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bicosi
life is a carousel
Member since 7/07 14956 total posts
Name:
M
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Landscape lighting help
Hi, I have been meeting with a few landscape lighting designers and I'm just clueless on this.
Has anyone had lighting done to their home? I just want a spotlight on 2 trees and to light up the facade of the house? (grazing? I think it's called)..
I do not need recommendations (I don't live in NY), but one quote made me laugh because it was so ridiculously high lol
If you've had lighting designed and installed, could you tell me what you had done and what equipment was used?
TIA!
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Posted 11/6/07 5:08 PM  |
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CurlyQ
Member since 6/07 2024 total posts
Name:
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Re: Landscape lighting help
We have sensored low voltage lighting on our pondless waterfall. It is very costly. My dh is a landscaper and I was shocked to find out how much it was. It does look very nice though.
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| Posted 11/6/07 5:12 PM |
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bicosi
life is a carousel
Member since 7/07 14956 total posts
Name:
M
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Re: Landscape lighting help
I was trying to research it online but when I type in landscape lighting, holy smokes! there are so many that pop up and there are so many choices!!!
i just want to light up the house and the 2 trees in the front.
Also, some suggested using commercial grade spotlights, while 2 others said that low voltage should be fine.
How do I know what voltage is enough>
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| Posted 11/6/07 5:14 PM |
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CurlyQ
Member since 6/07 2024 total posts
Name:
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Re: Landscape lighting help
I don't know about the commercial grade, but the Low voltage lighting we have makes the waterfall look very nice and to me is plenty of light. I creates shadows on the house. I think if it were brighter it would annoy us inside and the neighbors.
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| Posted 11/6/07 5:51 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Landscape lighting help
If you already know what you want to do, I would look into getting DIY low-voltage lights from HomeDepot or Lowes. I did my yard myself. It's really easy. I have lights on each step to the front door, an uplight under 4 bushes in front of the deck, and a few other lights to light the sidewalk. Nothing fancy, but nice effect, and it was very easy. Plug in the power box in the basement or garage, run the low voltage wire along the path you want the lights, and just tap in the lights wherever you want them.
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| Posted 11/6/07 9:17 PM |
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bicosi
life is a carousel
Member since 7/07 14956 total posts
Name:
M
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Re: Landscape lighting help
Posted by GoldenRod
If you already know what you want to do, I would look into getting DIY low-voltage lights from HomeDepot or Lowes. I did my yard myself. It's really easy. I have lights on each step to the front door, an uplight under 4 bushes in front of the deck, and a few other lights to light the sidewalk. Nothing fancy, but nice effect, and it was very easy. Plug in the power box in the basement or garage, run the low voltage wire along the path you want the lights, and just tap in the lights wherever you want them.
Really? Which kit would you recommend?
One company wants to charge me $800 for the design alone...
I'm pretty handy and so is my DH. Like I said, I'm not looking for anything crazy. We just want to light up the actual house to create that glow.
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| Posted 11/7/07 9:25 AM |
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bicosi
life is a carousel
Member since 7/07 14956 total posts
Name:
M
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Re: Landscape lighting help
Posted by GoldenRod
If you already know what you want to do, I would look into getting DIY low-voltage lights from HomeDepot or Lowes. I did my yard myself. It's really easy. I have lights on each step to the front door, an uplight under 4 bushes in front of the deck, and a few other lights to light the sidewalk. Nothing fancy, but nice effect, and it was very easy. Plug in the power box in the basement or garage, run the low voltage wire along the path you want the lights, and just tap in the lights wherever you want them.
Also, how does it look at night? Do those lights give off enough light?
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| Posted 11/7/07 9:26 AM |
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MrsM-6-7-08
<3
Member since 8/06 4249 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: Landscape lighting help
Posted by bicosi
Posted by GoldenRod
If you already know what you want to do, I would look into getting DIY low-voltage lights from HomeDepot or Lowes. I did my yard myself. It's really easy. I have lights on each step to the front door, an uplight under 4 bushes in front of the deck, and a few other lights to light the sidewalk. Nothing fancy, but nice effect, and it was very easy. Plug in the power box in the basement or garage, run the low voltage wire along the path you want the lights, and just tap in the lights wherever you want them.
Also, how does it look at night? Do those lights give off enough light?
We actually had a meeting with a lighting company last nite, and our interior designer.
We love uplighting, and if it wasnt for our designer telling us about it we would of totally not of thought of it, everyone has high hats and its so cookie cutter, now our house is going to stand out.
One thing with using a company has opposed to home depot is there is a warranty on the bulbs, and the equipment, The guy told us each light was about 220 and we had 7 on our house as a demo last night. He said the bulbs have a warranty as well. He also said that the ones in home depot are not the same, something about the amount of watts and how bright it projects on the house, also the transformer has a lifetime warranty as well.
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| Posted 11/7/07 9:37 AM |
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bicosi
life is a carousel
Member since 7/07 14956 total posts
Name:
M
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Re: Landscape lighting help
Posted by stinkysmom80
Posted by bicosi
Posted by GoldenRod
If you already know what you want to do, I would look into getting DIY low-voltage lights from HomeDepot or Lowes. I did my yard myself. It's really easy. I have lights on each step to the front door, an uplight under 4 bushes in front of the deck, and a few other lights to light the sidewalk. Nothing fancy, but nice effect, and it was very easy. Plug in the power box in the basement or garage, run the low voltage wire along the path you want the lights, and just tap in the lights wherever you want them.
Also, how does it look at night? Do those lights give off enough light?
We actually had a meeting with a lighting company last nite, and our interior designer.
We love uplighting, and if it wasnt for our designer telling us about it we would of totally not of thought of it, everyone has high hats and its so cookie cutter, now our house is going to stand out.
One thing with using a company has opposed to home depot is there is a warranty on the bulbs, and the equipment, The guy told us each light was about 220 and we had 7 on our house as a demo last night. He said the bulbs have a warranty as well. He also said that the ones in home depot are not the same, something about the amount of watts and how bright it projects on the house, also the transformer has a lifetime warranty as well.
Yes! uplighting! that was exactly what they called what we wanted to do! I love that look. It makes your house look like it glows..They even suggested that we use an amber colored bulb too to give it a more dramatic effect.
each light was 220v? were they floodlights? do you know what kind they used by chance?
Sorry for so many questions LOL
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| Posted 11/7/07 9:44 AM |
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MrsM-6-7-08
<3
Member since 8/06 4249 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: Landscape lighting help
Posted by bicosi
Posted by stinkysmom80
Posted by bicosi
Posted by GoldenRod
If you already know what you want to do, I would look into getting DIY low-voltage lights from HomeDepot or Lowes. I did my yard myself. It's really easy. I have lights on each step to the front door, an uplight under 4 bushes in front of the deck, and a few other lights to light the sidewalk. Nothing fancy, but nice effect, and it was very easy. Plug in the power box in the basement or garage, run the low voltage wire along the path you want the lights, and just tap in the lights wherever you want them.
Also, how does it look at night? Do those lights give off enough light?
We actually had a meeting with a lighting company last nite, and our interior designer.
We love uplighting, and if it wasnt for our designer telling us about it we would of totally not of thought of it, everyone has high hats and its so cookie cutter, now our house is going to stand out.
One thing with using a company has opposed to home depot is there is a warranty on the bulbs, and the equipment, The guy told us each light was about 220 and we had 7 on our house as a demo last night. He said the bulbs have a warranty as well. He also said that the ones in home depot are not the same, something about the amount of watts and how bright it projects on the house, also the transformer has a lifetime warranty as well.
Yes! uplighting! that was exactly what they called what we wanted to do! I love that look. It makes your house look like it glows..They even suggested that we use an amber colored bulb too to give it a more dramatic effect.
each light was 220v? were they floodlights? do you know what kind they used by chance?
Sorry for so many questions LOL
The lights are low voltage, 12V
they are low voltage flood lights
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| Posted 11/7/07 9:23 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Landscape lighting help
I've had my HD uplights and downlights for maybe 8 years. When a bulb burns out, I just swing by HD on the way home, and pick up some replacements. They are pretty bright. It lights up our stairs and walkways pretty good. There are different wattage lights, so you can get the intensity and coverage you want. Make sure the transformer can handle the total number of light wattage you are driving.
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| Posted 11/8/07 11:12 AM |
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Diane
Hope is Contagious....catch it
Member since 5/05 30683 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: Landscape lighting help
Posted by CurlyQ
We have sensored low voltage lighting on our pondless waterfall. It is very costly. My dh is a landscaper and I was shocked to find out how much it was. It does look very nice though.
same here....We have lights all around the pond and spotlighting certain trees and DH is a landscaper and did it himself, and they were VERY PRICEY.
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| Posted 11/8/07 12:05 PM |
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skew
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 6794 total posts
Name:
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Re: Landscape lighting help
i have a friend that is in the business. he installed low voltage tree lights and ground lights. they have photocells and are on a timer. plan to add more lights when i complete present and future landscaping projects.
eta: the lights i have are cast and have a lifetime warranty
Message edited 11/9/2007 9:38:10 AM.
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| Posted 11/8/07 5:55 PM |
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