Not all outdoor lighting is made equal and it takes a lot more than simply hanging string lights and calling it a day to make an outdoor space pop.
Finding an ideal type of outdoor lighting solution for your home is a must when it comes to transforming it into a well-lit after-hours retreat.
You can illuminate paths, yards/gardens and other areas surrounding your house to add a crucial design aspect to your home's appeal.
When summer hits you will probably want to spend the majority of your time outside lounging in your backyard or hosting guests for an alfresco supper.
Don't let your enjoyment end when the sun goes down solely because your outside lighting is ineffective or non-existent.
It all comes down to selecting the perfect type of lighting fixture for your backyard to generate the ideal look and feel.
You can choose from a broad range of practical lighting options, including solar lights, bollard lighting, deck lights, path and garden lights, security and sensor lights and more.Generally, there is a range of outdoor lighting options that you can pick from according to your individual choice.
Spotlights are unidirectional lights that are versatile and primarily used to illuminate plants, signs, statues, or anything you can point at.
Floodlights are specifically used to lighten up larger areas as they have high brightness and a broad coverage range. If you have driveways around your home, these can be the perfect fit there.
Another popular form of outdoor lighting is installing a light onto your home's outer wall. You can use these wall lights if you specifically want to illuminate critical areas around your home where you may have to operate or work at night, such as your garage or porch.
Additionally, wall lights can be both decorative as well as practical. Light up a dark space easily around the sides or back of your home.
If your home or office has a porch or a ceiling covering a portion of the outside space, or if you have an enclosed patio, outdoor ceiling lights are an option but always keep in mind that these cast downward shadows.
Finally, if your entryway involves some stairs, step lights can be the best fit for you.
Other lighting options to consider are garden lights, bunker lights, pillar lights and even lights with motion sensors.
Whichever outdoor lighting solution you prefer, be sure to check whether it has an IP rating or not. IP rating in a lighting solution generally enables you to check the solid and water protection levels. The higher the IP rating number, the better your LED light's solid and water protection.The cost of buying outdoor lights doesn't include paying for the installation - there are various other factors to be considered. These factors may range from labour cost to cost of materials and so on. Outdoor lights may cost you between $20$to 500$ depending upon their type. If you want to purchase some spotlights from a local shop, it would cost you around $75 to $100. If you opt for a floodlight with a range of 1000 watts, you can expect to pay anywhere between $400 to $500. Garden lights range in price from $30 to $100. Step lights are comparatively cheaper and cost around $20 to $50. Bollard lights typically cost about $30.
Like any other electrical work, installing outdoor lights also needs to be carried out by an expert professional. Carrying out electrical works illegally could have a negative impact on your home insurance policy. Subsequently, it may lead to a severe accident as well. Regardless, there are some sections where you, as a homeowner, can tweak and install some outdoor lighting products. Ordinarily, you can fit low voltage products, such as garden lights that easily plug into a transformer, as well as unwired solar-powered garden lights. On the other hand, every other electrical work to be done while installing your outdoor lights must be performed by an electrician accompanying a compliance certificate. Doing so will help you cover any possible defects that may occur during the installation process and guarantee that the work complies with the relevant Australian Standard.
In general, lighting installation in Australia will cost you around $77.50 per hour. Prices, however, vary depending on the type of light to be installed. If you require downlighting, you should expect to pay roughly $67.50/hr. LED lighs installation, on the other hand, averages $72.50/hr. You'll have to pay around $78 per hour for outdoor lighting.
The cost of installing outdoor lights in Australia may alter depending upon the state of your residence.
For a standard installation, lighting specialists in New South Wales charge around $66/hr.
At the same time, light installation in Queensland costs roughly $75 per hour.
In Victoria, the cost of adding outside lighting is roughly $70/hr.
For more information on cost-efficient lighting, take a look at the Australian Government's Your Home website.