High-Quality Lighting Fixtures
Minimize the Most Expensive Part of
Lighting Installations?EUR??,,????'???a ?EUR??,,????'??Back-call?EUR??,,????'??

By Jodie Carter, regional editor

1. Hard water from irrigators quickly clouds the glass lenses on most path lighting fixtures. Broken and faded fixtures can be replaced with brass or copper alternatives that will keep their good looks for years.

2. A detail drawing shows the exact installation and material specifications of a CAST MR-16 Bullet made of long-lasting, sand-cast bronze.

When we asked landscape lighting manufacturers about the latest in fixture materials, they all echoed one word?EUR??,,????'??+endurance. Most landscape contractors know that a ?EUR??,,????'??back-call?EUR??,,????'?? is the most expensive part of any lighting installation. Contractors might lay down a few dollars more for high-quality fixtures, but once installed, they want to be able to walk away knowing that same fixture will perform dependably and retain a nice aesthetic quality for years to come.

Anticipate Environmental Challenges

If you have been around landscape lighting, you have seen your share of broken and faded fixtures. While some path lights are inexpensive and look great just out of the box, it doesn?EUR??,,????'???t take long for Mother Nature?EUR??,,????'???s daily assaults to wear them into an unsightly mess. Consider these factors when considering materials: The sun will inevitably fade or peel paint; hard water from irrigators will build-up on the glass globes until they are no longer transparent; and finally, it just takes one good whack by a ?EUR??,,????'??weed-eater?EUR??,,????'?? to break some thin plastic or aluminum posts, leaving the fixture hanging by the wires. None of these situations will make customers happy, and chances are contractors are not making much money on random ?EUR??,,????'??return calls.?EUR??,,????'??

Along the coasts, the salt in the air will wear the finish off many painted fixtures, and the sun will fade plastics. Fixtures made of brass, stainless steel, bronze or copper can last many years. The added bonus with bronze, brass and copper fixtures, is that as they age, the surface fades to a pleasing patina.

Aesthetic Concerns

Many modern lighting designers insist that the public should see the effects of the lighting and not the source.

These customers are not just buying light fixtures ?EUR??,,????'??? they are buying a mood set with lighting. For areas where the lighting source needs to be subtle or unnoticeable, make sure the actual light is shielded to make the effect more natural and to minimize glare.

In applications where light fixtures will be seen, consider the region, the mood and the style of surrounding areas. For formal gardens like rooftop gardens with a view of the New York skyline, bright polished stainless steel might best fit the d????(C)cor. For landscape lighting installed in New England where they have copper roofs, it might be best to choose a flattering copper fixture for consistency. ?EUR??,,????'??The great thing about copper is that it?EUR??,,????'???s durable,?EUR??,,????'?? says Robert Pederson, owner of Outdoor Lighting Perspectives. ?EUR??,,????'??It lasts forever and it always looks good. Many of the homes we do have a copper accent of some sort, so the lights are a great complement.?EUR??,,????'??