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How to Install Pathway Lights: A Complete Guide
So, you’re on a journey to brighten up your landscaping. If you’ve already chosen which fixtures you’d like to add to your landscape lighting plan, it’s time to start thinking about installation. DIY installation may seem overwhelming at first glance, but we have put together a guide with simple steps to install some of DEKOR’s most popular path lights. Note that there are some basic materials you will need for any lighting installation job, including a low-voltage transformer, cables, connectors, and the lights themselves. DEKOR’s lighting kits come with all of the materials required to get the job done. You may also need tools to ensure your lights are securely installed and your wires are sufficiently buried, like a mallet, a drill, or a shovel. We break down exactly what is needed for each type of light below. Finally, before you get started, identify where the power sources and outlets are located in your yard and where you wish to place your lights. You’ll need to make sure that your wires are the correct length, so you can make the appropriate electrical connections to set up your lights. Installing EZ Yard Dot LED Path Lights Yard Dots add ground effect lighting in three easy steps: push it in, plug it in and turn it on. This may be a slight oversimplification, but these really are some of the easiest-install offerings from DEKOR. Yard Dots are available in several different styles and packages, including kits and colored dot lights, and these installation instructions will work for any of them. It may be a good idea to purchase these lights in a kit, especially if you have not installed outdoor lights before, because they come with cables and a transformer. DEKOR’s team has produced a video installation tutorial for Yard Dots: Follow these steps to install your EZ Yard Dot LED Path Lights: Assemble all of the items you need for installation (included in our light kits): your Yard Dots, HD cables, an EZ Max Transformer, and a rubber mallet. Decide where you want your lights to go, and place each Dot in your desired pattern. Tap the dots halfway down into the surface – whether it’s your lawn or ground cover – so they are covered up to the wire connections. The light fixture will tolerate gentle taps from a rubber mallet if needed. Attach cables to the remaining connections to get power to the next light. When connections are completed, cover with mulch, gravel, grass, etc. There is no required bury depth. Tap lights into desired depth. And there you go! It really is that easy to bring your outdoor lighting to the next level. Now your driveway or path will be beautifully and safely lit. You will be amazed at the huge difference these small lighting Dots make. How to Install Mushroom or Empress Path Lighting DEKOR offers several other path lighting options, including the Mushroom Pathway Light, the Stepped Mushroom Pathway Light, and the Empress Path Light, all available individually or as kits. While each of these light fixtures is unique, they all have the same installation instructions. You may even want to mix and match combinations of these landscape lights to make the lighting for each walkway its own. For this installation, you may need some tools if you plan to bury wire or place lights in a hardscape surface, including a drill with a 3/4-inch auger bit and a shovel. You will also need HD wire, Plug-N-Play connectors and/or splitters, and a transformer, all included if you purchase a light kit. Here are the steps to install these three low-voltage landscape lighting options: Locate the desired placement of lights and wiring. If you choose to bury the wire, under concrete or other permanent structures, plan accordingly. Place all lights in your preferred location. If necessary, use a 3/4″ (1.9 cm) auger within a drill to ensure the fixture is firmly in place. Run all wires from the power source locations to the lights on top of the soil, leaving them slack. If using separate circuits with independent dimmers, we recommend grouping the lights by light type. Connect all lights. Make sure connections, fixtures, and power sources (including splitters) are all working. Connect the opposite end of the male connector wire to a port on the multi-port splitter that is connected to the transformer or dimmer. You can mix and combine all lights on the same circuit but make sure you do not exceed the maximum number of lights per transformer. If running separate circuits with dimmers on each circuit, using a separate transformer for each circuit can simplify installation. However, the use of a 5-way splitter will allow for separate circuits on the same transformer. Preview light placement in the dark to make sure the effect you want is achieved. Test the lights to ensure power supply, connections, and light fixtures all work properly and placement is appropriate. Once the light, wire, and splitter placement is finalized, work from the light fixtures toward the power source to bury the wire to the desired depth. Ensure that lights are all working with all wiring attached prior to burying any wire. No more than 1 “-3” (2.5 cm – 7.6 cm) is required. These installation instructions apply to a wide variety of DEKOR lights. For example, our Telescoping LED Spotlight, the Well Uplight, and the Radiance Directional Landscape Light all use the same installation steps. So, if you plan on lighting up other parts of your yard, like a garden, you’ll become an installation master in no time.
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9 tips to remember when using a contractor
Get Involved & Stay Involved – even if it is walking the job on a daily basis the more you are involved the more input you will have to ensure the job is going to meet the same expectations. Your level of involvement in the project will determine the outcome of the project. Researching Your Contractor – avoid using discount and free sites like Craigslist and Angie’s List. We have found in some cases that these contractors are unlicensed, uninsured, and underqualified. You really want to look at each company’s website and review previous jobs that they have done. Those that have invested to create a good quality website typically do good quality contracting work. You also want to understand who is going to be doing the work. We find that Owner-Operator companies are the most reputable and the highest quality since they will be doing the work themselves. TIP! – These people are not available two weeks out. You need to be booking with them a few months in advance. Get Everything in Writing – verbals Can Kill – sign off and initial on the plans as well as any changes to the plans. Again, ensuring that everyone has the same expectations. Also, ensure that there is a schedule. Weather Happens – so make sure that you build out your schedule in milestones, not just a beginning and end date. Before issuing a deposit check make sure you have a contract, a schedule and schematic of the project. Choosing Quality Materials Is Key – don’t take the low-end route. Low price almost always means low quality and while it sometimes looks good in the showroom that is something completely different than how it holds up to the elements. Pay more now and less on repairs later. For decking products consider composite materials over traditional wood materials. They are UV stable, don’t warp, swell, they retain their color, are slip-resistant. The only downside really is that they heat up. We recommend Trex as one of the top products on the market. Accessories and Originality – customizing your project with your own unique touches keeping your deck from looking like your neighbors. DEKOR offers a multitude of different lighting and deck railing options like post caps, balusters, etc, make sure to differentiate. Lighting, Lighting, Lighting! – the most important part of the project because you can provide a beautiful ambiance for the space you’re in. If you’re comfortable in a space you’ll be more likely to spend more time there. Controls – hopefully you took our advice on point number 6 and added lighting, now it’s important to understand how to control those lights. DEKOR offers a multitude of different options including handheld controls, smartphone and smart devices like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Control4, and more through the DEKORKONNECT WiFi-enabled controller. We also offer products like the EZ motion sensors to automatically light your space to provide safety and security. Closely Check for Issues/Flaws – make sure that your contract includes a note that final payment is due upon your satisfaction. Develop a punch list of tasks that need to be completed prior to signing off. Do not get pressured into doing this in a short amount of time. Take a weekend to develop this list and use another set of eyes if available. Then go through this with your contractor. Warranties – warranties protect you against unexpected happenings. Reputable contractors will typically have a warranty on labor and workmanship for at least a year. Material warranties will be carried by the manufacturer and those are typically carried for 5-10 years. Make sure that the warranty is in writing. Lastly, get a ‘lien release’ from the contractor and subs. An example is 6 months after your job is done by a subcontractor that wasn’t paid by the original contractor and now they can put a lien on your house for non-payment of the work. Please contact our Customer Care team for questions about products, installation tips, and more.
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