Deck lighting is an important part of your overall landscaping scheme. What's the use of all your hard work if you can't see the end result after nightfall? Besides, a well-lit deck has an ambience of its own: warm, inviting, and social. It also has a practical safety benefit, as uninvited intruders are discouraged by well-lit properties. Finally, lights can prevent nighttime accidents from occurring, such as tripping and falling over items left on the ground.

Deck lighting today encompasses a number of options, including deck lights, paver lights, and wall lights. Deck lights are inserted into holes cut out of the deck's wood. Paver lights are installed alongside walkways to illuminate the ground as you walk. You can often see these lights leading up to the front doors of homes. Wall lights are installed into garden walls and do a beautiful job of illuminating landscaping.

Installing Deck Lighting

Care should be taken when choosing and installing deck lighting. Poor quality or poorly wired lights are an all too common fire hazard. Most people hire a contractor to install deck lighting. Perhaps, however, you're a do-it-yourselfer and looking to save money on installation. Rather than purchase everything separately, you're best off purchasing a high quality deck lighting kit. Lighting kits contain everything you need to get the job done well, including detailed, step-by-step instructions.

At the risk of sounding overly cautious, once you have completed your deck lighting installation, it never hurts to consult a lighting professional to ensure that everything is in good working order. Yes, this will cost a little bit of money to pay an electrician for his time to do a quick once-over. However, it really isn't much compared to the possible consequences of an improperly installed system.