Houston Residential Outdoor Lighting: Top 3 Landscape Lighting Design Trends for 2018 

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Robert Huff Outdoor Lighting: 3 Trends For Residential Landscape Lighting Designs in Houston

1. Fixtures

Earth Tone Coated Fixtures Going Out. Earth tone coated fixtures are losing their popularity. In the past, it was recommended that path lights in earth tones that matched the landscape be used to keep them from seeming intrusive; however, the latest attitudes towards this theory are changing. Designers are now realizing that the beauty of the lighting fixtures can enhance your landscape and add beauty. Brass and copper lighting fixtures continually prove to be a timeless choice for properties during the day and at night. As the metal ages, a beautiful patina develops that enhances the beauty throughout your landscape. The patina’s colors and hues will change from year to year. Much like nature changes through the seasons, metal lighting fixtures will also change over the years to add interest to the landscape. Check out some outdoor lighting tips by clicking here.

2. Lamps

Halogen lighting is not as popular as it once was due to continual lamp burnouts and the energy these lamps consume. Additionally, because of the maintenance required for halogen lighting fixtures, the demand for halogen lights continues to decline. Instead, LED lights are becoming the preferred choice. The technology used in LED lights have changed the lighting industry. While LED lights have been around for awhile, they are just now being embraced by the landscape lighting industry. Houston residential outdoor lighting understands that LED lamps can mimic halogen lighting, making it difficult to spot the difference between the two. In the past, LED lighting was only available in cold blue; however, this is a thing of the past. LED lamps are available in a range of lighting colors and are incredibly energy efficient. These tips are great to consider to avoid landscaping failures for at your residence.

3. Timers

Old school analog timers that use a wheel in a mechanical timer are a thing of the past. Although this type of timer is dependable, newer control systems are making a strong play for the preferred choice of landscape timers. An astronomical timer offers so much more sophisticated control over the timing system than an analog timer. astrometrical timers are effective and are easy to use. All you need to do is enter your property’s GPS location or your zip code for them to work properly. The timers use this information to know when sunrise and sunset is every day of the year. You can also program an astrometrical timer to account for daylight savings. Additionally, these timers allow you to control the days that you want your outdoor lighting to come on and more. Contact your Houston residential outdoor lighting provider for more information on the benefits of an astrometrical timer. The lighting specialist can also help with the installation of your astrometrical timer. Make your home more aesthetically pleasing with these tips.

To learn more about outdoor home lighting Houston TX Services,  check out our website and our blog. For questions or concerns, please Call us now.

 

Intensify & Create A Beautiful Atmosphere For Your Living Space With Robert Huff Outdoor Lighting Designs In Houston

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Enhancing Your Outdoor Living Space With Beautiful Houston Outdoor Lighting Designs

Enjoying your backyard after dark can come down to the right Houston outdoor lighting design. When you are ready to unwind on the back patio after a hard day’s work, there are certain things that make your experience more enjoyable. Some of these things include feeling the warm summer breeze on your skin, taking up your position over the grill in order to serve some serious summertime barbecue, and kick up your feet with a cold beer in hand. While your satisfaction could be attributed to many things – including the above – the moment is quite enjoyable because you got the chance of escaping from the rest of the world. In fact, your outdoor space is where you unwind forgetting about all the madness that goes on during the day. The outdoor lighting can play a big part in enhancing your outdoor experience during the warm summer months. The Houston outdoor lighting should be tailored to meet your specific needs and enjoyment. In fact, you have worked very hard to build an escape – and the evening is the time you really get to enjoy the day. Houston outdoor lighting can either enhance or deflate your evening experience. That is why you need to pay close attention to Houston outdoor lighting at all times.

Designing A Tailored Lighting System

Is your outdoor space used to entertain guests? If so, the designer may consider a different approach when lighting your backyard. In fact, he or she may create some festive lighting designs depending on your specific setting. If pool lighting is an issue, the designer might have the perimeter of the pool deck illuminated by tiki-lighters. These are tall are lights that are very important to offer a functional safety with a tiki torch on top – which can be lit for the right occasion. In fact, pool lighting may create an amazing atmosphere in your backyard- when done the right way. Is security your concern? In fact, steps and elevation changes can always pose a danger in the dark.

Houston Outdoor Lighting Designer

Your designer will take a look at places where there are trip hazards and illuminate such areas in order to improve the safety in your backyard. He or she will look for places in your garden where security lighting is lacking and create a ring of lighting security in such areas such as layers of lights in order to deter trespass. Is tranquility the priority in your backyard? The outdoor living space is your retreat. Hence, you want the place to be relaxing, inviting, and warm. Your designer will use the key elements in the landscape in order to enhance the natural beauty of the area. In fact, water features, statuary, and plant materials will become the focus in this regard.

Putting On Your Night Goggles

Creating a wonderful landscape lighting design includes designing a space that would be enjoyed during the evening and nighttime. This is difficult than most people would think. In fact, envisioning how your space would look at night with the right lighting is not an easy task. That is where a professional Houston outdoor lighting designer comes in handy. In fact, such a designer knows how to use night goggles. A reliable Houston outdoor lighting designer knows how to create the best atmosphere in your backyard.

To learn more about outdoor home lighting Houston TX Services,  check out our website and our blog. For questions or concerns, please Call us now.

How To Weatherproof Outdoor Electrical Plugs And Outlets

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Don’t Let Poor Installation Rain On Your Parade

Robert Huff Outdoor Lighting | Houston Outdoor Lighting ExpertsThe dangers associated with mixing electricity and water are well-known. Despite that, many people install outdoor electrical outlets and plugs without really thinking about the dangers that could occur during periods of rain.

Most outdoor outlets are designed with covers that flip down over the top of the outlet when they are not being used. Unfortunately, however, these covers do little to protect the outlet when cords are plugged into them. If you really want your outdoor electrical outlets to be protected, you need to find a way to keep rain away even when they are being used. In fact, this safety issue is so important that the National Electrical Code now mandates that outlet covers that are designed to provide protection while the outlet is in use are mandatory for outlets that are exposed to the weather.

Weatherproofing Electrical Plugs And Outlets

The way that the covers for most outdoor electrical outlets are designed, they don’t provide proper protection when an electrical cord is plugged in. Because the cover can’t close the entire way when there is a cord in the outlet, water can get inside. This can cause all kinds of problems ranging from blowing a fuse to triggering a short circuit in the electrical system.

The good news is, there are steps that you can take to safeguard your home against problems with your outdoor electrical outlets.

Invest In ‘While-In-Use’ Covers For Electrical Outlets

These days, many manufacturers make outlet covers that are designed to provide complete protection from the rain and other types of moisture even when the outlet is being used. These large covers are designed to fit around the entire outlet. They have a door on the front that seals off the outlet. A special opening in the bottom of the door allows the cord to run through without compromising the protection that the cover provides.

When choosing a cover for your outlet, you should look for one that is designed for the type of outlet where it will be placed. It should also clearly be labeled as a ‘while-in-use’ cover. Double check to make sure that the outlet cover is in compliance with the requirements of the National Electrical Code. The cover should be designed in such a way that all potential contaminants including water are kept away from the outlet when it is being used.

Installation Tips

Before you even think about installing one of these covers on an electrical outlet, be sure to shut off the power at the breaker box. Hang a note on the breaker box letting people know not to turn the breaker back on so that you can work safely on the outlet without having to worry about the risk of electrocution.

The installation process itself is relatively simple. All that you have to do is remove the existing outlet cover and install the new one in its place. Most of these covers come with detailed instructions on how they should be installed. You should always follow these instructions to make sure that the cover is installed correctly. After all, the success of the cover depends on it being properly installed.

If you aren’t completely certain that you can install the cover safely, you should hire an electrician to do it instead. There is no point in taking a risk with your health and safety.

In most cases, the cover will be designed to fit around the outlet receptacle. The gasket of the cover should fit snugly around the receptacle, preventing water from getting inside. Remember, you will need to install covers on all of your outdoor outlets if you really want your home to be protected.

One of the most popular uses for outdoor outlets is to power string lights during the holiday season. All of these lights should be plugged into outlets that are covered with weatherproof covers. This will help prevent any electrical problems from occurring.

Make Safety A Priority

Anytime you work with electricity, safety needs to be your top priority. Only install the outlet covers if you are completely confident in your abilities. Make sure that the power is shut off before you begin work. Don’t turn the breaker back on until all of the outlet covers are in place.

Finally, make sure that all of the outlets themselves are designed for outdoor use. Because outdoor electrical outlets are exposed to moisture, they need to be GFCI outlets. They should also be regularly tested to make sure that they are working the way that they should.

For more information on outdoor lighting maintenance in Houston, please contact Robert Huff Outdoor Lighting today or call us now for immediate assistance!