We were recently called onto a location which had several outdoor lighting problems, but let’s just cover one of them right now. This lighting system was only installed about a year ago. The installer used fixtures that are very high quality and very expensive. They also used very high quality LED lamps in most of the fixtures. The transformers were also excellent. So, what’s the problem?
The first and most profound issue that we had to deal with is that they installed above grade fixtures in turf areas. These fixtures are heavy brass fixtures by a reputable manufacturer, made to last a lifetime; and they installed LED PAR36 lamps that should also last about 20 years. Unfortunately, the fixtures have to be replaced NOW, only a year after original installation because they have been destroyed by the lawn maintenance people! Sadly, this is not as uncommon as you may think.
The folks who are mowing the grass on an expansive property have no idea how much these fixtures cost, and they really don’t care. They are riding along, listening to their favorite music through their ear buds, doing their job cutting the grass and WHAM! There goes a fixture that costs a few hundred dollars! Regardless of the superior quality of any outdoor lighting fixture, they are no match for a riding lawn mower, leaving the fixture busted, shot, and no good at all anymore. Maybe the lawn care dude should have used a string trimmer in those areas - but that would take a LOT more time and effort, and they have other properties to get to. Consequently, most crewmen will just move along without a word, and let the property owner deal with the expensive carnage.
This is what happens when someone who really doesn’t know any better installs outdoor lighting: the company that uses just one fixture for everything because lighting is simply an add-on, and not their area of expertise. The attitude may be to stab the fixtures into the ground, and get gone quickly, never to be seen again to warranty the improperly installed fixtures.
In reality, the fixture that should have been used in these turf areas to up light these wonderful old live oak trees would have been an in-ground well light with a brass grate over the top. It should have been installed low enough that a mower could just run right over it and not even touch it (except for maybe the wheels). This would allow the fixture to operate for a lifetime as intended, with very little maintenance only to clean the lenses every now and then.
On this project, we now have to remove all of the current fixtures that are above ground and replace them with in-ground fixtures. The good thing is that we can re-use the high quality LED PAR36 lamps in the new fixtures, so it won’t be a total loss for the homeowner, but it’s still going to cost a lot of money for these changes. A sad waste at the homeowner’s expense due to improper installation by an untrained crew.
We’ll cover some of the other issues we’re fixing on this project later. Wishing you an illuminating day! info@night-scenes.com
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