Designing a landscape lighting system in Raleigh NC

There are many different factors that come into play when designing a professional outdoor lighting system in the Raleigh NC area.
Are we retrofitting an older system?
Are we working on new construction of a project?
Fixture materials, aluminum, brass or copper, any custom finish on path lights.
Are we installing fixtures with a drop in LED bulb or integrated LED fixtures with a longer warranty.
Access to power for transformers and cable runs to fixtures.
Standard control vs smartphone control.
How many feet of low voltage cable have to be run .
Ease of running cable to fixtures
Ease of access behind plant materials walkways etc.
Location of fixtures,ground mount,gutter mount ,tree mount , mounted to brick or stone.
Are we using custom light diffusing filters, louvers or color filters to replicate a moonlight effect?
Are we installing fixtures with color changing lamps?
No two professional outdoor lighting systems are designed alike.
While your neighbor’s home might have only required 14 lighting fixtures to do the front of their home, your home might require 21 lighting fixtures to do the front of the home and the two trees in the front that you love.
If you are budget conscious, we can always try to work with you and install your outdoor lighting project in different phases.
Call us today for your  design consultation
                          919-581-9950

Set Your Business Apart with Architectural LED Lighting

If you own a commercial or industrial property in the Raleigh or RTP area, one of the most effective ways to improve the look of it is to install architectural lighting outside of it. Architectural lighting can be used to highlight the features of your company’s building, and it can call attention to the most appealing aspects of your property. If you don’t have lighting, people will probably drive by it at night without even noticing it, but architectural lighting can help shine a spotlight on your business – quite literally – and increase the aesthetic appeal of both the building and the landscaping that surrounds it.There are many other benefits that come along with adding architectural lighting, too. Let’s look at the advantages of having high-quality architectural lights shining at your building.

Make Your Property Safer

You want your commercial or industrial property to be as safe as possible, don’t you? Well, architectural lighting will you keep employees and customers protected. Not only will adding architectural lighting help those who walk in and out of your building feel safe when the sun goes down, but it will also help to illuminate features like stairways or doorways and prevent people from tripping and falling on any obstructions. Plus, if your property is better lit, it will deter thieves from striking and give everyone the impression that you care about safety first.

Separate Your Business from Competitors

When running a business, you want to do whatever you can to set yourself apart from other neighboring businesses. There are many ways to do this, but few of them will prove to be as effective as adding architectural lighting around your building. At night, people will have no choice but to look at your property when you have it lit up. Make your property draw the eye with attractive colored lighting or lights that shine on unique fixtures or structural aspects, showing off your property’s features in the best light possible.

Make Your Landscaping Even More Effective

During the day, everyone can see all of the effort that you’ve made to install landscaping that makes your property look great. But once the sun goes down, how many people are missing out on your landscaping when they drive by your property at night? Architectural lighting allows you to show off your landscaping all day and all night long. Plus, when you use LED lighting, you won’t have to use much energy to get these great effects.

As you can see, there are plenty of benefits that will come along with adding architectural lighting to your commercial or industrial property. Lite Visions Landscape Lighting of Raleigh can help you choose the right architectural lighting based on your specific property and its features. Reach out to us today to speak with a representative about the architectural lighting options we have to offer for your business.

Outdoor Lighting ,Do one thing and do it right

I have been working in the music industry since I was 18 years old, being a Roadie for bands and doing lighting. I have always worked in the lighting industry and coming into the world of architectural and outdoor lighting seemed very natural transition to me.

I, however, have NO desire to be a

landscaper, pond builder, hardscaper, irrigation company or a pool company.

I did not simply buy a lighting franchise.

On the other hand, it seems nowadays everyone thinks they can add landscape lighting as a sideline to their existing business. After attending an hour-long manufacture seminar they now a certified lighting designer. Unfortunately, many of the companies are profit driven and encourage these other industries to install lighting as a profit sideline to their existing business.

I drive thru high-end subdivisions all the time at night after leaving a job location and focusing the client’s lights after dark, I see all kinds of badly done lighting installations that someone paid a lot of money for. From just the other night seeing an entrance to a subdivision that has lights pointing in your eyes as you drive by with no lighting shields to seeing a water feature at a Japanese steakhouse I eat at on a regular basis have a pond company install a bad lighting job.

Being able to simply stick a lighting fixture in the ground by no means makes you a lighting designer

Lighting is an Art and I believe I am painting with light, by knowing the proper use of different types of bulbs, beam spreads, wattages ,color temperatures.  There are many many tips and tricks to keep lights your of your eyes.

I might use a combination of lights up in a tree pointing down with a moonlight lens filter along with a combination of path lights to create a unique vision for your walkway.

I might create a backdrop in your backyard to not only visualize your property but to keep your eye from your neighbor’s property

I might use a combination of different light fixtures along a brick or stone wall to create texture, interest, and shadows.

I might place a few lights at angles alongside a privacy fence to create beams of light dancing in between plant material.

No two projects are alike and that is what makes lighting interesting to me, anyone can stick lights in the ground and believe it or not some of those other companies never even come back at night to properly focus the lighting.

At Light Visions Landscape Lighting of Raleigh, We do one thing and do it RIGHT.

We also offer the best warranty and FREE maintenance contract in the Raleigh area

Please make sure to read thru our google reviews

 

 

Lighting Systems That We Had To Repair or Fix

I don’t like having dissatisfied clients. So, I work hard to make sure that my approach leaves everyone pleased with the results. I’m big on quality control and I work hard to perfect our process so we can eliminate failures in the field. If I don’t think something is right for my customer, I’ll let them know. I won’t compromise quality and their overall satisfaction just to make a sale.

 

 

 

 

 


 

When it comes to outdoor lighting fixtures,I know what will and won’t fail down the road. You may not think that you need your lighting fixtures to hold up for 10 to 20 or more years and perhaps you’d be right. But I bet that you’d like them to hold up for more than 3 to 5 years. I am always amazed when we are called out to service a lighting system we didn’t install that is failing in under 3 years or less.

 Recently I received a phone call from a potential client who explained that the lighting system her landscape contractor installed 3 years earlier was having problems. Her contractor added the lighting system into the landscape they built for her. She claimed that “They are really good landscape lighting fixtures”, and yet she couldn’t “figure out why they keep breaking”. Out of curiosity, I asked why she hadn’t called the original installers about the issues she was experiencing with the system they installed. She explained that she had, but that they weren’t returning her calls. I get calls all the time from someone who had their landscaper or hardscaper or even pond guy install their lighting that has failed in a short time and they did not offer any kind of warranty and are not returning phone calls. Seems everyone thinks they can install a professional landscape lighting system.

I’m sure you are starting to get the picture: seemingly good fixtures, and actual high quality fixtures, are two very different things. Even when they seem to be “really good lighting fixtures”, the tendency for low quality fixtures to fail is high enough that I refuse to even offer low quality fixtures to my clients. To better understand what can constitute a poor fixture, and why you may want to be careful when selecting a professional landscape lighting designer, let us understand a few key guidelines.

 

 

LED Lamps

LED’s  are here to stay.

They aren’t going anywhere for quite some time. LED’s have truly changed the way we see and are doing things in our daily lives. With greatly improved energy efficiencies, longevity and quality of light there is no reason that LED shouldn’t be the lamp in your landscape lighting fixtures.

However, as great as LED lamps are, they do have a few setbacks. Because they are technically electronic devices they have a couple of rules that must be followed to ensure there long lamp life of up to 50,000 hours.

The biggest thing to understand is that Moisture and Heat are not friendly to LED lamps. Your landscape lighting system must be built and designed to protect and warrant the use of LED products in today’s landscape. NC’s outdoors can be very harsh. Wind, rain, snow, freezing, thawing, irrigation, lawn and garden equipment will be threatening your lighting system throughout the year. We make sure that the fixtures can protect your LED lamps from damage.

Outdoor Light Fixtures

I am amazed when I hear that there are some tradesmen who will actually hand a client a manufacturers catalog and ask them to pick out some fixtures and let them know where to place them around their landscape.

This is a completely unacceptable practice. Who better to know which products will, not only create the desired effect but also have the ability to withstand the elements that will test them over years to come, than an experienced outdoor lighting professional? We will never use an untested product, no matter how pretty or convenient it might appear to be.

Your landscape lighting fixture must be built to keep the LED lamps inside of them dry and protected at all times. A good rule is to only use fixtures that are built and designed with the ability to dissipate heat. Failing to use a fixture that can do this will assure that your LED lamp will fail or fall short of its intended lamp life.

All products that we use and install in our professionally designed lighting systems must also be serviceable. No product is perfect, should a failure occur your installation company should always be able to respond with the appropriate repair in a timely manner. Warranties must be clearly understood and honored.

Connections

What goes on with connections is just as important. As previously mentioned, the outdoor environment can be brutal. Improper wire connections, such as big box store piercing connectors should NEVER be used. This is the number one fail point of any outdoor lighting system. Properly tightened connectors are the only acceptable wire connection.

Warranties

Get them in writing! Your landscape lighting warranty should be Ironclad and in writing. It should be clear and concise as to what is and what isn’t covered. Lighting fixtures and transformers should have a great manufacturer warranty.

 

 

 


 

In Conclusion, it’s important to look for a Professional landscape lighting designer and installer who knows which fixtures, connections and lamps will work best for your lighting system. This doesn’t mean that they simply give you assurances that everything will work fine; get it in writing. A written warranty explaining clearly what will be covered is what you should expect. Hiring a  contractor who offers anything less than this and you might have to deal with them not returning your calls in 6 months years when the poorly installed system starts to fail. Remember, trusting in an experienced professional is always the best option.

Give Us a Call: 919-518-8850

Building a new home? Make sure you have the the LED lighting option

I did a home and garden show recently and spoke to a lot of couples who were building homes. When we started talking about things they were doing I was surprised to find out LED lighting isn’t a standard in every home built today. I can’t imagine installing landscape lighting today with the old, not efficient halogen light bulbs that do not last. With most LED manufactures giving a warranty of 5 years or 50,000 hours I can’t imagine why LED lamps are not required and why the old very un-efficient halogen can lights used in most homes are still installed in this day. If you are building or remodeling a home, please do yourself a favor and ask the builder or electrician about the many LED options available from can lights to very nice track lighting and wall sconces. Visit a professional lighting showroom and have them go over the options with you. Most LED sources are also able to work with dimmers and if you are installing a beautiful stone fireplace, do yourself a favor and have them install some LED track lighting just above the stone with the lights focused down along the stone. There are also many nice outdoor LED fixtures for garages and floodlights. There is ever a very interesting LED candle flame effect that looks really nice in the outdoor lantern type fixtures. Do yourself a favor and use energy-saving green friendly LED lights in your home and watch the power bill go down.

 

https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/save-electricity-and-fuel/lighting-choices-save-you-money/led-lighting

a few outdoor lighting photos from Cary NC

Architectural columns with outdoor lighting in Prestonwood Country Club  Cary NC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A pathway lit up with moonlighting in trees as well as a few path lights,outdoor lighting Cary.

 

 

outdoor  lighting going into a beautiful stone set of steps in Cary

 

Front of a home lit with outdoor lighting in Cary.

 

Rear of a home in Cary with outdoor lighting.

Call us Today 919-518-9950 Lite Visions Outdoor Lighting and Landscape Lighting Professionals Raleigh NC

Concert lighting to outdoor and landscape lighting Raleigh NC

I have had several people ask me recently, what makes me and Lite Visions Landscape Lighting and outdoor lighting in Raleigh NC different from everyone else who does outdoor lighting and landscape lighting in Raleigh NC.

First and foremost I have been a lighting technician and lighting designer since 1979 in the music business when I started working with local bands.I went on to tour with bands from theatre to arena concerts and when home in Raleigh worked as a stagehand in lots of the local concert venues and still do to this day part-time. From climbing in the ceiling and focusing stage lights to operating a spotlight for a show at Memorial Auditorium. I simply love being creative and feel fortunate to have been able to travel a lot of my life and see many different cities and sights. I love the feeling I am an artist who simply paints with lighting.

My first huge TV special and first major arena tour I was a lighting tech on was this 1984 Kool and the Gang show at the New Orleans Worlds Fair for HBO’s video jukebox, the Light Designer most recently lit up the American Idol TV Series and it was a learning experience. The beautiful venue was built right on the river. We had a giant heart that came down from the ceiling during the show’s opening.I got to run lights for KC and the Sunshine band, some new band called Run DMC  and a girl singer called Shannon, her hit was called Let the music play, they were some of our opening bands on the tour. My job was to set up one of the lighting trusses as well as connect all the wiring to the lighting dimmers and babysit our dimmer area during Kool and the Gangs show beside the stage.

Here is the video from that concert.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TesMhfSMgRk

Call us today about lighting up your outdoor area or landscaping in Raleigh NC

Call us Today 919-518-9950 Lite Visions Outdoor Lighting and Landscape Lighting Professionals Raleigh NC

working with a lighting designer and planning to enjoy your home and lifestyle after the sun goes down

As an outdoor landscape lighting designer in Raleigh NC, we work with Triangle area homeowners to determine how you enjoy your outdoor space, particular features or a structure that you would like to highlight. What you like most about your homes architecture, specific trees or plant you like. A walkway or path you would enjoy or use more if it was illuminated. A  favorite pond or water feature. Features you love most in your outdoor kitchen or along your hardscaping.

 

 

Accent outdoor lighting  gently grazing the surface of the stone, stucco, and brick will add depth and dimension your home’s architecture as well as showing the features

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Adding outdoor lighting to such things as an arbor, fence a statue or structure and trees will give you a dramatic and attention-getting visual lighting effect, creating a lighting scene with a backdrop as well as mimicking moonlights natural effects.

 

 

Water feature outdoor lighting.

Illuminating a water feature, pond or pool combines 2 effects, you might have some trees or plantings near the water that will look interesting with up lighting. You also get stunning mirrored images on the water’s surface, creating dreamlike effects rippling across the water’s surface.

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Add outdoor lighting and illuminate a bridge over a water feature to highlight it’s features and create safety

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Adding path or walkway outdoor lighting will create a sense of security along stone pathways and lawn walkways as well as adding a hint of intrigue to plant beds and boulders along the way.

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Adding down lighting with lights placed up in trees shining thru the trees creates stunning shadows on the ground below mimicking moonlighting effects.

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Patio and deck outdoor lighting will feature and accentuate all of the architecture, beauty and detail of your deck, patio, outdoor kitchen, hand railings, steps and more while creating safety.

 

Hardscape outdoor lighting brings out your stone features along with your outdoor kitchen, retaining walls, steps and more.

 

Call us Today 919-518-9950 Lite Visions Outdoor Lighting and Landscape Lighting Professionals Raleigh NC

 

Lite Visions Landscape Lighting at the Raleigh Fairgrounds Home Show

Nice blog about Lite Visions Landscape Lighting on The Raleigh Fairgrounds Fall Homeshow page

 

EXHIBITOR SPOTLIGHT: LIGHT VISIONS LANDSCAPE LIGHTING

Aug 22, 2018

We’re excited to have Light Visions Landscape Lighting joint us at the Fairgrounds Southern Ideal Home Show. Lite Visions is not a outdoor lighting franchise, but a locally owned outdoor lighting design and installation company. They pride themselves on delivering the best LED Outdoor Fixture, workmanship and customer service to our clients in Raleigh and the surrounding areas. They do custom outdoor lighting to both residential and commercial properties.

Before you see the Light Visions team at booth #2129 get a sneak peek at what they’ll be bringing to the show by reading our brief interview below.

Describe your products and services.
Outdoor Landscape and Architectural Lighting Design and Installation done right by someone who worked in the concert and live music industry for over 30 years as a lighting technician and lighting designer.

What are your best home or garden tips for this season?
As a lighting designer, I work with homeowners in and around the Raleigh NC area to determine how you enjoy your outdoor space, particular features or a structure that you would like to highlight with outdoor lighting. What you like most about your homes architecture, specific trees or plant you like. A walkway or path you would enjoy or use more if it was illuminated. A favorite pond or water feature. Features you love most in your outdoor kitchen or along your hardscaping that would look great with outdoor lighting.

What are your featured items this season?
I am installing a new series of lighting this season designed by an architectural company. The lights are groundbreaking in the fact that not only can you adjust the beam spread and angle, but you can also adjust the wattage output and color temperature of the lights to the right temperature no matter what type of surface you are lighting. These fixtures give off a very soft subtle lighting effect. Too many outdoor lighting companies tend to over light a home. As always I am offering a discount to anyone who signs up for a lighting quote at my booth during the show. My company is different I am different in the fact that I am the lighting designer and installer.

What are your home or garden pet peeves?
People who only light items one sided and have no design knowledge or thoughts of the customer seeing this flat lighting effect when they pull up to their home, but not being able to see it from the home itself. Example a beautiful Crepe Myrtle or Riverbirch tree light from the front with only one light. A tree should always be lit up 3 dimensional to bring out it’s structure and beauty.

What is the strangest client request you’ve ever received?
I get people who don’t understand what I do and sometimes I will get requests to install floodlights over a garage.

What is your favorite part about the home show?
I love meeting people and talking to new potential customers, it seems alot of people are building outdoor kitchens. I try to give alot of advice to people remodeling or building as I want to make sure they are prepared as they deal with the builders, electricians stone contractors etc. to make adding their outdoor lighting as easy as possible for them. I am working right now on a project at Hyco lake near Roxboro on a amazing outdoor kitchen for a customer I met at the last home show.

Any additional company info you’d like to include?
I feel I bring something different to outdoor lighting as I come from a concert lighting background, from working with local bands such as the Embers right out of school to local recording acts Glassmoon and Nantucket to working huge arena concerts such as Kool and The Gang, Joan Jett, Alan Jackson, Tim Mcgraw, Dan Fogelburg, 3 Doors Down, Whitney Houston to the Christmas sensation Trans Siberian Orchestra. I still do a few concerts now and then and also work at the Memorial Auditorium venues when I can.

I do maintenance on older existing systems as well as LED retrofits. I am a member of the Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals a small group of professionals who are some of the best in the business.

The Fairgrounds Southern Ideal Home Show will be taking over the North Carolina State Fairgrounds September 21-23, 2018. With hundred of home improvement experts to speak with, like the team at Light Visions Landscape Lighting, this is a must attend event. What are you waiting for? Get your tickets now!

LED Retrofit into older outdoor landscape lighting systems Raleigh

LED RETROFIT INTO OLDER LANDSCAPE LIGHTING SYSTEMS

Sometimes I will get a phone call from a customer in the Raleigh asking if it is possible to come and look at their 15 year old landscape lighting system in and around the Raleigh area and possibly retrofit it to the new LED bulbs. I am always glad to come look at an older existing system as long as it is a professionally installed system with professional landscape lighting fixtures and not some of the big box store lighting that someone installed themselves. If the light fixtures are high grade materials and there is an existing professional transformer in place and the wiring and connectors are still in good shape, it is possible to upgrade an older landscape lighting system to the new energy saving and green friendly LED bulbs. There are many options available ,from just retrofitting the existing fixtures with drop in LED lamps,to redoing the system’s connections,updating wiring and installing the new long lasting LED chip on board landscape lighting fixtures. Some of these nice fixtures even have a variable wattage and focus on the fixture.

Give me a call today to look at your old outdoor lighting system in the Raleigh NC area.

Light Visions Outdoor Lighting and Landscape Lighting

Raleigh NC

919-518-9950

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