25 Dec Merry Christmas ! How to Work With a Landscape Lighting Design/Build Pro
By Mike Gambino
Dramatic nighttime gardens don’t create themselves. Here’s how to work with a landscape lighting Design and Build professional for a smooth process and pleasing results.
Even if you can decorate a living area or plant a garden with the best of them, landscape lighting design has a unique set of challenges that may leave you stumped. Not only does it require a totally different skill set from interior design, but it also changes and evolves over time — flowers wither, trees mature, shrubs grow and spread. And that’s where a landscape lighting pro can prove to be invaluable, knowing how to place fixtures so the ever changing garden looks great year around. Follow these tips for finding, hiring and working with landscape lighters to make your property the envy of the neighborhood when the sun goes down.
Determine which type of landscape lighting pro suits your needs. Before you get started, you’ll need to determine the skill set that best matches the scope of work you have in mind.
Landscape architects, who typically hold advanced degrees in their field, are trained to develop comprehensive structural and aesthetic plans that include hardscaping, water use, and drainage as well as plant selection and garden design. Plans may also include landscape lighting as part of the overall exterior design. the actual installation gets performed by someone else.
Landscape designers may or may not have advanced training. They often specialize in the aesthetic and horticultural side of yard and garden planning, but many do landscape lighting design as well and the actual installation is performed by someone else.
Landscape contractors implement the plans laid out by a landscape architect or designer. In some cases, a landscape contractor also provides design services.
Landscape Lighting Design Build Specialists Are specialists whose sole business is dedicated to designing and installing landscape lighting systems. Most will also offer ongoing comprehensive maintenance packages making this choice truly a one stop shopping experience.
Depending on your vision of the garden, you may want to use any or all of these types of professionals.
Set a budget. Just as with interior design and remodeling projects, have a firm idea of what you want to spend before you contact a pro. Not only will this give the landscaper a starting point and a helpful set of parameters, it will save both of you frustration down the road. You don’t want to fall in love with ideas of elaborately illuminated gardens and stately trees, only to find out they’re beyond reach, and a pro doesn’t want to waste time drawing up detailed plans that will later have to be scratched.
With a target cost in hand, a pro can also suggest creative solutions that may never have come into play otherwise, helping you stretch your budget to get the most value out of each dollar.
Scout out potential sources. Do you have friends neighbors whose garden lighting pops with lavish color or appeals to your visual and visceral senses? Ask whether they use professional help, and if so, put those pros on your short list. Internet searches for providers in your local area are also an obvious source. Viewing their portfolio of projects on their websites and social media pages such as Facebook can be especially helpful to see if their style is in line with what you want before contacting them.
Check licensing and references. Check for certification requirements in your area. This is especially true when it comes to elements with safety ramifications, such as electricity requiring landscape lighting. If certification is required for your job and your area, confirm licensure for every pro you consider. When you’ve narrowed it down, get references from each and be diligent about checking them. If past clients are pleased, odds are you will be too.
Provide helpful documents. Although your landscape pro will conduct an initial site visit and walk-through at the outset of the job, You may also be asked to fill out a questionnaire or other information sheet to help the pro understand your needs and requests as thoroughly as possible.
Know the look you want. It helps to have at least a basic idea of your preferred style and maintenance level. Do you prefer dramatic attention getting light or a more downplayed subdued look? Do you want fixtures and lamps that will initially cost more upfront and will hold up to the rigors of the outdoor environment with the minimal amount of maintenance, or are you willing to settle for less expensive equipment that need a lot of care and attention and will need more frequent replacement? Will you need paths, pavers or other hardscaping illuminate? Patio, pool area, do you want to bring attention to the architectural features of your home? A little direction will help your pro fine-tune your options.
At the same time, allow room for creativity — your landscape lighter’s imagination and expertise are the reason you hired him or her.
Be open to feedback and suggestion. And don’t automatically nix plants you think you dislike; you may find that they gain a whole new appeal as part of the right overall scheme.
Establish a maintenance plan. Once the landscape lighting crew has packed up their spades and shovels, you’re responsible for keeping your lighting in tiptop shape. If you’ll be handling the upkeep of your lighting once it’s installed, your landscape lighting pro should provide an outline of what tasks to prepare for, as well as when and how often to do them. If you’d rather hire to do the maintenance work, ask the original installer if they offer ongoing maintenance services. Some companies provide design, installation and maintenance services, check whether this is the case. The original designer/installer is always the best choice for maintenance. If maintenance and system care is not offered then ask why?
This landscape lighting blog is published by Mike Gambino of Gambino landscape lighting inc. all rights reserved. Mike is a professional landscape lighting system designer/ builder and has been designing, installing and maintaining landscape lighting systems for more than 20 years. Mike resides in the Los Angeles area with his wife and 2 sons. To visit his website go to www.Gambinolighting.com . To inquire about hiring Mike please click here .
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