Landscape Lighting Installation FAQ

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We are not a warehouse.  We are not boutique retailer.  We are not a discount store.  We are a professional landscape lighting company that is providing options to fill the gap between low quality big box products and more expensive contractor installed systems.  We offer design, sales, and support for your new high quality DIY project.

Absolutely!  We sell the same products that are installed in multi-million dollar mansions and commercial properties by professional contractors across the country every day.  Quality costs more up front but cost less in the long run.

YES!  If you have ever hooked up a stereo system, wired up a TV, planted a tree, replaced a light switch, or installed a ceiling fan, there is a good chance you can install your own professional quality landscape lighting system with our help.  We will walk you through every step from design to installation to troubleshooting.  Our systems are modular so one you have a few lights working, you will know how to install more.

No!  We only sell low-voltage landscape lighting.  Low-voltage systems are very safe.  Instead of the 110-120v that is running to a normal outlet in your home, our lighting fixtures are only using 12-15v.  Low-voltage systems use a transformer that plugs into a regular outlet on the side of your home.  That transformer steps the 110-120v voltage down to 12-15v and the fixture wiring connects to the transformer.  This lower voltage prevents any dangerous shock even if the wire is cut with a metal blade.  When you use our design services and purchase your products from us, we provide wiring diagrams, tutorial videos, and real support before and after the sale.  You can do this!

Design - we help you with this with our design services

Transformer - plug it in to outdoor power outlet, run wire from the transformer to the fixtures

Fixtures - hook up fixtures to wiring going to transformer, adjust, aim

Wiring - double check all connections and bury wire once fixtures are in place

You can do this - we will help providing step by step instructions and technical support

Here are our basic steps for our design services:

1.  You email us several pictures of each area you want lighting with a summary of desires.

2.  Based on the pictures we receive, we provide pricing for design services for your project and request more pictures if needed.  Our design pricing is usually $199 but may be more for large projects.  Remember we apply your paid design fees towards your product invoice.

3.  After payment, we then discuss your needs and desires during our thorough consultation. 

4.  After the consultation, we send you a summary of the consultation with any additional questions we may have. 

5.  After consultation, we then send you mock-ups and for your project for your approval.

6.  After mock-up approval, we send you a your custom wiring diagram and detailed estimate for the products needed for your new system.

7.  After the purchase of your system, we provide detailed installation notes and provide technical support to ensure your new lighting system provides you everything you wanted.

* Please note:  We have clients in multiple time zones.  We prefer that most communication is done via email.  Email helps us stay organized, stay accurate, and to work at various times.  We will gladly schedule phone calls for clients that prefer.  John completes all designs himself and all employees are located right here in the United States.

We have to charge up front because design is time consuming.  We do not use offshore labor to make cookie cutter designs or kits.  John completes every design himself and it is customized for that client and their project.  It is easy to spend several hours on each client project when you include consultation, design, and estimating.  We credit the paid design fees towards the purchase of our products so the design ends up being free in most cases when you purchase your system components from us.  We believe this is a win/win relationship.

Yes.  We offer a system review opinion option.  We will review your current quote and let you know our opinion.  If there is enough information given, we will also review pricing and send you an estimate for what we would recommend if you wanted to install the system yourself.  We only charge $49 for this service and we would apply that payment towards any purchase from us over $499.  We offer design services as well for $199-$299 depending on the size of the system needed.  Those payments are also applied towards products purchased from us.  Please check our design services page for more information. 

As with any professional quality system, prices will vary depending on the size and materials chosen.  Generally speaking, our systems cost about half as much as an equivalent contractor installed system.  Yes, you can save half by installing your new system yourself with our help.  Most professionally installed systems cost between $250-$500 per fixture when all materials and labor is calculated.  We ask our DIY clients to budget $150-$200 per fixture as ballpark figure.  That budget includes everything including:  transformer, fixture, LED, and wiring.  Please keep in mind that this are the same system components that are installed in multi-million dollar mansions every day.  It is very realistic for these fixtures to last more than 10 years and many have a 10 year warranty or longer.

Generally speaking, quality systems installed properly by contractors cost between $250-$500 per fixture.  If you have seen a quote for less than $250 per fixture for entire system including transformer, installation, lamps, and wire burial, be very cautious.  Corners may be cut somewhere.  Professional landscape lighting is a niche field.  Experience matters.  Many things contribute to the expense of professionally installed quality landscape lighting including:  business licenses, insurance, labor, trucks, gas, tolls, training, tools, and of course the material costs.  

Professional grade landscape lighting transformers and fixtures are designed to perform better and hold up better against the elements than cheaper big box options.  By installing your own system purchased from us, you can save about half compared to a contractor installed system using the same quality components.  In addition, since you installed your system, you will be able to troubleshoot or add to it in the future.