Understanding The Effects For Your Houston Outdoor Lighting

Posted by Robert Huff on

Considering The Effects For Your Outdoor Lighting In Houston

You will need full knowledge of the temperatures, nature, types, and sources of your lighting elements if you will use their effects to the maximum in an outdoor location.

Modern lighting technology has become very advanced and now lighting designers can choose between the colors, brightness and even the “heat” or temperature of the light. Because these will be measured in Kelvins, we have lighting sources delivering a warm amber glow at cooler kelvins and those delivering the cold white light at higher registers.

Kelvin Color Temperature Scale

The Kelvin range that most manufacturers and designers use to describe residential lighting is between 2500k and 4000k. As a rule of thumb, you want to use the warmer colors and registers between 2500 and 2700 for illuminating architectural features. The cooler whiter lights and those between 3000k and 4000k can be used to illuminate plants and landscapes.

The Best Color Temperature For Your Landscape Lighting

Color temperatures can be described as how warm or cool they appear to be, or simply put, how far they are on the scale between amber (warm) and white (cool). The right temperature of light can be chosen for the subjects they will be illuminating and the situation they will be placed. There are no rules here, but there are some pointers that can help to achieve certain looks. Sometimes moving things around and testing different effects is the best idea.

One important tip is that bluish, white and cooler colors tend to make a poor choice in an outdoor scenario. This is because these bluer tones on the soft natural tones outside tend to make things look sickly and dead. Instead, choose a warmer color tone, something between 2700k and 3000k LED is the best option. 2700 is a very warm tone and akin to having a glowing campfire in the vicinity that casts a comforting glow on everything around. This is a great way to create soothing, relaxing and comfortable exterior effects.

Some Specific Lighting & Light Suggestions

If you will be lighting outdoor entertainment areas, such as fireplaces, cookouts, and gazebos, use lights at the lowest end of the Kelvin scale. These lights at about 2000k provide the warmest of glows much like the soft glow of a candle or a tiki torch. Located strategically in your entertainment area, this will create an especially romantic tone.

A 4000k artificial light placed high above the tree makes a perfect moon glow that reflects deeply over the foliage and features below. These artificial moonlights come equipped with a glare shield that keeps the light pointed in the desired direction.

Choose the Warm White (2700K). This LED is a lot like halogen-type landscape lighting. The color choice is especially popular for a variety of situations. This is also considered one of the best lighting temperatures as it is especially relaxing and soothing to the mind.

Warm or Natural White (3000K). Slightly cooler than 2700 can be used in a wide variety of situations for a more refined and sophisticated look, many modern landscapers prefer this temperature for accentuating greens in vegetation.

Cool White (4000K) is very blue compared to the popular 2700k, this option is chosen to illuminate vegetation that is already blue in color and this includes many types of grass, shrubs, and trees like the blue spruce and juniper.

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!

Brilliant Ideas On How To Design Your Houston Landscape Lighting

Posted by Robert Huff on

5 Easy Steps For Designing Your Landscape Lighting In Houston

If you are looking for that creative way of adding some beauty, drama, and allure to your yard and home garden, why not consider landscape lighting? Below are five things you can do to come up with a distinctive, functional, lighting design that illuminates the best features of your home exterior at night.

1. Form Ideas For Your Landscape Layout

Take a stroll in your yard during the day, taking a keen look at key focal points and then repeat the same when the sun goes down. The idea is to find out how well that water fountain, stoic oak tree, those juniper shrubs and the best of blossoms appear in the veil of night. You also can check out the wall with its fine travertine capstones and the majestic faced looks. Such focal points in your garden will help you come up with how you will install the lighting so align with the flow of the layout of your landscaping. The lights can define these features during the night, and some can also be installed to liven up other zones such as the deck, porch, or driveway.

2. Sketch The Landscape

Once you have an image in your head of what you want to achieve when landscape lighting, it is time to put it down on paper. Sketch it starting with the perimeter, then the buildings, the paths and driveway, decks, vegetation, and any decorative features you have in your garden. Ensure that you include all the focal points you identified, detailing their location and dimensions. Do this in an existing landscape lighting so that you can determine whether you will need 12V or 120V landscape lighting systems.

3. Select The Lighting Fixtures

Every zone of the exterior of your home may have unique attributes and thus require the right lighting. You will, therefore, have to consider two things. The size of your garden in relation to the lighting layout and the existing lighting systems that you leverage. When selecting the fixtures, options for this can range from in-ground lights to accent and floodlights, among others. Robert Huff Landscape Illumination offers an array of options that account for elements such as beam density and width, and illumination color.

You can have these fixtures from Robert Huff Landscape Illumination in either 12V or 120V systems made in k-alloy aluminum or solid die cast brass with both finished in bronze for enhanced protection against marine grade environments as well as corrosion in wet areas.

4. Fixture Spacing

For installation, the recommended spacing for the lead wire should be 6ft with room left for adjustments on the site.

5. Wire Runs, Power Supplies, and Final Layout

The last step is bringing what you have on paper to life. For a 12V low-voltage landscape lighting system, you will need several runs of wire from the main transformer to the lighting fixtures. It is possible to have your entire system powered from a single source, especially if you have a transformer that’s connected directly into a standard receptacle electricity outlet.

However, how big of a transformer need will be subject to the number of lighting fixtures used and their wattage demand. The transformer should ideally have a capacity of 75watts to 600watts. And when installing the landscape lighting, remember to leave some room for future expansions, such as adding a new garden feature or planting a tree, so that you can also highlight it with the existing fixture. It will eliminate the need for revising the current landscape lighting setup whenever you bring in something new into your yard. You also should consider installing a timer for controlling the lights based on the time of the day; automated photocell fixtures can also suffice.

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!

Understanding The Different Types Of Garden Light In Houston

Posted by Robert Huff on

Houston Garden Light Types And Ways To Use Them

Garden lights are available in various styles and forms, and different outdoor areas in your garden can benefit from specific types of outdoor lighting.

Here is a guide on the different garden light types and the spaces that they usually work the best in.

1. Garden Spike Lights

The spike lights come mounted on short spikes that are pushed inside the ground at desired locations. They are available in solar power, battery or run off mains, giving you the choice to select the option that matches up to your requirements.

The garden spike lights work well around or in lawns, paths, and flowerbeds.

2. Garden Bollard Lights

The bollard lights look very similar to miniature versions of street lights. These lights are suitable for larger outdoor and garden spaces. They come in a variety of styles and sizes.

In addition to deciding what style and size you need, it is also important to consider the way the light will be emitted. Some of the bollards give off 360-degrees of light, making them perfect for wide and open spaces.

Garden bollard lights work well for wide garden paths, driveways, and lawns.

3. Outdoor Spotlights

Spotlights are usually mounted in elevated positions onto trees or walls. They are usually either angled downwards, or you can position them on spikes where they can be level or pointing upwards. These lights emit wide light beams that offer illumination for larger areas.

The spotlights are typically battery powered or run off mains, yet they also come in solar powered versions. The solar-powered spotlights do not offer a light output that is high.

Outdoor spotlights are perfect for illuminating areas such as lawns, driveways, and paths from above, or walls, bushes, and trees from ground level upwards.

4. Garden Wall Lights

These lights differ from the spotlights as these are light fittings that are decorative which provide a light source to outdoor areas while providing an aesthetic appeal at the same time. The majority of these lighting options are mains-powered, yet they do also come in battery and solar-powered variations.

5. Outdoor Floodlights

The floodlights work on emitting bright beams of light over a wide area and are typically used in the form of a security light along with PIR sensors.

In general, if you use a floodlight in your garden it will eliminate any effects associated with another lighting you have used. However, you can use them like spotlights when you position them on the ground.

6. In-Ground Lights

The in-ground lights are a type of spotlight, but the lights are embedded inside the ground, while the face of the light sits flush at the surface.

This type of lighting option is more commonly used for path and driveway edges. You can also use in-ground lights when you install them horizontally into walls and steps.

7. Deck Lighting

The deck-lighting fittings is another version of lighting which is very similar to the in-ground light fittings. They are shorter as they fit into the wood instead of the ground. You can use this lighting type as an in-ground light, in areas such as rockeries or small flowerbeds.

8. LED Candle Lights

Candlelight is perfect when you would like to create a cozy and warm atmosphere at night. LED candle lights offer a very real effect and them last far longer than using real candles. They are also not affected by outdoor elements such as rain or wind. This lighting works well with water features, along path edges or even with your favorite patio furniture.

9. Lantern Lights And String Lights

Lantern and string lights are generally used for decoration and work well along walls, gazebos, tree branches, and bushes. You can choose from solar-powered or battery-powered lights if you require a more versatile and affordable solution, or you can use mains-powered when using this lighting on a more permanent basis.

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!

Some Important Tips For Your Indoor & Outdoor Lighting In Houston

Posted by Robert Huff on

Some Of Robert’s Houston Outdoor Lighting Tips

Indoor

Hall & Foyer

Welcome your guests and make a grand first impression with a well-lit entry foyer or hall. Choose a correctly sized lighting fixture for the area while keeping in mind that the bottom of the fixture should be at least 7 ft. from the floor. this will also help you determine whether you want to use a chandelier, flush-mount, or pendant.

When sizing a pendant or chandelier for your foyer, be sure to ass the width and length dimensions together and convert them into inches. For example, a 10 ft. by 10 ft. area would be best illuminated by a 20-inch-diameter fixture (10 plus 10 equals 20). You can use this formula in other rooms where you plan on hanging chandeliers.

If it’s a 2-story foyer featuring a large window above the front door, then it’s best to place the chandelier at the center so that it can be seen from the outside. For foyers that are extra-large, scones are more recommended and these should be installed at about eye-level, ideally 66 inches from the floor.

Dining Room

The place where you serve dinner should be as tasteful as your meals. Create a grand atmosphere by layering the light with wall scones and a chandelier placed in a way that enhances the architectural details like a built-in archway or china cabinet.

With the formula described above, calculate the size of your chandelier or the diameter of the chandelier at three quarters the width of the dining table. Ideally, the bottom of the chandelier should be about 30 In. To 32 In. above the top of the table.

Kitchen

Create a functional and comfortable space in your kitchen by combining lighting. Consider having a flush mount ceiling fixture complemented by undercabinet pendants and/or fixtures. Keep in mind that the pendants need to be placed such that the bottom of each fixture is 28 inches to 34 inches from the work surface.

Bathroom: Single-light scones can be used in small powder rooms to illuminate the room. For larger bathrooms, you can include a number of different kinds of lighting fixtures. Consider mounting a bath fixture directly above the vanity mirror to achieve horizontal illumination. They should also be installed about 75 inches to 80 inches above the floor. For double vanity setups, each sink needs to have its own source of light.

Outdoor

Curb Appeal

This is the first impression that other people will have of your home as seen from the street. As such, you need to make the most of it, whether you’re a homeowner welcoming family and friends, or a builder looking to market a home for a sale.

The exterior light fixtures are some of the first things that other people notice at the first impression. Aptly styled and sized fixtures will add on to the curb appeal, safely guide the visitors to your door, and provide a warm welcome. The key factors to consider when choosing them to include color, size, and style.

Size

One of the biggest mistakes people make when choosing their outdoor lighting is going for fixtures that are too small. If you are replacing already existing fixtures, don’t assume that the original ones were the right size, to begin with – some builders tend to use small fixtures to save costs.

Lighting fixtures will only look about half as big on your house when they’re viewed by the street as they do in the showroom. So, when choosing between two sizes, the larger one is almost always the better choice.

The front door it a very important area. As such, it should have the biggest and the fanciest light fixture on your house. Don’t let the secondary fixtures at secondary entrances, such as the garage fixtures, upstage the fixtures around your front door.

A good rule of thumb is to make sure the fixture on the front door is 1/3 of the height of a single door, and 1/4 the height of a double door – one on each side. You can cut a piece of cardboard to shape and then hold it up to your house to help you visualize the size better.

Color

It’s important to choose a color that complements the color scheme of your outdoor décor. Bronzes are quite popular with earth tones. We do offer a number of different variations of bronzes from light to dark, including black coral, architectural bronze, bronze, black gold, marbleized mahogany, and burled walnut.

Black is apt for many situations, though bronze is usually preferred when using dark brown trims and accents. Our stone finish is featured in the black family, though it has a hint of grey rubbed on top, which makes it ideal when the bronzes are inappropriate and pure black is too strong. White can be rather striking on a dark bodied house with white accents or trims.

Style

Many contemporary homes don’t have a particular style, as they incorporate different elements of different styles. When choosing a style for your outdoor light fixtures, be sure to pay attention to the main architectural features of your home and the choose fixtures that will complement these features. Get fixtures for your front door simply because it’s the most important door in your home. You can then choose the rest of your outdoor fixtures from the same family of style to maintain consistency.

What about the light intensity? Go for 60W to 75W per fixture or about 20W for compact fluorescent (CFL), which is usually recommended for decorative post lanterns and exterior wall fixtures. Many fixtures on our portfolio are rates for more than 60W. This rating represents the maximum safe wattage allowed, and not necessarily the wattage that’s most appropriate.

Using bulbs that are brighter than necessary will detract from the fixtures as they increase the total glare. The glare will be much worse when you have fixtures featuring clear glass. Focus more on the size and style of the fixture when making your decision, and only use the wattage you need.

Mounting Height

Wall-mounted outdoor light fixtures should ideally be installed slightly above eye level, for houses roughly 66 inches above the threshold. If your house has a transom or taller than normal doors, you might need to install fixtures that are a little higher than 66 inches. You should not install fixtures such that the top extends above the top of the door.

We provide several kinds of fixtures where the body of the fixture is low in respect to the junction box in order to accommodate situations where the junction box might be too high.

Specific Situations

Front Door

The most popular way of lighting the front door is with a pair of lighting fixtures, one on either side of the door. Having a fixture on only one side of the front door can also be done if the architecture or space dictates. If you’re only using one fixture, ensure that it’s installed on the same side as the doorknob, so that your visitors’ shadows won’t be cast on it when opening the door.

If the front door is under cover such as a porch, you might want to consider hanging a lantern instead. Choose fixtures that are about 1/3 of the height of the door when you opt to use one fixture, and 1/4 the height of the door if you’re using two.

Garage Doors

Use a lantern on either side of the garage door or one lantern on top of each door based on the door style and the available space. Choose fixtures that ideally match the front door but are a bit smaller or lesser important looking. The fixtures you install on your garage shouldn’t upstage those installed on the front door.

Back Doors

Here, don’t skimp. Go for fixtures that complement the décor on the rest of the house, and are not small. Using small, cheap fixtures won’t look good anywhere, and will actually detract from your patio accessories and furniture.

Post Lanterns

Go for post lanterns when the light from the front door isn’t enough to light up the parking area. Choose post lanterns from the same family as the rest of the exterior fixtures, and be sure that they are large enough. Post lanterns will look even smaller than the wall fixtures when they’re viewed from the street.

Patio/Deck Lighting

Post lighting fixtures can be installed all around the perimeter of the patio or deck using pier mounts on the wall or railing, or even standard posts installed from the ground. Certain fixtures with low-watt bulbs (between 25W to 40W) will look great and give out a more comfortable light than a single fixture with a bright bulb.

Bright bulbs placed at the eye-level will by unnecessarily glary, and will generally be offensive to you and your guests around the patio.

Other Considerations

Energy Savings

With most of our fixtures, you can use energy saving bulbs.

Dark Sky

Many states and cities are increasingly passing the “dark sky” ordinances in order to control the amount of light pollution. We provide a large selection of fixtures that direct almost all of their light downwards to adhere to these ordinances and address these needs.

Construction Material

Most of our fixtures are made from cast aluminum, which is quite a durable material for most parts of Northern America. If you’re seeking greater durability and prevention of corrosion and rusting, there are other available alternatives.

For engineering and design reasons, some incidental parts have to be made from certain materials. And since our products are often exposed to harsh weather conditions, we aim to only use materials that provide good value and durability.

Maintenance

Exposure to UV rays from sunshine will wear the exterior lighting fixtures quite fast. Other major culprits include airborne pollution and bird droppings that settles as grime and dust. For best results:

  • Wipe down bird droppings and other spills off the fixtures immediately you spot them using plain water on a clean, soft, wet cloth.
  • Wipe the fixtures once or twice a year.
  • Polish your fixtures using silicone car wax after every cleaning.

All Robert Huff Illuminations outdoor lighting fixtures are either ETL or UL listed for wet and damp locations. A fixture with a wet location listing is required when water and/or other liquids splash, drips, or flow on or against the fixtures. You can always use a wet or damp listing outside.

Call or contact us today if you require any information. Please feel free to visit our blog for more related articles.

Let Our Houston Outdoor Lighting Experts Teach You About The Different LED Bulbs & Their Temperatures

Posted by Robert Huff on

The 5000-Lumen SANSI Bulb is The Brightest Of All The LED Bulbs: Our Houston Outdoor Lighting Company Tells All

General Usage

The SANSI LED 40W light bulb features a rating measuring 5500 lumens. That’s usually equal to incandescent bulbs rated at 350 watts. It has a ‘daylight’ quality, also known as a light-temperature rating, which measures at 5000K. At the time of writing, this particular LED bulb was selling for $49.

The Brightest Option For Warehouse Exteriors At 5000K Temperature: This bulb is rated at 29289 lumens with a price of approximately $170.

The Brightest Option For ‘Warm White’ LED Bulbs: The A21 27W Dimmable LED SANSI Light Bulb. This warm-light bulb produces 3500 lumens. It retails currently at about $56.

The Philips 1220 Lumen LED Bulb: This Brightest Standard-Size Bulb has a current rating as being the very brightest LED bulb that is compatible with most household fixtures and lamps.

The SANSI 40W LED Light Bulb: The Overall Brightest LED Bulb

This is another very bright bulb, which produces 5500 lumens. It’s a non-dimmable and daylight-style bulb, meaning it’s best-suited for garages and warehouses. The current price at the time of writing is $49.

The Brightest LED ‘Warm Light’ Bulb: The SANSI 27W A21 Dimmable LED Light-Bulb

This warm-white dimmable bulb is capable of producing 3500 lumens. I personally use one of these for my laundry room, since it works out well for producing illumination that is both bright and pleasing. On the other hand, I wasn’t able to install the fan fixture I wanted on my ceiling since this light is so big. At the time of writing, this bulb was usually available for $56.

The Brightest LED Standard Size Bulb: The LOHAS LED A21 LED Light

This is a standard-sized LED bulb that produces 2500 lumens, making it the very brightest among all the standard-sized LED bulbs that are currently available. It uses 23 watts, featuring a 5000K color temperature listed as daylight white. This is a good bulb for outdoor areas and garages. If you’re looking for warm-white bulbs to use in interior spaces, read below about the Philips bulb down there.

The Brightest Warm-White Standard-Size LED Bulb: The Philips LED Bulb Which Is Equal To 100 Watts

This another standard-sized household bulb. It uses 18 watts to come up with 1620 lumens of warm-white light. I personally use these particular bulbs all throughout my home. Since the CRI is 80, they put out high-quality light. You can even dim these bulbs. Also, they’re estimated to last as long as 22 to 23 years.

You can get them on Amazon for around $21.

Notes About The Color Quality

CRI is short for the Color Rendering Index, which is a numerical system that rates the color-rendering abilities that light bulbs have as compared to natural daylight. If a light features a color-rendering index that measures 50, it’s low, meaning it’s not something that renders colors very well. However, if the bulb sports a color-rendering index falling in a range of 80 to 95, then it means it is able to render colors greatly, possibly even in excellent fashion. A CRI of 100 is considered equivalent to actual natural daylight. This is the number assigned to sunlight.

Color Temperatures are usually presented on the Kelvin scale of K. Lower-color temperatures are warmer, having a more yellow and red light. Higher-color temperatures have colder light that is bluer. Additional, a bulb’s color temperature refers to how reddish, bluish, or greenish a bulb appears. If a bulb looks more reddish, it’s likely to have a low range of color temperature, often between 2500K up to 3000K, which is often thought of as ‘warm’ appearance. If a bulb is more bluish, then the color temperature is higher, often from 4000K to 4500K, meaning it’s thought of as ‘cool’ in terms of its appearance.

  • Warm White is typically measured from 2500K up to 3000K
  • Day Light gets measured from 6200K up to 6800K
  • Cool Light is usually measured in a range of 4000K up to 4500K

To find out more, give us a call or contact us today. Please feel free to visit our blog for more related topics and articles.

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?

Posted by Robert Huff on

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!

Boosting Curb Appeal And Value With Residential Outdoor Lighting

Posted by Robert Huff on

Increasing Curb Appeal & Value

Houston has continued to see growth, and this has increased the demand for homes for sale. Experts believe that this year is another strong year for the housing market in Houston. If you are interested in selling your home; how can you make it stand out from the rest?

Outdoor lighting has the potential of enhancing curb appeal and can even increase the value of your property or home. The National Association of Home Builders said that over 40% of homeowners surveyed said for them, outdoor lighting is “essential“ Lighting has a big impact on the appearance of a building. People get the full effect during the day because of the sun, but when it starts to set down, the details and aspects of the property will start disappearing because of the darkness setting in. LED landscaping lighting transforms the look of the property at night. Outdoor lighting is able to highlight structural features such as fire pits, pathways, fencing, water features, and more. The overall lighting design will also include decks, outdoor patios, or other outdoor living spaces.

When you take a drive through the neighborhood at night, you will notice that homes standing out the most are those that have proper outdoor lighting. Having proper outdoor lighting will enhance the beauty of the space. This is even more important when it comes to the landscape of your house. When you highlight certain features of your house, you make it more pleasing to the eye, and this can lead to an increase in value. You can be able to make your space appear larger than it actually is by having the lighting professionally installed. With outdoor lighting, you will be able to make your home look amazing while also making it a less appealing target for burglars or people wishing to do harm. When you light areas around the doorway and window, you will be able to improve the security while enhancing the look of your home.

Have you ever tried pulling into a driveway that did not have light and you had a time navigating in darkness? You were afraid of hitting something or even not seeing someone.

Now turn the attention to your driveway. Would people have a hard time pulling into your driveway at night?

Proper lighting of your driveway will be able to serve a number of purposes. It provides safety for people around it while also adding to the curb appeal of the property.

When your drive is properly lit, it will be a guide for your guest, and they will be able to navigate more easily. It will also create a welcoming ambiance. You will be able to deliver a great first impression when you have driveway lighting.

Below are three cool ways of lighting up your driveway

Down-lighting

If there are large trees along the driveway, then down-lighting is the right option to go with. This is because they tend to emulate the feeling of moonlight. It will feel and appear natural, but it is luminaires that have been skillfully aimed and placed. Depending on how the driveway has been laid out and the number of trees, well lights or bollards can be used alongside down-lighting. Using different light sources at strategic locations can help in balancing out the lights and making sure the driveway is evenly lit.

Bollards

Bollards are sturdy, solid, and stately. They will provide the driveway with soft lighting, making it the perfect choice for defining the edges of the driveway. A good lighting company will be able to provide you with an outdoor lighting design that properly spaces the bollards. One thing that can be done is alternating the sides. This will prevent the runaway effect on your driveway.

Up-Lighting

While the bollards are above the ground, these are closer to the ground. If you are looking for fixtures less noticeable, up-lights are a perfect choice. If there are mature trees, it is going to define the edge of the driveway and also add ambient light. The fixtures can be installed into the driveway cement or at the entrance of the garage.

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!

Learning How Landscape Lighting Can Prove Helpful To Your Business

Posted by Robert Huff on

Part 2 Of Commercial Lightscaping and How It Can Help Your Business

2/2

Create a Custom Pool

Pools are great additions to any property and are the perfect way to stay cool on hot summer days. They are also ideal for entertaining children, relaxing, and exercising. Furthermore, they effortlessly become the most striking feature of any outdoor space. A customized pool will allow you to come up with a pool that is designed to fit your entertainment and design needs. If you love tanning, it is easy to create shallow ledges that are perfect for laying out in during sweltering hot summer days.

Shallow ledges are also perfect for small children and dogs to enjoy the water. Furthermore, you could have a rock-face waterfall installed to transform your space. And with the help of several spotlights, it shouldn’t be that hard to create the perfect ambiance as they illuminate the waterfall and the pool.

Gardens and Foliage

Gardens can effortlessly transform outdoor spaces! Consider planting some flower beds or shrubs in your front yard to improve curb appeal, or add foliage in the backyard to create beautiful aesthetics. Different plant types can completely change how your outdoor space looks. If you are looking for a tropical touch, try planting some hibiscus flowers and palm trees around your swimming pool. Some plants will even attract pretty visitors.

Flowers like marigold, goldenrod, or daylily can help attract butterflies; while plants like bee balms, petunias, and daylilies will attract hummingbirds – or consider having a hummingbird feeder installed. You could also utilize some plant types such as citronella or lavender to repel pesky bugs such as mosquitoes.

Bonus: Not only will lavender repel mosquitoes; it’ll also help attract some butterflies.

If you do not want lavender, consider adding some citronella torches – they’ll help the mosquitos while creating beautiful aesthetics. You can use spotlights and path lights to highlight specific flowers and plants at night. Alternatively, you could try downlighting from the trees to create a mesmerizing moonlight effect. Landscape lighting will allow you to enjoy your garden both during the day and at night.

Have Professional Commercial Lightscaping Installed

Making the most out of your outdoor space means being able to use and enjoy it at any hour of the day. It is always a pleasant experience sitting outside and enjoying some sunshine, but what about during the night? There is no reason why you should not get to enjoy your garden even at night when the sun has set, and it’s grown dark.

Professional landscape lighting can make it possible for you to enjoy your outdoor space during the night, even while indoors! Consider installing several spotlights to highlight specific features of your house, or add some deck lighting to elicit a romantic ambiance for date nights at home. A couple of downlights to illuminate your patio or deck while creating moonlight effects when cast on tree foliage can work wonders too.

Both step and path lights help increase safety around your home by illuminating paths and can be used to guide guests to specific areas of your house or yard. These lights also liven up your garden at night as they cast pools of light that highlight your favorite plants. When it comes to lighting up your landscape, don’t be limited to the backyard space alone; your front yard could use some lighting too to increase curb appeal and to create a warm and welcoming ambiance for your guests!

 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 to go directly to the first article.

Learning How Landscape Lighting Can Prove Helpful To Your Business

Posted by Robert Huff on

Part 1 Of Learning How Commercial Landscape Lighting Can Prove Helpful To Your Business 

1/2

It’s nice to have an outdoor living area, but this only proves true if you actually know how to maximize the potential of the outdoor space that you have. You probably want to create a gorgeous space that you, your friends, and your family can enjoy any month of the year. Try thinking about how you’d like to use your space.

Do you want to create a backyard that is kid-friendly? Are you going to host any seniors that have mobility issues? Do you have any dogs or pets that you need to worry about? Or are you just looking for a place to relax and escape when a long day ends? It’s totally up to you to choose how you use your space, but it’s crucial that your intentions remain your focus when you start crafting the ideal outdoor area. The following are a handful of tips you can use to make the most of the potential of your outdoor living space.

Maximize Every Inch

It’s essential to be mindful of the space that is available when you try to create an ideal outdoor living area, particularly if you are hampered by limited square footage. When you buy furniture for an outdoor space, consider just how much room you actually have. In a smaller space, it might be a good idea to pick sectionals that you can place tightly in a corner, so there is more room left for a table or even space people can use to move around.

It’s also crucial to include lots of storage options, particularly for a smaller space. The market has numerous options in terms of storage spaces. If you really want to maximize a small space, then consider furniture pieces which double up as storage containers. Even when you work with a bigger space, it can still be important to maximize your space. A lot of homeowners tend to think more in terms of feet instead of inches, but if you think small, you can wind up freeing up a lot of space. If you’re able to, push furniture and any other items you can closer to fences or walls. This minor change and prove to make quite a big difference.

Be Mindful Of Pathways

Be mindful of pathways prior to establishing your outdoor living space. The best thing to do is to keep paths around 4 feet in width. Keep in mind what you hope the space to be used for, and then make your paths accordingly. It might be a good idea to skip winding paths if you are going to entertain seniors and small kids.

Any pathways that you do create needs to stay clear all of the time. This will make sure that you and your guests stay safe. Another important thing to consider is illuminating your paths when it is night, and that’s as true for your front yard as it is in the back. Path lighting doesn’t just provide warm welcomes to any guests who can follow the guidance to your door, but it can also keep everyone safe from tripping over anything in the dark.

Outdoor Kitchen

If you have the available space, then you might want to consider an upgrade from your humble grill up to a gorgeous outdoor kitchen that has not only a grill but also prep space and even a fridge. The right outdoor kitchen might help you have better food quality if you grill as the sun goes down or after. A few hardscape lights can help you easily see just when your food has gotten grilled to perfection. Stainless steel appliances are great for standing up to changing seasons, which means you’ll invest in something that you’ll enjoy for quite a few years. If you really want to add some wow factor to your outdoor kitchen, think about installing an outdoor television that both guests and the chef can watch. This can make for a great big game party.

Put In A Fire Pit

A fire pit is hands-down the very best way you can enjoy your outdoors all year long. An installed fire pit somewhere in your outdoor area gives you an enjoyable transition into cold winter nights. For that matter, fire pits are also a romantic option for sharing with someone you love or just a warm space to enjoy with friends. It’s also a great place to eat any food you make in your outdoor kitchen. Kids also really love fire pits since they mean they can make s’mores.

 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 to go directly to the next article.