Frequently Asked Questions
Your Garden
What sort of exterior lighting do I need?
It depends on whether or not you want a simple functional fitting which will just serve to light your way or whether you want something more decorative. We supply both discreet lighting (where the lighting effect is the most important purpose of the fitting) and decorative fittings in both contemporary and classic styles.
Exterior lighting can deter unwelcome visitors and greet those you are expecting. It can also create atmosphere, extends the use you get from a garden or patio in the summer nights and creates a night time view from within the house particularly in the winter time. That all said, we recommend that you fit timer switches to your exterior lights to reduce glare, minimise light pollution and disruption to animal biorhythms.
Getting the lighting right rather than overlighting is the aim. As with a room, plan your lighting carefully, even using graph paper to map out where you will need various types of lights. top
Are your lights water and weather proof?
Our sales team can advise you which exterior lights are suitable for use in a sheltered location such as a porch and which can be placed out in the open. IP ratings (Ingress Protection) are the indicators of this (see FAQs Bathroom for a full explanation).
Because they come into contact with rain, most exterior light fittings are low voltage. All should be installed by professional electricians only, where necessary using armoured cabling set deep into the ground to avoid severing the cable while digging the garden (which could be a lethal accident).
Our cheaper ranges such as the Pagoda see our (exterior lighting section) are made of durable moulded plastic while more expensive ranges are made of high gauge stainless steel and manufactured to the highest standards to last a life-time. Exterior lights are available in both contemporary and classic styles and include wallbrackets, lanterns, posts, and a spotlight for insetting into ground level surfaces such as decks and concrete floors. top