Lighting Walls and Steps

By Jodie Carter, LCN regional editor in an exclusive interview with Steve Atkinson,
Nightscaping regional field agent

 

To illuminate a hardscaped wall or steps choose a low-voltage recessed fixture designed to be embedded within a vertical hardscape surface. The box dimensions of this fixture match that of a common brick, so the light will integrate nicely into masonry work. The lights can be cast into concrete or block walls or into the risers of natural stone steps. Faceplates are offered in a variety of materials: they can be constructed of phosphatized steel with your choice of powder-coat color, copper, copper-verde or stainless steel. Both ends of the fixture box are pre-drilled to accommodate standard half-inch conduit adaptors. This makes plumbing the fixture with PVC conduit a snap.

Landscape contractors work hard to create all kinds of beautiful hardscapes using everything from rare imported stone to mass manufactured pavers. During the day, a patio sporting arcing circuits of imported porphyry stone beautifully reflect the sun’s rays by bouncing back rich grey, green and red tones. That gorgeous spectacle is lost at night without proper hardscape lighting.

Embedding Low-Voltage Fixtures

For safety and beauty, low voltage, recessed fixtures are designed to be embedded within vertical hardscape surfaces. The box dimensions of many of these fixtures match that of a common brick, so these lights will integrate nicely into masonry work. Low voltage lights can be cast directly into concrete or block walls or into the risers of natural stone steps. Faceplates are commonly louvered so that light is directed down onto the step where it’s needed and away from the horizontal plane, where it could produce eye glare.