Tips For Safely Installing Temporary Outdoor Lighting

Posted by Robert Huff on

11 Safety Tips For Installing Temporary Outdoor Lighting

When it comes to the outdoor lighting in and around our properties, most of us have some lights that they control, such as the security and porch lights. The other options are under public lighting. But some of the outdoor lights will serve as a decorative installation such as what we see on houses during Christmas and Halloween holidays.

Safety is a huge concern for every homeowner. We want our family, pets, and guests to feel safe whether their stay is short or long. As such, the availability of ample power cords, bulbs, and controls to ensure that you can manage the outdoor lighting becomes a significant investment for our gardens.

Many people have little to no regard for the importance of observing safety when installing outdoor lighting, especially if it is a temporary setup. They will not struggle to ensure everything is put up correctly and is up to code since they are not going for permanent installations. However, electricity and power connections are not a simple matter that you can handle as a triviality; they are always a danger. It is for this reason that the National Electrical Code has requirements for temporary electrical installations that are in line with the standard guidelines.

As such, safety comes first when you think of installing outdoor lighting in your yard. Therefore, you need to implement the following tips:

1. Install Outdoor-Rated Fixtures

Any lighting fixture you want to set up in your outdoor spaces should be built and designed for such a location and purpose. For instance, the porch lights are installed under the roof thus are never meant to get wet, but if you need to pick the type that designed for outdoor applications since it is bound to get damp and face fluctuation of hot and cold conditions.

Another example is the wall lighting fixture that will go next to the door. It may not have a protective cover and as such should sustain high impacts up to a certain degree and have high weather resistance, especially if it will be used on the exterior walls.

2. Use Outdoor-Rated Light Bulbs

Use the wrong type of bulb for exposed lighting fixtures such as the floodlights can you will be replacing it regularly. What works for the porch lighting will not suffice for the exposed installations. You should think about the life of the bulb even as you check its outdoor usage rating. Read the product description of some of the products, it the bulb can survive extremes such as the heat in an oven or the cold of a freezer, then it probably will work for outdoor purposes.

3. Avoid Using Metallic Binding Materials

When installing any lighting ornaments and wires, you should avoid damage the wires or using materials that are metallic for binding. Metal is an excellent electricity conductor. You should opt for materials such as plastic ties which are inexpensive, safe, and a popular choice for such jobs.

4. Use Outdoor-Rated Extension Cords

Extension cords will help pull the electric up to specific points where you want to install the lighting. However, you should only use the extensions cords that are made for outdoor applications. The indoor variety tends to be light and very flexible thus less robust for any outdoor use. You should use outdoor-rated extension cords only, even if you are putting up temporary lighting set up in your yard.

5. Avoid Over-lamping” A Fixture

Most lighting fixtures have a label or sticker that states the maximum wattage. Some will read 45W, 60W, and others 100W. Always abide by what the labels say so that you do not install the wrong bulb that will overheat the fixture’s wiring damaging the insulation of the wires. The indication on the stickers denotes the wattage you need to check for the bulbs you installed. For instance, if you opt for a CFL bulb in a 60W fixture, then you choose one the uses up any amount of power that is less than or equal to 60 watts and is amount to generate a higher illumination (light) than a 100W; 200W incandescent bulb.

6. Use Decorative Lights Made For Outdoor Use

If you need lighting for decorate purposes such as to light up skulls and pumpkins during Halloween or make the home showcase the festive mood of Christmas, then you should check the labeling to ensure you are using the right kind of lights. They should not be for indoor purposes. Pick the type that reads it is for an outdoor or multipurpose (outdoor/indoor) application.

7. Fit Weather-Resistant Receptacles

Ensure that you have outdoor receptacles installed for your power source options, even if you are working with temporary loads. It is a safer and a more presentable means of getting the power you need from one point to the outdoors instead of running a cord through the window or the doorway that can even cause someone to trip and fall over. You may benefit from especially covers for the wire; you also set the same for the receptacles. But with the receptacles, they should be able to handle hot, cold, and damp condition, meaning they should have a high weather-resistance rating.

8. Invest In GFCI Protection

The use of a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter, or GFCI in short, is a protection measure. You should install GFCI power outlets in any section of your home where you might need to plug something in and still have a grounded electricity delivery. GFCI should be installed in the basements, kitchens, garages, bathrooms, attics, crawl space, and the porch for when you need to pull some electricity to your garden.

If the power feeds for your outdoor receptacles have GFCI protect that can be from a GFC device upstream or the circuit breaker, then you can work with a regular weather-resistant receptacle. But if that is not the case, then you should install a weather-resistant GFCI receptacle.

9. Cover Receptacles In Damp Locations Under A Roof

If you have the outdoor receptacles installed in an area that is protected from direct weather elements, you can cover them with a trap door that stays shut when nothing is plugged into that point. Make sure that you use covers that are rated ideal for damp locations and conditions.

10. Install A Cover For Exposed, Wet Locations

If the outdoor receptacles are installed in locations that have them exposed to the elements, then you should cover with an “in-use” cover. It will keep the receptacles and any attached plugs dry and shielded from the rain.

11. Watch Out for Flammable Materials

Avoid installing the lights next to materials catch fire quickly, especially if you are using lighting materials that produce heat. For instance, the decorative lights you need for the manager can see you use an accent light and still create the desired effect. Take some time to consider your decorative materials and plans so that you can planning for the lights accordingly.

If you would like to discover more tips and tricks from Robert Huff Illuminations; visit our blog. Call or contact us today for more information!

How Many Lumens Is Too Many Lumens?

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Outdoor Lighting: How Many Lumens Do I Need?

Lumens are a measure of the intensity of light. As such, the higher a lamp’s lumen rating, the brighter it will appear. The number of lumens you require for outdoor lighting will, therefore, depend on the kind of light you want.

Now that we’ve learned what lumens are, here is our professional lumens recommendation for a variety of outdoor lights.

  • Path lighting – 100 to 200 lumens
  • Step lights – 12 to 100 lumens
  • Floodlights – 700 to 1300 lumens
  • Pond and pool lights – 200 to 400 lumens
  • Motion sensor lights – 300 to 700 lumens
  • Landscape lights – 50 to 300 lumens (50 lumens is excellent for small shrubbery or gardens)
  • Hardscape lighting (on walls) – 50 to 185 lumens

When thinking about outdoor lighting, seriously consider going for LED.

Homeowners typically have two types of outdoor lightbulbs when purchasing outdoor lighting. These are CFLs and LEDs.

As outdoor lighting experts, we recommend that you go with LED lights. In this article, we will explain the difference between CFLs and LEDs and why you should consider working with LED lighting.

Outdoor lighting: CFLs or LEDs

How Each Works:

Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) use electrical currents to heat filaments inside the bulb. When fully heated up, the filaments become white-hot, producing heat and light. Because these filaments are very sensitive, the lifespan of CFL bulbs is relatively short, especially when left in extremely cold or hot ambient temperatures, such Texas’s summer temperatures. Furthermore, CFLs take quite a while to light up fully.

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), on the other hand, do not rely on fragile filaments to light up an area. Nevertheless, they use electrical currents to illuminate tiny diodes found inside the bulbs. Light emitting diodes do not put much heat; which means that they stay cool to the touch. These lights fare quite well in all outdoor temperatures and fully light up as soon as they are activated.

Operational Costs:

Light emitting diodes cost lesser to operate compared to CFL. They use 50 percent less energy to produce the same amount of light CFLs produce. That means that LEDs, of all light bulb options, produce higher amounts of lumens per wattage consumed.

Lifespan:

Light emitting diodes last up to five times longer than compact fluorescent lights.

Price:

At the moment, CFLs cost much cheaper than LEDs. Fortunately, though, LED bulb prices have been dropping in the last couple of years, making some LED options much more affordable than their CFL counterparts.

Other things to Consider

1. Lux

Lux measures a lights luminous flux per unit area. In essence, it gives users an idea of how far or field size a bulb/light can illuminate. Lux plays a crucial role in telling you how many lights you will need to cover an area or space.

To help you understand it better, please note that one lux is equal to the amount of illumination a single candle can provide from approx. 3 feet away.

2. Wattage

Wattage is used to quantify a bulb’s energy transfer rate – in essence; it is the measure of how much electricity a bulb consumes. For instance, a 75-watt light bulb consumes 75 watts of power each second it’s on. The higher a light’s wattage, the more electricity it consumes and the higher the electric bill will be.

If your outdoor lighting project requires the installation of lots of outdoor lights, your wattage demand will be higher, and you might need to have a professional electrician install a new circuit for you.

If you would like to discover more tips and tricks from Robert Huff Illuminations; visit our blog. Call or contact us today for more information!

5 Landscape Lighting Ideas With Down Lighting

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Five Down Light Ideas For Landscape Lighting

Before we look at how downlighting can be applied in outdoor settings, it is vital that we first define what down lighting is and how it looks like.

What is downlighting? Downlighting is when fixtures are mounted in elevated locations and aimed downwards so that the light they emit illuminates a target down below. These lighting fixtures can be installed in various places including a home’s soffit, a metal pole or even a tree limb – basically anything that provides an elevated position where a fixture can be perched.

1. Patio

Outdoor living spaces including patios are a great place to enjoy the effects downlighting has to offer. Downlighting offers a functional light for both the social and tranquil situations that often take place on a patio.

Soft lighting does not overwhelm or distract you, which makes it ideal for patio spaces. The key thing when it comes to beautiful lighting is subtleness – as they say, less is more.

2. Pond

Whether it is the cool temperature water features lend to the night air in summer or the soft babbling of splashing water, ponds have a way of bringing tranquility to the outdoor experience. Extending their effects into the evening could be as simple as simply highlighting your pond with the right lighting.

Downlighting a pond creates an overall calmness and a sense of character to something that would otherwise be a dark space.

The great thing about water is that it creates lots of reflections; a defined glow will emanate from a pond when it’s properly downlit. The reflection created is great since it is a two for one. Reflection tends to give everything it touches more definition – light and shadow dances and sparkling ripples from the moving water create a dramatic scene depending on the contrast between shadow and light.

3. Statuary

According to this lighting designer’s opinion, statuary lighting should be applied from above when and if possible. Lighting statues from below often create a shadow that looks unnatural.

When statues are lit from above, a more natural-looking effect is created. The shadows lie as they should while the statue is put in the best lighting.

To effectively light a statue, you will need an eye for what looks most natural; and the most natural-looking statue lighting will often leave a great impression on viewers.

4. Path

When it comes to safety lighting, pathways, curbs and other areas with lots of foot traffic like steps need to be properly illuminated. Downlighting paths can help travelers see where they’re going and how they can get from point A to point B safely.

Downlighting from a tree or several trees can create beauty in the way the tree’s branches and leaves stretch their shadows across the pathway. The natural looking effect of this approach will add real charm to the places that’d otherwise be dark.

5. Security

Security lighting is essential for one main reason – ensuring a property’s safety at night. The great thing about landscape lighting is that you can achieve security lighting without having to sacrifice ambiance or beauty.

While setting up a giant floodlight on top of a 40-foot metal pole could provide ample security lighting, who wants their property looking like a well-lit prison yard when night falls?

 

 If you would like to discover more tips and tricks from Robert Huff Illuminations; visit our blog. Call or contact us today for more information!

Lightscaping In Houston; Why Light?

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The Age Old Question – Why Light?

One thing that lighting designers will often end up asking their clients is “why light”? You might think that the answer is obvious, but there are actually numerous things that you might want to achieve through lighting. That’s why a professional lighting designer is going to want you to clarify your needs and intentions.

You see, there is no such thing as a stupid question when it comes to clarifying a brief. The responses that can come back from that question can be surprisingly varied. It’s important that a lighting designer is able to understand exactly what the homeowner is looking for. If they produce something that isn’t in line with expectations, then they have failed the client, and no professional wants that to happen.

Homeowners have a number of different requirements and intentions. Some may be worried about keeping their home secure. Some might want a certain ambiance or to make their outdoor living area look nicer. Another motivation could be safety, especially for those who garden late at night, or who have a large garden that they want to be able to navigate after dark.

There are many other possible reasons for wanting more lighting, however, ambiance, safety, and security are the ones that crop up them most.

Lighting for Security

Even the nicest areas can sometimes have an issue with crime, and security lighting is a must to help prevent that. Landscape lighting can make life easier for you from a security perspective since it gives you better visuals yourself, and it also acts as a deterrent to would-be trespassers. Many crimes are opportunistic and if your garden or property is not an appealing target for a burglar, they will be more likely to just move on to the next potential target.

Lighting for Ambiance

Lighting can make it easier for you to enjoy your outdoor space in the evening, and that’s a common reason for people to illuminate their property. It helps to make space look more appealing, and it gives you more control over the ambiance, so you are not held to the schedule of daylight hours in your area. Lighting, if it is well thought out and carefully executed, can be the finishing touch to a wonderful landscaping project.

Lighting for Tasks and Safety

This is the most practical of the concerns. Task or safety lighting is mostly functional, but it can also have an aesthetic appeal as well. If you want to keep your steps well lit so that people do not trip, and make the walk between your door and your fire pit a little safer and easier to navigate, then you will want to spell that out in the brief. Task lighting is important in outdoor kitchens as well, because you need to be able to see clearly and perceive colors when you are cooking.

There are numerous other reasons for landscape lighting, some of which are vastly different from those mentioned here, but if you can identify exactly what the lighting will be used for that will make it much easier for the project leaders to do a good job. Lighting professionals understand that different lights will suit different tasks and you will be much happier with the results that you get from the job if you can help the lighting designer select the best type of light for your intended use, whatever that use may be.

 

 If you would like to discover more tips and tricks from Robert Huff Illuminations; visit our blog. Call or contact us today for more information!

two story house with moonlighting

The Right Color Temperature For Your Next Houston Lightscape Design

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How To Choose The Right Color Temperature For LED Landscaping Lights

Are you stuck trying to find the best color temperature to illuminate your landscape? If so, then the information contained in the following guide may help you reach a decision. At the very least, it will help you understand the thought process that the professionals use when choosing different LED colors and temperatures.

Before you can choose the right temperature you need to understand what it is and how it is measured. When a designer talks about a particular color temperature they are referencing a characteristic of a light that affects how that light feels. The measurement is always expressed as a temperature using the Kelvin unit. A temperature that is expressed as degrees Kelvin will have the capital letter “K” following the temperature. An example would be 2,400K, which is the color temperature of standard incandescent lamps.

But what exactly does it mean when a package states that a light has a color temperature of 3,000K? The temperature lets you know how warm or cool the light’s expression is. What confuses many people is that higher temperatures are actually considered cooler colors. Remember, a standard incandescent lamp has a color temperature of 2,400K. A candle generally has a color temperature around 1,700K. This means the candle is a warmer color.

Light manufacturers will often label color temperature on their packaging. They may sometimes use labels instead of numbers. For example, the light might be defined as daylight or soft white. These are terms that refer to the color temperature. It’s much easier to learn what the different temperatures are and then find lights that have the actual color temperature listed on the package.

Interested in learning some of the basic color temperatures? Here are a few numbers that you should remember.

1700K – This is the color temperature of a lit candle.

2200K – This is the lowest point on the white light scale. Below this temperature is known as yellow light.

3500K – From this point forward, the color temperatures are considered “cool”.

4000K – This is a very cool natural light.

5000K – Around this point is considered daylight. Temperatures around 5000K are natural and very cool.

6500K – Starting at this temperature you begin moving into the blue light spectrum.

How To Choose The Best Color Temperature For Outdoor Light

It’s impossible to label any single color temperature as best for all occasions. There are a number of factors that will influence your decision. Primarily, it comes down to preference. You may even need to try several different temperatures to find the one that you like the most. However, there are two important considerations that you should keep in mind when choosing outdoor lighting.

The first consideration to remember is that less lighting is required outdoors than indoors. After all, there are already multiple sources of natural light outdoors as well as possible light pollution from neighbors, street lamps, or nearby buildings. What this means is that you can take a more subtle approach to ambient lighting.

The second consideration is that if you have an environment with low ambient lighting, then it’s generally better to stick with warmer colors. Warmer colors produce a more comfortable experience when there is very little ambient light. This is partially because warmer colors cause less strain on the eye.

If you combine these two facts, then you can draw the conclusion that creating settings with low-ambient lighting and warm colors is ideal. Think about the pleasant attraction of a campfire or the relaxing nature of candles. This is what many people try to reproduce with their landscape lighting.

The Ideal Range

It’s hard to go wrong if you stick with color temperatures between the range of 2700K and 300K. These lights are somewhat natural, calming, and warm. 2700K resembles the light produced by halogen, which is something that most of us are familiar with seeing.

You can increase the temperature to 3000K for a slightly cooler approach to lighting. 3000K is a very popular choice in situations where 2700K is just too warm of a color. Consider trying both options to see which best suits your property.

Working With Cool Colors

Warm colors aren’t necessarily mandatory. For example, there are some plants or materials that would look much better under a cooler light. A blue spruce would come to life and “pop” when situated beneath a 5000K lamp. A cactus plant would do the same if a green or silver filter was placed on the light.

Working with cool colors is a fun way to experiment and express your personal style. Remember that there is no single “best” color temperature. It’s all situational and depends on the environment. But by remember the pointers mentioned above you can understand why professionals tend to work with specific color temperatures.

 If you would like to discover more tips and tricks from Robert Huff Illuminations; visit our blog. Call or contact us today for more information!

residential and commercial led low voltage landscape lighting

Common Questions About Outdoor Lighting Design In Houston

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Three Common Questions About Outdoor Lighting Design

1. What are the most important things to consider when coming up with a landscape lighting design?

The biggest consideration that you need to take into account when planning your outdoor lighting is how you use your space.

The lighting that you put in front of your home is designed to enhance the curb appeal of your property and to improve safety. In the backyard, however, the lighting is there to make the space more enjoyable. That is why it is so important to put a lot of thought into how you plan on using the space.

Do you like the idea of holding parties or get-togethers outdoors? If entertaining is at the top of your priority list, adding outdoor lighting that creates a fun and festive setting could be the ideal solution.

Are you looking for an outdoor retreat where you can get away from the stress of everyday life? If so, choosing a more serene lighting design is probably the best option since it will help create a space that is more conducive to relaxation.

Would you like to spend time dining outdoors? Are you planning on putting in an outdoor kitchen? In either case, you should focus on functionality. Your lighting design should not only include ambient light but also task lighting that makes it easier to see what you are doing.

Do you have sidewalks, pathways, or stairs that you need to navigate after dark? In this case, extra lighting for safety is definitely warranted.

The features that you have in your outdoor space also come into play when determining what type of lighting is appropriate. Good lighting design can help you make the most of everything from a pergola to an outdoor swimming pool.

2. How can you add character to your outdoor space through lighting design?

While functionality is an important part of outdoor lighting design, it is also about creating a certain atmosphere. Instead of focusing on the design of the light fixtures themselves, landscape lighting designers usually focus on the specific lighting effects that they are trying to achieve. They then choose fixtures that make these effects possible.

When you start shopping for light fixtures, you no doubt will run across a lot of fixtures with unique or interesting designs. Even though these designs may appeal to you today, you may find that they look outdated in a few short years. When you work with a lighting designer, they can provide you with professional guidance so that you can choose fixtures with classic designs that will never go out of style. Best of all, the fixtures that they help you choose will allow you to achieve beautiful lighting effects in your outdoor space.

Some of the different styles of fixtures that may work for your yard or garden include the following:

  • Pendant Lights. These lights not only add a beautiful accent to your outdoor space but they also are more interesting to look at than many other types of lights. From a functionality standpoint, they usually fall a little bit short. However, they can be a great way to add character and charm to your outdoor space.
  • Path lighting is important from a safety standpoint. There are countless styles of path lights currently available, making it easy to find lighting that is the ideal fit for your space.

Something To Keep In Mind About Path Lights

Path lights are exposed to a lot of wear and tear. They need to be durable and rugged so that they can handle whatever abuse comes their way. Unfortunately, many of the most decorative path lights that are currently available are not strong enough to withstand regular use. If you purchase ornate fixtures, you may wind up disappointed when they don’t last as long as you would like them to. Your lighting designer can help you find lights that are both attractive and durable, helping to ensure that you make a smart investment that will last for a long time to come.

3. What is the best path light spacing for garden paths, stairs, and sidewalks?

When it comes to landscape lighting, few types of lighting are used incorrectly as often as path lights. When you drive through a neighborhood, you probably can spot path lights stuck in flower beds, tied to fences, or placed in other unusual areas. In actuality, however, these lights are designed for one specific purpose to light stairs and walkways.

To create a well-balanced lighting design, path lights should be evenly spaced.

The proper spacing for these lights varies depending on the size of the walkway that they are being used for. Path lights should be large enough to adequately light the entire path.

When it comes to placing the lights on either side of the path, there are a couple of different options. For a casual look, try alternating lights, spacing them so that they are not directly across from each other. For a more formal look, on the other hand, placing the lights in line with each other so they line up across the path can provide a beautiful effect.

In some cases, you may not even need to use path lights if you opt for different lighting solutions. The best way to figure out how to effectively light your walkways and stairs is by meeting with a qualified lighting designer.

 If you would like to discover more tips and tricks from Robert Huff Illuminations; visit our blog. Call or contact us today for more information!

A home in Houston, TX, with landscape lighting

5 Tips To Cozy Up Your Houston Patio Lighting Part 2

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5 TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR PATIO COZY FOR FALL

(Part Two)

You can choose to add bold autumn colors like yellows, deep reds, and oranges, to those items. You can also decide to choose specific colors that will be able to take it to the next level in terms of coziness.

3. INTRODUCING OUTDOOR CUSHIONING OPTIONS

If you want to spruce the outdoor space, consider adding some outdoor cushioning to your already existing outdoor furniture.
This doesn’t have to be complicated, it can be just adding a plush, weather-proof pillow to the benches, or you can go and buy an entirely new set of furniture. There are some people who consider the season when planning the outdoor space. There are some people who prefer swapping their summer-themed furniture and go with pieces that will be of use during the fall. It is better to have heat-insulating cushions in October than having them in July.

No matter how large or small the change is, it is a good idea to add cushioning to any furniture you can.

4. GETTING INTO A HOLIDAY DECORATING MOOD

There are two major holidays that happen in fall: Thanksgiving and Halloween. These two holidays are when people love to decorate their homes! When you are decorating your home for these holidays, also remember that you have an outdoor space that needs your attention too. Show the space for some holiday love too.

For the porch, you can go with a traditional Jack-O-Lanterns and for the above patio, you can get a turkey-themed garland that you can hang crisscross above it. Another idea is making DIY signs that have words highlighting which season it is, e.g. “harvest” ”thankful”, etc. You have the chance of taking full advantage of the changes on leaves and trees.

Whatever you decide to do, we suggest utilizing this time into getting to the holiday spirit and have your outdoor space reflecting your enthusiasm.

INSTALLING AN OUTDOOR FIREPLACE OR FIRE PIT

If you don’t have one, and if you have room in your outdoor space, then you should consider installing a fire pit or outdoor fireplace. Fires will provide you with natural exterior lighting, and there is nothing that feels more fall than sitting around the fire spending quality time with your friends and family.

Apart from the light and warmth it provides, a fireplace will be the perfect focal point for your outdoor space.

CHOOSE ROBERT HUFFILLUMINATIONS

When you transform your outdoor space for the fall, you are creating a space that is comforting and welcoming, and this will make people coming over want to snuggle and sit around the warm fire drinking hot chocolate. You will fall in love with your outdoor space over and over again.

It is a good idea to get exterior lighting and outdoor home accents from our showroom I Houston. If you are not sure about what you want or where to get started, have no worries because we have a team of experienced lighting consultants who will be there to help you with everything you need.

Contact us today to find more information about us and the products we offer. You can reach us by giving us a call now or you can complete our online form and we will get back to you. Don’t hesitate when it comes to buying our products. We look forward to speaking with you.

 If you would like to discover more tips and tricks from Robert Huff Illuminations; visit our blog. Call or contact us today for more information! Click here for the first issue in this series.

5 Tips To Cozy Up Your Houston Patio Lighting Part 1

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Learn 5 Tips You Can Use To Make Your Patio Cozy (Part One)

The Houston weather isn’t typically what most folks would identify as ideal fall weather, but there’s no reason you shouldn’t get outdoor spaces and patios ready for the day the heat finally subsides. Does anything make a patio more cozy than a few pieces of comfortable outdoor furniture with wool blankets waiting for you under mood-setting lights?

We offer high-caliber interior and exterior lighting services and products for residential and commercial clients alike. If you want to renovate your outdoor patio lights or are just looking to shake things up a little, check out our light fixtures which can match both your budget and tastes. We have more than five decades of experience behind us, so let our lighting professionals and experts help you find the perfect solutions for your outdoor lighting. Contact us right away in order to schedule an appointment.

Keep reading to learn 5 tips you can use to make your patio snug and sound for the changing season.

1) Optimize The Circumstances Around Your Exterior Lighting:

Fall evenings here means it gets darker earlier than it did during the summer, and that means that our exterior lighting circumstances get more critical than they did when it was warmer. You need functionality from your outdoor lighting, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have beauty too. Even better is when you have adjustability so you can make your patio useful in a number of different situations.

Use this time to make any needed updates to your outdoor lights, like hanging lights or exterior wall lights whose best days are behind them. You might even use this time to buy and install extra lights that can complement your current lights, like holiday-themed string lights or even an extravagant or ornate outdoor chandelier.

Basically, you want to illuminate your overall patio area with some exterior lighting which can warm your outdoor space when it gets a bit chilly.

2) Add Cozy Items:

Okay, take a moment to think about it. Are there things better than breathing in fresh air outdoors while curled up under a nice toasty blanket while reading something you love? There might be a few things, but not too many. In fact, you might think of nothing at the moment.

Why spend all your time indoors during the fall when you know you’ll have to hibernate during the actual winter? Whether that is cool or cold but not yet freezing can still be enjoyed! Do this by adding comfort and coziness with the right items throughout your outdoor patio.

Here are just a few things that our home decor and lighting professionals recommend:

  • Porch Swings
  • Rocking chairs
  • Outdoor attire
  • Warm and soft blankets
  • Pumpkins
  • Garlands and wreaths
  • Tables, benches, chairs, and other essential outdoor furniture

 If you would like to discover more tips and tricks from Robert Huff Illuminations; visit our blog. Call or contact us today for more information! Click Here for the second issue in this series.

The Best In Houston Outdoor Lighting Weighs In – Are All LED’s Created Equal?

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Are LED Lights All The Same? How To Choose A High-Quality LED Lamp For Your Houston Outdoor Lighting

AS LED is becoming the most popular option when it comes to selecting a lamp, there is a wide range of types and brands that are available now. But is every LED lamp identical? No! Like almost everything else in life, there are large variances between poorly made LED lamps and quality LED lamps.

When searching for a well-made lamp, one of the very first things that you should look for is the warranty. It is very important that you read the fine print and check it to find out how long the lamp is guaranteed to work and in which environments. There are some lamps that are designed for damp locations, some for dry locations, and others that are designed so that they can be submerged in water for brief periods of time. Landscaping lighting lamps all should be either wet location or damp location lamps. Some LED lamps are also are designed with slits or vent holes to let heat escape. That appears to make sense until it is introduced into a damp environment or it is an environment that has bugs. I cannot even tell you the number of times that I have pulled the lamps out from eBay or Amazon out of the fixtures that have tons of bugs in them that have corroded the sockets and fixtures that are beyond being able to e saved.

A big part of determining what the quality of an LED is how a bulb manages heat. Compared to a typical light, less heat is given off by LEDs, but all of them create heat in the same way. To live up to their full potential, they have to pull heat away effectively from the LED. Metal heat sinks that have fins are used by quality LED lights to pull away and also store the heat while plastic heat sinks or fans are used by cheaply made LEDs to attempt to do the same thing but will most likely fail, which reduces the life expectancy of your light. Also, the very best dim the output automatically when they reach their heat capacity’s upper limits. That rarely happens, but during those 90-degree nights in Central and South Texas, it definitely may occur.

LEDs are able to produce colors on all parts of the spectrum. Although the light color is mainly based on your personal preference, it is very important that your LED lights are all consistent in color. High quality LED lights that are the same color temperature that all look like the color is consistent when it is installed. LED lights that are lower quality will have inconsistent colors, even when marketed as being the same color temperature. The less expensive a lamp is the more variation there will be. That is particularly important when using feature lighting on sculpture and art or when lighting your home’s facade.

The LED lights construction is important as well. When choosing your LEDs, you should check the weight, feel, look and design.

Would you like more information on how to identify quality LED lamps?

There is a wide variety of integrated products, lamps, and color temperatures that are available as options. If you would like to discover more tips and tricks from Robert Huff Illuminations; visit our blog. Call or contact us today for more information!

How To Prepare Your Residential Outdoor Lighting For Halloween

Posted by Robert Huff on

Do’s And Don’ts For Residential Outdoor Halloween Lighting

Robert Huff Illuminations wishes you a Happy And Spooky Halloween! Halloween is almost here and everybody must be thinking about what to do to make their house a treat. Well, with proper lighting in your backyard, you can make sure that everybody including ninjas, zombies, superheroes, princesses and everyone else dressed up has a good Halloween. It’s a good way to keep everyone around the area safe to prevent injuries. Also, they will have a good idea of where to get the best goodies. You need to take time deciding the best lighting for your home this Halloween.

Most homeowners love decorating their yards for the festivities season, whether it’s Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas. Soon enough, a lot of guests will be coming to your home for trick or treating. After that, a few people should pass by with Christmas carols and cookies. Therefore, if you want to have the best lighting, this is the time to start assessing your yard. Imagine yourself passing by there in the dark and determine whether you would be able to navigate effortlessly? Are there steps that need to be climbed yet your trees obstruct the light from shining?

If that’s a yes, you need to hire a residential outdoor lighting expert to make sure that your yard is well lit. That way, you can create a welcoming atmosphere for anyone passing through your yard and prevent injuries, a trip to the nearest hospital or liabilities coming from a lawsuit. Although you need your house to have a haunted theme this Halloween, you don’t want people to stay away from it if they are afraid of getting injured. That defeats the whole purpose of the spooky day!

Make sure everyone passing around or near your yard is safe during Halloween. If you don’t have a well-lit path, children or adults might pass through the areas you don’t want them in and it might be dangerous. Use the trees to position the lighting to create a moonlight effect. With the best light fixture, you can shine a light on the walkway without creating a glare. You can either place the lighting on one side of the walkway or put a staggering pattern. Your professional lighting expert should advise you on the best way to install the lights for the best outcome.

Whatever you do, stay away from floodlights because they shine a bright light on people’s eyes thus they would have a hard time seeing anything. Since most houses come with these, they might not be a safe option although they might seem attractive. Remember, people might be wearing masks or other elements that obscure their vision. Therefore, make sure they have a memorable Halloween by lighting their paths properly and not blinding them with a glare.

Good lighting creates a welcoming ambiance to anyone in your yard without it appearing like a creepy and spooky place or a resemblance of an airport runway or a prison. You can achieve this by hiring a certified residential outdoor lighting professional. Since they are trained in designing residential outdoor lighting fixtures and installations, you can always count on quality products. 

 

If you would like to discover more tips and tricks, visit our blog. Call or contact us today for more information!