Solar Pathway Lights – A Clean And Green Way To Garden And Outdoors Lighting

Home Remodeling - Jan 27,2017 - No Comment

Outdoor lamps and lighting are excellent accents to use for garden decor, because they’re both functional and beautiful at the same time. You can put small solar pathway lights along either side of your driveway or walkway for instance, and tall lampposts look beautiful either at the front steps, flanking the walkway at the entrance, or flanking the entrance of the driveway. Another way to decorate the driveway entrance a little more whimsically is to put gnome statues, which has solar powered lights in them. If you don’t like garden gnomes though, there are plenty of other decorative statue style accents, which use solar powered lights and work well for lighting up the entrance of your driveway. These can include birds and birdhouses, squirrels, frogs, different types of dogs, and cats too.

When choosing decorative lights for your garden, don’t forget the accent lights for your most beautiful trees and bushes. These lights are often buried into the ground slightly under trees and bushes, and they spotlight the tree or bush at nighttime when they’re turned on. This allows your yard to look just as beautiful at night as it does during the day. Whatever the solar pathway lights and fixtures options you choose remember the adage less is always more. Many people end up buying more lighting fixtures than they need. Since they have bought the fixtures they try to make use of it and more often than not they overdo a good thing. A over bright home or too many lights can spoil the effect and you will be using up extra resources that can be more meaningfully deployed.

Solar pathway lights come in relatively easy-to-install systems. However, you can also use other options like up lighting, submersible lighting and low-voltage lighting to light up your pathways. But these other options can mean extra electric bills. With solar powered lights to brighten up your gardens you will not pay a penny in electricity bills. They will pay for themselves in saved energy. Other advantages of using solar powered garden lights are that they are environment friendly. It creates no pollution, as it makes no carbon emissions. As solar energy is a sustainable, naturally available renewable resource there is no danger of the fuel running out like in the case of oil and gas. The biggest advantage is of course that it is completely free.

They are easy to install with no electrical wiring or plugging into power source required. All you need to do is install it as it says in the manual and you are done. It is safe for children and pets too as no heat is generated and they are cool to the touch. They are both affordable and available in a variety of options. Also, some of these automatically turn-off in day time and come on during the dusk and night. So, you save yourself the trouble of switching on and off these lights.

Make sure your buy quality solar pathway light fixtures, as they have to withstand the vagaries of nature. Buy lights that are made of metals like copper, aluminum, stainless steel or brass. Not only do they look nice but also last long. Fixtures made of brass and copper look good at all times of day and night. Wrought iron fixtures look distinguished and from times past.

Solar Garden Lanterns: A Charming Addition To Your Gardens

Home Remodeling - Jan 20,2017 - No Comment

Solar garden lanterns and torches can add a certain old world charm to your gardens. These serve both decorative and functional purposes and hence are welcome addition to your garden decor. Decorating your lawn and garden area can be just as much fun as decorating the inside of your house. Don’t just go about adding decorative pieces to your garden. Decorating works best with a little bit of forethought and planning. Because if you clutter up your yard and garden areas with too many items, it can look cluttered, unkempt, and unattractive defeating the purpose of decorating.

Like interior decoration, it’s best to choose your accents and accessories based on the particular garden area you’re decorating. Arbors and arches for instance, usually give people the feeling they’re entering a special area of your yard or garden. So these work quite well as garden decor and accents for special areas such as a private garden space, or the entrance to your prized rose garden. Hanging a couple of garden lanterns which are solar powered at the entrance and exit will not save you energy but also serve to light up the area which will usually be darker due to the arbors or arches.

With solar garden lanterns comes the savings in electricity as the lanterns make use of solar energy to meet their own energy needs. The lanterns which each cost about 25-50 dollars will pay for themselves in saved energy bills. They also come in a variety of beautiful designs and shapes and can be hung on any lamp post or pedestals you might have in your garden. With these lanterns you need any electrical wiring or installation issues so you need to hire electrical contractors to install them. The solar panels that come with the lanterns will make all the energy that the lamp needs and store it in the batteries and the lanterns will give off light in your garden as night sets in.

After the initial purchase of the solar lanterns there are no other maintenance costs as far as solar lights are concerned. May be you need to replace the bulbs when they burn out. Buy good quality lanterns, as they will last you a lifetime. You can choose from designs that are similar to conventional lamps or some thing exotic. You can choose rock shaped solar lights that can be placed on different parts of your garden or hanging lights that can be draped over plants and bushes.

Decide on the number of lanterns you will need to place around your garden. Add a few extra in case you decide you need more lanterns are needed in some areas and place your order. You can buy solar lanterns in your local hardware store or order online. There are number of stores that sell these solar garden lanterns. You can look at a number of models and choose the ones that suit your budget and the general decor of your garden. You can choose old style ones to suit the old world look or more modern models if you want to present a cosmopolitan look and make your garden come alive with beautiful models and bright lights.

Patio String Lights For That Dream Like Lighting

Home Remodeling - Jan 13,2017 - No Comment

Patio sting lights add a dream like quality to your outdoor lighting. Those twinkling, small lights on strings can look like beautiful stars in the night. They add a festive touch to your patio or deck and add a bit of magic to the evenings. They make a perfect setting for evening dinners or birthday parties. Adults and kids will love the lovely nights under patio lights.

You can choose from dozens of styles and themes. Christmas lights, bamboo lights, cloth lanterns, paper lanterns, sparkling lights are just a few of the ideas you can choose from. The strings lights can be strung above the patios or can be draped over trees and bushes or hung over walls or dividers. The possibilities are endless and decorating ideas limitless.

The patio rope lights are decorative like with fairy lamps, some are made by manufacturers to match residential christmas decor and they are usually plug and play which can be plugged into any wall sockets connected to the electric mains. They are contemporary and cheap with changing coloured lights that flood the market street during the festive season.

The patio string lights might not provide much lighting by themselves but they sure a lot to decorative aspect of any special occasion whether it holiday gathering or wedding or birthday party. They are not very expensive and you can buy several themed string lights for different events. When you go string lights shopping you will see a variety of designs some holiday themed, some exotic and some plain whimsical. Buy whatever appeals to you and your family sense of fun. In the whimsical category you will find chilly peppers, carrots, pirate booty, beer bottles, parrots, fruits and many more ideas to choose from.

String lights can also be used to drape over your trees and over garden pathways adding a soft lighting to it and a touch a dream like quality to the whole setting. It looks both romantic and beautiful in night to see these lights as they glow in the dark. Installing these lights does not need any professional electrician to do the job for you. You can do it yourself and plug it into the electrical socket. It’s left to you about how you want to hand the string lights.

There are convenient clips and hangers that are available with the string light kits to make the job of hanging these light ropes in any required pattern or design you wish easier. You can buy them from the same stores that sell you the string lights. With remote controlled light switches you can control when to switch it on and off. Timers can be used to make them come on at particular time of the day.

These are extremely low maintenance and can last for years if used with care. Many people use it only for special days and store them in attics for the rest of the year. They use the light strings for several years. Children especially love the magic that these lights create and are the most excited when these lights are brought every year in the holiday season.

You can buy patio string lights offline at super markets, hardware stores, electrical stores or holiday decoration stores. Online too there are scores of stores where you can buy these lights. Hanging them out and watching them light up is a special treat indeed. The magic of string lights never seems to wane.

Roof Shingles – An Introduction

Roof Shingles - Jan 11,2017 - No Comment

Roof shingles are excellent, durable and affordable as a roofing solution. But they need regular maintenance to extend longevity and prevent damage. Since your roof is what protects the rest of the house, keeping it in good condition is crucially important.

In case you notice signs of wear and tear such as water damage or rotting, then it is important to take swift action and fix the problem before it grows more serious. Water seepage can result in damage to the underlying planks, necessitating more complex and expensive repairs.

Maintenance of roof shingles is a continuous process. Homeowners who take a chance and put off repairs, or are too careless to even notice early signs of damage, will only end up spending far more on costly repairs which were necessitated by the serious ongoing damage.

There are many things to learn about replacing roofing shingles. For more on this, check out this free report on Roof Shingles – Fixing Roof Problems

Great Ways To Brighten Up Your Outdoors Using Pathway Lighting

Home Remodeling - Jan 06,2017 - No Comment

Outdoor pathway lighting need not be boring any longer. You can jazz it up and play with different lighting options or make it as soft and as mysterious as you want. Lights can be added to brighten the pathway leading to your home or into the garden or an outdoor gazebo or they can be added to draw attention to some aspect of your home or garden.

The lighting industry has come up with hundreds of options for outdoor lighting for your homes. Some companies who sell these lights include Kichler, Bollard, Hampton, Luxform and Hadco.You will find exquisite fixtures in myriad colors, professional designs and finishes. The choices are so many that sometimes it becomes difficult to pick one for our homes. So, first step in pathway lighting and external lighting is making a rough plan on the number of lights to put up. Look around your neighbor’s houses and count the number of light they are using. Do you think the lighting is enough or too many or too few? In certain towns and cities in the United States there is limit on the number of lights you can use for outdoor lighting. This is in support of the dark skies to help people to appreciate the stars in the night. If there are any restrictions then you would do better to follow the regulations.

You can choose the low voltage outdoor lighting for pathway lighting. The voltage used is about one tenth of the regular voltage – 12 volts and needs step down transformer. The high performance step-down transformer will take in the regular power supply, which is at 120 volts, and step that down to the required voltage and supply it to your light fixtures. As the low voltage needed by the light fixtures is low energy is transmitted. There are higher losses if transmitted over longer distances. Hence the step-down transformer as to be centrally located close to all the light fixtures. So, this is will be usually installed outdoors.

These low voltage lights have many advantages as they use much smaller and compact light bulbs. The smaller size means you can effectively conceal your light fixtures under the different landscaping elements and this will not stick out during daytime. The cost of setting up these low voltage pathway lighting is also much less than regular lighting as it does not need the wiring required by high voltage fixtures. These low voltage lights can be recessed spaces or buried under the pathway illuminating from the bottom or used to create small pools of light, be used for under water lighting, or to light up your waterfalls and ponds.

Decide on the type of pathway lighting you want. Do you want a brightly lit up path with high-voltage pedestal lights or soft low-voltage lighting coming from sources closer to the ground or a series of buried lights that throw just enough light to show you the path. Based on this buy your light fixtures meant for that particular purpose and other electrical items needed like wiring and power sources. Don’t use fixtures meant for one purpose to serve another it will only mess up your outdoors lighting appearance.

Outdoor Lighting Ideas – Attractive Options To Beautify Your Home

Home Remodeling - Dec 30,2016 - No Comment

Have you ever wondered what is it that catches your eye as you cruise along residential neighborhoods at night? Most often than not it is the sight of beautifully lit homes that capture your attention and direct you to notice homes that you wouldn’t even bother to look in daylight. There are numerous outdoor lighting ideas that can make your home stand out and be noticed. What is about lighting that makes you pause and look something? Notice it is NOT, the light fixture itself that draws your attention, it is that certain aspect of the building on which the light focuses that your attention is drawn. So, a gently rippling water wall or a delicately carved column or a beautiful window when lit up makes you pause and take note of it.

Uplighting is an outdoor lighting idea that adds a gentle, soft light to your home and makes it glow in the night. You can up light a beautiful green tree or a delicate trellis balcony and draw attention to some attractive aspect of your home or what ever needs highlighting like your home, garden, patios, pathways and waterfalls.

There are lighting options available today that can be used to light up your pools, waterfalls and fountains from below. These lights are the submersible kind and can be safely used under water. They have safety features like being enclosed in waterproof fittings and made of rustproof materials. These can make your water bodies come alive at night. The beauty of a well-lit fountain or waterfall or even a pool at night is to can be appreciated only when one sees it. Homeowners and their guests can enjoy these outdoor features even at night, which is an added bonus.

Low-voltage lighting is another option that makes your outdoors brighter without being garish. These lights don’t use much electricity and are both small and compact. They can be concealed in the foliage or different elements of your outdoors decor, or the floor. They add that gentle glow making your home appear ethereal and attractive. You will need a step-down transformer as the these lights need only about 12 volts which is one tenth of what is generally used in homes. They can also be used for pathways apart from being buried under waterfalls or pools. There are number of lighting options for low-voltage lights.

If you want to use regular lights on old fashioned pedestals that is good outdoor lighting idea too. You can have beautiful wrought iron fixtures or more modern fittings to transform your outdoors into an oasis of light in the darkness of the night. Some of the modern lighting fixtures allow you to control the amount of light that each bulb emits. So, as the day lights slowly fades out these lights gradually take over and are the brightest when it is darkest outside.

There are other outdoor lighting ideas too like fiber optics lights, which add a touch of color to your lighting options. You can use multiple colors or alternate colors to add a little glamour to your outdoor lighting. What ever you choose make sure you don’t over do it. Add just enough lights to make it safe for people to walk around in the night but not too many to make it too bright so there is no mystery left to explore your home in the night.

Garden Lighting Prices – How To Avoid Getting Ripped Off

Home Remodeling - Dec 23,2016 - No Comment

Garden lighting prices can run the gamut of ridiculously expensive to dirt cheap – and a lot depends upon the kind of garden lighting that you plan to have installed and whether you are going to hire a contractor or do it yourself.

Any garden lighting review will focus on the components of the manufacturer’s product that you choose, and ignore the costs of installation. While getting a company to install them for you is a good idea when you have the budget, keep in mind that garden lighting prices in this case can run to between $2,000 and $3,000 if not higher.

On the other hand, you can buy garden lighting kits and do-it-yourself. This will save money, as the typical kit costs between $60 and $300, but be prepared to put in some effort and face some frustrating moments getting everything set up and running. Eglo garden lighting can look nice when it’s all ready, but reaching that point can sometimes be quite an experience!

You’ll need a garden lighting post and light fittings to hang the bulbs on. A transformer that provides power for your outdoor garden lighting is typically a 12 volts device which is adequately water proofed against rain or sprinklers. Be sure to locate it in a place that’s somewhat protected from the elements, and run wires out to the lights.

Most garden lighting comes with switching devices that are either timer controlled or light based. If you pick one up from the garden lighting store, light bulbs can be incandescent low wattage globes or halogen bulbs. The latter last longer and are brighter too. You can choose between spotlight focus to direct attention to a clump of plants, or a more diffuse tier lights setting to illuminate garden paths.

Hozelock garden lighting is a popular brand, as are Arlec, Ring Grip, Landia and HPM. All have do it yourself garden lighting kits, and the prices are more or less similar. Garden lighting prices differ only slightly based on whether the posts are of plastic or rust-free metal with powder finishing, and the cost of cables that come along with the kit. What’s more important than garden lighting prices is the hassle and effort it costs you to install them!

The ready made kits garden lighting prices range from $69.95 for a 6 piece tier and floodlight pack from Landia to $94.95 for an Arlec 6 piece tier lighting package. HPM sells only components for garden lighting and home lighting which you then must assemble on your own.

Running costs of the installation also will impact your decision on garden lighting prices. Typically the power consumption is low and the expense for that will be between $12 and $20 annually. Replacement bulbs are also inexpensive, ranging in price under $5 for a batch of four.

Assembling a garden lighting set isn’t very difficult, though some manufacturer’s products require a little more effort than the others. HPMs kits are the easiest to assemble according to many accounts. So garden lighting prices, though important, aren’t always the single factor that drives you to choose one brand over another.

Japanese Garden Plant Ideas

Home Remodeling - Dec 17,2016 - No Comment

When it comes to Japanese garden plants, the kind of flowers and plants you use would vary from one garden to the other. Many people have a misconception that in a Japanese style garden you have to use plants that are showy and those which look exotic. But this is not true in every case.

Actually, the real Japanese garden plants are the ones which complement the area near the garden. Therefore, exotic or showy plants would not fit in a Japanese style garden which is located in an exotic and showy area already. If you are residing in a mountainous region, your Japanese style garden should have mountain style flowers, plants, shrubs and trees. In the same way, if you are living in a wooded area, your Japanese style garden should be having plants that naturally grow in the woods.

Many Americans find this concept a little difficult to understand as it is very flexible. The main aim of a Japanese style garden is to merge with and complement the elements of nature around it. So, there is no exact look or list of plants you can use, or any design layout you can use in a Japanese style garden.

Having said this, there are certain flowers, plants and trees which are considered ideal for a Japanese style garden. Hence, most of the people like to incorporate these plants into a Japanese style garden.

To have a Japanese feel in your garden, you can always plant a bamboo in your garden area. You may have a variety of bamboo plants adding color and making your garden an interesting one too. The Heavenly or Nandina bamboo has colorful foliage and bright red berries.

A Japanese style garden also includes trees and shrubs like Japanese maples and yews. Prevalent plants for a Japanese style garden are any type of ornamental grass, trees, evergreen shrubs or deciduous trees. Choosing shrubs and trees having interesting colored barks or those creating striking shapes is always a good idea.

The vital elements apart from Japanese garden plants are stones and rocks, so planting various moss areas with shade and growing them over the stones makes a delightful accent area. You can put creeping plants on slopes or between the pathway stones. Planting dichondria between the pathway’s stepping stones works well too, and it will hold up better than moss in dry areas of the garden.

You might want to dedicate a part of your Japanese style garden for herbs that are used for tea. One of the 3 main gardens of a traditional Japanese style garden is the tea garden. So, having tea herbs in your garden will give it an extra touch of true Japanese style.

Azaleas are evergreen plants that will keep vital color in the garden all through winter. They will also provide a splash of bright color in spring. And, because it’s your Japanese style garden, if you desire to have showy or exotic plants, then you can scatter some of them as well.

Solar Pathway Lights – A Clean And Green Way To Garden And Outdoors Lighting

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