Let’s face it. We live in a DIY world, where most homeowners will consider home improvement projects that they can do themselves within their skill set, using tools they already have. Some projects are so simple, that no particular skills or tools are required at all.
Simple enough, adding lighting to beautify your home exterior is as easy as picking up a few solar landscape lights from you local big box retail store, or online, and sticking them in the ground where you desire.
Who wouldn’t take a few minutes to simply stick a few solar light fixtures in the ground to add a bit of beauty to their home, all while saving a ton of money.
Solar lights are inexpensive, and as I said before, require no secial skills to install.
However, there are alternatives that may cost more to purchase, and require professional installation, yet the benefits far outway that of solar lighting. Consider professional hard wired landscape lighting.
Let’s compare the pros and cons of DIY solar lighting options, and professionally installed hard wired landscape lighting.
Solar lights are powered by sunlight. The LED bulbs within the lightingn fixture are charged through the day as the solar panels collect as much sunlight as they can to power the lights on when darkness falls.
As convenient and carefree as this may seem, most homeowners never consider what happens on a cloudy day, or a rainy day when there is very little sunlight available. Ultimately, the lights may not shine to their full brightness, or for very long through the night.
Hardwired landscape lights are powered by a 120 volt transformer device, which takes your standard home energy outlet and converts it to a lower voltage to power the lights at night (between 12 and 15 volts). This means that as the sun goes down, and darkness falls, the lights are fully powered for the duration of your desired lighting time.
This means your lights will be completely powered and ready to go, every night, at full capacity no matter the weather conditions or lack of sunlight, consistently, day after day, for years to come.
None. The only energy consumed is however much sunlight is collected by the solar light solar panels.
Standard and commercial grade landscape lighting fixtures typically require an average of about 5 watts of energy per fixture. That’s the equivalent of 1/4 of the wattage requirement for a standard light bulb (20w) that most homeowners currently use in a table or desk lamp, vanity light fixtures, or ceiling fan lights. That’s why landscape lighting is typically referred to as “low voltage”, as the voltage requirement is so low for them to operate appropriately.
Even our most elaborate landscape lighting installations will result in minimal impact to the homeowners’ total electricity consumption, and an almost unnoticeable change in their energy bill.
None. As solar landscape lights generate their power from the sun, the distribution of that power is built right into the light fixture itself.
Professionally installed hardwire landscape lighting requires electrical wiring to be connected to the low voltage transformer (power source) and connected to each light as part of a complete lighting system.
This is a key reason that it is best to contact your local landscape lighting installation professional. With so many details and variations to consider (wattage requirements, types of bulbs, type of wire, the number of fixtures in system, distance of each fixture from the source, etc.), a professional installer will is already knowledgable of what it will take to customize your system to run efficiently and according to your desires.
Also note that a professional installer knows exactly what type of wire to use for your system, and all the tricks of the trade to hide those wires. Many times after we complete a landscape lighting installation our customers are so surpised that they cannot even find the wiring no matter how hard they try.
Little to none. Although there are a few solar lighting kits that you can purchase with a fixed number of lights and an included wireless remote control device, even still the controlls are limited to that kit only, and does not allow for expansion of the system with continued control.
With our Pro or Premium package landscape lighting installs, homeowners are able to allow the system to run on it’s own using the transformer device or with mobile app and voice controls.
Most professionally installed hardwire systems will utilize a low voltage transformer with a variety of settings to turn the system on and off automatically.
With our Pro and Premium packages, homeowners are provided with mobile app controlls, allowing them to make all adjustments for on/off functionality, setting scenes across zones, changing colors to zones, and setting up smart automations and scheduling, including voice control options.
The brightness is a key point in which “you get what you pay for”. As technology improves, so does the brightness of solar powered landscape lights.
Unfortunately, over time the brightness will begin to wane and result in a not so bright light even after just a few months for some models. Also, most solar models will only come in a bright white color temperature, which is not usually the most flattering light for your home exterior and landscaping.
One of the most amazing benefits of pro grade landscape lighting fixtures is that the brightness and white tone (color temperature from warm white to cool white) can be customized or adjusted before, during and after installation.
The brightness is another aspect where a custom hardwired system really wins. We choose lights that suits the customers taste best, while allowing for adjustability. Lastly, considering the power source, and wire requirements, you will never have to worry about the brightness of your lights ever dimming over the years. Most systems will maintain the same brightness 5-10 years after installation.
Zoning is not a feature available for solar landscape lighting.
Zone control is a feature included in our Premium package landscape lighting design and installations that allow the homeowner to control and adjust the settings for a specific set of light fixtures within a zone, independent of other zones.
Example: Homeowner wants their flower bed pathway lights to be Zone-1, and the lights highlighting 4 trees in the front yard to be Zone-2, and all of the lights shining on the house to be Zone-3
The customer can use the mobile app to set Zone-1 lights to shine RED, Zone-2 Lights to shine WHITE, and Zone-3 lights to shine BLUE, all at the same time.
Consider the endless possibilities to celebrate your favorite holidays, or pay tribute to your favorite sports team, organization, etc.
A full solar powered landscape lighting setup will cost next to nothing, as it is an economical choice for the pricing of the materials and supplies, and cost you $0 for labor/installation as you can do it yourself.
Consider the cost of a custom landscape lighting system to be an INVESTMENT rather than an expense.
Much like any home improvement, also consider this to be pretty close to permanent, as you are dealing with wires being buried underground by a professional. You can expand the system by adding more lights to the system later.
Remember, when hiring a professional landscape lighting contractor like Dwell Shine, LLC, you are paying for premium quality fixtures and supplies, years of knowledge and experience to know the right techniques and tools to complete your installation for efficient operation for years to come. And don’t forget our lifetime warranty on all equipment.
As with anything else, you get what you pay for.
Dwell Shine, LLC is your “Landscape Lighting Near Me” professional landscape lighting design and installation brand serving the Greater Houston Metropolitan in Houston, Texas.
We specialize in creating custom outdoor spaces for homeowners to enjoy year round from Landscape Lighting Installation, Landscaping, Hardscape Installations and Paver Sealing, Patio Covers, Decks and Pergolas, to caring for your lawn with Irrigation system installations and repairs, and year round lawn treatments.
We also offer seasonal services including Powerwashing and Softwashing applications in the spring, and Holiday Lighting Installations in the fall season.
We provide professional landscape lighting installation services for residential and commercial clients across the Greater Houston Metropolitan area in Houston, Texas. Including servicing the following areas: