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Coronavirus disease 2019

What is Landscape Moonlighting?

One popular misconception about burglary is that it happens at night. Research suggests as many as 40% of break-ins occur during the day when people tend to be away from their homes and lights may not be home. While many break-ins occur during the day, they still happen at night, too. When burglaries occur at night, it’s usually in homes that are dark and quiet and are unoccupied or appear unoccupied.

Security lights may give would-be thieves the impression that you are home, even if you’re not, which may deter them from breaking into what might be an occupied home. Lighting also gives criminals fewer hiding places if they are lurking about. Also, lighting used in conjunction with cameras can help identify criminals, if a break-in should unfortunately occur. 

Security lights are also valuable to help you stay safe at night around your home. You’ll be able to see your surroundings in the dark or find your keys so you can get inside your home safely in case of potential danger.

While security lights may not deter every criminal, you’re often better off with them than without them. They serve as added protection in your overall security plan. If you’d like the added protection of security lighting in Dallas and Fort Worth, TX, get help from the lighting professionals at Majestic Outdoor Lighting. Find out more about how we can help by calling (817) 345-3696.

What security lighting do I need

If you are considering installing outdoor security lights, your primary concern is that you install lighting that is bright and covers a wide area. You also want to make sure the lights are operating correctly and come on when they are triggered. The lights should also be able to survive in all kinds of weather, and should be rated either WP for weatherproof or WR for weather resistant.

You’ll also want to make sure you have the right light fixtures to suit your needs. You may need high-mounted floodlights, for instance to illuminate your porch or side of your home, or low lights along sidewalks to illuminate pathways. You’ll also want to consider whether you want timed lights or motion sensitive lighting, and whether your lighting is manually controlled or automatic.

No matter how weatherproofed your outdoor lights are, when the temperatures drop, and your heater doesn’t work, you won’t be weatherproofed. Heater repair and heater parts replacement will be necessary to keep you warm.

Where to install outdoor security lighting

Where you have your outdoor security lights installed will vary with their purpose and function. You may want to place low lights along paths and sidewalks to illuminate walkways, but most security lights will be placed above ground. You may wonder, How high should security lights be? It’s usually best to mount your lights six to 10 feet off the ground. They should be positioned strategically so they cover the widest amount of surface area. If they are motion-sensitive lights, they should be positioned so the movement will be tracked and the light will be triggered.

Some of the best areas to place the lights are areas where the light covers walks up to your front doors and back doors, and up the driveway. Additional lights can be placed to cover all the approaches to your house like gates or in the darker areas of your yard. You may also want to put lights over decks and near stairways and pools.

What are the types of security lighting?

There are several types of outdoor security lights, and what you choose will depend on your needs and situation. Outlined below are the types of lights available.

• Timed lights: Lights you can adjust to come on and stay on all during the night or at select times during the day.
• Motion-activated lights: These lights have sensors that turn on the lights when motion is detected. These lights can be adjusted to just go off when humans trigger them.
• Floodlights: These are bright lights used to illuminate large areas such as patios and drives.
• High-Intensity Discharge (HID) lights: Often used for commercial security, these lights can be used at homes to light up large areas.
• Exterior soffit lights: These lights sit on the soffit overhang and often have extra lighting for your porch.
• Outdoor coach lights: These lights are often chosen for their aesthetic appeal, but provide adequate lighting for driveways and walkways.

What is the brightest outdoor light?

Outdoor lights come in varying brightnesses. Some of the brightest lights used for outdoor lighting are LED floodlights. Floodlights are often strong enough to light up a whole yard. LED lights not only shine brightly, they use less energy than other types of lights. High Intensity Discharge lights are also very bright, but are generally used for commercial lighting. 

What are the best outdoor security lights?

There are many highly rated outdoor security lights on the market today. The top five that find their way on many lists include:

• LITOM Motion Sensor Light
• Ring Floodlight Camera
• SANSI Motion Sensor Outdoor Light
• Hyperikon LED Outdoor Flood Light
• Heath Zenith Light

Should I leave porch light on all night?

While it’s not necessary, leaving your porch light on all night may benefit your safety. It can alert potential criminals that the home may be occupied. At the same time, if you turn it off regularly when you go to bed, this, too, may alert someone that you’re at home as well. Turning the light off suggests the home is in use. It also serves as a spotlight over the front door which will help you see someone approaching the house. Leaving your light on is also good for the safety of those coming home late at night. That person can safely get to the door and unlock it.

Landscape Lighting Maintenance Tips

Landscape lighting maintenance and repair doesn’t have to feel like a major hassle. It can actually be a fairly easy process. We recommend you take a look around your property about once a week. Along with that, investing in maintenance plans will provide untold benefits. So what do you need to do to maintain your landscaping? 

• Tree Trimming: A great way to maintain your overall landscaping is to participate in regular tree trimming. This will keep your property looking clean and maintained. It will also protect your lighting fixtures from damage. 
• Clean Fixtures and Lenses: Take the time to clean all aspects of the lighting fixtures. This includes the plastic and metal components as well as the lenses. You can wipe everything down yourself or hire professional cleaning services. 
• Clear Debris: If there has been a storm or high-winds, make sure to go through and remove any and all debris from around the fixtures. Doing so can help to improve illumination while making it easier to perform other cleaning tasks later on. 
• Replace Bulbs: With some fixtures, you’ll be able to quickly replace burnt out or broken bulbs. Make sure to do this as soon as you notice one is out. You’ll see greater illumination as well as prevent any damage to your fixture or property. 
• Check Exposed Wiring: Even professionally installed lights can experience trauma exposing the wiring. Animals knock into things or drivers disturb the area. Either way, taking the time to check for this will protect you lights, property, and loved ones. 

Maintaining your landscape will give your home the finished appearance you are looking for. When you’re taking a look at your landscape, don’t neglect the other areas of your home. Schedule shingle roof repair in Arlington, TX if you notice gaps or holes in your roof.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do you replace low voltage landscape lights?
  • If the bulbs are placed in fixtures, then you’ll just need to replace the bulb itself. However, if the fixture itself needs to be replaced, you’ll need to rely on a contractor for help. 
• How much does landscape lighting cost? 
  • Once everything is said and done, meaning the correct wiring and transformer are in place, homeowners should expect to pay around $3,000 for completed landscape lighting. Any additional features or extras will cost more. 
• How do you clean landscape light lenses? 
  • To do this yourself, you’ll need to remove the lense from the fixture. Wiping it down with a cloth and warm, soapy water may get the job done. If there is more grime on there, you may need to upgrade to a steel-wool scrubber to remove all traces of dirt and oxidation.
• How do you landscape a lighting design?
  • It all starts with an idea. You can walk around your property and take pictures of the areas you’d like lights. If you work with a contractor, they’ll likely help to sketch out some ideas, just so you can have a visualization of what you’re looking for. Once that’s done, you’ll start placing and wiring what you want in. 
• What are the best outdoor lights?
  • The best outdoor lights are really whatever makes you happy. There are so many brands and options on the market it can be hard to narrow your focus. Many homeowners like the look and aesthetic of string lights while others prefer the appearance and functionality of LED lighting.

Benefits of Landscape Lighting

Landscape lighting is something that may seem important, but it is actually very advantageous to have quality lighting outside your home. The right outdoor lighting installation can make your home or yard look nicer or it can allow you to spend more time outdoors. More than that, proper outdoor lighting, such as floodlights, will provide incredible protection and security to your home. If you have been considering outdoor lighting options, there are a few things to consider. 

• Appearance: An obvious and choice benefit of landscape lighting is the appearance. Quality lighting can make the features of your home or certain features of your landscape really pop. 
• Function: Correct lighting also provides the chance to use areas of your lawn even after the sun has gone down. Additionally, the lights can offer illumination of pathways to and from the home to help avoid accidents. 
• Security & Safety: And of course, certain lights around your home can provide increased security and protection. Floodlights or spotlights near doorways can provide high-intensity light coverage to protect you and your loved ones. 

You don’t need trees or architectural features to highlight if you are interested in landscape lighting. And there are so many options for outdoor lighting. Depending on your needs, you could choose between lanterns, hanging lights, strip or string lights, and so many others. If you need any landscape lighting ideas, contact Majestic Outdoor Lighting for assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does landscape lighting work?
  • Landscape lighting is about highlighting the beautiful features of your landscape. If there are trees, a gazebo, or other features that you want to see at night, you can expertly place lighting around them so they are professionally lit. You can also use landscape lighting to help provide protection and security to your home.
• How do you landscape a lighting design?
  • You start with an idea. Figure out how you want all the landscaping features to look. Where you want trees, shrubs, plants, pathways, stonework, etc. Once you know that, you can work with a lighting expert to determine where to place lights. 
• How do you light a tree in landscape?
  • Lighting a tree comes down to the placement and size of the light itself. You’ll want to have lights about a foot away from the actual trunk of the tree. Facing the light up to the branches, the light span should be around 10-15 inches in diameter. 
• How do I light the exterior of my house?
  • Simply and with a few choice options. Around the perimeter of your home, you can opt for electric lights or lanterns. Near doors, garages, and sheds, you may want to choose a floodlight or a spotlight to provide additional security.
• What is the difference between a floodlight and a spotlight?
  • A spotlight is going to cast a narrow beam of light, usually no wider than 45 degrees. A floodlight, however, is going to provide significantly more light. It can have a beam spread up to 120 while still producing the same wattage and lumen of light like a spotlight.