NiteLites Press Releases

NiteLites of San Diego Outdoor Lighting Shares Tips for Selecting Outdoor Lighting Professional

Homeowners across Southern California are beginning to lighten up, literally. In a recent survey by the National Association of Home Builders, outdoor living areas were ranked as one of the top priorities of new homebuyers and homebuilders. This new trend comes as people are spending more time at home. For example, as the backyard becomes more of an extension of indoor living spaces, homeowners are willing to invest more in amenities, such as lighting for their decks, patio areas, and tree and garden areas.

 

"Outdoor lighting is a high-impact way for homeowners to enhance the appearance of their property, to illuminate the natural alfresco areas of their landscape and architecture, and to improve safety and security for navigating the property," said Bill Garland, owner of Poway-based NiteLites, a premier provider of energy efficient, low voltage outdoor landscape lighting for both residential and commercial customers.

 

Garland stated that when choosing a San Diego outdoor professional lighting designer / contractor, property owners should do their homework beforehand. He has provided the following checklist on what to look for when choosing an outdoor lighting contractor:

 

Go With the Right Licensed Pro - With outdoor residential and commercial lighting systems, it's critical to go with the pros. Southern California exterior lighting is exposed to a multitude of weather conditions being above ground, so they must be installed correctly, using high quality components. Many landscape contractors are installing lighting systems under their landscaping license, which is a C27; the electricians are doing it under their license, which is a C10. Look for a provider who carries a C7 low voltage electrical contractor license. These contractors specialize in the design and installation of efficient and effective low voltage systems. Customers can check qualifications at the Contractors State License Boards web site: http://www.cslb.ca.gov/ .

 

Watch Out for Up-Selling - When contractors will sell lighting systems, they provide the customer an exact amount of lighting fixtures that will be installed. Some installers come to job sites with a hidden agenda, to install more lights than were on the plan. This deception gives them a commission on up selling at the point of installation and encourages them to deceive future clientele.

 

Check that all Fixtures Contain a Lifetime Warranty - When comparing bids, make sure you understand the quality of the fixtures being installed. For example, aluminum corrodes from the inside out and poorly made path lights will corrode at the ground level.

 

Ask Questions Regarding Quality of Wiring and Connectors - Many systems use the alligator clip to the wire, which causes the bulb connection to corrode. For example, NiteLites uses a silicone cup, where the bulb connection goes into the cup, snaps into place, and is buried.  It doesn't corrode over time and is able to withstand harsh weather conditions.

 

Watch out for Designers that Subcontract out the Installation - Avoid subcontractors and choose a full service outdoor lighting company that will provide ongoing system maintenance.

 

Use the Correct Type of Light Fixtures and Lighting Styles - There are four or five predominant light styles that people misuse. These include spotlights, path lights or spread lights, and depending on the architectural feature or the subject of the light, you really need to have a contractor that knows how to use the fixtures properly to achieve the correct illumination and provide attractive shadows and silhouettes. There are micro spotlights, spotlights and well lights, which are designed to provide different effects. For example, many lighting companies just use spotlights throughout the yard, which doesn't always have the affect the customer wants.

 

Keep an Eye on Line Voltage - There are certain metrics that should be met during an installation that landscape contractors and other installers may not be meeting. Measurements should be taken which insure the same level of illumination on every light.  This makes sure the system will provide the balance and illumination expected of a professional installation. Controlling the line voltage always expands the bulb life.

 

Support After the Sale - Only choose a company that offers an all risk free warranty, protecting against inadvertent damage to the fixtures. Make sure they provide ongoing support and maintenance for their lighting systems. Ask if they offer an optional annual maintenance program that assists property owners in keeping their outdoor lights looking as bright and beautiful as the day they were installed. This program can include exterior bulb replacement, cleaning of all clear covers and fixtures, straightening and tightening the fixtures and their connections, trimming landscape shrubs that have grown over fixtures, and fixture rearrangement to accommodate landscape growth.

 

About NiteLites of San Diego

For the past decade, NiteLites Outdoor Lighting Systems has provided a superior line of custom products made of solid brass and patented silicone cup connectors, and first-rate design, service and system maintenance. A NiteLites system features custom lighting design, installation by trained professionals, and an exceptional proprietary system that is maintained by the NiteLites team. For more information on a NiteLites Outdoor Lighting System, contact NiteLites of San Diego at 1-858-432-0090 or 1-866-NITELITES (648-3548) or visit www.nitelites.com. NiteLites' world headquarters are located in Franklin, Ohio.