Outdoor Lighting FAQ
Landscape lighting emphasizes your outdoor living spaces and shows off your yard and other landscape features at night. It can enhance the appearance of your Virginia Beach area home while also making it safer for you to walk around outside when ‘it’s dark out. At Visionscapes Land Design, we provide high-quality landscape lighting services for homeowners in Virginia Beach and the surrounding Tidewater area.
5 Frequently Asked Questions about Outdoor Landscape Lighting
When it comes to adding creative night-time lighting to your landscape, as a homeowner you’re bound to have a ton of questions. Here are five of the most popular:
1. What is the Difference Between Outdoor Lighting and Landscape Lighting?
Landscape Lighting Designers+ says:
“The first thing to understand is the difference between “outdoor lighting” and “landscape lighting.” Outdoor lighting fixtures are highly decorative visual elements designed to coordinate with the architectural style of your home. They are made to be seen.
As a result, outdoor lighting designs run the gamut from traditional wrought-iron to highly polished contemporary styles. Outdoor fixtures can be hung from porch ceilings, installed on posts or columns, and are most often installed near entryways and garage doors.
On the other hand, landscape lighting is designed to disappear. These fixtures are hung in trees, camouflaged as rocks, submerged in water or installed close to the ground to minimize them from view – leaving lighting designers free to create magical lighting effects that illuminate driveways and walking paths, accent architectural features, and highlight landscape. Properly specified and installed – outdoor and landscape lighting should work together to create a spectacular effect on the outside of your home. Landscape lighting also requires a transformer to be installed for controlling your lighting system.”
2. Will Landscape Lighting Pay Off When I Go to Sell my Home?
Bergey’s Electric says:
“Triple fold! Lighting a home properly is like the jewelry with an outfit. Proper outdoor lighting adds value to the architecture design, security and functionality of a property.”
3. Why Should I Use a Professional?
Here is what Kichler has to say:
“There are many elements to consider when purchasing a landscape lighting system. Design layout, voltage drop, safety, maintenance contracts – just to name a few. These are all important factors that can make a difference in your installation and the life of your system. Because of this, Kichler Landscape Lighting does recommend the use of a certified contractor. Remember, this is an investment in your home, and you want it done in the best, most professional manner possible.”
4. What is a Transformer and Why do I Need One?
No, not the Optimus Prime kind of transformer! Here’s what Hook and Lattice have to say:
“A transformer is generally used with low voltage lighting systems to “transform” or reduce the higher line voltage to 12 volts. Without a transformer, the light bulbs would be subjected to excess voltage and would burn out immediately. The magnetic transformers we carry should not exceed 80% of the transformer’s wattage rating. For example,
You have 20 fixtures with 20-watt lamps in them, collectively equaling a total of 400 watts. The transformer to power these fixtures with this wattage would be a 500-watt transformer. 500 x 80% = 400 watts,
A low voltage lighting system usually operates on 12 volts whereas a line voltage system usually operates on 120 volts.” – According to hooks and lattice
5. What is the Cost to Operate Outdoor Landscape Lighting?
The Illuminators say:
“The typical landscape lighting system costs just pennies a night to operate. If you are currently using a porch light or spotlights, you will be able to turn them off and enjoy the beauty and savings of low-voltage lighting.”
Did you know here at Visionscapes Land Design we offer FREE lighting demos? That means, one of our team members stops by YOUR HOME with a test set of lights. This allows you to get the full effect of outdoor lighting at your very own home. With dark coming early this time of year it is the perfect time to set up your landscape lighting demo! Fill out our contact form to find out more!