Who Gets The Most From Landscape Lighting?

Posted by Robert Huff on

Who Can Benefit From Landscape Lighting?

Landscape lighting can not only be used to draw attention to unique features or architectural details but it also can improve safety, making it ideal for both homes and businesses alike. Beautifully designed lighting can infuse a little bit of magic into an ordinary outdoor space, transforming even the most boring landscape into a show-stopping space.

Homeowners

Most homeowners put a lot of time, money, and effort into making their home’s exterior as beautiful as possible. Unfortunately, all of that hard work disappears into the darkness when the sun goes down. Installing landscape lighting is an excellent way to highlight a property’s unique features after dark. With the right lighting, homeowners can showcase everything from their landscaping to the architecture of their home, helping their property stand out from all of the other houses in the neighborhood.

Homes that are located in poorly lit neighborhoods can also benefit from landscape lighting. Installing lighting around the exterior of the home makes the property safer. If you light up your outdoor space, you may even inspire other people in your neighborhood to do the same.

When multiple homes in a neighborhood have landscape lighting in place, it helps make the entire area safer, creating a family-friendly place to live. Installing outdoor lighting around the exterior of your home could wind up completely changing your neighborhood for the better.

People Who Own Swimming Pools

Homeowners in Texas often install swimming pools in their backyards as a way of escaping from the summer heat. Installing outdoor lighting around the pool can make the space usable after dark, making it a lot safer to continue swimming after the sun goes down.

Along with lighting inside the pool itself, extra lights can be installed around the pool deck. Not only does this make the pool area beautiful after dark but it also dramatically improves safety. Adequate lighting is essential anytime children or adults are using a swimming pool after it gets dark outside. Having enough lighting in the area makes it easier to monitor what is happening around the pool from inside the house.

Installing underwater lighting in the pool itself makes it easy to see whether or not there are any obstacles in the water. Outdoor pools often accumulate debris like leaves and grass as well as insects. Lighting up both the pool and the surrounding area makes it a lot easier to see the condition of the water before jumping in.

Landlords

Installing landscape lighting around a rental property that you own is an excellent way to improve safety. Not only does having a well-lit space make renters feel safer but it also makes the property more attractive after dark. You may be able to rent out space more quickly or charge more for the property if you use landscape lighting to create a warm, welcoming space.

Outdoor lighting can also benefit commercial rental spaces like warehouses and storage units. Security cameras do a much better job of capturing footage when there is plenty of light available. Customers are more likely to rent spaces that are safe and secure. Installing outdoor lighting in conjunction with security cameras is a great way to alleviate any worries that potential renters may have about the property.

Businesses

Landscape lighting is essential for commercial properties – especially if your business is open after dark. Lighting up your outdoor space makes it easier for customers to see that you are open. It also makes your business more visible from the street when people are passing by after dark. When a property is well lit, it looks a lot safer, meaning that customers are more likely to visit at night.

Spotlights and other types of accent lighting can be used to draw attention to key features of the business. For instance, lighting can be installed under the outdoor sign or near promotional items to make these features easier to see.

Dining Establishments

Restaurants that offer outdoor dining can use landscape lighting to create a magical experience for their guests. Lighting up a patio space with attractive lights can completely transform the dining experience, turning an ordinary meal into an adventure that guests will remember for a long time to come.

Outdoor lighting has a lot to offer homeowners and business owners alike. It can be used to accent just about any outdoor space, improving safety while at the same time creating a beautiful, welcoming atmosphere that draws people in and makes them want to stay a while.

 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?

Posted by Robert Huff on

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

Posted by Robert Huff on

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

Posted by Robert Huff on

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!

Houston Outdoor Lighting Expert Explains Different Light Fixtures

Posted by Robert Huff on

Varieties Of Light Fixtures For Exterior Spaces

In terms of selecting just the right light fixtures for the exterior spaces near your residence or commercial property, there are many options available. Fixtures in this category are more than merely functional in nature, they also offer added security as well as a visually appealing look. We at Robert Huff Illumination are proud to provide a wide array of exterior light fixtures in addition to the indoor fixtures and products we carry. The specialists here are ready and willing to assist with any lighting need you may have.

Below is some useful information about four key varieties in the realm of exterior light fixtures that will help you understand how they are used and how they can differ from one another.

1. Wall Mounted Fixtures

This is a type of fixture that is attached to the walls themselves. A wide range of styles, sizes, and colors is available, but all are capable of being mounted onto a vertical structure.

These sorts of fixtures are ideal for areas where there are trip or fall hazards, including walkways, stairs, and paths. While these lights are used primarily for safety and security enhancement, they can be extremely decorative in nature as well.

Sconces are a specific variety of wall mounted fixture. Sconce lighting tends to project in an upward fashion, and these fixtures can be found in candle shapes, lanterns, half-moons and more. From modern to traditional, there is a sconce to suit every taste. It is common to see sconces placed at the main entrance of a property on an exterior wall as well as in the vicinity of exterior stairways.

Spotlighting is a wall-mounted fixture designed with security in mind. For instances, flood lighting emanating from this sort of fixture is ideal for parking spots, driveways and garage areas. Spotlights are also perfect for highlighting landscape design.

2. Hanging Fixtures

Found in the form of drop, pendant or suspender fixtures, hanging lights extend down from ceilings. These lights are quite decorative overall and can be seen often in patio spaces, gardens, and exterior kitchens. Hanging lights may be a single fixture or they may come in sets of many fixtures. Numerous styles and sizes can be purchased as well.

Chandelier lighting

These types of fixtures are distinctive in that they have numerous light sources on a single cord or chain. Chandeliers are elegant, particularly when used in an exterior space. They are great for creating a focal point for a seating or dining area.

Exterior fans

Outdoor use fans can be found in hanging or wall-mounted varieties. It is possible to install some of these fixtures on the ceiling of outdoor space, and others can attach to walls. They are great for patios, given their ability to cool the warm summer heat, and they can make any cookout more comfortable.

3. Ceiling-Mounted Lights

These lights are attached to an exterior ceiling instead of to a vertical surface as a wall-mounted fixture would be. Ceiling mounts are great for illuminating an exterior space from up high and for giving a decorative feel to the entire space. Entryways often benefit from ceiling-mounted lights, as do gazebos and covered porches. A fixture of this sort will be attached to the ceiling in a completely flush manner. There will be no gaps such as those that might be seen with a chandelier or hanging light installation.

4. Landscape-Accentuating Lights

These kinds of fixtures are meant to highlight the landscaping designs throughout your property. This could include garden spaces, pathways or other key features. Landscape lighting is frequently used near the entry to home to define spaces or draw attention to trees, flowers and the like. In addition, it can provide an invaluable level of added security that may serve to keep unwanted intruders at bay.

The realm of exterior lighting really is impressive in its scope, and the range of products currently on the market is sure to amaze.

 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

Posted by Robert Huff on

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

Posted by Robert Huff on

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.

Outdoor Lighting Experts Tell You How To Light Trees

Posted by Robert Huff on

Would you like to enjoy your trees and property at night?

When thinking about outdoor lighting, you often are wanting to highlight your home’s features. Trees tend to be a lower priority, however, tree lighting can often make a very dramatic difference. Your tree can be transformed into a piece of art with just one light.

There are two major kinds of tree lighting; down lighting and up lighting. Uplighting involves lighting fixtures being placed at ground level so that the light shines up to the tree. This type of lighting is used for showing off the tree’s canopy and interesting branch structures. Downlighting is a type of fixture that is strategically placed in the tree’s canopy that creates a very beautiful moonlight effect on the ground below and the tree’s branching structure.

By manipulating the fixture’s angle, the Kelvin temperature color and spread of the source light allows you to create interesting shadows, silhouettes or highlights on the ground cover or turf below, as well as walls, plants, and walkways. Great care needs to be given to your down lighting in order to protect the health of the tree over the long term. It is rarely done properly, so we highly recommend that you use a qualified professional to do this work.

Down Lighting and Up Lighting Work Together

One of landscape lighting’s more creative areas involves lighting trees using both uplighting and downlighting. They work together in order to showcase your trees, particularly the beautiful majestic oaks in San Antonio as well as the surrounding Hill Country. It creates a magical moonlighting effect by placing multiple fixtures in such a way that it shines down into and through the leaves and branches below to create a flowing, moving shadow as well as the light art below. When done properly, it has the feeling of a bright full moon that is shining through the leaves that are above which on the ground leaves a dappled moonlight. The tree is shown off by using the up light. The best results are produced by using the two together.

How to Care for your Trees

Often our customers are concerned about having lights mounted in their trees. Trees are treated like trees by us, and not buildings. We only install lights in trees that we know are able to support them. The Gurus uses specialty stainless steel tree bolts to prevent them from rusting or causing future damage or disease. A professional never will put staples in your trees, since that will ruin the tree and wire eventually and maybe a fire hazard as well.

A professional will also never surface mount any junction box onto a tree which creates a rot spot in the tree which invites ants as well as other pests into a tree. We hide cables on the tree’s non-visible side so you won’t even know that it is there. Our materials and methods are designed to protect your lights and trees. We are available to come when needed in order to adjust the bolts and screws as your tree grows as part of your annual service agreement with us.

 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!

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

Posted by Robert Huff on

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!