Ribbon Lighting Application

GM Ribbon Lighting

One of my existing outdoor lighting customers from the Shoal Creek community called last week.  He stated that he has a very unique challenge that desperately requires some ingenuity in solving his problem.  He went on to say that he recently added a fence around the entire perimeter of his property in an attempt to keep deer from destroying his landscaping.  Additionally, he added a cattle grate at the end of his driveway.  Cattle grates by their very design permit cars to cross, however, due to the gaps in the grate, it deters animals from crossing it. 

What he failed to realize is that any guests trying to cross the grate at night are at a risk for injury.  One guest slipped and nearly broke a leg on the grating.  This led him to the realization that he needed some illumination, yet he didn’t want to install any harsh directional lighting, spot lighting, or pathway lighting.

Fortunately there was a very good solution.  We chose to use GM Lighting ribbon lighting.  The ribbon is  highly flexible and has LED diodes embedded inside the silicone.  We chose exterior warm white to nicely complement his existing halogen uplights.

Aluminum Channel

The next challenge was how to mount the ribbon.  The side walls were very rough recycled bricks.  There was no way that the ribbon could be installed directly to the brick.  We evaluated several alternatives, and then found the perfect solution—some 3/8″ aluminum channel.  This channel is actually designed to be applied to plywood to provide a nice edging, but it worked perfectly as ribbon lighting channel. 

A creative lighting design, some quality materials, a good solution, and a happy customer!

LED-The Lowest Maintenance Outdoor Lighting

We recently completed an extensive LED accent lighting project in Gadsden, AL.  During the design consultation, the customer stipulated that he wanted all fixtures to be LED rather than halogen.  He has a very demanding schedule, and his goal is a worry free, maintenance free, and time free system.  We were able to accommodate his wish by installing all LED fixtures.  Bullet lights, pathway lights, flood lights, and deck lights were incorporated into the design.  Additionally,  some recessed LED puck lights were incorporated into his boat dock.  We even used some LED C9 holiday cords to provide a festive look to a flower trellis.  To make the system even more maintenance free, we controlled the systems with an Intermatic astronomic timer.

The merits of LED lighting are well documented.  Lower power consumption and longer lamp life are primary advantages.  This project included 42 fixtures that collectively amounted to 232 watts–approximately 5 watts per fixture!  This lower power consumption will reduce the homeowner’s power bill by $200 annually.  Just as attractive is the 50,000 lamp rating and five-year warranty.

Oh, and by the way, the fixtures are all very robust.  All of them are copper or brass and they will withstand the travels of the customer’s pet dog and pet pig.

 

LED Wall Light

LED Wall Light is Ideal for Commercial Applications

We recently completed a light commercial lighting project in the Inverness area outside of Birmingham.  The project included architectural lighting to accent the facade of the building, landscape lighting and some pathway lighting to the entrance.  One additional requirement was that the customer needed some step lighting to provide safety.  The caveat was that the fixture needed to be low profile and unobtrusive, yet capable of illuminating a 15′ span.

The solution was a fixture manufactured by DG Lights.  Their RC-200 is an LED recessed fixture that is only 1.5″ in diameter.  It comes in a wide variety of finishes, and with an optional eyebrow designed to minimize glare.  Since we were installing it on a concrete retaining wall, we chose natural brass with the eyebrow.  Warm white was the selected LED color, and a 40 degree spread was chosen to adequately illuminate the steps.

The added bonus—the fixture is LED so it is rated for 50,000 hours!

LED PAR 36 Bulb Extraordinaire

LED PAR36 bulb

We recently returned from the Outdoor Lighting Perspectives annual convention.  The biggest news on the technology front was the introduction of a new LED PAR36 bulb.  Although some of these LED bulbs have hit the Birmingham market during the past year, none of them compare to the quality and specifications of this new lamp.

Some of the features of this bulb:

• 6watt (over 80% reduction in power consumption)
• 3000 degrees Kelvin (warm white)
• 36 degree spread
• 50,000 hour rating
• IP67 rated for wet locations
• 5 year warranty
• Fits well light fixtures and other PAR36 fixtures
• Easily retrofittable since it has an input voltage range of 9-14 volts

A typical outdoor lighting retrofit from halogen bulbs to LED bulbs typically has an approximate 3-4 year payback.  This new energy efficient and robust bulb makes a lighting upgrade very attractive.

Landscape Lighting Project in Birmingham News

Another one of our projects was featured in the Sweet Home section of today’s Birmingham News.  This customer lives in the Highland Lakes community outside of Birmingham.  It was one of our most challenging design and installs due to the extreme rock hardscaping.

 

Waterfall and Hardscape Lighting

 

My Landscaping Success: Walley and Barb Borries of North Shelby County use lighting to accent their outdoor living area

Published: Sunday, January 15, 2012, 6:30 AM

By Linda Robbins Holmes– The Birmingham News al.com
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Pathway lights were added to the stairs leading to the upper level of Walley and Barb Borries’ outdoor living area, which has a table and chairs and a swing that sits under an arbor. (The Birmingham News/Jeff Roberts)

Reason for relandscaping

Walley and Barb Borries of North Shelby County spend a lot of time on their screened-in porch and they like to entertain, so they wanted soft lighting to accent their landscape.

 

Contractor or designer

Marlin Bennetch of Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, 991-5483, installed the lighting.

 

 

Changes made

Low-voltage accent lighting with copper fixtures was chosen. The copper fixtures were chosen because after they go through a patina process, which takes about a month, they turn brown. At this point, the fixtures are concealed in the landscape in daylight.

 

 

On the rocks

Their backyard is accented by large rocks. During the spring and summer, several plants bloom through the rocks on the hill, and there is also a waterfall. Low-wattage soft lights were installed in various places throughout the rocks. Soft lights were used rather than harsh spotlights because the spotlights would have created bright spots that the couple did not want.

 

Lights were mounted on the retaining wall next to the driveway to light a path for guests at night. The Birmingham News/Jeff Roberts)

Front of home

The couple’s home sits on a hill, and uplighting was installed to showcase the home at night. Lights were also mounted on the retaining wall next to the driveway to light a path for guests at night.

 

Deck lighting

Lights were mounted along the railing of the deck. Small floodlights were installed on the side of the deck to light the waterfall and to shine more light on the rocks.

 

Stairs

Pathway lights were added to the stairs leading to the upper level of the outdoor living area, which has a table and chairs and a swing that sits under an arbor.

 

I am proud of this change because

“I think the lighting adds a whole lot” to the landscaping, Barb said. She said that she and her husband love it.

 

 

Accent Lighting for Columns and Dormers

Living in the southern US provides many opportunities to design outdoor lighting systems for large stately homes.  Many of these traditional southern homes have columns which frame the main entrance of the house, and actually become the focal point of the night time scene.  Most times the columns are painted white or cream which helps to create a stunning architectural accent.  This home had an added feature—three rooftop dormers.  By illuminating the dormers, it enhanced the “vertical element” of the home.

Hardscape Lighting Choices

Accenting the stone columns and the pool

Used to accent the detail on the fireplace

Notice the color match to the hardscape wall

Used to mount under cap blocks

Used to illuminate “Lions Head” fountain

Used to illuminate steps

LED rope Lighting defines an outdoor fireplace

We all know that the current economic conditions have severely impacted new home constructions.  We have found that many of our existing outdoor lighting customers have decided to make improvements to their existing homes rather than looking for new homes.  Many times these improvements involve pools, patios, and outdoor kitchens. 

By being experienced in all facets of accent lighting, we have been able to share in many of these projects with our existing clients and new ones as well.  Other companies that have diversified into outdoor lighting as a complement to their core businesses, will normally shy away from tackling hardscape lighting. 

With the proper choice of fixtures, and a lot of coordination with other subcontractors, hardscape lighting can be done effectively.

The Most Creative Outdoor Lighting

Over the years, we have developed a customer base of over 1100 outdoor lighting customers.  That has amounted to over 1400 designs.  Without a doubt, we completed our most unusual and interesting lighting design to date.

The customer lives in the Eagle Point community in Shelby County outside of Birmingham.  We had previously completed uplighting at the front of his house, landscape lighting, and even some deck lighting.  When he called this time, he was excited to tell me that he had a “great challenge”  for me.  With some degree of trepidation I met him at his house.    He proudly showed me the wall ornament that he had just purchased—a large sun with a smiley face.  The challenge was to backlight the sun giving the impression of a sunrise…(and I thought architectural lighting can be challenging ?!@#).

After a few days of brainstorming, the solution became obvious.  We used some GM Lighting ribbon light.  We selected exterior warm white LED to give it a warm look.  Since the ribbon comes in 1 meter lengths, we cut a 12-1/2″ circle (yes, I do remember my geometry) and wrapped the ribbon around the entire circumference.  Since it was LED, the total wattage was less than 5 watts for the entire ribbon.  Some white paint on the face of the wood should reflect light through the mouth of the sun.

Finally we commenced with the installation.  No problems at all installing the ribbon on the wood, the wood on the wall, and the sun over the wood.  Still we kept our fingers crossed, hoping for a stunning night-time effect.

When I returned at dusk, the “WOW factor” was definitely apparent.  We had succeeded with the most creative outdoor lighting design that we have ever done.

Ribbon Lighting-Installed

Backlighting with Ribbon Lighting

Wall Art

Gazebo and Pergola Lighting

Did you ever want to add a light fixture to a gazebo or pergola, but you didn’t want all of the cost to run power to the remote location?  We recently installed this fixture in a pergola at a customer’s home in Stonegate Farms which is south of Birmingham.

The customer mounted a swing underneath the pergola.  Since the pergola is in the middle of their backyard, their goal was to have very soft illumination; just enough to provide for safe walking.  The fixture that we selected was a hanging gazebo light manufactured by PM Lighting.  Since the fixture is a 12 volt fixture, we incorporated it into their existing outdoor lighting system.  The fixture accommodates a maximum 20watt bi-pin bulb, however, we discovered that a 10watt bulb was ample for their application.  A frosted glass lens softens the glare from the bulb.

Pergola Light Illuminating Swing

Another advantage of this fixture is that the copper will rapidly patina.  Since the fixture is mounted on a brown wooden frame, and since the home is in a wooded area, the fixture will virtually disappear during daylight hours.

Extreme Hardscape Lighting

Hardscape Lighting

By definition, hardscape lighting is the illumination of inanimate objects of landscaping, primarily masonry work, stone walls, patios, decks, etc.  This project in the Highland Lakes community outside of Birmingham, stretched the limits of hardscape lighting.

The customers house was built on the side of a rocky lot.   To expand their outdoor living area, the customer decided make a functional and  useable area, by flattening the top of the lot by removing the rocks and boulders.  To minimize the burden of removing the rocks, they decided to neatly organize them into a sloped rock garden complete with kitchen, waterfall, stone steps leading to an outdoor patio, arbor, and deck.  This is when we were introduced to the project.

We selected traditional deck lights to illuminate the deck.  Likewise copper pathway lights were selected to illuminate the rear sidewalk.  All of this was easy; the challenge was about to begin.  The stone steps leading to the upper patio desperately needed illumination to provide nighttime safety.  We chose to use tall path lights at strategic intervals.  The difficulty was providing even spacing while ensuring a solid installation, and just as importantly, the ability to conceal wires around the rocks.

Since the large rocks are actually the focal point of the landscape, they needed to be illuminated with some soft accent lighting.  We chose some small copper flood lights.  Copper was the choice since the patina process will make them ”disappear” during daytime hours.   Additionally, the customer has planted some colorful flowers throughout the hardscape.  The soft illumination from the 20watt flood bulbs provided just enough night-time accent of these plants.

Most outdoor lighting companies would avoid projects like this, and stick with the simpler landscape lighting and uplighting.  However, we are a full service outdoor lighting that gladly takes on these challenges.  Hardscape lighting extraordinaire…