Landscape Lighting
Questions Answered

Pricing varies based on property size, number of fixtures, system complexity, and fixture quality. We provide free consultations with detailed, no-pressure quotes. Price differences come down to fixture quality, cable burial depth, transformer sizing, and how complex the design is — not inflated margins.

Research consistently shows that professionally installed landscape lighting increases perceived home value and helps properties sell faster. In Palm Beach County's luxury market, landscape lighting is often an expected feature for high-end listings.

Practically speaking, it also extends usable outdoor living hours, deters property crime, and improves safety for driveways and walkways.

Standard installations are typically scheduled within 1–3 weeks. During peak season (November–March, when snowbirds return) we book out further.

For large estate or commercial projects, we recommend scheduling 4–6 weeks in advance. Call us to check current availability — we do our best to accommodate time-sensitive requests.

Most residential installations are completed in one or two days, depending on the size of the property. Larger estates or commercial projects may take 2–3 days. We handle everything: transformer placement and wiring, fixture installation and aiming, cable burial, and system programming. You'll have a fully operational system by the time we leave.

We install low-voltage systems and handle all work professionally and in compliance with applicable codes.

We bury all cables at a minimum of 6 inches deep, and 8–12 inches in lawn areas where aeration or digging is more common. Cables are run in conduit where they cross driveways or hardscape.

Proper burial depth is one of the most commonly skipped steps in DIY and budget installations. Exposed or shallow cables are vulnerable to damage from landscaping activity — something a quality installation addresses from the start.

Yes. We regularly expand existing systems — adding fixtures, upgrading transformers, converting halogen to LED, or redesigning sections that aren't performing well.

We'll assess your current system first to ensure any additions are compatible and the transformer can handle the additional load without sacrificing voltage to existing fixtures.

Yes. We operate year-round. Summer months are actually a great time to schedule non-emergency work when our availability is best. All installations use fixtures with appropriate wind and moisture ratings for South Florida.

After major storms, reach out to us — we're available to assess and address any damage to your system. Most well-installed systems survive storms without major damage — the biggest issues are usually shifted fixtures from debris and soil movement.

LED is superior in every meaningful way:

• Uses 75–80% less energy than halogen
• Lasts significantly longer than halogen vs 2,000 hours for halogen
• Produces far less heat — better for plants and fixtures
• Equivalent color quality now available in warm whites

The only historical argument for halogen was better color rendering. That gap no longer exists with modern 2700K–3000K LED technology. We install LED systems and have been converting existing halogen systems for years.

For South Florida properties: 3000K is our go-to for a crisp, clean look that works beautifully on tropical plantings, palms, and modern homes.

2700K (warm white) is a great alternative for Mediterranean architecture and traditional homes — it creates a rich, amber-gold glow similar to traditional incandescent lighting. We avoid cool whites (4000K+) for residential properties as they look clinical and harsh on warm-toned homes and lush tropical landscaping.

Color temperature is one of the most important — and most overlooked — decisions in landscape lighting. Getting it wrong makes even a good installation look cheap. We have clients approve color temperature before finalizing.

Transformer size depends on total wattage draw across the system:

• 150W: handles 8–15 LED fixtures
• 300W: handles 20–35 LED fixtures
• 600W: handles 40–70+ LED fixtures

We size transformers at 60–70% of maximum capacity — this prevents overloading, extends transformer life, and leaves room for future fixture additions. A common mistake is sizing at 100% and having no headroom.

Yes. We install smart transformers that connect to your Wi-Fi and are controlled via smartphone app. Features include:

• Individual zone control and scheduling
• Brightness adjustment (dimming)
• Astronomical timer (auto-adjusts for actual sunset times)
• Automation routines and scenes

For clients who prefer simplicity, standard timers with astronomical settings work great without any app setup.

For South Florida's climate, you need fixtures built for the environment:

• IP65 or higher waterproof rating
• Solid brass or marine-grade aluminum construction
• UV-stable lenses that don't yellow or crack in the sun
• Silicone seals (not rubber, which degrades)

We use professional-grade fixture brands built for South Florida's demanding climate — engineered specifically for outdoor use in coastal and humid environments. Big-box store landscape lights simply don't hold up to South Florida's conditions.

Moonlighting is the technique of mounting fixtures high in tree canopies, pointed downward, to cast light through the branches — recreating the effect of natural moonlight filtering through leaves. The result is one of the most beautiful, naturalistic effects in landscape lighting: dappled light patterns on the ground, soft illumination without harsh shadows.

It is absolutely worth it for properties with mature trees. We consider moonlighting one of the most underused techniques in South Florida — the tropical canopy here is perfect for it. Learn more about our moonlighting service.

Palm trees require narrow beam spreads (10°–15°) aimed to travel up the full length of the trunk and into the frond canopy. We use ground-mounted well lights or surface spotlights positioned 1–3 feet from the base, angled steeply upward.

For clustered palm groups, we use multiple fixtures at varying angles to create depth and avoid flat, one-dimensional illumination. Proper palm lighting is one of our specialties — done right, it's dramatic and architectural. Done wrong, it washes out or stops halfway up the trunk. See our palm tree lighting service.

Path lighting illuminates horizontal surfaces — walkways, driveways, and garden beds — for safety and definition. Fixtures direct light downward.

Uplighting illuminates vertical subjects — trees, hedges, architectural features — by directing light upward from ground level.

A well-designed system uses both in layers: uplighting creates drama and depth, path lighting provides functional illumination at ground level. Using only path lighting makes a property look like a runway. Using only uplights makes it hard to navigate safely. The combination is the goal.

Low-voltage LED lighting is extremely safe for plants — minimal heat output means no scorching, even for fixtures mounted directly against foliage.

For wildlife, we recommend warm-white LEDs (2700K–3000K) over cool blue-spectrum lights, which are more disruptive to nocturnal animals. For properties near the coast, we follow Florida Fish & Wildlife guidelines for sea-turtle-friendly lighting — using amber or red-spectrum fixtures and ensuring light doesn't spill toward the beach.

Your transformer has multiple circuits (zones) that can be independently scheduled. A common setup:

• Zone 1 (all-night): Security uplighting, front entry — dusk to dawn
• Zone 2 (evening): Accent and decorative lighting — dusk to midnight
• Zone 3 (path lights): Walkways — dusk to midnight or later

We program all schedules at installation and walk you through how to adjust them. Most clients rarely need to touch it again — astronomical timers automatically track actual sunset times throughout the year.

A well-installed LED system needs minimal maintenance — typically an annual service visit to clean and re-aim fixtures, check wire connections, test transformer output, and inspect for any storm or pest damage.

South Florida's rapid plant growth means re-aiming is needed as plants mature — a fixture that was aimed perfectly at a 6-foot palm won't be aimed correctly when that palm is 20 feet. Learn about our maintenance service.

The most common issues we address during maintenance visits:

• Fixtures out of aim — plant growth and landscaping activity can shift them over time
• Storm and weather effects — South Florida's weather can shift fixtures and affect wiring
• Landscape overgrowth — plants grow around and over fixtures, reducing output
• Timer drift — power events and seasonal changes knock schedules off

A quality installation minimizes these issues, and routine maintenance keeps the system performing well.

Yes. All new installations include a 1-year labor warranty covering workmanship, plus manufacturer warranties on fixtures (typically 5–10 years for professional-grade products). If something fails due to an installation error within that period, we fix it at no charge.

Yes. We have extensive experience with HOA communities, clubhouses, golf course entrances, commercial properties, and municipal projects throughout Palm Beach County. Community-scale projects require specialized planning for transformer placement, voltage drop calculations across longer cable runs, and maintenance schedules. Contact us for a commercial estimate.

Key things to evaluate:

• Fixture quality — professional-grade only, not box-store products
• Cable burial depth — minimum 6 inches, ideally more in lawn areas
• Transformer sizing — should run at 60–70% capacity, not 100%
• Design first — a plan before a single fixture goes in the ground
• Experience with your property type — palms, water features, and architecture each require different techniques
• Google reviews — read them carefully, not just the star count
• Who actually does the work — do they subcontract or do it themselves?

We'd be glad to walk you through what we do differently. Call us and ask — we're not afraid to answer hard questions.

Simple four-step process:

• Step 1: Contact us by phone or website form
• Step 2: We schedule a free on-site walkthrough (30–45 minutes)
• Step 3: We send a detailed written proposal — fixture types, locations, transformer, total cost
• Step 4: You decide, no pressure, no obligation

We think you'll find our pricing fair for the quality of work we deliver. And if you're comparing us to other quotes, we're happy to explain exactly why our fixtures, burial depth, and transformer sizing are different. Request your free quote here.

We install low-voltage LED landscape lighting exclusively. Fixture types include:

• Uplights (spot and flood configurations)
• Path and area lights
• Well lights (in-ground)
• Step and riser lights
• Flood and wash lights
• Specialty palm fixtures (narrow-beam)
• Tree-mounted downlights (moonlighting)
• Underwater and pond lights

All fixtures are rated for South Florida's humidity, heat, and coastal salt air environment.