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