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I have just read that outdoor lighting enhances the beauty of your outdoor landscape at night. What I find interesting is that it doesn't have to cost a lot. Spending hours mowing the lawn and enjoying the view only during the day time sounds unfair indeed.

That's right. Outdoor lighting also enhances some features of a home. Like security, beauty and other more. Some people think that it is expensive to install outdoor lighting, but they are wrong, with just the right design and materials you can enjoy more of the benefits outdoor lighting with less expenses.

I really like the look of a light illuminating a tree from underneath. A 25 or 50w bulb doesn't take a bunch of energy, and it is a great effect, in my opinion. There are several solar/battery powered outdoor lights available as well. Chinese made junk, but easy on the wallet.:wink:

Funny this topic came up. I recently purchased a property and have been fixing the landscaping. The previous owners really failed to take care of it. One of my recent plans is outdoor lighting to accent the home, trees, and overall curb appeal. Upon researching I also found it to be inexpensive. From solar to low voltage there are plenty of options available. They are pretty easy to install too. Good luck.

Xave said:

Funny this topic came up. I recently purchased a property and have been fixing the landscaping. The previous owners really failed to take care of it. One of my recent plans is outdoor lighting to accent the home, trees, and overall curb appeal. Upon researching I also found it to be inexpensive. From solar to low voltage there are plenty of options available. They are pretty easy to install too. Good luck.

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absolutely, outdoor lighting can be a creative way to enhance the curb appeal of your home.i recently took out my corded set and went with solar power.very inexpensive way to go.

I've had 12v landscape lighting for my back water-garden area for years, lighting both arborvitaes as well as the underside of Japanese maple and other features (including general lighting to make the area look larger and not closed in).

The most interesting thing I've done in the last few years is change over from 20w halogen to newer mr16 fluorescents. YES fluorescents. Same size and shape as MR16 but not halogen. I think they use like 4-5 watts vs the 20, and put out just about the same amount of light. Very similar color (a bit cooler but still quite pleasant). You can now get them at home depot.

I've tried all sorts of different bulbs and these are pretty darned good. They're wide-angle floods however - for me that's perfect. But for some areas it might not work well.

Just thought folks might find that interesting.

One more detail - you have to try stuff like this out and see if you like it. I swapped my underwater 20w halogens in my water garden with the fluorescents and didn't like them at all. They took the "color" and vibrance out of the fish. So now I use the fluorescents in my landscape lighting where I can, and use the halogens for underwater where it makes a difference.

Hope this helps some of you!

Steve

I'm interested in adding some solar accent lighting around my home. Does anyone know which brands of lighting are more reliable? I know you get what you pay for, but even if you pay top dollar you can still come home with junk.

Also, would driving short sections of pipe into the ground and dropping the lights into it be the best way to install them so they are plumb...and stay that way?

TerryD said:

I'm interested in adding some solar accent lighting around my home. Does anyone know which brands of lighting are more reliable? I know you get what you pay for, but even if you pay top dollar you can still come home with junk.

Also, would driving short sections of pipe into the ground and dropping the lights into it be the best way to install them so they are plumb...and stay that way?

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I'm not sure what's reliable these days. My biggest issue with solar lighting is how horribly DIM they usually are, and how they use blue-ish LEDs which don't look good to me.

There must be SOME that are pretty bright and use the more natural lower-color-temp LEDs, but I don't know what they are. Hopefully someone else will have some suggestions - I'd be interested in the comments as well.

I wouldn't waste my money on solar panels. They are a piece of crap. Just drive around your neighborhood and look at people that have solar panels vs. those with wired lights. Solar panels never give off much light and are usually bulky.

I have wired my whole house with landscape lighting. Anyone can wire them once you learn how, but if you've never done this nor have the time to learn how, I would consult a professional landscape lighting company. If you want details on how to do an install or help, message me. There's actually a lot of planning that goes into doing a lighting project for your home and if you're not careful, you can make some mistakes which will cost you money.

I much prefer the 12v wired lighting over the solar/led lights. Maybe with time the solar/led light will improve, for now they are dim and don't have the warm colors of incandescent lighting.

Is there any expertise available for outdoor lighting? I have a place that needs theirs replaced. Be nice if I knew that there was some help available.

Derek said:

Is there any expertise available for outdoor lighting? I have a place that needs theirs replaced. Be nice if I knew that there was some help available.

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What kind of lighting are they replacing?
Is it landscape lighting, or overhead?
Low voltage is the way to go these days.

Derek,
Lots of landscapers such as myself install lighting, I recommend you find someone who has some experience and some completed jobs with references. Lighting can be a whole life's work or a weekend project, somewhere inbetween you can add lighting that will add night time curb appeal.

It's landscape lighting along a driveway and sidewalk to front door. What is there is beat up and the plastic bases that push in the ground are broken. I haven't fully looked into it yet. The power cord looks very light so I am guessing it is a low voltage system that would be about 10 years old. I would like to take it on and see how it goes it seems pretty basic what is there. Tricky part is getting new wire back under the concrete. I will look into this more as a spring time job.

Well I believe that outdoor lighting gives more advantage than the cost building it might incur. I like hot it accentuates parts that are not almost seen during the night time and it poses a level of security measure that lets you get a quick look over your front porch or backyard. Though picking the economical and budget friendly light bulb could be a challenge.

Landscape lighting can really do wonders for a homeowners yard. It not only adds to the appeal of the yard but it offers security and safety as well. In regards to solar lighting, I would have to agree. Solar lighting has really good intentions. However, the problem is solar lighting never puts out consistent lighting which can really defeat the purpose of outdoor lighting to begin with. Wired lighting is definitely the way to go.

I tend to disagree with the users that are saying solar landscape lighting is no good. I had "Toro brand" 12volt wired lighting to accent my sidewalk and flower garden on the front of my home for many, many years and was pretty pleased overall. But they became problematic(the power-pack that had the little light sensor to turn them on/off got "flaky") and I saw some three-tiered Hampton Bay solar lights(real nice "copper finish") on sale at Home depot and bough a couple of sets. They weren't "cheap"(about $50-$60 for a six pack), but I am VERY pleased with them and bought two more sets for backup(since I found out Hampton bay was "discontinuing" the copper finish and I bought the last two on Clearance for $30/six pack). Below is a link to Home Depot for "similar" lights to what I bought and in regards to the light output....they are twice as bright as the old Toro wired lights and make my sidewalk look like an airport landing strip at night!!! I recommend these Hampton Bay brand lights.

Hampton Bay 3-Tier Outdoor Heritage Solar LED Light (6-Pack)-79839 at The Home Depot

I will disagree with part of this post (even though it is over 2 years old). The LED products that are available now are quiet bright and can last alll night. I have some and am quite pleased with the results. I am buying a few more this weekend to finish off the back yard.

chad37 said:

Landscape lighting can really do wonders for a homeowners yard. It not only adds to the appeal of the yard but it offers security and safety as well. In regards to solar lighting, I would have to agree. Solar lighting has really good intentions. However, the problem is solar lighting never puts out consistent lighting which can really defeat the purpose of outdoor lighting to begin with. Wired lighting is definitely the way to go.

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