Entryway lighting can also be part of the design, as can deck and patio lighting, depending on lifestyle needs. Variations on accent lighting include water lighting fixtures designed to be used around pools, fountains and similar features. Landscape lighting is essentially comprised of two major types - path or spread lighting, used to illuminate walkways and the like, and accent lighting, often placed in wells or ground-based, spotlight-type fixtures. "Sometimes the aim of a light isn't quite right or there needs to be an adjustment of the color of light on the house because every surface will react differently." "Even though we have a pretty good idea of how things should work before going in, every job is custom," Patel said.
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Patel views a newly installed job at night to make sure that lights are pointed in the proper manner and that the color is just right. "That way if there is a need for troubleshooting down the road, it's easier to figure out where the problem may be," Patel said.Įven with a detailed design, fine-tuning often needs to be done once the lighting system is installed. The design process is so important that some companies, such as Nite Lites, have two design documents - one for the homeowner that spells out where the lights, transformers and all of the components will be located, and a more detailed one that indicates where all the wires and technical components are. Another consideration is Chicago's extreme temperature and weather changes, necessitating proper housing for all of the components, which further points to the need for proper design and installation. Not only that, but an improper installation may have too many lights feeding into one transformer, therefore making it run hot and ultimately causing a safety hazard. "The cable has to be trenched down into the ground at least one foot deep, stakes need to be put in and the lights need to be mounted onto the stakes." "You need to buy cable and transformers as well as timers and all the different lights," said Lisa Cauldren, design consultant for Littman Brothers in Schaumburg. Why is design and proper installation so important? Aesthetics are one consideration, but beyond that, landscape lighting is more than just laying electrical lines and installing the lights. "The majority of our clients come from referrals from landscaping companies or else the landscaping company pulls us in to work with them," said Nick Miller, lighting designing for Lightscape Inc. In fact, a quality landscaping design company will often work in conjunction with the traditional landscaper to make sure everything fits properly. "If they're having landscaping done, we like to have some sort of say in the placement of trees and bushes as that can affect how lights are placed."
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"Generally, we ask clients to tell us a little bit about their project, such as what other work they're having done," said Tushar Patel, owner of Nite Lites in Arlington Heights. Quality landscape lighting begins with a design, and for that, someone should come out to your home to look at the lay of the land, trees and shrubs and any other elements that will affect the number and type of lights, as well as their location. By doing so, you'll be assured of a quality design and safe installation that won't fail because of subpar components.
#LIGHTSCAPE LIBERTYVILLE INSTALL#
Install it incorrectly and it can be downright dangerous.īottom line: look for someone who is experienced in installing lighting for a living.
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While many may envision uninteresting fixtures that light a walkway or similar area, landscape lighting encompasses an entire range of possibilities, from decorative yet functional task fixtures to spotlights that highlight the architecture of a house.Īlthough installing these elements doesn't seem terribly difficult, like with most things, there is a correct way and an incorrect way to design and install outdoor lighting for your home. Landscape lighting has come a long way within the last decade.