What landscape lighting do we install?
We install low-voltage outdoor lighting that plugs into an existing outdoor outlet. It lights paths, steps and driveways for safety and shows off trees, stone and the front of the house after dark.
Common projects include:
- Path and walkway lights along the route from the driveway to the door
- Step and deck lights where people walk at night
- Spotlights on trees, stone walls, boulders and the front of the house
- Wash lights that softly light a wall or a garden bed
How does a low-voltage system work?
A low-voltage system uses a transformer that plugs into an outdoor outlet and steps household power down to a lower, safer voltage for the lights. Low-voltage cable runs from the transformer to each fixture, just under the soil or mulch.
Because the wire carries low voltage, it can be buried shallow and moved later if you change the garden. The transformer usually has a timer, a dusk sensor or both, so the lights take care of themselves.
What needs a licensed electrician?
Anything on household line voltage goes to a licensed electrician. That includes a new outdoor outlet, a dedicated circuit for the transformer and any lights wired directly into the house.
If your yard already has a working outdoor outlet with a weatherproof cover, we can usually plug the transformer in there. If it does not, we tell you during the estimate, and the electrician adds the outlet before we install the lights. Power cords never run inside walls.
Lighting for mountain yards
Mountain yards have rock, roots, slopes and snow. We plan fixture spots and cable runs around them:
- Rock and roots: we route cable around hard spots instead of forcing it.
- Snow: taller path lights and fixtures set back from where snow gets plowed or shoveled hold up better.
- Wildlife and dark skies: warm, downward-facing light keeps the glow on your path rather than the sky and your neighbors.
- Fire-wise spacing: we keep fixtures and cable clear of the cleared zone right next to the house when that matters. See fire mitigation.
Can I control the lights from my phone?
Yes. A transformer with a built-in timer or dusk sensor handles most yards. For phone or voice control, we can connect the transformer to a smart plug rated for outdoor use, then add it to the same app as the rest of your smart home devices.
What affects the price?
Landscape lighting is quoted with a free estimate. The number of fixtures, the length of the cable runs, the ground (soil, rock or mulch) and whether you supply the fixtures all move the price. If an electrician needs to add an outlet first, that is a separate bill from the electrician.
See pricing for how quotes work. For seasonal lights on the roofline and trees, see holiday lighting and decor. Request an estimate.