See the light: exterior lighting adds beauty, function, and value to homes - Review: exterior products

Building Products, Nov-Dec, 2003 by Stephanie Herzfeld

When most homeowners decide to remodel their homes or upgrade to a new one, thoughts of granite countertops or stainless steel appliances might pop into their heads. But with the increasing interest in outdoor living, lighting up the landscape is a bright idea for you and your clients.

Although most outdoor light fixtures are found on garages and next to the entry doors, setting shrubs, pools, flower beds, and pathways aglow can add value to any project and boost profits for the builder or remodeler, the experts say.

Lighting designer Richard Lowrey encourages his clients to incorporate outdoor lighting into their initial landscaping plans so he doesn't have to come back and dig up the site later. Lowrey, owner of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.-based Coastal Landscaping Service, a landscaping and lighting design and installation firm, says his customers pay $3,000 to $5,000 for complete landscape lighting projects and they think the cost is well worth it.

"Exterior lighting really adds a lot of value; real and perceived to a home." he says.

LIGHT IT UP

Exterior lighting serves a variety of functions. It increases security by illuminating the home and the surrounding space; provides safety by setting paths, stairways, and driveways aglow; creates functional outdoor living and social areas; and accentuates the landscape by highlighting specific areas.

Most homeowners want to beautify their property, so the dazzle factor dominates, says Daniel Blitzer, continuing educator for the American Lighting Association, which represents lighting showrooms and stores.

Landscaping in new construction often lacks interest and doesn't have a finished look, so adding exterior focal points ties a home's look together, claim lighting experts. But you have to carefully choose what to highlight because "when everything is illuminated, nothing stands out," Blitzer notes.

As for specific fixtures, in-ground, flood, spot, lantern, and rope lights can enhance the great outdoors. Many of the same finishes that are popular for door and cabinet hardware are cropping up in non-corrosive outdoor adaptations, including copper, bronze, and wrought iron. Meanwhile, decorative glass even is beautifying Arts and Crafts-style fixtures.

Although there are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to materials and installation, the pros agree each fixture should be durable for the specific environment. For Lowrey, this means installing stainless steel fixtures because Florida's salt air can corrode less sturdy materials, he claims.

But Orinda, Calif.-based Steve Lambert, owner of Garden Lights Landscape Development, says brass holds up best in the San Francisco Bay area where he works.

Nevertheless, pros admit that most fixtures won't last forever, no matter what they're made of or how they're installed. "Very few fixtures last more than a few years;' says Guy Findeisen, owner of Coral Springs, Fla.-based Lightscaping Designs.

While many low-cost products have short lifespans, experts stress that high-quality exterior lighting components should last between five and 10 years and many landscaper/installers guarantee their work within that timeframe.

Down the road, lighting designers predict that outdoor illumination will grow in style and in function. "You will see satin nickel, bronze, and oil-rubbed bronze start to emerge. The need for guaranteed lifetime finishes is becoming a big draw," claims Lee Nemeth, global product merchant for Expo Design centers.

What's more, solar, solar/battery hybrid, light-emitting diodes (LED), and fluorescent options will gain attention as energy concerns continue and homeowners squeeze the most out of their lighting dollars.

Louis Poulsen Lighting. In-ground lights feature compact design, adjustable tilt-and-lock reflectors, low-surface-temperature options, anti-slip top plates, and non-corrosive finishes. Lamp options include low-wattage ceramic metal halide, compact fluorescent, low-voltage halogen, and LED lighting in white, blue, green, red, and amber. 954-349-2525. www.louispoulsen.com. Circle 170.

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HessAmerica. Designed to provide a wide range of lighting effects, the Faring floodlight uses six reflectors to achieve beam spreads of 10 degrees, 20 degrees, and 35 degrees. The cast aluminum housing is finished in graphite or matte silver gray metallic paint. The Farino uses 70- or 150-watt ceramic metal halide lamps. 704-471-2211. www.hessamerica.com. Circle 171.

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Kichler. Available with or without a matching lizard, the leaf-shaped path and garden light fixture is made from zinc, brass, and composite resin. The 27. inch-tall fixture has a patina bronze finish. The company manufactures numerous exterior lighting products ranging from well lights to illuminated sundials to birdbaths. 800-875-4216. www.kichler.com. Circle 172.

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LucePlan. Made of injected-molded polycarbonate with prismatic and overmolded walls, the Pod Lens hanging, floor, and stick outdoor light fixtures resist humidity, water, and snow. The lights are available in a wide variety of colors and sizes that resist UV rays; the electric cable is sheathed in protective neoprene. 212-989-6265. www.luceplan.com. Circle 173.