FAQs

We understand that researching outdoor lighting can leave several key questions left unanswered. Pulling from our 20+ years of experience with thousands of successful installs, we've compiled some of the most frequently asked questions we hear. If you have any other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Exactly Is Low-Voltage Lighting, and Why Choose It?

Low-voltage lighting uses 12 volts of electricity (compared to standard line-voltage at 120 volts) and is specifically designed for outdoor landscape and architectural lighting.

Advantages of Low-Voltage Lighting:

  1. Safer to Install and Maintain: Lower voltage means less risk of electrical shock, making it safer for DIY maintenance and reducing liability concerns. Since it is a much safer form of electricity, the installation is not bound by the usual cumbersome electrical codes. This means fixtures can be easily moved and changed to accommodate the ever-changing landscape and outdoor environment.
  2. Energy-Efficient: Low-voltage LED fixtures consume very little electricity, often costing only a few dollars per month to operate, even when running every night.
  3. Flexible Design: Low-voltage systems are modular and easy to expand, allowing you to add fixtures or change layouts without major electrical work.
  4. Safer for Plants and Lawn: Lower heat output means no risk of scorching plants or damaging lawns.
  5. Professional Results at Lower Cost: With smaller wire and transformer setups, low-voltage lighting achieves the same dramatic effect as line-voltage systems — but with simpler installation and lower operating costs.

Bottom line: Low-voltage lighting delivers beautiful, safe, efficient, and flexible illumination for your home or property, making it the preferred choice for most landscape and architectural lighting applications.

What Does A Professional Outdoor Lighting System Cost?

Professional outdoor lighting is more than just fixtures — it’s expert design, premium materials, and skilled installation that ensures lasting beauty, performance, and reliability.

With decades of experience, we design and install systems using field-tested components and proven techniques to deliver stunning results and long-term dependability.

Typical Investment: $300 – $425 per fixture installed
This estimated range includes:

  • Fixtures
  • Wire
  • Transformers
  • Controllers
  • Labor
  • Tax

Why Prices Vary:
Final pricing depends on fixture type, mounting location, access difficulty, and overall system complexity. Fixtures mounted in trees, on rooflines, or into concrete require more labor and specialized installation than standard landscape installations.

Bottom line: While every project is custom, this price range provides a realistic budgeting guideline for professionally designed and installed outdoor lighting.

What Does It Cost to Operate a Low-Voltage Outdoor Lighting System?

One of the biggest advantages of low-voltage LED outdoor lighting is how little it costs to operate.

Typical Monthly Cost:
Most professionally designed LED lighting systems cost between $3 and $12 per month to run — even when operated every night.

Why It’s So Affordable:

  • LED fixtures use very little electricity
  • Low-voltage systems are highly efficient
  • Professionally designed layouts avoid wasted power

Real-World Example:
A typical system using 15 LED fixtures at 4 watts each, running 8 hours per night, uses about 14 kWh per month.
At average electric rates, that equals roughly $2–$4 per month.

Bottom Line:
You can enjoy dramatic nighttime beauty, safety, and security for less than the cost of a cup of coffee per month.

How Deep Are the Wires Buried? Will I Hit Them When Working in My Beds or see them re-surface?

Low-voltage lighting wire is typically buried 3-6 inches below the surface, which protects it from normal gardening, foot traffic, pets, and weather.

In planting beds and landscaped areas, wires are routed carefully and strategically to minimize any chance of disturbance. When wiring needs to cross turf areas or transition from planting beds into lawn, we protect the cable inside electrical conduit to prevent damage from edging, aeration, and routine lawn maintenance.

Will I Hit Them While Gardening?

Under normal conditions — planting flowers, mulching, edging, or light digging — it’s very unlikely. Most garden work only disturbs the top few inches of soil.

For deeper digging or major landscape changes, we’re always happy to mark wire paths or assist before work begins.

Bottom line: Our professional installation methods are designed to protect your wiring and eliminate concerns during routine yard and landscape maintenance.

What Are My Options for Light Color?

We offer a full range of lighting color options to match your style and goals.

  • White Light Options:
    Choose from warm, natural tones to crisp, modern whites — typically ranging from 2200K (very warm) to 4000K (bright white). Most homeowners prefer 2700K warm white for its natural, welcoming glow.
  • Full-Color Options:
    We also offer RGBW color-changing systems, allowing you to instantly switch colors for holidays, events, or special occasions — all controlled easily from your smartphone.
  • Best of Both Worlds:
    Many clients choose warm white lighting for everyday use and full color for holidays and celebrations.

Bottom line: You can enjoy classic elegance every night and vibrant color whenever you want — all in one system.

Is My Lighting System Upgradeable?

Yes — absolutely.

Our outdoor lighting systems are designed with future upgrades in mind. This allows you to start with a basic system today and easily expand or enhance it later.

Common Upgrades Include:

  • Adding more fixtures
  • Upgrading to smart controls
  • Adding color-changing (RGBW) capability
  • Expanding lighting into new landscape areas
  • Enhancing brightness or coverage

Because we use commercial-grade components and modular system design, upgrades are seamless, cost-effective, and disruption-free.

Bottom line: Your system can grow with your home, landscape, and lifestyle — without needing to start over.

How Is My Outdoor Lighting System Controlled?

Your system can be controlled easily and conveniently using one or more of the following methods:

  • Smartphone or Tablet: Turn lights on/off, dim, or change colors remotely.
  • Timers: Automatically schedule your lights to turn on at dusk and off at dawn.
  • Smart Home Integration: Many homeowners simply plug the transformer into their existing smart home device, controlling and scheduling the lights like any other appliance on their network.
  • Scenes & Presets: Program custom lighting moods, holidays, or special events with the touch of a button. This of course is dependent on the type of transformer and system you ultimately choose.

Bottom line: Our systems give you full control and flexibility, whether through automated schedules, manual operation, or integration with your existing smart home setup.

What Is Your Warranty?

We stand behind the quality of our systems with comprehensive warranties for both materials and labor.

  • Manufacturer Warranty: We honor all manufacturer warranties on fixtures and components, which can range from 5 years to a lifetime, depending on the product.
  • Labor Warranty: We provide a one-year full labor warranty, meaning any issues that occur within the first year after installation will be serviced at no cost to you.

What’s Not Covered:

  • Damage caused by electrical surges or lightning
  • Physical damage such as cut wires or broken fixtures

Bottom line: Our warranty ensures that your investment is protected, giving you peace of mind and long-lasting performance.

More Questions?

We're happy to answer them! Please do not hesitate to contact us by clicking the button below.