Outdoor Lighting Is Essential For Your Landscape Design In Houston

Posted by Robert Huff on

5 Great Reasons Why Your Houston Landscape Design Needs Outdoor Lighting

If you ask most homeowners, they’ll tell you that outdoor lighting is probably the greatest feature of their landscape design. Whether its automated pool lights, small faerie lights, decorative lanterns, or a simple garden post lamp, fixtures like these help a landscape have a welcoming feeling to it.

Having said that, a few homeowners don’t bother with installing outdoor lighting. They just don’t get it, or they want to save money. What they’re missing out on is how landscape lighting does so much more than helping out the best features of a yard. Keep reading to learn 5 good reasons why you can take advantage of outdoor lighting:

1. Illumination For Your Outdoor Living

Creating an outdoor living space is a great thing to do, but it only really works if it’s designed for maximum enjoyment. Your value here goes to waste if you’re not deliberate about it. Whether you create a patio, barbecue island, or a full outdoor kitchen, you have a great place for entertaining, spending time with family, or just getting some fresh air in the safety of your own home. However, not having the right lighting can ruin things. If your landscape design has outdoor lights included from the start, then you get the chance to manage your lighting. This gives you influence and even control over the ambiance and mood of your outdoor space. Fire the lighting all the way up for a festive party, or dim it down for some quiet romance and intimacy.

2. Remember That Safety Comes First

The installation of outdoor lighting isn’t just an aesthetic matter, but also a safety issue. No matter how well you wind up memorizing your yard layout, or even how flat your outdoor walkway is, you still need to see each step you take when crossing your landscape when it’s night-time. It’s not a wise decision to rely on the light you get from your neighbors or street lights when strolling through your yard.

3. Prevent Unwanted Visitors

Criminals and burglars usually do their work at night, and there’s a reason for that. Breaking the law in the middle of the day draws attention. If the sun’s light keeps them away during the day, it would stand to reason that a well-lit landscape would also ward off intruders during the night. That logic holds true, as serious illumination discourages those you don’t want around from coming onto your property, given that they’re more likely to get recorded and/or noticed, so they can be dealt with appropriately.

4. More Curb Appeal Can Mean More Value

Many homeowners sink time and money into home renovations so they can have a better property market value. Landscape design and lighting is no exception to this. As a general rule of thumb, upgrades and enhancements typically boost the property value of your home and yard. Nearly half of prospective homeowners looking to buy consider outdoor lighting as a crucial home feature, listing this technical addition as a ‘desirable quality’ that they look for.

5. Highlight Your Landscape Features

Do you have a few distinct statement pieces across your landscape? If you do, then you certainly would like to highlight those features. On the other hand, a landscape cluttered up with too much attention-grabbing decor might spread the visual attention of visitors too thin. Outdoor lighting is useful in spotlighting specific areas or features that you’d like visitors to really notice, be it a hedge labyrinth, a Japanese garden, or an ornate fountain.

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

A Guide On Budgeting For Your Houston Outdoor Lighting

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Budgeting Tips For Your Outdoor Lighting In Houston

Have you been thinking of upgrading (or installing) your outdoor lighting but still not sure how much to budget for the same? Unless you have plenty of money to spend, proper budgeting is required to make the entire process a success. In addition to the several factors and variables, you have to consider when budgeting for the outdoor lights, the size of the property will determine how many fixtures you will need. A larger property/home will require more fixtures, while a smaller one will only need a few. The more fixtures you need, the more money you’ll have to spend and vice versa.

Working with a designer should help you plan well for the project. Knowing what part of the outdoor lighting is crucial, and those that aren’t as important will help the designer plan well, and even see you save you some money in the process. For instance, are you looking for improved aesthetic appeal or security and safety? Taking into consideration what matters, and the reasons why these have to be installed will also make planning much easier. Focusing on aesthetics means some bit of security might be left out. You could, however, add more fixtures (with available funds) to get a balance of both.

Here are a few options to consider for outdoor lighting:

1. Entryway Lighting

Entryway lighting provides a warm and friendly entry to the house. This type of lighting is prevalent in most homes. This is because it acts as both securities for deterring unwanted guests as well as safety for family and guests.

2. Safety & Task Lighting

This is more of functionality lighting commonly adopted in outdoor patio lighting, stairway lighting, and pathway lighting. These lights help create ambiance while improving safety.

3. Tree lighting Or Up Lighting

These light fixtures are designed to shine from underneath trees and houses.

4. Moonlighting Or Down Lighting

As the name suggests, this lighting technique aims at recreating the moonlight effect on the landscape.

5. Accent Lighting

This type of lighting aims at highlighting distinct features on the landscape. These include garden accents, water features, sculptures, etc.

Control

Are you looking to control the light manually or wish to have a smart system do it for you? Whatever your options are, we can make it happen. We can have the lights installed in such a way that they come on at a specific time of the day/night automatically, hence require minimal to no attention at all. The system turns the lights off automatically to save energy.

The cost of outdoor lighting varies from one property to another. This is however dependent on the size of the property and what fixtures you choose for the same. We can also offer you special offers for the lighting fixtures, hence keep your budget on the low. Our special offers, however, apply for homes or properties of less than 5000 sq. ft.

We at Robert Huff Outdoor Lighting offer a wide range of properties and services ranging from LED landscape lighting, outdoor lighting, and accent lighting in Houston. We can also handle the installations for both residential and commercial areas as well. Contact us or call us today at (713) 861-2000 for a free estimate.

residential and commercial led low voltage landscape lighting

How To Save Energy On Your Outdoor Lighting In Houston

Posted by Robert Huff on

5 Tips On How To Save Energy On Your Houston Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lights are a favorite for many households. They are great for front and back yard aesthetics and decorations. Besides, outdoor lighting provides the perfect setting for arranging evening parties in your backyard and also secures your home. However, outdoor lighting has a major disadvantage, the amount of energy spent and the related bills. But, as experienced outdoor lighting professionals, we understand that homeowners can utilize outdoor lighting that saves energy, leading to energy efficiency and cost savings.

1. Pick LED OR CFL Bulbs

Incandescent bulbs fitted on the front yard are mostly left on for the entire night, meaning a lot of energy is used up. Instead of using incandescent on your front porch, we recommend you switch to light-emitting diode (LED) or compact fluorescent lights (CFL) bulbs.

2. Use Timers With Your Lights

Your electricity costs will drop significantly if you set your outdoor lights with a photocell to sense daylight or a motion sensor, or both. By doing this, your outdoor lighting will only be turned on when it is necessary. We advise that you avoid using CFLs with sensors since the sensors will reduce the life of your CFL lights. The electrodes in a CFL are negatively impacted by each instance of starting voltage which leads to gradual deterioration and eventual breakdown. The key factor that influences the longevity of a CFL bulb is the number of times that it is turned on. On the other hand, LEDs cope perfectly when used with sensors.

3. Always Clean The Lights

Ensuring that your outdoor light fixtures and bulbs are always clean will prolong their life. Any dirt that settles on the bulbs will absorb light and reduce the efficiency of your lights. To clean your lights, turn them off to allow the bulbs to cool, then spray them with a cleaning spray before wiping them with a microfiber cloth.

4. Solar Lighting Fixtures

The sun will do you a huge favor on saving the energy consumption of your outdoor lighting. Though Houston experiences rain in some periods, the majority of the days are sunny. So, make maximum use of the sunlight, and experiment with outdoor solar lighting. Solar lights are designed in several unique styles and perform effectively when used to line pathways to your house or the driveways.

5. Twinkly Lights

Twinkly lights radiate a welcoming ambiance and warm glow that is perfect for patios. The common twinkly string lightings have LED and solar versions, besides, LED lights to consume 50-80% lower energy than incandescent bulbs. This assists them to have a longer life and remain cool, which also helps in reducing fire risk.

In the Houston landscape lighting field, Robert Huff Landscape Illumination has more than 3 decades of experience. Based in Houston, TX, we are a fully insured and licensed lighting company that also provides outdoor lighting within Austin, TX. Our warm commercial lighting and outdoor home lighting team in Houston will liaise with you to deliver a customized lighting layout that is effective, affordable, and beautiful to look at. We guarantee a superior level of professional service and responsibility for every project we handle. Throughout every stage of our service, we will provide quality that will transform your ordinary home into a magnificent place.

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 Complete Guide To Cleaning Your Houston Outdoor Lighting Fixtures

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Cleaning Outdoor Lighting Fixtures In Houston: Tips & Tricks

The reason why many invest in outdoor lighting is that it illuminates the entryway as well as the driveway and walkway. Furthermore, they also help improve security. Another reason as to why exterior lighting is considered to be a good investment is because they also enhance the appearance of a house and adds character at the same time. However, when these outdoor lightings start to get old, they begin to oxidize and lose their beauty. When this happens, you can choose to get rid of the oxidation instead of replacing all the exterior lightings.

Cleaning your homes exterior copper or decorative metal or brass lighting fixtures can improve your outdoor lighting as well as the curbside appeal of your home. Moreover, different fixtures are cleaned using different cleaning methods. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to clean some of these outdoor lighting fixtures.

Cleaning Copper, Lacquer-coated Brass Or Metal Lighting Fixtures

Here are the things you need for cleaning copper, lacquer-coated brass or metal lighting fixtures:

  • Protective Gloves
  • Step Ladder
  • Hot Water
  • Flat Paintbrush (for removing dust)
  • Old Towel
  • Screwdriver
  • Two Utility Buckets
  • A Soft Piece Of Clothing For Cleaning
  • Glass Cleaner
  • Liquid Dishwashing Soap
  • Liquid Wax (optional for added protection)

Step # 1

Before you start cleaning your outdoor lighting fixtures, the first thing that you need do is make sure that they are turned off. Check all the switches before proceeding on. After that use a noncontact voltage sensor to test whether the outdoor lighting fixtures are turned off correctly. Place the noncontract voltage sensor against the electrical box and hold a dusk-to-down photocell. If the outdoor lighting fixtures are turned off correctly, then the lights will automatically turn off and on.

Step # 2

On a flat surface, carefully place the ladder close the o the outdoor light fixture.

Step # 3

Make sure you have your protective gloves on.

Step # 4

Carefully remove the bulbs so that it can be easy for you to clean both the outside and the inside of the light fixtures. Try to untwist the top or the bottom of the fixture so that it can be easy for you to reach the bulb.

Step # 5

Get rid of all spider webs, dust and bug debris using an old household paintbrush.

Step # 6

Besides removing the bulbs, you also have to remove other decorative items such as globes, shields and even grills. Us a screwdriver to remove these items without damaging them and store them on a soft surface.

Step # 7

Use the two utility buckets to create suds by mixing dishwashing soap and hot water. After that, it is advisable that you test the cleaner on s small section before you can proceed on to cleaning all the lighting fixtures.

Step # 8

Soak the miscellaneous parts that have been removed and the shied in a bucket filled will clean soapy water.

Step # 9

Use a soft piece of clothing or a sponge to clean the remaining parts of the fixtures that cannot be removed. However, make sure that you do not wet the electrical sockets when cleaning. If the accidentally reaches the sockets, then use a dry piece of clothing to rinse the soapy water.

Step # 10

After that make sure that you remove other parts of the fixtures from the water including the shield and the globe. Use clean water to rinse these items and dry them using a clean towel.

Step # 11

Use paste wax of nonabrasive liquid polish to make your metal surface shine again. You can also use car wax to do this if you do not have paste wax or nonabrasive liquid polish. However, make sure that the surface is dry before you start on the outside part.

Step # 12

To shine and clean the glass panes as well as the surface and shades, use a commercial glass cleaner. Also, remember to clean the exterior of the light glass using paper towels or a glass cleaner.

Step # 13

Clean the light bulbs using a damp piece of clothing. After that, you need to reinsert each bulb carefully and then reassemble the fixture. Do not switch on the circuit breaker until the fixtures have completely dried off.

Here are the things you should not do when cleaning outdoor lighting fixtures:

  • Avoid doing the following things so that you do not end up damaging the protective lacquer coating
  • Avoid using chemical-based cleaners.
  • Avoid using a piece of clothing that is not soft.
  • Avoid using products that contain alcohol or ammonia.

Cleaning True Brass, Copper, & Artisan Outdoor Lighting

Cleaning cooper or real brass lighting can be done using various kitchen ingredients such as salt and lemon. Furthermore, the ingredients are easy to find and very effective at clearing copper and brass fixtures. Here is a step by step guide on how to clean copper and brass suing kitchen ingredients.

Salt & Lemon

Gently remove any small spots of tarnish from the copper or brass by slowly rubbing the lemon onto the surface. To get good results, make sure that you mix both the salt and the lemon juice using equal measure. Use a soft piece of clothing to rub the paste on the surface so that it can be easy to remove the dirt. Fill a bucket with warm water and use it to rinse the surface before drying it at the end.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is considered to be an eco-friendly alternative for cleaning outdoor lighting fixtures. All you have to do is mix baking soda with lemon juice to create a unique paste. The paste is then applied on a soft piece of clothing which is used to clean the surface of the fixtures. If you come across tough stains, use baking soda alone to get rid of the stain. Using the same procedure, apply baking soda on a soft cloth and rub on the surface. After removing all the dirt, remove the paste by washing it off using water and a mixture of vegetable-based soap.

Our Legacy

Robert Huff Landscape Illumination has been working in this industry for more than 30 years. Our company is licensed by the State and insured. We deliver services to clients who are located in Houston, TX. We also cover other areas such as Austin, TX. Our services are open to both commercial and residential clients. Our team of trained and experienced staff will make sure that your lights are in good condition and working properly. Furthermore, we offer quality services at an affordable cost.

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!

 

Knowing How Our Outdoor Lights Are Wired In Houston

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Tips For Wiring Your Houston Outdoor Lights

Like other types of light, most outdoor lights need electricity to operate. That electricity is usually provided through wires. Having said that, there is no need to panic about your outdoor space getting overrun with wires. Most wiring for outdoor lighting runs underground, meaning that you won’t even see the wires after they are in place. Any above-ground wiring is usually designed to blend with the surrounding area so that it isn’t noticeable at a glance. Read on to get some helpful tips on wiring outdoor lights.

Every lighting situation requires a unique solution when it comes to wiring. For instance, the type of lighting that you choose for a pathway will usually be a lot different than what you choose for a driveway. The section below outlines some of the most popular ways to wire outdoor light fixtures.

Understanding Transformers

If you use transformers to power your outdoor lights, each light fixture is wired to the transformer. The wires themselves can either be above or below the ground. The transformer is then plugged into an outdoor outlet. Below is some more information so you can get a better idea of how these devices operate.

Transformers help your lights work in one of two ways: they either use a photocell or a timer. Transformers that operate on a timer are designed to automatically turn the lights off or on at specific times of the day. Transformers with a photocell, on the other hand, automatically detect the level of light outside, turning the lights on when it gets dark and shutting them off when it gets light. Transformers like these are popular for use in ponds.

Wiring The Lights To A Switch

Nothing is quite as satisfying as turning on a light switch and having your whole outdoor space light up. Wiring your outdoor light fixtures to a switch inside your home is a great option. There are a couple of different methods that you can use to accomplish this. The first is to wire the lights directly to the switch. The second option is to wire the lights to a transformer that is plugged into an outdoor outlet. The switch inside your home provides power to the outlet, which turns on the transformer and activates the lights. With this option, you can either turn on the lights manually or you can wait and allow them to turn on automatically when the sun goes down.

Solar Lighting

Solar lights rely on the sun upon for power. They do best in extremely sunny conditions. One of the greatest things about lights like these is that they don’t require any wiring. Typically, they have LED bulbs, which means that they use very little energy. That makes them a lot more practical than halogen bulbs for solar applications.

The Downsides To Solar Lighting

While solar lighting is easy to install, it does have some drawbacks. For one thing, the lights themselves lack the brightness of lights that are powered by electricity. This usually has to do with where they are placed. Lights that aren’t directly in the sun won’t get as bright as lights that are located in sunny areas.

No matter what type of lighting you opt for, adding outdoor lights can brighten up your home.

Lighting Up Your Exterior Space

When properly installed, outdoor lighting can enhance your home, making it much more beautiful after dark. When incorrectly designed, however, it can look a little bit garish and overdone. The key to lighting the outside of your home is to use a light touch, only placing lights in the most important areas. If you need help designing your outdoor lighting, reach out to Houston Window Coverings today.

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 LED Landscape Lights: Is It Good For Outdoor Lighting Purposes?

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Reasons To Use LED Landscape Lights For Outdoor Lighting In Houston

An LED (light-emitting diode) is a semiconductor that emits light. Light is produced when current flows in the semiconductor recombining with electron holes, hence releasing photon energy. LEDs are known to produce light in different spectrums and light. The color of light emitted is however dependent on the number of electrons needed to release energy across the bandgap. For white light, a layer of light-emitting phosphor or multiple semiconductors have to be used on the semiconductor device.

LED lights are common in both indoor and outdoor lighting. LED landscape lighting makes the perfect choice if looking for durability, energy efficiency, and even adaptability. When compared to other types of lighting, LED landscape lighting is far more beneficial and versatile, a reason many people are making the switch.

In addition to making it easy to keep your outdoors well lit, LED lights are relatively easy to maintain and don’t attract high lighting bills. That said, LED lights will help keep the landscape looking great without needing regular maintenance, as well as keep everyone around safe. Many city landscape designers choose to use this type of lighting in an attempt to not only make the city beautiful but safe for all.

While LEDs come in handy in landscape lighting, it would be advisable to choose the right type of LEDs for the job. Some of the factors you ought to consider when selecting LEDs include output light options, the specific project, and lighting design, among other preferences. Discussed below are some of the advantages and reasons you should consider using LED landscape lighting.

1. Compatibility With Detection Controls

LED landscape lighting systems can be attached to sensors and other control systems making it easy to control the intensity of light, as well as adjust brightness when needed. In addition to this, these systems can be programmed to turn on when the system doesn’t detect natural light, with the intensity increasing as the night progresses. In addition to this, the LEDs will dim progressively as daylight starts setting in in the morning.

There is a wide variety of high-quality LED landscape lighting system controls and products on the market that one can choose from. As mentioned earlier, most of these systems are compatible with various systems and can be programmed as per the client’s needs. As an added advantage, no manual intervention is required to switch the lights on or off. As long as the systems are programmed well, you can focus on other things knowing everything will work as desired. You also never have to worry about substantial energy bills either.

2. Adaptability & Flexibility To Various Landscapes

The LED lighting is very flexible and can be used in almost any landscape design. The LEDs are not only easy to install but can also be extended over time covering the entire landscape as per your wishes. As an added advantage, LEDs can be set to various moods. This is because you can switch from one color to another at the touch of a button. All that is needed to make this possible is to ensure you have the proper landscape lighting design, and a few low-voltage LED transformers if covering an extensive landscape.

Most landscape designers will start small then expand their focus over time. Depending on your budget and preferences, you can use LED landscape lighting for whatever designs you have. It’s worth noting that LED lighting systems make it possible to expand an existing line without necessarily starting over. This thus means you can make the landscape much safer with efficient lighting.

Unlike most light sources that emit lots of heat, LEDs emit very little heat in the form of IR. That said, you can be assured none of your fabrics or sensitive objects will be damaged by heat radiated by the same. Much of the heat produced by the LEDs is dispersed through its base.

3. They Are Perfect For Hard To Reach Areas & Spaces

You can control light intensity from these LEDs by lowering the forward current or by pulse-width modulation. This is the reason they are slowly becoming popular on car headlights. They also produce a stroboscopic effect when viewed from a distance, a factor that makes them stand out from other types of light.

LED lights can be installed in areas you would have considered impossible for a light fixture to be installed. LED landscape lights can, therefore, be used to light up the outdoors creating a backdrop for guests and strangers, especially at night. These come in handy when holding an outdoor event such as a party among other celebrations.

LED lights require minimal to no maintenance once installed. That said, you can have the lights installed and even leave them for years without turning them on. You won’t even have to replace the LEDs when you come back or need to use them. This is the reason why installing them in hard to reach areas won’t be a problem. That said, you can be assured of many years of service and longevity once the LED landscape lights are installed.

4. They Are An Energy-Efficient Option

LEDs are presumably the most energy-efficient landscape lighting options on the market today. These elements use up a fraction of what incandescent and even fluorescents use. You therefore never have to worry about substantial energy bills from keeping your landscape well-lit and looking beautiful at night. According to consumer reports, LED landscape lighting is at least 90% more energy-efficient as compared to other lighting options. As an added advantage, LEDs have a longer shelf life as well. They are capable of lasting up to 100,000 hours before requiring a replacement. This, therefore, saves you both time and money in terms of energy bills and replacements

5. LED Landscape Lights Are Eco-Friendly

If concerned about energy efficiency and particularly careful about your carbon footprint, you can then rest assured that LED lights are environmentally safe. Unlike incandescent bulbs, LEDs do not contain mercury or any other harmful compound. They are also 100% recyclable.

From the facts and benefits outlined above, it is evident that LEDs are the perfect choice for landscape lighting. In addition to their versatility and durability, you will be saving lots of money in energy bills and maintenance.

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

Helpful Ideas To Investing In Houston Outdoor Lighting

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7 Tips To Help You Get It Right When Investing In Outdoor Lighting

With summer now here with us, you most likely are gearing up to enjoying the great outdoors. Your backyard may become your favorite place to chill in when you are at home or when hosting your friends for lunch or dinner. Therefore, the fun should not stop when the sun sets because you do not have any outdoor lighting.

When investing in the outdoor lights, keep in mind that the lighting options are not created the same. Moreover, setting up the lights involves more than installing them on the walls or hanging string lights from the roof. You should strive to create an elegant ambiance, and this demands that you choose the right lighting fixture.

1. Include These Types

When planning the lighting, you need to account for three basic types: task, ambiance, and accent. That means you need to pick the right kind of lights for each of the three. The task lighting will be the lights you install to illuminate the walkway, deck, driveway, patio, and the security lights. The ambiance lighting will be what you fit on the walls, posts, and string from the roof. As for the accent lighting, you will be working with lights that enhance your landscaping; this can include options such as spotlights.

2. Calculate

Before heading out to buy the outdoor lights, you should know how many fixtures you need and which kind. For this, you will need to get a pen and paper and do some calculations. You will take the square footage of your yard and multiply it by 1.5 to estimate the required total wattage. Therefore, a 100sq. feet area will need 150watts.

3. Make Your Pick In Advance

After doing your calculations and figuring the wattage, you then will focus on the type of lighting fixtures you need. You will take into account their size and installation position before you go to buy them. You will need to draw a template of the layout on paper and use it to determine the placement of each light. For instance, for the patio at the back or the front porch, you will position the wall lights a height that is one-third that of the door.

4. Use LEDs

LEDs that the best investment when it comes to lighting up your backyard. The lights are cost-effective, less energy demanding, and last longer than the incandescent or halogen bulbs. Moreover, LEDs need little to no maintenance.

5. Seek Inspiration Inside Your Home

If you feel lost when figuring out the layout plan for the outdoor lights or what to pick, you can get some idea from inside your house and the arrangement of your outdoor space. Look at the garden and how the pathways flow, consider the size and design of your patio and then image what lighting fixtures will accentuate them. If you are thinking of creating a lit area of your outdoor dinners, then get some inspirations from your dining or living rooms.

6. Use Subtle Light For Entertainment Areas

Bright spotlights will be a distraction to your guests when they are seated enjoying their outdoor meal. As such, you should consider installing lamps with a soft glow. Subtlety is the name of the game when it comes to lighting up the outdoor dining areas, and the lights should be installed to give indirect lighting. Pendants, ceiling fans that have light kits, and lanterns are excellent options worth considering.

7. Think About Security

Lastly, remember that outdoor lighting is not just about enhancing the aesthetics of your yard. They also should help secure your home. Given this, you need fixtures that will ensure that all entry points are well lit. For instance, you can install wall lanterns on either side of the garage and a single lamp above the main door to light up the front porch. You can fit spotlights on the eaves of your roof at selected sides of the house that are in the shadows.

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!

Ideal Things To Do To Correctly Investing In Outdoor Lighting In Houston

Posted by Robert Huff on

7 Tips To Help You Get It Right When Investing In Houston Outdoor Lighting

With summer now here with us, you most likely are gearing up to enjoying the great outdoors. Your backyard may become your favorite place to chill in when you are at home or when hosting your friends for lunch or dinner. Therefore, the fun should not stop when the sun sets because you do not have any outdoor lighting.

When investing in the outdoor lights, keep in mind that the lighting options are not created the same. Moreover, setting up the lights involves more than installing them on the walls or hanging string lights from the roof. You should strive to create an elegant ambiance, and this demands that you choose the right lighting fixture.

1. Include These Types

When planning the lighting, you need to account for three basic types: task, ambiance, and accent. That means you need to pick the right kind of lights for each of the three. The task lighting will be the lights you install to illuminate the walkway, deck, driveway, patio, and the security lights. The ambiance lighting will be what you fit on the walls, posts, and string from the roof. As for the accent lighting, you will be working with lights that enhance your landscaping; this can include options such as spotlights.

2. Calculate

Before heading out to buy the outdoor lights, you should know how many fixtures you need and which kind. For this, you will need to get a pen and paper and do some calculations. You will take the square footage of your yard and multiply it by 1.5 to estimate the required total wattage. Therefore, a 100sq. feet area will need 150watts.

3. Make Your Pick In Advance

After doing your calculations and figuring the wattage, you then will focus on the type of lighting fixtures you need. You will take into account their size and installation position before you go to buy them. You will need to draw a template of the layout on paper and use it to determine the placement of each light. For instance, for the patio at the back or the front porch, you will position the wall lights a height that is one-third that of the door.

4. Use LEDs

LEDs that the best investment when it comes to lighting up your backyard. The lights are cost-effective, less energy demanding, and last longer than the incandescent or halogen bulbs. Moreover, LEDs need little to no maintenance.

5. Seek Inspiration Inside Your Home

If you feel lost when figuring out the layout plan for the outdoor lights or what to pick, you can get some idea from inside your house and the arrangement of your outdoor space. Look at the garden and how the pathways flow, consider the size and design of your patio and then image what lighting fixtures will accentuate them. If you are thinking of creating a lit area of your outdoor dinners, then get some inspirations from your dining or living rooms.

6. Use Subtle Light For Entertainment Areas

Bright spotlights will be a distraction to your guests when they are seated enjoying their outdoor meal. As such, you should consider installing lamps with a soft glow. Subtlety is the name of the game when it comes to lighting up the outdoor dining areas, and the lights should be installed to give indirect lighting. Pendants, ceiling fans that have light kits, and lanterns are excellent options worth considering.

7. Think About Security

Lastly, remember that outdoor lighting is not just about enhancing the aesthetics of your yard. They also should help secure your home. Given this, you need fixtures that will ensure that all entry points are well lit. For instance, you can install wall lanterns on either side of the garage and a single lamp above the main door to light up the front porch. You can fit spotlights on the eaves of your roof at selected sides of the house that are in the shadows.

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 Effects For Your Houston Outdoor Lighting

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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!