How to Raise Your Home’s Value with Landscape Lighting
The most dramatic improvement that will definitely increase the curb appeal of your home is by installing professionally designed landscape lighting. Good landscape lighting will instantly make your home stand out from the rest of the properties in your neighbourhood and attract more potential buyers.
Consider contacting Nite Time Décor, an experienced landscape lighting company serving Oakville, Burlington, Mississauga, Halton and Hamilton homeowners and businesses and provides a free consultation and quote.
The benefits of landscape lighting
Improve curb appeal
The most obvious advantage to landscape lighting is the improvement to the appearance of your home, especially at night. If positioned correctly, the lights will make architectural characteristics of your house stand out more than ever, which will in turn make your whole house look like a beautiful work of art.
There are also many functional benefits to landscape lighting:
Enhance the Safety of Your backyard
If you are concerned about the safety around your backyard, outdoor lighting from Nite Time Decor can improve visibility for you and your family. For example, you could use underwater lights or In Ground Well Lights to surround the exterior of your pool. Or you could use well lights to light paths around your above ground pool – just be sure to space the lights up properly. You don’t want that runway effect, so a pleasing design is essential.
If you need some additional lights when you take out the recycling or garbage, why not install some motion sensors? Your Oakville outdoor lighting service by Nite Time Decor could also place some reflectors or LED lights in the stones or asphalt surface of your path to catch any overhead lighting.
Security
Believe it or not, landscape lighting can actually protect your home from criminal activity, including robbery and vandalism. Having multiple lights in your front and backyard, especially around doorways and windows, will prevent criminals from approaching your home unnoticed.
More living space at night
Another functional aspect of landscape lighting is that it allows you to use your front and backyard long after the sun sets. With proper landscape lighting, you would be able to see almost as clearly during night as you would during daytime, especially if you use flood lights. You can even brighten your patio table by attaching lights to the umbrella. The possibilities are limitless!
If you take all these factors into consideration, landscape lighting can drastically improve the look and functionality your home – and most buyers will notice this.
So, if you want to sell your house for a competitive price, landscape lighting is a great addition to your home. And if you want your house to be illuminated by professionals, working with a local landscape lighting company like Nite Time Décor is the way to go.
How to improve existing lighting
Many homes already have landscape lighting, so if you would like to improve what you already have, here are some useful tips.
Keep your lights clean
One of the easiest ways to improve your existing landscape lighting is by cleaning the light fixtures and lenses. Too much dust, dirt and debris makes your lights look old and unappealing, so be sure to clean all of them. This will make the light shine brighter and improve the look of your fixtures.
Check your lights
Make sure that all your lights function properly! It may seem like an obvious detail, but it’s extremely easy to miss and can be quite unappealing – especially to those visiting your property for the first time. So, be sure to pay attention to this seemingly minor detail.
Pruning for light
Another obstacle that may get in the way of your lighting is your landscaping, especially if you have overgrown trees and plans. They tend to shade or obstruct a great deal of light, making your property darker than it should be. The best solution to this problem is to keep your shrubs and trees properly pruned.
How to add new lighting
If you’d like to add new lighting, here are some useful tips to remember.
Light up your front yard
The most important part of your home is the front yard. This is because it’s the first thing people see when they approach your house. Illuminating your home with quality landscape lighting fixtures can make all the difference. You’ll see the benefits of the upgrade right away.
Update your lights
Replace anything that is either old or looks old, especially old light bulbs and outdated lantern-style light fixtures. When it comes to light bulbs, don’t buy the discount variety, and use high quality constant-colour lamps instead. Cheap light bulbs can make your house and landscaping look worse than it is, giving potential buyers the wrong impression. The same applies to outdated fixtures. They too can be extremely off-putting to many prospective buyers, so be sure to replace them.
Light up the dark areas of your home
You should also take a careful look at your property to see if there are any areas around your home that seem too dark and are therefore in need of more lighting. Most importantly, be sure that your front door, windows, and the border around your front yard are adequately lit. The same applies to your backyard – as well as your patio table and BBQ grill. Prospective buyers tend to check out those areas to make sure they are all well-lit.
Contact Nite Time Decor Today!
If you need professional help with your landscape lighting, don’t be shy. We cover residential and commercial landscape lighting design. We do repairs, replacements, upgrades, as well as electrical and wiring troubleshooting. What’s more, we will also replace the bulbs and transformers in your installation for a worry-free experience. Get in touch with the Halton and Hamilton region landscape lighting experts at Nite Time Décor today.
Contact us today for a FREE lighting demo and quote.
5 Tips To Protect Your Landscape Lighting From The Elements
Here’s are 5 tips on how you can protect your landscape lighting from the elements:
Choose an Appropriate Location
Placing your lights out in the open is probably not the best idea when trying to protect your fixtures. When designing your system, try to place the fixtures where they can be shielded from rain, snow, and violent winds. For instance, if you have one of our wash lights illuminating a wall, place it as close to an overhang as you can.
If you have landscape lights in your yard, try to place them near shrubbery, trees, or other overhangs that will protect them from Mother Nature’s fierce mood swings.
Remember that even if it’s bright and sunny when you install your lights, it won’t be year round. Keep in mind future snow and rain conditions, particularly if your property has minimal protection from adverse weather.
Be careful of high winds and trees
If you have a lot of top-heavy trees in your yard, it may be time to thin them out. Top-heavy trees can be a danger to your house and landscape during aggressive winds.
Don’t want to get rid of your trees? You don’t have to. The best thing to do is to prune them simply by thin the branches out a bit. This will allow wind to blow through the branches, rather than push up against a thick tree. Thinning out your trees’ branches will prevent a fall that could cause major damage to your landscape lighting and yard.
Protective treatments in your landscape lighting services
Rain-X Original glass treatment and Rain-X Anti-Fog will help keep your lights clean and clear. Use these or similar products on the glass of your fixtures to protect them. Note that Rain-X Original should be used on the outside of the glass areas, and Anti-Fog should be applied to the inside of the glass.
Invisa-Shield is another staple in protecting your landscape lighting from those nasty elements. This is a metal sealant that should be applied to the fixture around the bulb. If you want to increase the effectiveness of this treatment, wax your fixtures before applying Invisa-Shield. And for extra protection, use Armor-All on rubber gaskets and sockets.
One of the most important steps in keeping your landscape lighting safe is to maintain your fixtures. Thankfully, with our warranties and lifetime maintenance, you can be sure that your landscape lighting system won’t be neglected.
Invest in a light shield
Light shields are clear boxes that can cover the fixtures that are out in the open. Make sure upon purchasing a light shield that it is the right size. It should be sealed to prevent moisture entering the box to damage your light.
Protect from the Snow
What should you do if your landscape light fixtures are buried beneath the snow after a big winter storm?
The heat from the lights will not melt the snow because the LED bulbs that are commonly used in professional outdoor lighting does not emit enough heat. We suggest that you take a broom to sweep the snow off the lens so that the light can shine its brightest again.
Contact Nite Time Decor
Follow these 5 tips to protect your outdoor lighting from the harsh Halton and Hamilton area weather elements. Looking to upgrade to a beautifully designed and professionally installed landscape lighting system? Nite Time Decor can help, from choosing quality materials to planning out the exact placement for each light. Our team of professionals can help you make these important decisions. Contact us today for a free quote and find out how we can help you create the landscape lighting design of your dreams.
Mulch And Your Landscape Lighting System
From heat management to fixture placement, here’s what you need to know when it comes to handling mulching around your landscape lighting system.
Why Mulch?
Mulch is extremely beneficial for landscaping as it acts as a natural cover and insulation layer to protect the soil from the sun which allows for water retention and weed prevention.
Mulch is also a beautiful addition to the aesthetics of your home. With that being said, it’s important that you don’t over-mulch as this can encourage unwanted insect infestations and can cause the soil to absorb too much moisture.
Problems with Mulching Your Landscape Lighting
In short, mulch is wood, and lighting fixtures produce heat. This can be a tricky combination if it isn’t properly maintained. That’s not to say it’s impossible to have both mulch and landscape lighting on your property. The trick is making sure the mulch isn’t covering any fixtures.
Lights give off heat that needs a way to escape. If mulch is covering the lighting fixtures, that heat will be locked in, forcing the mulch to begin to smolder and smoke. If left for an extended period of time, the fixture could become hot enough to melt the PVC composite on your landscape lighting fixtures, and possibly burn off the insulation around the wires. Needless to say, this could cause an immense amount of damage – all of which could have been avoided with a little patience and maintenance.
Warning! If too much heat is allowed to build up under too large a pile of mulch, a fire may even start, causing far more serious damage than a few broken lights and wires.
How can this be avoided?
It pays to be cautious with your landscape lighting maintenance. If someone else is applying your mulch, make sure to tell them exactly where each fixture is. It’s also a good idea to check once the mulch is applied to ensure that no mistakes have been made or light fixtures have been accidentally buried.
If there’s been a storm recently, take the time to survey any damage to your gardens and mulch. Always make sure that mulch hasn’t blown onto your landscape lighting fixtures after a period of high winds or rain.
Clear off any mulch that is covering fixtures. This quick and easy task will save you time and money on your landscape lighting maintenance in the long run.
Fortunately, Nite Time Decors lighting products and fixtures come with a covering over any light bulbs. This will prevent mulch from directly touching the light, creating an efficient heat barrier. It’s generally a good idea to go with energy efficient LED lighting systems, as they heat up less than conventional light bulbs.
Don’t buy cheap mulch. While buying affordable mulch is always recommended, purchasing the cheapest is not. It is usually priced at a bargain basement price because of its weight. The cheaper the mulch, the lighter it is and the more likely it will be blown around in a storm.
Not only does this ruin the aesthetics of your lawn, but it also increases the odds of the mulch blowing onto your landscape lighting fixtures.
If you take these simple precautions, you shouldn’t have any problem maintaining a beautifully manicured and mulched garden, as well as a safe and efficient landscape lighting system.
Contact Us Today!
For the best landscape lighting installation or maintenance, request your free quote from Nite Time Décor today! Serving Halton, Hamilton, Oakville, Burlington and Mississauga homes and businesses.
Tips To Properly Light Your Chimney with Landscape Lighting Design
Lighting up your home is a large undertaking. But with the proper landscape lighting services you don’t have to struggle to have a beautiful after-dusk landscape. The benefit of Nite Time Décor’s outdoor lighting designs is that you can accentuate the unique aspects of your home. If you have a chimney, then this is the perfect feature to highlight as they are becoming increasingly rare with the decline in natural fireplaces.
Chimney lights may seem like a strange addition to your home’s architectural lighting design. However, a lot of lighting service technicians love lighting up the exterior of a fireplace as they can be a unique aspect of a home’s visage. If you have a chimney that you wish to accent on your home, be careful. Improper lighting could create some unintended shadowing. Here are some tips to battle this creative design prospect.
Why light up a chimney?
Why you should include your chimney in your architectural lighting design?
Fireplaces create a focal point indoors and outdoors. If they are wood burning fireplaces then they are the tallest section of your house, and therefore one of the most visible aspects from the street. It also singles out your home as architecturally unique.
As more and more homeowners go for electric or gas fireplaces, fewer homes will have the tall smoke stack. Homeowners can still add decorative pieces on the brick of the gas fireplace, so adding architectural lighting would look great too.
What are some problems that could occur?
One of the most important things to remember about chimney lighting is that it’s extremely important to have an architectural lighting service expert install the fixtures. One of our experts will ensure that the job is done safely and done well.
Some chimneys are not visible until they rise to the roofline. This could cause some issues in proper placement of lighting fixtures. Our spotlight would light up your smoke stack beautifully if placed just above the eaves trough.
Architectural lighting design tips
There are a few things you’ll want to remember when lighting your chimney. Here are some tips to keep in mind when planning your design:
Accenting
If you discuss chimney illumination with a lighting service technician, one of the essential aspects that they will cover is highlighting key architectural aspects. If you have anything near your fireplace that may prove to be a focal point – such as gargoyles or other statues – that is something you’ll want to draw attention to.
Up lighting vs. Down lighting
Do you want your chimney lit from above, or below? Of course, this will also depend on whether or not your fireplace rises from the ground up or can only be seen at the roofline. Look at the placement of other lighting fixtures on your home to see if up lighting or down lighting will create a cohesive façade in your architectural lighting design.
Recessed lights
Do you want the lighting fixture to remain in sight, or invisible? This is entirely about personal taste. Remember, though, that there are fewer options for rooftop lighting than for ground lighting, where post lights are available.
Think eco-friendly
LED lights may be an option for you if you want to protect your wallet, and help save Mother Nature from unnecessary electrical usage. LED lights are becoming more and more popular.
You may be thinking that LEDs are expensive. While this is true of the initial costs, the long-term savings will exceed the original expense. You’ll also be taking a progressive stance in reducing your carbon footprint. Just by buying a different light bulb!
We are can help!
If you have any questions regarding specific chimney lighting preferences, contact one of our architectural light service specialists today.
To get started on your architectural lighting design, request your complimentary lighting demo and quote from Nite Time Décor today. Serving homeowners and businesses throughout Halton, Hamilton including Oakville, Burlington and Mississauga.
Commercial Landscape Lighting Tips for Golf Courses
Golf Course Landscape Lighting Ideas
If you’re looking to capture the beauty of your golf course at night with some commercial landscape lighting, moonlighting could be the answer. This will enhance the beauty during evening events, as well as enhance the attractiveness of your club entrance. In addition, investing in landscape lighting can enhance the security of your golf course. To find out how to achieve a secure, aesthetically pleasing outdoor lighting system for your golf course, keep reading!
What is Moonlighting?
Moonlighting, as the name suggests, aims to mimic the light of the moon. This lighting technique will create a soft, glowing effect that shines down on your golf course. Another side effect of this commercial landscape lighting technique is that it creates a unique shadowing design, which completes the moonlight resemblance.
What’s more, Nite Time Décor uses only the finest materials in their lighting fixtures, such as copper, in order to enhance the look and feel of your professional landscape lighting design. This will allow the lights to blend in seamlessly with the landscape of your golf course.
Tips for Including Moonlighting Techniques in Your Landscape Lighting Design
If you’re planning on installing a commercial landscape lighting system at your golf course, it’s important to note that moonlighting fixtures are typically installed in large trees. This allows light to filter through the branches, resulting in a natural moon-like glow, regardless of the actual moon or weather.
It’s worth noting that you may need to use numerous fixtures in order to filter enough light through the trees on your golf course. As such, we encourage our clients to ask their commercial lighting rep about our LED light systems. These economical options are designed to help lower your utility bills and reduce light pollution. To save energy further, try automating your lighting system.
To give off a more shadowy effect, try placing the lights close to the trunk, but higher up in the tree. On the other hand, if you want fewer shadows, mount your commercial landscape lighting fixtures near the edge of the canopy and closer to the ground.
Highlight Architectural Features with Landscape Lighting!
You can also use lighting to enhance the unique features of your building or any statues around your property. When decorating your building, the experts at Nite Time Décor take into account what your building looks like, how useful the lighting set up is, and the energy-efficiency of the fixtures that are being used.
Our Commercial Landscape Lighting Can Enhance Security
Obviously, you will want your golf course to remain a safe place. Darkness gives thieves or unwanted intruders convenient places to hide. The proper use of landscape lighting will increase the area of visibility in your golf course at night. This can also help employees feel safer as they leave to go home for the night.
While this option won’t increase the aesthetics of your golf course, adding motion-sensing lights around the various entrances and exits of your building and property is a great way to improve safety. Motion lights will save electricity, while at the same time illuminating specific areas if the sensor is triggered by unwanted activity.
Contact The Pros
For more information about our Commercial Lighting services and how they can benefit your golf course, simply give us a call at 1-800-952-3006 or complete our online form for a free lighting demo and quote. We service businesses including golf courses throughout Mississauga, Burlington, Oakville, Halton and the Hamilton region.
How to Light Up Your Backyard Event with Landscape Lighting
How to Light Up Your Backyard Event with Landscape Lighting
There are several elements to hosting a memorable backyard event. You need the right weather, delicious food, good company and the right landscape lighting system to set the mood. But lighting does more than create ambiance; a great outdoor lighting system can also perform functional tasks such as providing cues or segues for presentations. Use landscape lighting to highlight water features or architectural pieces, or make it the décor itself.
Here’s how to light up your backyard using outdoor landscape lighting:
Give Your Landscape Lighting System a High-Tech Feel
Over the years, lighting technology has become more sophisticated, greatly improving the quality and flexibility of landscape lighting. However, high-tech doesn’t always mean high-impact. If you’re looking to create a big lighting bang for not a lot of bucks at your next outdoor event, don’t assume you need a state-of-the-art system. Simply contact Nite Time Décor and ask about our outdoor lighting system options. Our systems can be modified to feature coloured lighting or repositioned in order to create different effects and highlights on the features you want to stand out:
- Put the spotlight on your garden with our mini wash light.
- Illuminate tall features such as trees, statues or walls with our spotlight.
- Shed some light on a pathway with a little help from our area lights.
There are plenty of alternatives, so don’t just turn a porch light on. Instead, illuminate your life with a professionally designed and installed outdoor lighting system. We have solutions to satisfy a wide range of budgets.
Keep It Discreet
The effects of our landscape lighting are pretty, but sometimes you want the lighting effects themselves to be the only thing that’s seen. One cost-effective option is to use a high wattage, bright light on a high strand. From there you can use reflective materials, such as foil or gossamer silk. Scrim is a translucent cloth that will really bring your landscape lighting system to life. Scrim can be put on walls or ceilings and it can be used with par cans, spot lights, or other lights.
Use Your Landscape Lighting System Intelligently
The secret to event lighting involves matching the movement and colour of the light to the mood of the event décor, theme, music, and vibe. More extravagant systems require a computer to operate, but simplistic ones just have a colour filter or maybe a dimmer so you can get the effect that you want.
One way to use intelligent lighting is to push the envelope with your landscape lighting. A person’s sense of what’s visually appealing can be manipulated using design; if you’re in the process of planning an outdoor event, now is the opportune time to consult with an expert at Nite Time Décor for outdoor lighting ideas. Don’t shy away from new trends – let the light stream in!
Different Ideas for Your Outdoor Event
Try lining aisles in your backyard with lights, such as our area lights or tiki torches. This looks especially nice in a dimly lit setting.
Try hanging lights from a high point, such as in a tree, or attached to your home. A nice effect is several lights going across one another. Alternatively, one strong light can make a statement on its own.
Contact the Professionals
Don’t leave your backyard in the dark! Contact Nite Time Décor for a free lighting demo and consultation and find out how to bring out the beauty in your yard. We design and install custom landscape lighting to homes, cottages and businesses throughout Hamilton, Halton, Burlington, Oakville and Mississauga, Ontario.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Landscape Lighting Contractor
When undertaking a serious project that may be beyond your scope, it’s always a good idea to do your homework in regards to a potential landscape lighting service. With the number of companies out there all competing for clients, it can be difficult to sift through to find the right landscape lighting company for your needs.
Not sure what sets a great landscape lighting contractor apart from an average option?
When interviewing an outdoor lighting service provider, you should ask lots of questions – and receive answers you’re comfortable with – before deciding to hire anyone to do the job.
In addition, you should do background checks on potential companies. Do not proceed until due diligence is completed.
Here are some questions that you should be asking:
Contractor specialization?
The last thing you want is a technician who isn’t specialized in the field of landscape lighting installing your lights. Look for a professional landscape lighting company that has all the tools and experience necessary to give you specific and unique advice, like Nite Time Décor. The pros will be able to help you with voltage, proper wiring, installation in trees, and design advice.
Landscape Lighting Service Accreditations
You don’t want to trust just anyone with your home. Before you invite a landscape lighting service to work on your home, verify that they:
Have a license/registration/insurance: are the companies that you’re looking at registered with Service Ontario? Are they active members of Landscape Ontario? Do they have the proper permits to operate? Do they carry liability insurance?
BBB: Are the companies on your list accredited by the Better Business Bureau? What are their ratings?
If a company cannot answer these questions satisfactorily, do not let them anywhere near your outdoor lighting installation! Hire an unaccredited business and you could be setting yourself up for disaster.
Landscape Lighting Experience
In order to get a good idea of what sort of work a landscape lighting service has done, carefully review their website and check out the gallery of completed projects and ask questions like the following:
Q. How much lighting experience do you have?
Ideally the company in question should have enough experience to show that they offer quality lighting installations.
Nite Time Décor has been installing landscape lighting since 1998 and the website has a plethora of resources related to landscape lighting to prove that we know what we’re doing.
Nite Time Décor can guarantee both knowledgeable support and a lifetime maintenance warranty on all of our landscape lighting systems. We can also ensure that your design is the best possible one for your specific landscape lighting needs.
After being involved in the installation and design process of more than 25 years’ worth of systems, we can provide knowledgeable advice in this important phase of your home’s décor.
Q. How many lighting installations has the company done?
Anyone can sell lights, but not just any company can install these lights effectively. The number of installations a company has successfully completed will be a good indicator of their level of expertise and ability.
Q. Can the company provide references?
If your prospective company cannot provide solid customer testimonials or site references, you should be concerned.
Q. Ask Your Landscape Lighting Service About Warranties and Service Plans
Every company will provide you with information in order to secure a sale. The real test is finding out about their service following the installation. Will they leave you hanging in the event of a system malfunction or untimely repair?
Q. Will they provide a preview?
Sometimes, the homeowner’s taste and budget are at odds with the designer’s vision. A reputable landscape lighting company will work with you to design a layout that suites you. Check out our gallery to see the kinds of installations Nite Time Décor has to offer.
Q. How about warranties?
Warranties are only as good as the company that backs them up. All of Nite Time Décor’s products are covered by warranty.
Q. What do their service and maintenance plans look like?
Does the company provide service after the sale? Nite Time Décor follows up with your property six months after the installation. We are committed to the lifetime maintenance of your Oakville outdoor lighting.
Landscape Lighting Products
Having a wide range of products to choose from is important in securing a landscape lighting system that suits your specific needs. Do they offer LEDs? Do you have options of tiki lights, wash lights, well lights? Look into this to ensure your design isn’t limited.
You can look at Nite Time Décor’s products online. We offer LED lighting to help you save money on energy bills, and to keep your thumb green.
In Summary
Don’t let just anyone come into your yard and throw up a bunch of lights. Landscape lighting is an art and should only be trusted to companies who prove themselves worthy of the task. At Nite Time Décor, your lighting is safe in our hands. Check out our landscape lighting services for more information, or simply contact us today for a free consultation and quote.
Best Tips for Preventing Damage to Your Outdoor Lighting System
How to Prevent Damage to your Outdoor Lighting
For homeowners who purchased and installed their landscape lighting system years ago, they may find that their system isn’t running like it used to. This is common if you’ve installed a landscape lighting system and have simply left it on its own for a great length of time.
Our team of experienced lighting professionals have decided to compile this list of the best prevention tips to help keep your system in prime, working condition all year round and to prevent damage.
Benefits of Landscape Lighting
A professionally installed landscape lighting system has many benefits. Not only does it highlight key aesthetic features of your home and boost curb appeal, but it also helps to increase safety and security around your home and property. Outdoor lighting systems give the impression that someone is home, even if that is not the case.
These are just some of the many benefits that a landscape lighting design can bring to your home. But, like many things in life, your landscape lighting system will only be effective if it is in working condition.
Luckily for our Nite Time Decor customers, outdoor lighting maintenance to prevent future damage is usually not a laborious task.
Outdoor Lighting Prevention Tips
Follow these tips to prevent damage to your outdoor lighting systems – either accidentally or purposefully by potential intruders.
Keep Landscape Lighting Away from Lawnmowers
Protect Outdoor Lighting from Rain, Snow and Fertilizer
Landscape lighting components can potentially get damaged from heavy rain, snow, or fertilizer. You can protect the glass portion of the lighting with a protective glass treatment to help prevent the glass from getting scratched or foggy.
A solution that does not involve treatment is to position lights under the cover of awnings and overhangs to protect against weather hazards. You should also check your lights weekly for signs of wear or damage and replace any broken or burned-out bulbs. In addition, you should clean off the lights monthly with a damp rag to ensure there is no dirt build-up. After a rain or ice storm, dry the lights off and clear away any ice that has frozen on to the fixture.
Placing Outdoor Lighting Away from Traffic
To further discourage unwanted traffic around your home, set your exterior lights on timers. It is preferable to have them come on once it gets dark. However, if the lights operate on a light-sensor, this step is not necessary. Having your exterior lights on a daily routine is useful in creating the impression that there is always someone at home.
Perform Regular Maintenance Checks
Regular maintenance checks will do wonders for increasing the longevity of your landscape lighting system. Simply walk around your property on a weekly or monthly basis and keep an eye out for any damage to your bulbs, fixtures, or wires. If you take this opportunity to clean and straighten your fixtures, and clear away any build up of dirt, snow or ice, your system is sure to be more effective all year long.
Contact Nite Time Décor Oakville
Preventing damage to your landscape lighting system starts with properly creating your design. From choosing quality materials to planning out the exact placement for each light, you’ll want to be sure you are making the right choices. Our team of landscape lighting professionals can help you make these important decisions. If you reside in Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Ancaster, Halton or the Hamilton regions, contact us today to find out how we can help you create the landscape lighting design of your dreams.
20 Best Tips for Cleaning Outdoor Lighting Fixtures
Need some cleaning tips to clean your outdoor lighting fixtures?
It’s not uncommon for our customers to forget to perform basic landscape lighting maintenance.
Outdoor light fixtures are often taken for granted in terms of decorative additions to homes, as well as the safe, welcoming light they cast. When the warmer weather arrives and if you are busy cleaning windows and sprucing up the inside of your home, don’t forget to clean your outdoor lighting. This is not a glamorous task, but it won’t take long, and you’ll reap the rewards all season long.
Cleaning outdoor light fixtures will enhance their beauty and improve the quality of light cast. It’s quite easy to do and doesn’t require special equipment. All you will need is some spare time and plenty of attention to avoid getting water into electrical sockets. Read on for the best 20 tips on how to clean your landscape lighting.
Check Manufacturer’s Instructions
Always check the manufacturer’s instructions on cleaning before you begin. Read through the manufacturer’s booklet for washing instructions. If the booklet is long gone, try checking online. If your lights were installed by Nite Time Décor, give us a call, we are always available to help or answer any questions.
Best 20 Tips to Clean Your Landscape Lighting
These steps will work for all outdoor light fixtures.
Make sure the light is turned off and disconnect all power sources before removing fixtures or components.
If you cannot reach the light from a ground, secure a ladder near any out-of-reach fixtures. Ensure the ladder is sturdy and the footing is secure before beginning.
While each fixture is unique, most have components that easily removed and cleaned. Remove any globe, shields or grills with the appropriate tool – usually a screwdriver.
Remove the light bulb. Set all parts aside. You are now ready to begin the cleaning part of your landscape lighting maintenance.
Fill two buckets with hot water and add some dish soap. Make sure it has some suds.
Note: Chemical cleaners, unless recommended by the manufacturer, can leave a filmy residue on glass that leaves the fixture looking dull. Some cleaners may contain mild abrasives that will mark the glass or finish. Some recommend vinegar and water. Use your best judgement.
Place the removed items (except light bulbs) in one bucket.
Dip a rag or sponge in the second sudsy bucket and use that to wipe down the parts of the light fixture that you could not remove. Wipe off the bug carcasses and spider webs. Make sure to keep water from running into open sockets.
Rinse the fixed pieces and the loosened pieces with water.
When all are dry, apply polish or wax to metal parts if desired; clean glass or shades with glass cleaner.
Wipe off light bulbs with a damp rag (if burnt out, replace them). Again, make sure you do not get the end that screws into the socket wet.
If they are Nite Time Décor lighting, contact us if they are burnt out! The LED lights we use should last for about 10 years!
Reassemble your lighting fixtures and voila – you have completed your landscape lighting maintenance!
Tips for Cleaning Copper and Tiki Torch Lights
As mentioned, please make sure to check the manufacturer’s website for cleaning tips for the specific product that you are cleaning.
There are a variety of metal cleaners on the market. For light fixtures that are made from copper sources recommend you cut a lemon in half and dip the half into salt and scrub the copper lighting fixtures. The acid in the lemon helps loosen any tarnish while the grit in the salt helps scrub the tarnish away. Then remove the lemon juice and salt from the copper light with a damp rag and sprinkle on some copper polish. Wait a few moments and then clean off the polish.
If your outdoor lighting is a tiki torch (Nite Time Decor tiki lamps, for example), before you clean the torch, make sure there are no combustible items nearby. Natural or propane gas tiki lamps burn cleanly, but there will be some carbon build-up. Clean the head with mild soap and warm water.
Other Maintenance Tips
Since you’re out cleaning the outdoor lights, why not do a visual check to identify and fix any potential problems. Here are some general things to watch out for. Remember to always call a professional if any of this is beyond your know-how.
Check all the lights. Do they work? Some bulbs may simply need to be tightened and others may need to be replaced. This is a great time to do that while you’re thinking of it.
Check around the lighting, especially ground or garden lighting. Have any bushes or greenery grown enough to block or cast shadows? Trim or prune back what you need to. Did all the surrounding flora survive the winter? Have any branches or limbs come down that need to be tidied up? Have high winds or winter snowfall shifted the lighting? Take the time to readjust it if you can, or call a professional.
Wiring and cords are sometimes susceptible to damage from the weather, rodents, pets and other things. Do a visual check and ensure everything is in top shape. Repair any damage if necessary.
Have a look around the yard. Is it time to upgrade or change out some fixtures? Builders often install fixtures that are too small to save costs, now might be the time to swap those out. Tired of cleaning dead bugs out of light fixtures? Maybe it’s time to put up outdoor lighting bugs aren’t attracted to or can’t get in to.
For a more detailed list of maintenance tips, click to read this article, Fall And Winter Landscape Lighting Maintenance Checklist.
Install the best landscape lighting
One of the best ways to reduce maintenance and to save time and money is to get sturdy fixtures. High quality lighting fixtures will stand up better to wear and tear. Bring in experts from Nite Time Décor Oakville to help you find the highest quality lighting available.
Plan Outdoor Lighting with Care
You may want to re-adjust your Nite Time Décor landscape lighting fixtures now that the weather is warmer. Winter designs may not work as well for spring or summer, so maybe it’s time for a tweak.
Landscape lights should highlight your landscaping in all its glory! Now that you’re taking the time to properly clean your existing outdoor lights, you might want to highlight new flowerbeds and foliage in a way that you couldn’t over winter. It’s not only about the architectural features anymore, but nature is the star. Talk to a Nite Time Décor Oakville specialist to see how you can use plants, trees, and water features in your outdoor lighting display.
Catch your neighbours by surprise with gorgeous outdoor lighting services! Receive your complimentary consultation from Nite Time Décor today. You’ll be glad you did!
We Are Always Available To Help!
If you are unsure about any part in the landscape lighting cleaning process, feel free to contact us. Our Nite Time Decor associates are always willing to help you out!
