What Outdoor Lighting Products Do We Use?

This is a question we get every now and then so I thought I would give a list of our most used products manufacturers. There are others that we use every now and then but these are my go-toos on most of our projects.

Our primary line is Kichler LED landscape lighting. There are many reasons I use this product, among them are loyalty, quality of product and their great warranty. When we first began our outdoor lighting business almost 10 years ago and I reached out to several professional lighting manufacturers, Kichler was the only one who paid attention and wanted to help us get going and they have been a strong supporter ever since. They also make a very good product at a reasonable price. Yes, there are other very good products out there but they are usually quite a bit more expensive and quite honestly, the Kichler products hold up very well in the central Texas environment so I don’t see any reason to use the higher cost products. They also stand behind their products with a full replacement warranty, not some repair or other nonsense. That makes it much easier on us and our client gets a new product if need be. Finally, they have been a strong supporter of the outdoor lighting industry by belonging to such organizations as the AOLP, ALA, ASLA, etc.

We also use CAST lighting for projects where we need a more robust cast brass fixture which will hold up to things like cattle! Yes, we do have some projects on central Texas ranch land where the fixture must be part light fixture, part tank and the CAST product fits that bill perfectly.

Our other fixture lines include Coppermoon, FX Luminaire, Universal and Auroralight among others but these listed are our most used products. All of these products are quite good and the manufacturers stand behind their products. They are also all members of the Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals which demonstrates to us their commitment to the outdoor industry as a whole.

As for LED lamps we lean heavily on Kichler, Illumicare and Brilliance. These lines have been developed for the outdoor lighting industry and the manufacturers stand behind their products. There are a whole lot of LED lamps out there but very few that have been developed to be installed in both enclosed and exposed fixtures outdoors, in the harsh environment. The cheaper LED lamps that are found in the home improvement stores may be ok in some instances in doors but don’t try them in your landscape. The LED products used outside must be able to withstand all of the heat, rain, chemicals, cold, etc. that are found outside of walls of your home. These LED lamps do cost a lot more than those you see in the general marketplace but they will last and will end up costing a lot less over time, we promise.

As a rule, we first use products from AOLP members since we do believe strongly that any industry needs strong associations which can help their members become better at their craft. The AOLP is a not for profit national association which provides education to its members to insure they do quality work. They have a Standard for Installation which all contractors are supposed to follow and if they do follow those standards, the end user (customer) will have a great outdoor lighting system and a contractor who will be there to take care of it in the future.

We’re here to answer any other questions you may have about outdoor lighting products that we use or other products on the market. Just ask us at info@night-scenes.com.

Are You Satisfied?

Are the Rolling Stones partying in your head with that title?  If not, try this, … “I can’t get no satisfaction.”  How about now?

I like to say that we don’t want our clients to be satisfied, we want them to be happy.  To me the word satisfied means pleased, but not really HAPPY.  Satisfied to me means so-so; but happy brings a big smile to your face.

Some people do satisfactory work while others do great work.  We like to create great landscape lighting designs, and then install that outdoor lighting very well, not just satisfactorily.

  

It starts at the initial consultation where we don’t just halfway listen, but really pay attention.  Then it moves into the design phase where we try to not just, satisfactorily, put in lights; but instead approach the design to create some depth and interest throughout the property.  We don’t just specify satisfactory products; but very good products that will last for many years.  Then when our client is HAPPY with the design, we move into the installation. There we take the steps necessary to install the outdoor lighting as designed, and use quality infrastructure materials like wire and connectors to insure a great landscape lighting system which will perform as expected for years, making the client HAPPY.

There is also the service after the installation.  A satisfactory project might come with a one year service agreement or less.  Maybe just a one year warranty.  Of course, that’s satisfactory I suppose, but we include three full years of service and stand behind every aspect of that outdoor lighting system for that entire time.  Does that satisfy our client or does it make them HAPPY?  I’ll go with the happy on that.

So, we don’t guarantee satisfaction with our landscape lighting systems, we guarantee happiness.  We’ll leave satisfactory work to the other guys.

When you don’t want to settle for satisfied, let us know, we’ll make you happy.  info@night-scenes.com

LOW VOLTAGE VS. HIGH VOLTAGE LIGHTING

Why do we prefer to use low voltage lighting in our projects instead of high (line) voltage lighting? There are a lot of reasons, but let’s cover the big ones here.

Safety! 12 volt lighting is completely safe for man or beast (pet). No one can be electrocuted, pets can’t be shocked, and children can’t be harmed by low voltage lighting that is below 15 volts. There are companies out there that may use transformers that put out as much as 24 volts, but a low voltage lighting company working within the National Electrical Code will NOT use those transformers for landscape lighting because they are not listed for that use. UL 1838 (landscape lighting rated) transformers do not go above 15 volts and are perfectly safe.

With 120 or even 240 volt lighting, there is indeed a safety issue. We often find large high voltage fixtures very high in trees for a moon lighting effect. Although this may look pretty good, strong winds break limbs and those high voltage wires can cause some serious problems. High voltage fixtures require junction boxes (not needed for low voltage lighting) that get water in them from condensation or rain. It’s safe to say that high voltage and water do not play well with each other; whereas low voltage will not even short circuit in water. Here in central Texas, we have also found that, although the code requires all high voltage wires to be at least 18” deep, they rarely are more than 5-6” deep. This makes them easy to hit with your normal garden shovel, or your dog can easily dig them up and chew them causing a potential tragedy. Once again, this is not a problem with low voltage wiring.

Installation expense. Line voltage work must be done by a licensed electrician in all states. The wire must be at least 18” deep, which requires the use of a trenching machine. In some places, a permit may be required and inspections made. All of this adds up to higher expense. In Texas, there is no license needed to install low voltage lighting. Some states do require such licenses, however, but not many. The low voltage wire only needs to be placed 6” deep, which can be easily done by hand using a flat edged spade to avoid tearing up the lawn. No permits (in most parts of the country). These things mean less expense to pass onto the clients. In a future post I will go into the licensing issue because there are several good things about licensing that protect the consumer.

Fixture size. OK, everyone has seen those HUGE fixtures that have those great big high voltage light bulbs in them. The reason the fixture has to be so big is to hold that big light bulb! There is one place where I do think it’s ok to use these products and that is in a commercial setting where there is a lot of ambient lighting around. In these cases you need a LOT of light from some big ol’ fixtures! In a residential setting, or even a commercial setting where the surrounding light levels are low, there is no need for that much lumen output. Low voltage fixtures are much smaller and can be hidden in most cases. They produce plenty of light to handle any residential need.

Design Flexibility. Along with those great big line voltage fixtures, there is little flexibility for lumen output or beam spread in the light bulbs used in them. The primary choices for high voltage lamps are usually bright, brighter and brightest and then wide beam or very wide beam. Although a few new options have been developed, in 90% of the line voltage designs, the standard, less expensive choices are made. With low voltage there is a vast variety of lumen output and beam spreads available. There are also a larger selection of filters and lenses to create effects that are pleasing with the low voltage products. Additionally, many lighting fixtures are available to enhance the décor of the home in a very wide variety of styles.

Maintenance. Maintenance is much easier on a low voltage system than on a high voltage system. First of all, if something goes wrong with a line voltage system, you may have to call in an electrician to find the problem, although a well-trained lighting technician can usually troubleshoot basic problems and solve them. Occasionally, the problem may still require an electrician for the repair. In most states, anyone can work on a low voltage system and any issue with the system can be taken care of right away with no need to schedule another person to come in and make the repairs.

All-in-all the well designed and installed low voltage system has too many advantages to overlook and with some of today’s newest and most efficient LED products, there are considerably more advantages.

ISSUE	LOW VOLTAGE	HIGH (LINE) VOLTAGE
Safety	· No personal harm under 15v · Won’t short circuit in water · Wiring safe even if uncovered	· Electrocution hazard · Dangerous near water or rain · Must trench to 18” to be safe
Installation and Maintenance Expense	· No license required in TX; well-trained technician can install, troubleshoot and repair · Wire laid by hand; no lawn damage · No expensive permit needed in most places	· May need licensed electrician $ · Requires trenching machine to dig 18” deep ditches in yard $ · Permit may be required $
Design Flexibility	· Many options for lumen output and beam spread · Decorative options for added beauty	· Limited options
Fixture Size	· Small, easily hidden · Plenty of light output for residential and most commercial applications	· Large, bulky fixtures · May be appropriate for some commercial applications

We would be very happy to evaluate your lighting needs and develop a solution for you. Contact us today info@night-scenes.com

We are Thankful for YOU

I had to take a moment today to say thank you to YOU. You may be a stranger interested in lighting who just reads this blog. You may also be one of our many friends here in central Texas or around the country. You might even be one of our wonderful clients. All of you who are reading this however have a hand in helping to make us successful -- and therefore, we are grateful for you.

Those who just drop by to read this blog, from anywhere you might be, are helping us by increasing awareness in and about our industry and by increasing our page view count. This helps keep us ranking on the search pages so THANK YOU!

Of course, our friends here in central Texas are a big help because you not only read our blog, but you also say nice things about us to YOUR friends and family. This will also increase the awareness of our company and how we may be of assistance to them or their friends. So THANK YOU!

Then there are our clients who read this blog and share it with YOUR friends and family. You tell your neighbors about us, and those who come to your home for dinner parties and barbecues. You point us out to your connections on social networks, and share our status updates from time to time. For all of this we say again --THANK YOU.

The vast majority of our business comes from referrals from our clients, friends or people in related fields like landscapers, irrigators or landscape architects and designers. Some projects come to us as referrals from people we have come to know via the social networks like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest. We treasure each and every one of these relationships, and we say THANK YOU to all of you for contributing to our success.

Finally, we are most thankful to God for allowing us to do what we love to do, and for letting us do it for some really terrific people. God has blessed us -- which allows us the privilege to bless others who may not be as fortunate. This Thanksgiving, we want to take a moment to think about those people we encounter who may need a hand, a smile or a kind word as we count the many blessings we have been given.

Thank you all! We at NightScenes wish you all a very blessed Thanksgiving holiday.

Custom Design May Mean Custom Fixtures

NightScenes is an outdoor lighting design company which also installs, maintains and services professional grade outdoor lighting systems. As a design company, occasionally we come across a project which requires us to think outside of the box a little, and maybe design a light fixture to meet the needs of the project and the tastes of the property owner.

I know my friend James Solecki of Intregra-Bespoke Lighting Systems helped a former lighting manufacturer develop a very nice dark sky friendly fixture which we like for use on boat docks. It probably came about by seeing a need and filling it for a client. Of course, isn’t that where all great invention comes from?

We recently have been working on a project here in the rugged Texas Hill Country where our client wanted a fixture which would just disappear into the landscape, but also had a contemporary design. Their landscape architect showed us a picture of an interesting fixture, but it didn’t appear to be very functional. Yes, looks can be an important element in a fixture design, but if the purpose of the fixture is to safely illuminate a walkway and it doesn’t do the job, then it’s just a piece of art, not a lighting fixture. So we decided to see if we could take the basic concept of their design and turn it into a functional fixture. We took the idea to a local metal shop showed them what we wanted. Twenty-four hours later, there was light! We had a functional fixture incorporating the design elements our client wanted so we could safely illuminate the walkways around her property.

Now, as a result of this innovation, NightScenes will have a new product that we can use again in future outdoor lighting designs, and my local metal shop is getting into the lighting fixture making business! A potentially prosperous outcome for everyone because this client decided to use a lighting design company, instead of a company that installs lights.

Maybe your project is special too and needs some out of the box thinking. Let us know if we can be of some help by dropping us a note at info@night-scenes.com

Our Illuminating Blog, Some Don’t Like It

“I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to make everyone happy.” ~Bill Cosby

In mid-2012, I decided it was time to take this blog more seriously. It was then that I began to write informative pieces to benefit the consumer of outdoor lighting products: the homeowner or business property manager, the residential homeowner’s association folks, and those that make decisions about the addition of lighting for safety and security. This was a risky choice on my part – most lighting blogs out there are written for the contractors in the industry. But I’ve always felt that educating the public was the best way to elevate the quality of the work. An informed buyer will demand excellence because he/she knows the difference between high quality products and designs, and those that are manufactured cheaply or without thought.

Friends and colleagues warned me that this choice might not be popular with my competitors or some others working in the outdoor lighting field. My goal has been to take some of the mystery out of outdoor lighting. Armed with solid and practical tips from my blog, the average homeowner may be able to ask questions that some lighting installers would prefer not to answer. To counter my attempts to educate potential outdoor lighting buyers, some other contractors in the industry have tried to discredit me by taking some of my quotes out of the context in which they were written. Although I should have expected it, I’m always surprised when a business owner tries to mount a negative campaign against the more popular competition in an effort to make themselves look better. While I don’t feel the need to address any single specific slight against my writings, I will remind those that read my blog that I do own my own business, and speak about products, techniques and conditions that I use and encounter everyday in servicing the clients that have hired me in Central Texas and beyond. I design systems using excellent products that fit the needs of the climate, function, and budget as I work with my client. Addressing the appropriate circumstance to use the highest end products will be a topic for another blog.

I like to think that integrity is the hallmark of my small business. To that end, it would be counter-productive to lead my readers astray with bad or dishonest information. It’s also certainly possible that my opinions won’t always match that of other industry professionals. And that’s okay, too – it’s a big field and not all of us have experienced every scenario or every product. My aim is not to make my competition happy, but simply to inform those interested in outdoor lighting.

So my advice to the reader is this: Before making your final decision on the purchase of an expensive outdoor lighting system, I encourage you to do some of your own research on companies and products. I always recommend members of the Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals first. Getting the most for your investment is largely the responsibility of the purchaser, the end user – YOU! Reviews, blogs and references will be very helpful tools to employ before you spend. Ultimately, what you learn – the good and bad – will inform your decision so you will be comfortable and happy with the outcome for a long time. www.night-scenes.com

Outdoor Lighting Focus and Adjustments

All too often we hear the tale of the company that installs an outdoor lighting system during the day, and never returns to focus the system at night. WHAT? REALLY?

Yes, it’s true! There are a lot of companies out there that will show up in the daytime to install some lights and call it done. Often times these are the crews who use the same fixture with the same lumen output and the same beam spread for everything, so there’s no real lighting design work done to properly enhance the landscape and architecture of the property. They really don’t care too much about the details or how it looks when it gets dark anyway; light is light – and the client won’t know the difference, right? Personally, we give our clients plenty more credit than that – they paid for excellence and we won’t give them anything less.

Not surprisingly this failure to return to the jobsite for adjustments after dark happens more in the summer months when it may not get dark enough to focus a system until 9pm or so. At least in the winter it gets dark around dinner time or earlier so installation crews don’t have to be working as late in the evening.

I’m proud to say that there are many times when our team may not get back to the shop until well past 11pm during the summer. The fine tuning and detail work of nighttime focus for outdoor lighting is a critical step to any well-designed lighting system. Although a good designer tries to anticipate each scenario, sometimes fixtures may need to be moved, or even replaced with a better suited fixture to get the right effect. We may also need to work on some glare control issues that we couldn’t see during the day. We may find that our client would like to add a few things as well. After all, it’s the homeowner who will be looking at it every night, and they are the ones we are trying to please.

So, make sure that the company that you choose to install your outdoor lighting system will be there as late as it takes to make sure that all of the fixtures are focused properly to get the best possible results. Ask them how they ensure proper focus so you don’t have light sources shining in your eyes while you’re trying to enjoy a nice glass of wine and conversation on your back patio. Be sure you get the outdoor lighting system you are paying for by day to enjoy every night.

NightScenes is always happy to come out and focus an existing system; just drop us a note if we can help you. info@night-scenes.com

Top 3 Outdoor Lighting Problems-And their Solutions

Let’s be quite honest and open here: Nothing is 100% perfect all the time, and everything has problems. Most businesses with integrity work hard to minimize failures and inconveniences that may occur down the road, both for them and for their clients. When something doesn’t work like it’s supposed to, no one is happy. In outdoor lighting, most problems boil down to three main issues; but those issues can cause other problems -- so let’s fix the main issues right from the start.

1. Burned out lamps (light bulbs). Because there are so many incandescent and halogen outdoor lighting systems out there, we get calls all the time asking for help with these systems. We arrive to find lot of lamps burned out. This may not seem like a big deal, but let me tell you why it really can be a big and costly deal. If we are talking about a DIY lighting system made up of products from a big box store (we do not work on these by the way), it’s probably installed in the dreaded “daisy chain” wiring method. This is bad because the first light is bright; the second is a little dimmer, and so on down the line. None of the lamps actually get the proper voltage and will burn out prematurely. This can also happen with professional grade outdoor lighting using a multi-tap transformer. These systems are balanced to operate between 10.5 and 11.5 volts -- a very tight window. Depending on the size of the wire, distance from the transformer and voltage tap of the transformer that it is hooked up to, a single lamp burn out can send too much voltage to the other lights on that circuit causing them to burn out prematurely. The moral here is that regular maintenance on a halogen/incandescent outdoor lighting system is crucial. We recommend maintenance at least twice each year for these types of systems, with a complete re-lamp every two years.

2. Connections. We see issues with connections almost daily. It’s hard for me to understand how some installers will use pierce-point connectors which just poke holes in the wire jacket, into the wire strands to make the connection. Guess what else gets into those holes? WATER! There are those who will use the standard red or yellow wire nuts and just bury the wire in the ground. Guess what happens in a hard rain or a well irrigated lawn? WATER gets into the standard connection and causes short circuits. And some guys just make a bad connection. We have actually found instances where an installer just stripped some of the jacket off of the main wire and wrapped the fixture wire around it, and then wrapped that in electrical tape. This is sheer negligence – and dangerous. In all of these cases, for outdoor use, it is best to use waterproof connectors ALWAYS. Depending on the outdoor lighting system, fixture location and other things, there are several great options for making good waterproof connections.

3. Corrosion. The dirty little thing that you can’t easily see is corrosion. The first place we see corrosion is in the socket where the lamp is installed. Usually a burning lamp will produce enough heat to burn off any condensation (moisture) that may form in a light fixture. If the lamp burns out, corrosion can form in that light socket. This takes a lot of time but it happens often. Also, a bad or sub-par connection will allow water into the wiring causing corrosion in the wire. This “wicking” will wreak havoc by making it much harder for the electricity to travel to the fixtures. For the socket issue we recommend using dielectric compounds on the base of the lamps to avoid corrosion. The connection issue was discussed above.

Here’s a bonus for those in the south: FIRE ANTS! Oh man, these pests are vicious. We have found them completely filling a transformer and lighting fixtures. We have found them mounded over fixtures that stand 8” above the grade of the landscape. We have also seen them fill what is supposed to be a sealed fixture. We used to recommend using a product called Over-N-Out, but we no longer endorse that product. They have changed the formula and we have found it is no longer as effective. We are currently looking for a good product that can be applied to lawns by home owners, but have not yet found one we really like. As soon as we find something that WORKS, we’ll let you know. Until then, we now recommend you have your property professionally treated for these monsters. Bottom line is you must get rid of fire ants, if not for your outdoor lighting, for your kids, pets, guests and yourself.

Does your outdoor lighting system seem to always have something going wrong?  Let us take a look, we can probably rectify the issues.  info@night-scenes.com

Thank You USA Veterans

I am proud to say that both me, Paul R Gosselin, Sr., and my son, Paul R Gosselin, Jr., of NightScenes have both served in the United States military. I was in the Air Force while Jr played his role in the Army.

That being said, it must also be noted that both of us served during times of peace. Neither of us was ever in harm’s way, nor had we ever faced with an enemy who wanted to harm us. So I have a deep respect - and I’m sure I speak for Jr. as well, for those who have been in battle. We will never know what it must be like to be in that position, and I thank God we have been spared from that trial.

I am also tremendously grateful for those who have faced the enemy and paid the ultimate price. I thank God for those who have been injured in defense of this country; I also thank God for those who say yes to their country’s call, and are ready in case they are needed.

NightScenes is proud to be a veteran- owned and operated company; and we are not ashamed to proclaim our love for God and the United States of America.

Thank you to all of our veterans, both current and past, for your dedication to this country.

Why Low Voltage for Landscape Lighting?

Low voltage landscape lighting is usually thought of as being cheap and of low quality. The primary reason for this is the poor quality of products found at the local big box home improvement stores. These low voltage landscape lighting fixtures are made very cheaply with plastic or some kind of potted metal. They just don’t last very long. These fixtures usually come with very poor pierce point connectors which give a bad connection, and also allow water to get into the connection causing corrosion and other issues. The manufacturer of these products includes instructions for poor installation methods such as the daisy chain. This method allows the first light to be really bright while the last light can hardly be seen. This system usually comes with a little black 12 volt transformer with a built in mechanical timer (which loses time every time the power goes out) causing the lights that are working to come on at all different times. This system is doomed to fail before it leaves the store shelf. No wonder the general public thinks so poorly about low voltage lighting.

The average consumer doesn’t realize that there are professional grade low voltage landscape lighting products out there that are made from quality materials like brass, copper and stainless steel. A professional outdoor lighting transformer is usually made out of stainless steel, and has several different voltage taps from 11-15 volts -- this helps keep the proper voltage going to all fixtures, avoiding that dim light situation. A good professional transformer also allows for an independent control device to be placed inside of it so it can operate in many different ways including a regular timer, photo cell or maybe even a remote control. Controls are another topic altogether.

When a well trained professional outdoor lighting company uses these high quality products and installs them properly by using their design skills, waterproof connectors, quality wire and electrical distribution techniques, you can end up with an outdoor lighting system that will blow your socks off and will last for many years.

To see what great low voltage lighting can look like, visit our website at www.night-scenes.com .

Outdoor Lighting From the 2013 IA Show

It’s been a wonderful representing the Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals (AOLP) at the 2013 Irrigation Association Conference and Expo in Austin, Texas.  We’ve had tremendous interest from manufacturers, distributors and contractors who want to do outdoor lighting the right way. 

The AOLP has a standards of installation which each member abides by, insuring a quality finished project.  It also has the only low voltage lighting certification by a national association.  When you see CLVLT after the installer’s name, you can be assured that that person truly knows what they are doing when it comes to low voltage outdoor lighting, design, installation, maintenance or repair.

We have also met some very dedicated professionals in the irrigation industry working in landscaping who have an appreciation for the education, testing and certification an industry association can provide. Members of the IA can also be similarly certified in their industry. These hard-working men and women are a good fit for the AOLP as well when they are seeking to expand their potential revenue streams and look to the AOLP for the right training in outdoor lighting. Just like the beautiful weather in Austin today, seeing so many professionals who are genuinely interested in doing great work is a breath of fresh air.

The AOLP (Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals) at the IA Show.

I really lucked out this year! It just so happens that the Irrigation Association Show is in Austin, Texas this year and I get the privilege of representing the Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals at the show. The Irrigation Association is kind enough to provide booth space for not-for-profit associations that have some kind of tie-in to their group and since a lot of irrigators install lighting, the AOLP fits in.

This show moves all over the country and last year it was in San Diego, California. Luckily the AOLP had a couple of members who were willing to take some time to man the booth for us. I keep saying us because I am also privileged to be serving my second term as the AOLP president so when I say we, I mean the AOLP. (I don’t want to confuse anyone).

We’ll be sure to take some pictures and make some posts from the show.

So, if you are in the outdoor lighting industry and you plan to attend the IA show in Austin, please drop by and say hello. I’d really like to meet you and maybe even “enlighten” you about the Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals!

When is the Best Time to Bring in an Outdoor Lighting Designer?

If you are building a new home and thinking about adding outdoor lighting to your property, the answer is NOW.

Seriously, the best time to bring in your outdoor lighting designer is as soon as possible. Initially, the lighting guy will be able to advise where to put the exterior electrical outlets when building a new home, which could be more costly to add later. What I’m going to outline here is the absolute best and easiest way for an outdoor lighting system installation to flow seamlessly into your project. These suggestions also present the most economical scenario as contractors can work together, saving time and added expenses.

If you missed the opportunity to discuss lighting while you are still in the thinking stage, the next best time to bring in the lighting designer is when the builder is creating the bid to build the home so the outdoor lighting can be included in the final cost of the home. This, of course, requires a full set of plans, including the landscape plan when possible.

Didn’t get the outdoor lighting guy and the builder together on the front end? Then you really need to call him in when the landscape design is ready. An experienced outdoor lighting designer can work from a good set of landscape plans to prepare a basic design. The caveat here is that it is rare to see a landscape go in exactly as planned. Some plants may be out of season, or maybe it becomes hard to find quality plants of certain types; dealing with living things can create the need for adjustments along the way. Occasionally, the hardscape design may change as well.

When it comes to the installation of your outdoor lighting system, the ideal time for us to come in is in two phases. The first phase is when the irrigation is being installed. The outdoor lighting company can come in and place the main wires in the irrigation ditches. The second phase is right after the plants are in place, but before the mulch is added. At this time the wire can easily be put in the ground without messing things up. It also makes it much easier if a few plants need to be re-set slightly to create the best effects. The lighting can then be focused that same evening and the mulch placed the next day. Then everything looks perfect!

We never do anything to hold up any other contractor. If the irrigator has to get in and get their pipes covered and leave, it’s not a problem for us. If the landscaper is putting in plants, and their crew is following behind with a load of mulch, that’s okay, too; we can deal with that and still end up with a beautiful finished project.

Calling in your outdoor lighting designer at the very first stages of planning your new home is the most ideal and cost efficient time. But over 90% of the time we are called in after the landscape is completed and even established. Although we can still do a great job designing and installing a superior outdoor lighting system, there will likely be a few additional expenses in the project that may have been unnecessary had we been able to start earlier in the process. Planning ahead always saves steps for your contractors, but failing to do so won’t prevent you from having an awesome outdoor lighting system for your spectacular new home.

Let us know if we can help you plan for your future outdoor lighting system by dropping us a note at info@night-scenes.com

Outdoor Lighting From The Inside

One of things I always do when meeting with a client to develop an outdoor lighting design is to ask if I can come inside. Puzzled, with that tilted-puppy-head look, they generally allow it while I explain that outdoor lighting isn’t just for the friends, neighbors, and strangers passing by that see their home from the outside – it has to create a beautiful view for the folks inside as well.
The homeowner paying for outdoor lighting should also enjoy the benefit of their investment while entertaining inside, preparing a meal for the family, settling in with a book or even washing the dishes. Yes, we want to turn their windows into living works of art at night. Window casings and curtains create great frames for the wonderfully lighted art work - their landscape. This visual works especially well with sliding glass doors, and window walls commonly seen on waterfront property or in the central Texas hill country where the views can be spectacular. When we add drama to the landscape with light focusing on the view from inside the home, the room feels more expansive and helps to bring the outside space in.

One of our clients has this view outside of her kitchen window. I’m betting that washing dishes isn’t quite so bad when you can look at this, right?

A professional outdoor lighting designer should look at all the aspects of the design with an artist’s eye for everyone to enjoy from all usable spaces. The point of view of the inside dweller is just as important as that of the outside observer. So, if your outdoor lighting designer doesn’t ask to come in, they may only be looking at the design from one prospective - their own.

For a different perspective on outdoor lighting, contact us at info@night-scenes.com

How Do You Define Value?

By Patty Gosselin

Value: an amount expressed in money or another medium of exchange that is thought to be a fair exchange for something; the worth, importance, or usefulness of something to somebody.

There are so many men who can figure costs, and so few who can measure values.  ~Author Unknown

It is often said that the value of a thing is only that which someone is willing to pay for it. True. But it must also be noted that value is a highly subjective concept as each individual holds value for a specific thing differently. In our outdoor lighting business, the product we sell is not actually lighting but design, atmosphere, ambiance, safety and security.

As we approach each new lighting project, we try to glean from the client what it is that they value most. Is it the potential for enjoyable evening gatherings of friends and family, or the view of the beautiful landscape they love enhanced and highlighted at night? Perhaps safety is the greatest concern, knowing that falls and missteps are less likely to occur where illumination is placed. These types of values are most definitely priceless in the hearts of the client – and yet we must still agree on the fair “amount expressed in money” in order to fulfill the ideal scenario for them, embracing the closely held value prompting the homeowner to seek out lighting for their outdoor spaces. We create lighting designs to do exactly that.

A monetary investment in your home should always increase its value to you, the homeowner, regardless of the considered return in dollars. If your outdoor areas are re-created with lighting to allow you the pleasure of using the space as you wish, and bring you joy, then ultimately you will be happy with your choice. When you feel confident that the importance and usefulness of this design has value equal to or greater than the money spent, then your expectations have been exceeded and you will enjoy it even more.

We encourage our clients to be clear and honest about what they value in their pursuit of outdoor lighting for their homes so that we may propose to exceed their expectations.

Let us know if we can exceed your expectations by contacting us at info@night-scenes so we can schedule a consultation. 

Why I don’t Want LED Fixtures That I Can Work On

The average consumer hasn’t really been exposed to all the LED landscape lighting products that are available in the market today, and you don’t really need to go looking for all of them – there are thousands! -- unless you find it interesting. Just listen to me and I’ll give you the enlightenment skinny, so to speak.

In the landscape lighting industry we have three major LED options to choose from. We can use LED lamps in regular outdoor lighting fixtures. I have written in the past about the good and bad when it comes to using LED lamps in the landscape.

There is also the completely potted and sealed LED fixture which encapsulates all the workings and cannot be opened, repaired or manipulated. This is my personal favorite. It is impervious to the outdoor elements. The downside to this fixture is that the designer must know the amount of lumens they need, the desired beam spread and the color of the light that they want for each fixture location. This usually isn’t a problem for the seasoned designer, but can be a big issue for the novice who is still learning the craft of outdoor lighting design.

Last, and possibly least, there is the product that is marketed to us as the “all-in-one fixture.” Manufacturers and distributors claim, “You can just change out the chip to make the fixture brighter.” Or “If something goes wrong, just pop it open and replace the chip board.” Then they give us accessories that allow us to change the beam spread and light color. They promise versatility and flexibility in one fixture – easily managed by the lighting professional. All of this sounds great, right?

WRONG! What we are working with in this case is electronics - we are talking about circuit boards here, not just light bulbs and lenses. If I can get into that light fixture and play with that circuit board, care to guess what else can get into that fixture? The worst enemy of ALL electronic circuit boards: WATER. This is usually condensation but it’s still water.

And what happens when circuit boards get wet? Absolutely - they FAIL.

It does no good to say that your LED chips will last 50,000 hours when your circuit board won’t last a year in the landscape. So far, I have not found a single fixture that allows access into it that has stood up longer than a year. Not a single one. I did try them, I promise. I have had to replace every one of them at least once, and I’m scared of what will happen to those that are still out there. I’m sure I’ll have to replace those as well in the near future, but I assure you, it won’t be with the same product. It will be with a completely sealed and potted fixture that I can’t “fix” if something goes wrong with it (which rarely happens). Then, if something does go wrong with that sealed fixture, I just pull it out and replace it with a brand new model. I don’t leave the old fixture there and just replace a part that is going to FAIL AGAIN as soon as it gets a little moisture in the fixture again.

So, when your lighting contractor suggests, “This fixture is great because I can manipulate it like this or that,” then duck for cover. Insist that the contractor either use high quality LED lamps which are designed and tested to be used in outdoor lighting fixtures and have a warranty which reflects that; or they use a completely sealed and potted LED fixture with a long full replacement warranty. Don’t settle for anything less. You’re paying for high quality LED products and you deserve just that and nothing else.

Have questions, leave a comment below or drop us a note at info@night-scenes.com

Comments on Our Blog

We really love it when people read this blog and leave their comments. I wish everyone who read this blog would do that, it would be fantastic! We work hard to research topics, speak from our experience and make an effort to teach our readers something new with every posting we make. We’ve had over 23,500 views as of this time (thank you!) and it sure would be amazing if we had even half that many comments!

Heck, we’d be happy if one in ten would leave a word or two about their thoughts on the subject.

Instead, what we see a lot are other outdoor lighting installers, distributors and others posting in the comment section nothing more than a few words with links to THEIR websites! They are not comments – they are ads. It’s not that I mind links to great content because I’m a firm believer in sharing wonderful information that can be accessed from our blog. But I am against those who try to use our blog to promote their own businesses, most of which I would not endorse at all. Pretty much everyone who has left these links are, in fact, those who I would advise our readers to stay very far away from!

If you have a business and you would like your customers to get the kind of content that we have here on this blog, then please put a link to our blog on your website. If you don’t want to do that, take the time and put in the effort to write your own blog. Don’t use our hard work and time to try to get free advertising for your company. Aside from being unethical, potentially fraudulent, and dishonest -- it’s just rude! We don’t generally make many endorsements through this blog, but would be happy to consider your product or service if you make a formal request – just email us. info@night-scenes.com

So please, leave your comments on our subject matter, or even pose questions. But don’t try to add a link to your business – it just won’t make it to the blog. (We have to approve all posts before they are allowed to be viewed publicly.) If you want to guest blog, let us know and we’ll discuss it. If you would like to link to this blog, by all means do that, and we’ll try to educate your web visitors about outdoor lighting.

We can’t wait to see the comments that this blog generates!

If you would rather email us, please do that here. info@night-scenes.com

Will Professional Outdoor Lighting Increase The Value Of My Home?

The short answer is yes and no.

There really hasn’t been a study that I know of to prove that professional outdoor lighting actually increases the monetary value of a home. It has been published, however, that a well designed and installed professional outdoor lighting system does add a perceived 20% increase in value. This means that it makes a home LOOK like it’s worth 20% more. Ideally, that indicates that it does indeed increase the value of a home because, as we all know, we take great stock in the way things look and usually are quite willing to pay more for things that look good than those that do not.

Personally, I think that a well-designed professional outdoor lighting system adds a lot of VALUE to any property. This value may not always be monetary, but it is always worth – however subjective. Let’s look at the word:

· Value: noun 1. relative worth, merit, or importance: the value of a college education; the value of a queen in chess. 2. monetary or material worth, as in commerce or trade ...

As you can see, even the dictionary places worth above monetary value. So what is professional outdoor lighting worth when you and your guests can move around safely at night? What is the worth of the lighting if a burglar decides to go to the neighbor’s unlit house because it’s dark? What is it worth to you when you can sit outside after dark, feeling safe and comfortable with soft lighting in the area? These are the things that I feel have value far exceeding what the monetary expense of an outdoor lighting system may have been.

I also believe that great lighting really does add monetary value. Like many other home improvements, you are actually spending good money to make your property look better, be safer and be more secure. When someone puts their home on the market, and then shows that home before and after dark, they easily display the increased “value” of the home (and its extended potential use of outdoor spaces) simply due to the professional outdoor lighting. To me – and also many potential buyers – this will increase the value of the home, which can translate in to real dollars.

Maybe we can help add real value to your home.  Drop us a note and let’s take a look.  info@night-scenes.com

How To Light A Sego Palm

SEGO PALMS are among the most difficult landscape plants to accent, in my opinion. Personally, I think the sego palm is a very attractive plant, but I also think it could be considered the “joke” of the palm tree world. Normally when you think of palm trees, you think tall, skinny trees with leaves at the top. Then you see a sego palm - which is very short and wide and quite dense.

When lighting the usual palm tree like a date palm or a sabol palm, you’ll often see two “bullet” lights shining up the trunks and illuminating the tree and canopy. These fixtures will usually use a narrow beam to really make the canopy pop. But what about our humble short, squatty sego palm? Surprisingly, it seems that I always see that same bullet light method used for these trees – as though every palm can be illuminated exactly the same way, which just gets all over me! Using this standard “palm tree lighting” method simply won’t work on a sego palm. Although it could be illuminated with a bullet light pointing at it from the side, it would have to be placed several feet away from the tree and use a much wider beam spread. Generally, I find these light fixtures positioned within a foot of the sego palm, and in this instance, there is only a round spot of light on the bushy tree and that’s it. Not attractive and certainly not enhancing these very interesting trees.

So, what is the best way to light a sego palm? My favorite way to do this is from above. Since these trees are short and wide, we can accent the entire canopy at one time when placing a fixture above the plant. Since the leaves are very dark and thick, the leaves will almost look like they sparkle at night when a soft breeze blows through. There is also a much lighter colored center that looks very nice this way as well.

But what if there is no tall object to allow for down lighting? The next best thing would be to use a wash fixture which throws a very wide light beam. Even with these very wide pattern emitters, you may need more than one fixture, depending on the size of the tree and angles of visibility.

In another instance, let’s say that you happen to have a very old sego palm tree that has grown quite tall. Now, the tallest sego palm tree that I have ever seen was about 6’ tall, and I have only seen two of them that large. Maybe in California they are bigger? I don’t know, but here in central Texas, that’s the biggest I’ve seen. If you do come across trees that size, then you may want to use a couple of wash fixtures from below to accent the trunk and underside of the canopy, like the taller palm trees. But I still recommend using the very widest beam instead of the narrow beam bullet fixtures to get the best possible result.

Sego palms are not a very cheap tree and they really can become a nice focal point in the landscape when properly illuminated.  Please leave your comments below and if you would like more information on lighting palm trees, drop us a note at info@night-scenes.com

Fire Ants, Get Rid Of Them!

Every spring and fall we talk about fire ants because every year we confront this problem.
These pests are not native to the United States but were accidentally imported from South America in 1918 and introduced first in Mobile, Alabama. Since then they have spread to all the southeastern states and continue to trek west.

They are ruthless critters, invasive and destructive. If you have never encountered these tiny beasts, one of the most important things you should know is that a fire ant bite HURTS! If you’ve ever stepped in a fire ant mound you know first-hand that they got their name from the burning, stinging pain inflicted by the bite, and the blister that forms afterwards. If you’ve ever had a child fall into a fire ant mound, you’ve felt their pain. Also keep an eye on your pets; these fire ants can really do a number on them and will be hard to detect beneath the animal’s fur. Fire ants mound up over light fixtures or get inside causing tremendous damage; they also invade transformers and destroy them.

Outdoor light fixtures, no matter how good they are, are no match for these creatures, and a manufacturer warranty does not cover damage by fire ants. This is why it is so important to treat your southern property for these pests. Although we used to recommend a product called OVER-N-OUT for the treating of your lawn, since they have changed the formula we can no longer recommend that product. It used to be that you could treat your lawn once a year with that product and it was good-to-go, but not anymore. Now the instructions say twice a year (but the price is still the same) and even that doesn't work. Believe me, I tried it at my house. If you have a lawn maintenance company, ask them to treat your property for fire ants. Preventative treatment against fire ant damage will certainly save you the expense and inconvenience of replacing part of your landscape lighting system and a costly transformer.
Knowing your lawn is safe from the pain and destruction of fire ants will help you enjoy your outdoor spaces and landscape lighting even more in the months to come!
If you notice issues with your lighting system and you also notice that you have fire ants, you may need to call in a professional.  If you’re in our service area, drop us a note and we’ll get you taken care of.  info@night-scenes.com

LED Troubleshooting

Who would have thought just 10 years ago that an outdoor lighting company would have to learn about troubleshooting electronic components? Most people don’t realize that LED lighting is made up of all kinds of electronic circuitry with diodes, resistors, wires, drivers, and more. Gone are the days of just finding the burned out light bulb.

Regular halogen or incandescent light bulbs have a filament which eventually burns in half resulting in a burned out light bulb. An easy fix – just replace the light bulb.

LED lights are a whole different animal – they do not have filaments. Instead, they have electronics. Electronics that look a lot like you took a computer apart. This is one of the reasons the LED lights cost a lot more that a strand of wire in a glass tube.

Moisture is the greatest enemy an LED light can face and is the culprit most often in a failure. Imagine what might happen if you dropped your cell phone in your landscape and the irrigation system turns on.  It’s important to make very sure that any LED product that is installed in the landscape is completely sealed and potted to insure that no moisture can get into those electronics.

The primary problem now when a light goes out is that it’s usually a short circuit in a single LED fixture or lamp causing an entire run of lights to go out. So, instead of looking for a burned out light bulb and replacing it, we may have to disconnect fixtures completely, one at a time, to find the one that is causing the problem. Because of the complexity of the fixtures and the possible troubleshooting, it is wiser to call a professional in than to tackle the problem yourself. Fortunately, it doesn’t happen often and good warranties can prevent this from being very costly and of course if it’s a NightScenes system that is less than 3 years old, there is no cost at all to replace a bad LED fixture. 

How is your LED outdoor lighting performing?  Does it need a check-up?  We’ll be happy to take a look, just drop us a quick note at info@night-scenes.com

Business is Business

WARNING: I’m going to get on my soapbox now.

I have written many times in local publications about business – particularly small business, and what it takes to start up and stay in business. Although it’s impossible to get through the day without transacting some kind business with someone, many folks simply don’t realize that all business ventures are not operated on the same scale. Those in the work force are more likely to work for someone else than to own their own companies, making it difficult for them to truly appreciate the struggles and obstacles that the small business owner must overcome to stay afloat, pay their bills and feed their family. As a small business owner myself, I face a new challenge every day in meeting profit goals so that I can adequately pay my crews (and myself), pay the basic expenses for the company, fulfill my tax obligations to state and federal government, and have enough operating capital left over to cover unexpected budget busters like a flat tire, a busted piece of equipment or an increase in materials. While I won’t really go into all the things that go into making a business run on a budget, I am going to blow off a little steam.

Our company is a FOR PROFIT venture. This means that when we provide products and services, we will charge a fair price that will help us to cover ALL of our business expenses including the materials used, labor, gas and truck maintenance, office space, electricity, phone, taxes, advertising, etc. After all of those expenses are covered, we want to have a little bit left over. This is known as profit. Profits are used in a variety of ways: re-investing in the company to buy better equipment so we can provide better services, incentive bonuses for our technicians when they do a superior job, educational seminars for the crew, saving for leaner times, or even making donations to charities that we believe in – just to name a few. At NightScenes, we think all of these are reasonable and justified as we conduct our business with integrity.

We also support other small businesses and try to engage with local companies as often as possible. We share many of the same struggles, and it’s just a good practice to do business with your neighbors. But I know that these companies are also FOR PROFIT businesses facing many of the same expenses and trials that I battle. So it tries my patience a little when a fellow local business owner asks for a “favor” or expects me to work for free while he’s trying to save a buck. It just seems disrespectful. Don’t get me wrong – I love to work with these folks, and will cut a deal to minimize my own profit occasionally; and I even enjoy a good barter relationship. But if I do cut another business a great deal, it is insulting to me and my company to be asked for something more for FREE. This is really taking advantage of my good nature and neighborly good will. Any honest business that agrees to work a deal with little or no profit, is investing in that relationship. Asking for more is expecting that accommodating businessperson to reach into his/her own pocket and pay for the privilege of working. Not really a square deal, huh? Any additional work that was not included in the original agreed price is EXTRA -- and therefore, needs to be billed separately in order to avoid a loss to the business providing the service.

We all know that today’s economy has caused most businesses – even in Texas – to be cautious with their spending, and careful with whom they do business with. This is why it is becoming difficult to do “favors” for fellow entrepreneurs. These are the people we hoped would KNOW BETTER since they are also in the same boat. Unfortunately, some of these unscrupulous folks may only stay in business because they have been successful in getting others to work for them for little or nothing - and they take advantage of this generosity. While we’d like to believe we can be neighborly, it may just be too expensive. This is what the saying “no good deed goes unpunished” means, right?

It used to be that this sort of unfair or lopsided relationship was a rare thing. But, sadly, it happens far too often these days, forcing some of us to always keep our guard up, protecting ourselves and our companies against costly situations like this. Unfortunately, in one case, I’m afraid I’ve done my last “favor” for a local business.

It can be a hard lesson, but you know what they say: Business is business.   Thank you for letting me vent, now back to lighting.

Mercury Vapor Lighting-Revisited

We’ve all seen them. The distinctive eerie green glow of mercury vapor lighting dots the landscapes of commercial properties all over the world casting a harsh glare like alien beacons in the night. More frightening than the spooky appearance of these lights is the elemental make-up of the fixtures: mercury. Because each of these fixtures uses mercury to produce light, the EPA Act of 2005 banned all manufacture and/or import of this type of lighting effective January 1, 2008. As existing supplies of the necessary ballasts for these lighting fixtures dwindle, some folks are using Metal Halide ballasts with Mercury Vapor lamps. In doing this they are using lamps that they already KNOW are being phased, out instead of doing what is in the best interest of the client long term! This takes a bad light to new levels of abuse by sucking up even more energy since the metal halide ballast does not work as well for mercury vapor lamps. This 1940’s unit was discontinued by the United States for its inefficient use of energy and potential environmental hazards. Putting this kind of band-aid on an already power-hungry monster is simply not a good idea for anyone.

Besides the above mentioned issues with mercury vapor, there’s also the look of the light. Those who install this lighting as down lighting call it “moon lighting.” My question is, since when does the moon produce a green light? Maybe the Vulcan moon produces green light, but the moon of planet Earth produces a white light since the surface of our moon is gray and it reflects the light from our sun. This ghoulish green light makes the leaves of trees look pretty good since it brings out the green color, but it makes human skin look grey - like a corpse. This is because it has a terrible CRI (color rendering index).
NightScenes has never advocated the use of these fixtures for any application. In fact, we rarely use any fixtures or lamps other than energy-saving, earth-friendly LED now – even for commercial properties. The good news for mercury vapor users is that retro-fitting with LED is now possible! This cost effective alternative uses only 14 watts or so, instead of 100 (or 175), and is rated for more than twice the life of the mercury vapor lamps. Rated for 50,000 hours of use, these LED lamps save money in maintenance as well as the incredible savings of 80% on the energy bill. LED lamps can produce the same light output in color and intensity. Warmer colors are also available for those looking for a more natural lighting effect. So what’s not to love?
Whatever you do, do not allow an electrician or anyone else, talk you into using a metal halide ballast to keep your old, out dated, being phased out, ugly, poisonous, and environmentally destructive mercury vapor lights! It is way too easy - and may even be less expensive - to convert to LED.
http://lightingcontrolsassociation.org/2007-energy-law-eliminates-sale-of-probe-start-metal-halide-fixtures/
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-110publ414/pdf/PLAW-110publ414.pdf
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-109publ58/pdf/PLAW-109publ58.pdf no

Do you have lighting that needs to be updated?  Maybe NightScenes can help.  Drop us an email at info@night-scenes to set up an appointment.

Please be sure to leave us your comments below.