If you are an avid DIY homeowner considering an outdoor lighting project, no doubt you’ve considered tackling this project yourself. You’ve seen buildings and landscaping tastefully illuminated and wonder, "How hard can it be?" Plus, you’ve accomplished plenty of other DIY projects for the house. It probably seems like a no-brainer to you.
Although it may seem easy in theory, there is a lot more that goes into lighting installations than you might think. Before you launch into your project, take these into account first.
Design Plan
Setting up the fixtures seems simple enough, right? You determine what you want to be illuminated and point the lights at it. Whoa there, cowboy.
Do you know exactly how much or little light to shine on your home’s best features? Do you want an even glow or a bright floodlight on any particular item? Do you want to gently illuminate an entire façade or create a striped effect?
Do you have an idea of which type of fixture produces the lighting you want to achieve? You prefer not to be seen from space but you also prefer not to invite passing children to pitch rocks at the presumed "haunted house," either. It takes an experienced eye to brighten the area gracefully.
This is one of those areas where it really helps to have a professional on your side. At Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, we offer a free custom outdoor lighting plan before you make your decision. That way you know what things are going to look like before you buy. We can help you develop a sensible design according to your unique property features and lighting goal.
Electricity and Permit Requirements
If your project involves more than a few solar lights along pathways, you’ll probably need to run wires. It goes without saying that electrical work is best handled by licensed professionals.
In addition to knowledge and experience, they’ll also have the full scoop on local codes and permitting requirements. A one-time outdoor lighting project is not the best time to start learning the ins and outs of codes, permit requirements and wiring for weather and watering events.
Quality of Fixtures
Something the hardware stores likely won’t tell you about outdoor light fixtures is that only professional companies have access to the truly sturdy, long-lasting stuff. Although you can find top-of-the-line retail products at the home improvement outlets, none of them have the quality that will reliably light your home and landscaping for decades to come.
Warranty and Maintenance
If something goes awry in your system, will you be able to fix it? With a professional outdoor lighting company, your system will have a warranty plan in case some element of the system fails. A good company will present maintenance options, as well. In fact, right now, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of West Houston and The Woodlands is offering free maintenance for one year on all new installations.
Finally, if you get deep into your project and realize you may have bitten off more than you could chew; or if you finish but the end results are nowhere near what you had hoped for, you may end up having to call in professional help, after all. No one could fault you for trying, but producing great lighting effects on your home and landscaping is no small feat for someone whose training and experience lie elsewhere.
If you honestly aren’t sure if this is a job you should take on, give Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of West Houston and The Woodlands a call at (713) 231-5898. We’d be happy to sit down with you and discuss your outdoor lighting goals!
