What Is The Best Landscape Lighting and it’s Different Types

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Residential exterior lighting can turn a basic landscape into a masterpiece that everyone marvels at. However, lighting up your landscape of choice, be it your backyard, front yard, or outdoor garden, can be a daunting task especially if you have never done this kind of work before. But, there is no reason to fear or panic as this does not have to be the case. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of choosing the best landscape lighting for your property. We’ll highlight different types of landscape lighting setups and how you can use them to give your landscape a total makeover.

Landscape Lighting 101

The first lesson you need to learn about landscape lighting aside from knowing what are the best outdoor lights is that in many cases, less is more. This means that you can essentially light up everything you want without investing in tons of lights that will cause your power bill to skyrocket. Simply put, don’t wash your yard out with lights while trying to spice it up. This will only make it look work. You need to play around with both the light and the dark. This is how shadows take form and things that were otherwise hidden come into the light. A well-lit landscape can help you create a sense of comfort, security, and tranquility in your property.

What To Light and What Not To Light

When playing around with the light and the dark, you’ll need to figure out what to light in your yard and what not to light. Choosing an outdoor light fixture for your house is not easy. To achieve this, you’ll first need to identify specific features in your landscape that you like. It can be anything from a pond to a particular tree. You can use lights to highlight these features and sought to show them off. You can add intrigue to sections of your landscape that are often ignored or avoided. This section can be anything from a simple stone wall to a dull footpath. Highlight these sections can give them an entirely new personality especially at night.

Another factor you should consider is functionality. Certain parts of your landscape may need to be lit for purely functional reasons. These can be areas such as staircases, and footpaths. You’ll need to be able to see these things at night to be able to conveniently move about your yard at night. Also, entryways and exits should be adequately lit yo allow guests and family members to safely and conveniently access your home. You can create a warm and welcoming mood in your property by simply using certain types of landscape lights on your entryways and exits.

Types of Landscape Lighting

Now that you have established what you want to light up, the next step is choosing the specific type of lights you will use. Below are various types of lighting fixtures you can use for landscape lighting.

Path Lights

Probably the most popular type of landscape lighting, path lights are small light posts that are spread out along a footpath to illuminate the walkway. These lights can also be used to frame out space or feature in your landscape. They can also be configured around a pool or along a driveway.

Up Lighting

This is a lighting setup that’s commonly used together with trees and other tall structures to create drama. You can use this type of landscape lighting to highlight large and exotic trees in your compounds.

Silhouette Lighting

Silhouette lights give an amazing effect for highlighting features that are otherwise hidden during the day. You only need to place these lights behinds the objects or features you want to highlight and boom, they will become visible for all to see.

Shadow Lighting

This type of lighting is the opposite of silhouette lighting. Here, the lights are placed in front of the object or feature that you want to highlight. For this lighting setup, you will need to have a flat surface such as a wall behind the object being illuminated so that proper shadows can be formed.

Moon Lighting

This is a special type of landscape lighting that can transform your yard. The light source is usually positioned high up in trees while aimed downwards. The light washes down the branches and illuminates the ground below.

Now you have a few ideas of some landscape lighting options you can use to spice up your yard. You can now go forth and transform your landscape into a masterpiece. You can look around to visit stores and ask how much does it cost for landscape lighting.

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!

What are the Best Outdoor Lights for your Home?

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Choosing an outdoor light fixture for your house serves an important function. Without them, we would not be able to see at night. The blessing of modern technology has made us able to use something more reliable than fire. Outdoor light is about more than providing us with a way to see at night. These lights make for excellent decorations. They can also enhance the decorations you already have. To be sure that lighting is the best it can be in your yard, it’s important to do your research. The taste you have may be different from someone who told you about a great option for yard lighting by word of mouth.

The functions that outdoor lighting serve are endless. They help us park in our driveway without running over our mailbox. They highlight beautiful trees and flower beds that otherwise wouldn’t be seen at night. These beautiful decorations make every yard perfect. To understand how they can enhance your yard, it’s important to know what you’re going to use them for. Do you have a stone path? Many homeowners are buying outdoor lights to make it possible to step on the stones and not the grass at night. It is important to know what is the best landscape lighting. Here are the 5 best outdoor lights you can find in-store or on the internet:

Muse Outdoor Lamp Battery Powered

This lamp provides more than light, it is also a beautiful decoration. With the modern and artsy look of its X design, it is sure to look excellent on the side of any swimming pool. The handle on the lamp makes this light extremely easy to transport. They provide a dim light, so they may not be the best option if you need high lighting in the area. While they are referred to as a table lamp by the company, they are certainly big enough to be put on the ground.

Halley Floor To Floor Lamp

This lamp is designed to look like an arch. It is perfect to go over a chair or a hammock. Those who would like to read a book in their backyard at night need adequate lighting to do so. This light goes straight over the chair and makes it possible to see the pages. This light is also perfect to go over seating arrangements. Beautiful lights are completely necessary at a wedding reception. The Halley Floor light provides it perfectly. Look for light companies in Houston as they will help you if you need any assistance with the lightings.

Daylight Table Lamp

This is a chandelier lamp. No one would have ever thought it possible to have one of these in the backyard. It’s so beautiful to look at you almost don’t care about its function; however, it provides enough light for any guest to be able to see their plates. It also creates an enchanting look when it is put in the middle of the yard for decoration. An elegant rose garden couldn’t possibly have a better mate than this outdoor light. While it may seem delicate, it is almost completely weather resistant. Only extreme weather conditions can harm this light.

So Fresh Led

At great parties, there is always wine. Too bad it’s so hard to see the bottle in the dark. This light is perfect for parties were adult drinks are served. The led light is a wine holder. You will be sure to delight all the guests who are 21 and older with this beautiful way to display it.

#5 Point Led

This light is perfect to place along pathways. It is a small light that is put on the ground. It looks sort of like a mini hill. It is battery powered, so cords aren’t necessary. The lights can be placed along the stone path to make it possible to see the stones while you’re walking down it. It also has a color-changing feature as most led lights do. You can pick out the color that suits your path the best. It also helps as you won’t get bored.

Which To Choose?

If you’re worrying how much does it cost for landscape lighting you should canvass first to see what fits best for you. All of these are excellent lights. As you can see, they all serve different purposes. Pick the one that’s right for you and go with it. These lights are more than just functional, they’re incredibly aesthetically pleasing. You’ll love the look and your guests will too.

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!

Outdoor Lighting Is Essential For Your Landscape Design In Houston

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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.

two story house with moonlighting

When To Hire A Lighting Professional In Houston

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Reasons To Hire A Houston Lighting Expert

In case you are looking to design or redo your home’s lighting, then you might be considering to do this as a Do-It-Yourself project. But the most effective way of ensuring that your home’s lighting is done properly and correctly is hiring a lighting expert. Even though most people believe that hiring a lighting professional is a costly option, doing so can, in fact, save you a lot of time, money and effort as your project benefits from their skills and expertise.

Technology

One of the main reasons to hire a lighting professional is that they have knowledge of the different types of lighting technology. You have to keep in mind that there are various kinds of lights and lighting solutions available on the market. A lighting professional will help you choose the best and most cost-effective lighting solution.

Skills

Lighting work requires a specific set of skills and the required knowledge. Since lighting professionals are well trained and educated about lighting including the art of design, environmental issues, codes, electricity, optics, and more.

Options

Another benefit of lighting professionals is that they know and are well-updated on the different lighting solutions out there. A lighting professional gives you access to a wide range of options and helps you to choose the best one for your home.

Savings

It is easy to assume that a lighting project will increase your project costs. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. A lighting professional knows the most cost-effective techniques, knows how to find fixtures that are less costly, helps you to avoid making expensive errors, and helps you to stick to your budget, which helps to save you a lot of money.

Factors To Take Into Consideration

Size

One of the main factors to consider when deciding between hiring a lighting professional or doing it yourself is the scope of the design. If your project is large, for example, a new home lighting design project, then you should definitely hire a professional.

Budget

Your budget is always an important factor to consider when making this type of decision. As discussed earlier, a lighting professional can help you to save money. So, compare the quotes from different professionals first.

Skills

Another important factor to consider is your skill level and experience. If you have relevant experience in lighting design, then you can consider DIY. However, hire a professional if you have little to no experience with home lighting.

Choosing A Lighting Professional

If you are planning a home lighting design project, you obviously want to leave the task to someone who knows what they are doing. Therefore, it is crucial to find out whether he or she has professional qualifications. Start by finding out whether he or she is a member of the International Association of Lighting Designers. Also, find out if he or she has a CLC (Certified Lighting Consultant) or LC (Lighting Certification). Lastly, find out about his or her past lighting education and participation in any lighting design awards programs.

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

Why Is A Houston Lighting Design Important?

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The Importance Of Lighting Design In Houston

Light can be a very powerful tool when used right. If used carefully, it can truly enhance any constructed environment. It does this through interplay on many different levels. They include how light interplays with space, form, surfaces, texture, color, and perhaps most crucially, people. An effective lighting scheme can be used first to enhance a space, and even later to reinterpret one. Specific uses of effective lighting include improving wellness, offering drama, dictating ambiance, improving productivity, and even supporting brand values. A deliberately crafted lighting scheme can enhance even the most boring and tedious spaces. For all its power, what exactly is lighting design then?

Behold The Artistry

Seeing as how science is always something that gets simply borrowed, it’s imagination that proves more crucial than anything else. The best lighting specialists let creative ideas push their design process. Only after we have come up with a vivid vision for a certain environment, space or building do we start thinking about the practical implications involved in actually achieving it. Our process typically happens as a collaborative result of many suggestions, concepts, and ideas coming together in a beautiful mental melting pot. When the creativity of many come together, it paves the way for the comprehensive design narrative or broader project philosophy.

Witness The Scientific Side

It’s crucial to also comprehend how lighting works, in particular with the reactions it has with various surfaces. A good lighting designer has a thorough understanding of the scientific side of this, as well as certain technical properties related to both artificial and natural light. This comprehension and knowledge go a long way in establishing the definition of a design solution.

Trust The Technology

Artificial lighting is something that has shown substantial progress in the last 10 years, particularly in terms of LEDs. Light-emitting diodes have come a long way in terms of technological development and mass production. LEDs are certainly going to be around for a while, but that’s not to say other kinds of lamps and technologies aren’t also useful. Lighting designers are adept at staying current with these developments, as an industry necessity, if they are going to keep manifesting desired effects using the field’s most cost-efficient options available at the time of any project.

Regardless of what a particular project is going to be, great lighting schemes are a result of a lighting designer that is a master of their medium, since they can meld technology, science, and artistry into one impressive package.

We Are The Best In The Local Landscape Lighting Industry

We bring decades of landscape lighting experience to the table. Our outdoor lighting company is both licensed and insured, and our friendly commercial and residential lighting teams work directly with you to come up with customized lighting schemes you can afford, meet your needs, and are visually appealing. We handle every job with the same professional and reputable care as any other. Trust us to turn something rudimentary into something extraordinary.

For a free estimate, answers to questions, or just to learn the possible options, contact our outdoor lighting experts right away or call us at (713)861-2000!

residential and commercial led low voltage landscape lighting

How To Save Energy On Your Outdoor Lighting In Houston

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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!

Landscape Lighting In Houston: How Important Is It?

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Top Reasons Why Investing To A Houston Landscape Lighting Is Awesome

Landscaping is an essential feature of your home’s exterior, from the plants to the hardscape features. However, one important aspect of landscaping that a majority of homeowners tend to underestimate is landscape lighting. In case you are searching for ways to enhance the appearance of your home, then you should consider landscape lighting, which is a very cost-effective way of achieving this. In addition to giving your home a spectacular look, lighting also offers many other benefits. The following are some of the reasons why landscaping lighting is important for yards and gardens.

Enhanced Security

FBI crime reports indicate that the possibility of a home burglary is about one in five. A home intrusion compromises the safety of your family and can also lead to the loss of your prized possessions. Chances of a home intrusion are often higher when your home seems easy to break into. Lighting makes burglars feel exposed and vulnerable as your home becomes lighted up. With outdoor lighting, you will also be able to identify strangers who might be outside your home easily. There is a wide range of landscape lightings on the market; for example, garden lamp posts and pathway lighting can be used to enhance the security of your home as well as to increase the aesthetic appeal.

Ever wondered why thieves and squatters usually perform their deeds at night? Engaging in illegal activities in broad daylight will definitely catch the attention of others. Similarly, misbehaving in lit areas is also very unwise. Hence, when you have a properly lit backyard, intruders or prowlers near your home will think twice before attempting anything illegal. Furthermore, if your lights are bright enough, neighbors and other people near your home will be able to see them and take the necessary action.

Improved Curb Appeal

One great benefit of installing landscape lighting is that it significantly enhances your home’s curb appeal. You can utilize landscape lighting to showcase the best architectural features of your home. Do this by conveniently positioning your light fixtures and pointing their light to the direction of the features that you want to showcase. For instance, wall washers are designed to glaze textured wall surfaces with light. These types of lights create shadows and highlights on the wall. You can also use lighting to highlight various garden features, for example, trellis or gazebo.

Many individuals undertake home renovations and landscape design projects in an effort to increase their property’s market value. In general, depending on several factors, additions and upgrades can increase your property value. Since outdoor lighting is a technical addition, approximately half of potential home buyers will consider it an important home feature. As a matter of fact, around 49% of potential homebuyers actually consider it a “desirable quality” when looking for a home.

When you correctly install your outdoor lighting so that it complements your overall property, you significantly enhance your curb appeal and possibly your home’s market value.

Reduce The Risks Of Trips & Falls

In addition to keeping burglars at bay, illuminating your landscape also helps to avoid injuries. Landscape lightings installed along walkways and driveways ensure that you and your guests safely make their way into your home. This is especially beneficial at night when there is a high risk of trips and falls. What’s more frustrating than coming back home from a hard day at work just to find out that you’ve locked yourself out of your front door and have to use the backyard door? When you don’t have a flashlight, making your way through the dark yard can be very hard, especially considering that you have to avoid stepping on the plants and flowers. With landscape lighting, particularly solar lights along pathways, you will be able to easily make your way through the yard without putting yourself at harm or ruining your landscaping.

Same as outdoor lights are important for aesthetics; they are just as important for safety. Regardless of whether you are able to memorize your backyard correctly or if your walkways are smooth or not, whenever you are walking through your landscape at night, having the ability to see each step you are about to take is essential. It isn’t wise at all to rely on street lights or the light that might be coming from your neighbors home as you to attempt to navigate your yard.

For a safer and more effective solution, consider installing lamp posts or path lights along your walkways.

Enjoy The Outdoors More

In case your home has a swimming pool, a fire pit, or an impeccable outdoor dining area, outdoor lights enable you to enjoy these great features during the night the same as you would during the day. With landscape lighting, you minimize the risks of an injury when you go for a dive in your pool at night. This means that you get to make the most out of your backyard and enjoy more quality time with friends and family.

Landscape lighting not only influences the mood of your guests and enhances the safety and curb appeal of your home, but it also increases its market value. Keep in mind that a landscape that is properly maintained is a key selling feature, and with landscape lighting, the value will only increase. There is a wide range of landscape lighting options available, such as the creation of lighting spots that include dimmers, timers, and motion sensors. It doesn’t matter if you desire the look of warm pathway lights, antique gas lamps replicas or even spotlights used to highlight the architecture of your home, in case you are looking for ways to enhance the appeal of your home, then landscaping lighting offers a great solution.

You should never overlook outdoor lighting in landscape design. When you install the right kind of outdoor lighting for your unique kind of layout, it can be very beneficial, effective, and also generally appealing to look at.

Get in touch with Robert Huff Outdoor Lighting for additional ideas on how landscape lighting can be an essential feature of your home in our master-planned community.

Visit our blog to discover more tips and tricks. Call or contact us today for more information!

LED Lights In Houston: The Present & Future Of Energy-Efficient Lighting

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Is It Good To Switch In A Houston LED Lighting?

The LED technology has made significant strides over the past few years. Today’s LEDs have a longer lifespan of more than 400,000hrs. And some of the best models are available with custom CRIs, Kelvin temperatures, and unique optics. Overall, all the LEDs are energy-efficient solutions.

The LED Difference

LEDs are distinctively directional, which means they emit a light that travels in a specific direction. With fluorescent and HID lamps, the light flows in all directions; as such, there is a lot of wasted light. The directional lighting synonymous with LEDs thus limits the wastage of light, and this translates to higher efficiency and lower wattage consumptions.

The lack of a filament means that LEDs, and unlike the HID and Fluorescent bulbs, are more resistant to damage. They are categories in the group of solid-state lighting solutions. They can withstand bumping and jarring. LEDs do not contain any mercury and generate little heat compared to their predicator technologies.

What Are LEDs?

LEDs rely on semiconductor diodes mostly known as light-emitting diodes that radiate electroluminescence when electricity passes through in a forward motion. The flowing electrons in the current move through the semiconductor and fall into other energy levels while on transit to the P-N junction. The electron transition into a lower energy level that causes them to emit a photon of light. The photo might be infrared, with that spectrum, into ultraviolet light, or anywhere on the visible light spectrum.

Incorporating LEDs Into Luminaires

Initially, the LEDs were made with the diodes that were wired in a line and mounted onto a heat sink. However, this set up face numerous performance limitations and issues.

The diodes were mostly installed permanently onto a solid, pre-drilled surface with holes that are specific to the LEDs being used. If one LED failed, then the entire fixture would not work. Moreover, doing upgrades was not possible, meaning there was no effective means of changing the faulty LEDs.

Currently, the technology has morphed into something more practical. The LED modules used are customizable. They are retrofittable and replaceable. The housing for the light fixtures is customized to support and enhance the capabilities of the LEDs to ensure the delivery of more lumens per watt.

LED Light Engines/Modules

The latest LEDs are upgradeable; you can change an LED module that fails just like how you would with a light bulb. As such, manufacturers can utilize the component they want in LED fixtures.

LED Module Manufacturers

Different companies are producing light modules for various applications. That is why these modules are adaptable since they are available in changeable optics and multiple wattages.

LED Drivers

For the LEDs to work, they need a transformer instead of the standard line voltage. The transformers or drivers convert the current into usable energy. It the same principle applied in HID fixtures. Many manufacturers produce these drivers, hence the need to research and know the driver that suits your LED installation.

LEDs & Glass Lenses

The older luminaires were made with a protective lens; this is old technology but was meant to protect the ballast, light source, and driver from dirt. However, the optics used in these early LEDs cannot work the same as the latest LED lighting technologies. In as much as these luminaries are the best lighting solutions, their efficacy can be limited by poor position or the type of glass cover or lenses used.

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!

Helpful Ideas To Choosing A Landscape Lighting Designer In Houston

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10 Tips To Do Before Hiring A Houston Landscape Lighting Designer

When you think about the ideal landscape lighting for your outdoor spaces you might be imagining dramatic uplighting that showcases the most attractive features of your home. Or maybe you have thought about artistic moonlighting that creates dappled shadows across either your driveway or a patio.

Yet these are just ideas and your more challenging task still remains. This includes hiring a professional designer that is able to successfully create a landscape-lighting wonderland for your garden.

Installing a landscape-lighting system of the highest quality takes artistry, experience, and skill. You cannot afford to just use anybody for this type of job. This is the reason why it is so important that you know exactly what you should be looking for before you hire the right type of landscape-lighting contractor.

Here is a list of our 10 top tips that you can use to find the best landscape-lighting designer for your project!

1. Ask The Contractor About Their Qualifications & Experience

Experience is what turns someone that is good at something into an expert, and this is an important consideration when it comes to hiring landscape lighting designers. It is also important to make sure the designer has attended training in association with this specialization and that they are licensed.

2. Review Photos Of The Lighting Projects That This Company Has Already Worked On

Are the stunning photos that are promoted on their website actually their work? Qualified contractors will always have impressive galleries that showcase the work they have recently done.

3. Check On References

The skilled landscape lighting designers will happily provide you with references from satisfied clients that are able to recommend the company.

4. Make Sure That The Designer Is Prepared To Work With You

This project should be seen as a type of partnership. You should not get the feeling that it is their way or no way. An experienced designer will work with you to find out about your lifestyle and your ideas for the project. In this way, you can be sure that you will end up with the type of lighting system that you want.

5. Inquire Whether Lighting Is Their Only Focus

You are not looking for a jack-of-all-trades for a lighting project. You need an expert that is skilled and experienced when it comes to landscape lighting and someone that focuses on this line of work all the time. For example, if your car started giving you transmission problems, you would not take the car to your local tire shop.

6. Ask The Designer About The Quality Of The Materials That They Plan To Use

This is a very important consideration. The end result for your landscape-lighting system will only be of the best quality when quality parts have been used.

The designer should be using quality components that are crafted from copper and brass, and not low-quality composite, aluminum, or plastic.

As soon as the lighting system is in place, it is exposed to the elements. Water can seep into fixtures of low-quality, it can also result in rotting sockets or even cause the wires to corrode. Insects can also make a home in your fixtures when they are not sealed properly.

You also need to find out how the designer plans to connect the light fixtures to the wiring which will run to a power source. Pierce connectors and wire nut should not go underground, yet many of the systems for landscape lighting use these anyway. The pierce-point connections that run to a mainline can start to loosen and can corrode at the pierce points. This is why quality really matters.

7. Communication Is Essential

Is the designer prepared to keep you constantly in the loop throughout the duration of the project? Will they also tell you when they arrive as well as when they have completed the project? You also need to make sure they are prepared to follow up with you to ensure everything is working and that it meets up to your expectations.

8. Only Sign A Contract That Covers All The Details

The designer needs to include everything that he/she plans to do. This should include a payment schedule, deadlines, and the materials that will be used. If any changes are made to the landscape lighting schedule this needs to include a “change order” in writing that will also cover the new costs, materials, and work.

9. Ask The Designer About The Warranty That They Provide

The lighting system you have installed should have a guarantee that covers at least 2 to 5 years. Try and find a contractor that offers lifetime warranties that will cover the installation and fixtures.

10. Ensure That The Designer Is Available In The Future To Service Your Landscape Lighting System

You want the LED lighting system to still look great like it did 2 to 8 years down the line.

Design Outdoor Lighting That Is Able To Reflect Your Lifestyle

One thing that we really enjoy when it comes to this type of work is the relationships that we develop with our clients. We enjoy finding out about your opinions and thoughts, exchanging suggestions and ideas, and staying in contact with our customers throughout these processes.

We start each of our potential client relationships by asking “Why do you want landscape lighting?” We also ask you about what you would like to achieve from the project, about your current lifestyle, and how you utilize your outdoor areas. We listen very closely to what you have to say. Once we have an understanding of what a client wants, we are able to create a system according to what they need and want. Clients notice how we pay attention to all the details when we conduct a walkthrough of the property. We also make sketches and jot down detailed notes at these meetings.

Customized Landscape Lighting Design Services

The styles that we use for our designs for landscape lighting are unique like our clients are. With every new client, we help each new dream to turn into a reality. The overall goal for most clients is to ensure their properties appear dramatic and striking when the sun goes down.

The Advantages Of Landscape Lighting

Landscape lighting not only provides elegance and beauty but also assists with improving your overall security for your home. When areas around your home are well lit, it can help to deter criminals. LED landscape lighting can also significantly increase the overall value of your property in Austin or Houston, and make the home a lot more appealing if you ever decide to sell.

Robert Huff Landscape Illumination Is The Best Name In Houston Landscape Lighting

Robert Huff Landscape Illumination is backed by three decades of experience in landscape lighting in the area of Houston. Our company is a fully insured and licensed outdoor lighting business, based in Houston, TX. We also provide our outdoor lighting services in Austin, TX. Our friendly and professional team of commercial and outdoor residential lighting contractors work alongside you to guarantee custom lighting designs that are aesthetically pleasing, functional, and affordable. We consistently maintain high levels of responsibility and professional care on every project that we undertake. You can always expect superior quality services from start to finish, as we turn something ordinary and plain into something magnificent.

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!