Florida weather allows homeowners to invest in outdoor areas of their house and reap the benefits for a vast majority of the year. Without extended seasons of freezing weather, hanging out on a patio or deck can be an enjoyable activity nearly all year round. Nights in Florida generally stay more comfortable than in other parts of the country. Florida residents can also use this time by installing deck lighting that brightens up even the darkest nights. Before the rainy season makes installing outdoor electricity systems even harder, take the plunge and design a new lighting system for your outdoor area today.
Deck Lighting Considerations
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission details which parts of the home must have GFCI outlets, and outdoor areas like decks and pools make the list. GFCI outlets protect users and electronics from damage and danger in the event that water interacts with an outlet or electrical device. Chances are that your deck already has GFCI outlets if it was built recently, but you should make sure only to purchase GFCI outlets if you are planning and preparing for your new deck renovations.
Outdoor deck lighting may also attract more bugs than usual, and you should include this in your consideration of where to install lighting. You can mitigate bugs by purchasing bug zappers or repellants or by screening in your deck and patio.
Outdoor Lighting Options
You have an abundance of choices for your outdoor deck lighting. Some are functional and allow you to have an easier time navigating your deck at night, while others can really bring a deck’s beauty to life.
Recessed Lighting: Recessed lighting is a highly functional and beautiful option for your deck. When lighting is recessed into a ceiling, the light it produces is focused more on the area directly below it. Because of this, you can provide ample lighting to your outdoor deck space without drowning out the beautiful night views with excessive lighting radiating in all directions. The ‘recessed’ quality of recessed lighting is helpful for decks that do not have a lot of headroom and can also be a stylistic choice that makes the light seem to appear and radiate from the ceiling itself.
Stair and Rail Lighting: Decks, especially if raised significantly off the ground and accessed by stairs, shouldn’t be a place for hangout at night if there is not ample lighting on stairs and guardrails. Traditional lighting on top of rails or next to each step is a simple solution but not the most elegant. Nowadays, you can install lights directly into the faces of stairs or on the underside of railings and benefit from the lighting it provides without seeing potentially unsightly bulbs or fixtures.
Accent Lights: Lighting doesn’t have to have a functional purpose; you can install lighting simply to boost the surrounding ambiance. If your deck overlooks a pool or garden bed, you can add lighting that highlights these areas from afar, even at night. A night out on your deck is better when you can enjoy everything around you, not simply the three feet of distance until your deck ends and gets consumed by darkness.
Ultimately, the best way to figure out which lighting will work for your deck is to get one-on-one with one of our design experts. Call Promise Electric today to get our expert opinion and begin working on lighting additions to your outdoor space.
