and end up over- lighting the space making it feel crowded and squeezed. The best way to achieve path lighting is to make sure that you place the light fixtures on each side.
As you install the lights, do so in a back and forth manner to achieve an interesting, warm and inviting entry. The best lights for path lighting will obviously be path lights, and also bollards can work out perfectly. Now that you know the various lighting effect you can, you also need to know that the distance for spreading your light fixtures is important as well.
To achieve the ideal lighting effect, you have to know the specific area or object you are lighting. Additionally, you need to make sure you get the right light fixtures for the intended lighting effect. External fixtures obscure or hide the light source to bring out the lighting effects much better. As you choose lights, you need to be aware that different types of light create different lighting configuration which plays a big role in the lighting effect.
For example, spotlights have a degree cast, while a narrow floodlights produce a degree spread. Landscape lighting is probably one of the best ways improve safety and at the same time, add style to your outdoor space. Landscape lighting offers a variety of options that can fit in any budget, style and even purpose. The overall cost of installing landscape lighting will depend on the size of your property, the types of lighting fixtures to be used and the method of installation.
Depending on the amount and scope of work to be done, landscape lighting is a task that a homeowner can accomplish through DIY. The only complication that can arise is where additional wiring and electrical outlets are required. In this case, you will need to hire a professional electrician to handle the wiring issues. The cost of installing landscape lighting varies immensely depending on the features in your yard and the installation style. Most average homes have a standard yard of about square feet which normally requires about 20 lighting fixtures.
For example, LED light bulbs are one of the best choices for the outdoor lighting project. They are energy efficient, last longer and most importantly, they are eco-friendly. How much does it cost to install landscape lighting? Each property has different characteristics, so a professional estimate is necessary if you plan to do the work yourself.
Living in the Pacific Northwest causes the prices to rise a little compared to someone who would want to install this option in the Midwest. It tends to be the most expensive in states like California and New York, while the least costly estimates are in states like North Dakota or New Mexico.
Generally, the easiest way to estimate the cost of new landscape lighting is to price it per light. Most designers use the best fixtures for your property while focusing on the correct placements to maximize your overall value. Here are some of the other factors that go into the eventual cost of a new landscape lighting installation. It typically costs a little less to add lighting to a new landscaping project than an existing one.
There could be repair charges to consider for the latter option that push the price a bit higher. A professional installation on an existing plan also takes a little longer, which adds another cost element to consider.
Additionally, strategically placed uplighting provides a way to highlight special architectural features and gives a home a modern look. Some floodlights have more than one bulb but use the same base electrical unit. A floodlight is used for darker areas of the yard and light up back, front and side yards, patios, driveways, and garden areas. These lights, also known as well lights, are buried in the ground and highlight walls, trees, shrubs, and columns. They are usually made of brass with a sealed PVC lining to provide a waterproof light.
Areas prone to flooding will want to use these fully submersible lights. Downlights are lights that are installed higher than the home to mimic the moonlight. They are usually installed on the trunk of a tree or edge of the home and directed downward to light the yard, pathway, or the tree itself. These are generally mounted with a shroud around the lightbulb to avoid harsh light.
Bollard lights are tall, thin column lights. These are typically used for pathways, driveways, landscaping, or gardens but can also be mounted on the side of your home. They have a more modern look and are LED lights. This makes them great for outdoors and provides a long-lasting, weatherproof light. An outdoor lamp post makes a quaint, welcoming light in the yard or near the street.
It will light up the sidewalk and driveway area to make your home a well-lit, safe place to go. The cost range is high because it is necessary to run wiring from the home to the lamp post. Installing an outdoor lamp post can be quite expensive.
Landscape lighting is a great way to light up your front or backyard space. Lighting is also priced according to the source of power used for the lights. The typical choices are battery-powered, hardwired, and solar. Each of these choices has its advantages and disadvantages so consider the nuances among the three before making a choice.
Again, this is a situation where you will usually have several installed at once. However, ensure you purchase quality lights for a long-lasting product. Solar lights are powered by light, so they are re-powered every day for nighttime use. They turn on and off automatically as they are sensitive to the dark and light. While battery-powered lights are nice, the downside is that you may constantly be replacing the batteries.
These are an easier choice for areas where electricity is not readily available or where it is wet or moist. You can purchase battery-powered outdoor lights that are waterproof, but they may not last as long as hardwired or solar lights.
Many of the battery-powered lights come with a remote for ease and convenience of turning on and off. Landscape lights generally mean a sequence of several lights, anywhere from 8 to 12 along the flower beds, the driveway, garden, or any other area of the yard. Find the best outdoor landscape lighting contractors near me Find Pros.
As with indoor lighting, there are various materials that outdoor lights can be made from. Many homeowners purchase lights on the look without thinking about the material. This is a particularly important feature when comparing fixtures that will be used outdoors. The elements can wreak havoc on certain products and affect the longevity of your outdoor lighting.
There are two types of plastic outdoor lights. They are acrylic and polycarbonate 5. Acrylic is less durable than polycarbonate and is prone to breakage, chipping, or cracking. Acrylic has the best light clarity, but polycarbonate is stronger and lasts longer. These are lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and durable. You may think that your choices would be limited, but many aluminum lights are made to look less industrial than you think and come in many styles and finishes to light up your outdoor space.
Stainless steel outdoor fixtures are modern and sleek. The main problem with stainless steel is that it is not a good choice in areas with sand, dirt, or salt. Even though the metal is usually covered in a non-corrosive chemical called chromium oxide, the sand, dirt, or salt cause this product to peel or flake.
Without protection, the stainless steel corrodes easily. Keeping the fixtures clean alleviates this problem but may become cumbersome. Although not quite as durable as brass, copper is a close second. Copper is also known for the darkening that happens as the exposure to the elements takes place but remains strong and aesthetically pleasing for many years. Brass is the best material for outdoor lighting.
It is made of a mixture of zinc and copper and holds up under any environment, even coastal areas. Although it will darken patina 6 over time, brass lasts for many years and still looks beautiful. Bulbs are gauged by a myriad of features, including brightness measured in lumens , energy efficiency, heat emission, lifespan, the level of mercury inside the bulb, and if the product is recyclable.
Here we will compare the different types of bulbs based on these facts and the pricing for each type of bulb. LED landscape bulbs are the best choice for outdoor use. These bulbs stay cool, last as much as 20 years, and are very energy-efficient. LED bulbs use less energy to produce the same amount of light as other bulbs.
They can be used in landscape lights, uplighting, porch and patio lighting, and more. LED light bulbs do not contain mercury. They are eligible for recycling but only professionally as they contain certain chemicals that harm.
Halogen bulbs are not the brightest bulbs at 25 lumens, but they last an average of four years or 3, hours. These bulbs produce a bright white light, so they are great for floodlights.
Although the glass is hardy in a halogen bulb, they get warm compared to fluorescent and LED bulbs. They are not recyclable and do not contain mercury. These bulbs last for as long as 14 years or 10, hours, although not the longest lasting of the bulbs. They contain mercury but can also be recycled. Because these bulbs range from warm white to daytime white to cool white, they are very versatile.
However, make sure your light bulbs are ranked for outdoor use. A professional electrician should always do any type of install to your home that involves electricity.
There are many intricate details and construction codes that are vital to the safety of the occupants. Additionally, an expert will do the job quicker and easier than someone less familiar with lighting. This is particularly true if wiring is needed. For an area where lights have never been installed, wiring will be required unless you are using battery-powered or solar lights.
Installing the wiring and a single light will take an electrician three to five hours. Hourly rates vary according to the area in which you are located. Talk to local pros to get quotes for your outdoor lighting installation Get Quotes. Installing a replacement light fixture is less complicated than installing an outdoor landscape system or wiring for new lighting.
Therefore, it may be cheaper since less labor is required. For a simple light replacement, instead of calling an electrician, you could hire a handyman who has some electrical install experience.
This should always be someone who comes with recommendations. An electrician may be able to do the job quicker due to his knowledge and expertise. So, it may cost less to hire an electrician to do the job.
The costs may be affected by the area in which you live, the level of expertise of the handyman, and the cost of your fixture, which is separate from the install price. When it comes to landscape lighting, you can overestimate or underestimate.
This mistake takes away from the overall look and feel of your new landscape lighting. A professional can help you by making suggestions on the type of lighting or how many lights to use. However, there are some basic ideas on how to estimate what you will need.
Most experts advise allowing around 10 feet of distance between landscape lighting located on pathways or driveways. Your comments and sharing are greatly appreciated! Site message including reference link shown here. Excludes sales tax, delivery upcharges, and items not included in the description and notes. Labor tasks - Layout fixture and transformer placement. Cut shallow trench where wiring will be buried. Secure above ground wiring to structure. Connect and test fixtures.
Outdoor Landscape Lighting cost estimates may require an onsite inspection.
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