Exterior lighting can add immediate value to your home, but there is often a lot of confusion as to how it should be added and whether or not you’ll need the help of a professional to get the job done. Whether you have questions about placement of your exterior lights or the actual installation process, these tips will help you get started.
1. Selecting the Lights.
This process should involve not only considering your actual budget for the lights themselves, but also the cost of installation. If you are working on a low budget, solar lights are an ideal solution. They can simply be driven into the ground, and will not require the help of an electrician. These are also quite suitable for those that need a fast exterior lighting solution or for those that do not have a lot of experience in DIY.
On the other hand, if you are interested in a complex lighting system and don’t mind having to pay an electrician, electric lights may be the better choice. We don’t recommend installing these on your own, unless you have experience with wiring. Deadly accidents are common when you mix a lack of knowledge with live electricity.
2. Planning Your Exterior Lighting Placement.
If you need to highlight certain areas of your yard, then most of your work has already been done for you here. You can simply place your lights where they are needed and call it good. However, if you have a larger design scheme in mind, or you are trying to improve the way that your house looks at night, you may want to think a little more carefully about their placement.
We recommend putting the lights into position, but not actually installing them before you make up your mind. You can get a better idea of how they will look, and you won’t have to go to the expense of moving and/or rewiring them if you don’t like the finished results. Take your time when figuring out your exterior lighting placement. It will help you save time over the long run.
3. Installation.
Once you have your lights picked out and you’ve decided where they will go, it’s time to start the actual installation process. As we mentioned earlier, if you are dealing with solar powered lights, this should be quite easy. Most will come equipped with stakes that will allow you to put the lights anywhere in your yard. Make sure that they are driven deep enough and that the solar charger will have access to enough light during the day to provide illumination at night.
For electrical lights, you will need to run wiring from a connect point to each individual light. This is one of the main reasons that hiring a professional is just easier. You won’t have to worry about digging and they will be able to get the job done safely and quickly. If you have experience, you can try it on your own, but don’t forget to shut off the main power before you begin.
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Originally posted 2008-11-10 05:29:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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