How Much Does it Cost to
Install Outdoor Lighting?
Individual fixtures start around
$20. Cables run 70 cents per
foot, and a transformer can
be had for about $200. A
10-light system installed by a
pro typically starts at about
$2,000 to $2,500.
How Much Maintenance is
Required?
Keep fixtures free of leaves
and debris to prevent them
from overheating. Replace
burned-out bulbs immediately
so that others on the
circuit aren't subject to life-
shortening voltage overloads.
How Long Do Lighting Fixtures Last?
Warranties on fixtures and transformers range from 1 to 10 years, but
fixtures made of brass, copper, or stainless steel should shine indefinitely.
Illustration by Arthur Mount
How to Map out a Plan for Your Exterior Lights
If you don't want to lift a finger, go with a pro. (Find one through the
Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals.) But homeowners willing to
invest a little of their own time and energy can save a bundle by following
some common design tips.
Trees
Well, bullet, or flood, and downlight.
When aiming ground lights straight up into foliage, be sure to also bathe the
trunk in light. If you don't, the uplit crown will look like a hovering UFO. When
illuminating foliage from above, place two 20-watt downlights as high in a tree
as possible and point them so that their beams do not cross.
