How Landscape Lighting Can Make Life in Alpharetta, GA, More Enjoyable

 Tips on How to Use LED Landscape Lighting to Elevate the Outdoor Living Experience in Alpharetta

Alpharetta, United States - February 7, 2022 /Southern Landscape Lighting Systems - Alpharetta/

Low-voltageoutdoor landscape lighting does so much more than just showcase the beauty of a house when the sun settles below the horizon. Landscape lighting improves life around the home.

 

The Better Life in Georgia

Census Bureau statistics indicate that almost 285,000 people moved to Georgia in 2019.  Some of these new residents are retirees, while others may be searching for better employment opportunities. Whatever the circumstances, the desire for a better life is foundational to this demographic shift, and Georgia is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. The new Peach State residents came from all over the United States. Here are the top five states that contributed to this influx of new Georgia residents: Florida (46,235), Texas (22,452), South Carolina (18,828), Tennessee (17,210), and North Carolina (15,580). California and New York contributed a combined total of just over 30,000 to the influx.

Retirees are very thoughtful when selecting the perfect place to spend their golden years, and Georgia has recently overtaken Florida as the most desirable state in which to retire. Georgia’s low cost of living, temperate climate, reasonable home prices, and friendly people are very attractive to retirees all across America.

Alpharetta: The Best of the Best Places to Live in Georgia

Alpharetta finishes in the top spot as the absolute best place to live in Georgia, according to market analysts atSimpleShowing, a national, technology-powered real estate brokerage. The SimpleShowing article reads, “About 25 miles north of Atlanta, you’ll find Alpharetta. Though it’s considered a suburb of Atlanta, the city’s population is still a little over 60,000. One of the big highlights of this area is the Avalon which opened in 2014. This multi-use development has become the center for shopping, dining, and events for those in this city and surrounding areas. On a typical weekend, you can find morning yoga on the lawn, outdoor movies at night and patio seating from the bars and restaurants. Plus, the downtown Alpharetta area has been revitalized recently and features a fantastic selection of restaurants, coffee shops and hotels. Like many of the northern Atlanta’s suburbs, Alpharetta is very affluent with a median income of $92,839 and the value of a median house sitting at $378,000. Combine that with a low crime rate, and Alpharetta is a great place to raise a family.”

Highlighting the Better Life

The capabilities of LED low-voltage landscape lighting far exceed the aesthetic spectrum. Many homeowners overlook or underestimate the value oflandscape lighting for task lighting to facilitate work-related activities. The exterior lighting system can be configured to enable the homeowner to enjoy outdoor hobbies such as painting, making pottery, gardening, cooking, and meditating.

An experienced, versatile lighting designer is able to create lighting options that allow residents young and old to engage in physical activity safely and confidently. High-impact, fast-paced activities such as soccer, volleyball, dodgeball, and the timeless game of chase can be safely enjoyed thanks to the LED lighting. More sedate and relaxing activities such as Frisbee golf, practicing with the pitching wedge, croquet, and recreation on the backyard playground can be enjoyed to the fullest with the application of the appropriate lighting techniques and fixtures.

Technology empowers the homeowner to select pre-programmed lighting configurations specifically designed to accommodate the various activities that will take place in the backyard. When the work, art, entertainment, play, and exercise are finally completed, the system can be reset to the default mode using a cell phone or other device.

Functionality can be achieved without compromising aesthetics, ambiance, or curb appeal. A homeowner can schedule an onsite consultation with Southern Landscape Lighting Systems of Alpharetta, GA, to assess the condition and usefulness of the existing landscape lighting system. The previous homeowner may have emphasized aesthetics and curb appeal and paid no attention to the backyard. The backyard may not have any landscape lighting at all. The landscape lighting specialists at Southern Landscape Lighting Systems can harness the potential of the backyard to bring a full range of enjoyment opportunities for the entire family, from grandparents to grandchildren.

For more information about low-voltageoutdoor LED lighting design, installation, and maintenance, email the team at Southern Landscape Lighting Systems of Alpharetta at lindsey@southernlls.com. The office can also be contacted by phone at (770) 691-1221.

Acworth Lighting Company Explains the Four Pillars of Great Landscape Lighting

 What Are the Four Pillars of an Excellent LED Landscape Lighting System?

Acworth, United States - December 8, 2021 /Southern Landscape Lighting Systems - Acworth/

A premium landscape lighting system rests upon four essential pillars: design, hardware, installation, and maintenance. If any of these pillars is compromised, the system collapses. The impact upon the performance and longevity of the system will be catastrophic. In the end, the home or business will not be beautiful, and the customer will be dissatisfied. If the landscape lighting design fails to create the desired ambiance and enhance the aesthetic of the landscape, the investment in the landscape is undermined, at least during the evening hours when illuminated by the landscape lighting. The homeowner who invests in premium fixtures may be surprised by the affordability of the step up. The performance, durability, and longevity of the fixtures will exceed expectations by years. The amazing LED landscape lighting system brings the stunning landscape and the breathtaking residence to light. Guests and neighbors are awestruck, and the property owner is delighted.

The Importance of Annual Maintenance

An excellent design, best quality fixtures, and a well-engineered installation make for a beautiful landscape lighting system that leaves the customer satisfied the moment the lights come up that first evening.

The fourth pillar of an LED low-voltage landscape lighting system is the ongoing maintenance that keeps the system in top operating condition all year long. Landscape lighting is subjected to the elements, as well as continuous use. As a result, no landscape lighting system is maintenance-free.

A reputable landscape lighting company will offer a maintenance program with a well-defined scope of work. The scope of work may include the following items:

1. Thoroughly inspecting the entire system from the panel box to the fixture

A spring inspection prepares the system for warmer weather when the usage of the outdoor living space is high. Schedule the appointment in late winter to ensure the team is available for the spring inspection.

2. Cleaning lenses

Dust, dirt, and mulch can build up on the fixture lens to the point that the reduction in light output disturbs the aesthetic of the design. Fixtures located in very dusty or muddy areas of the yard may require more attention.

3. Greasing connections

Water is the enemy of an outdoor landscape lighting system. The annual inspection will identify connections that need attention, and grease them as needed.

4. Making repairs

Some common repairs that technicians make during the inspection include:

• Replacing cracked lens and damaged fixtures
• Repairing damaged or compromised wiring
• Re-burying exposed wiring

5. Pruning overgrowth

An LED landscape lighting system exists in an environment that is constantly changing. Trees, shrubs, bushes, vines, and groundcovers must be pruned, or fixtures must be adjusted to accommodate this growth. Fixtures that illuminate fast-growing trees need attention on an annual basis.

6. Re-aiming and adjusting fixtures

Lighting fixtures take a beating from the elements, falling limbs, the lawn maintenance provider, children, pets, and wild animals that find their way into the yard. As a result, fixtures need to be re-aimed.

7. Upgrading equipment and technology

As technology advances, the homeowner may decide to upgrade the landscape lighting system. Many homeowners are making the ultimate upgrade by replacing a traditional halogen system with a modern, energy-efficient, safer, and more versatile LED low-voltage lighting system. An LED system requires much less maintenance since the bulbs last many times longer than halogen bulbs. The LED bulbs are much more durable and shock-resistant.

8. Other items that deserve attention include:

• Checking the transformer to make sure the wattage being emitted is correct
• Adjusting the timer settings
• Tightening screws and bolts that hold fixtures in place
• Adding new fixtures or entire zones to accommodate additions to the landscape or hardscape

Ongoing maintenance is a crucial pillar in the creation of a beautiful landscape lighting system. Southern Landscape Lighting Systems of Acworth, GA, offers a comprehensive maintenance plan that will keep the property owner’s outdoor landscape lighting system bright and beautiful all year long. The lighting technicians gladly service and maintain systems, even systems that they did not install.

To schedule an LED landscape lighting consultation, service call, or inspection, contact the Acworth office of Southern Landscape Lighting Systems by calling (678) 324-6842. The team can also be reached by email at lindsey@southernlls.com.

Creative Ways to Make an Existing Landscape Lighting System Shine

 Southern Landscape Lighting Systems of Acworth designs, installs, and services residential and commercial outdoor LED lighting systems in the metro Atlanta area. The design and installation team understands the importance of occasional fine-tuning and proper maintenance to keep a lighting system functional and beautiful.

A Landscape Lighting Scenario

When the landscape lighting system was first installed, the results stunned the homeowner, neighbors, and visitors. The final product was fabulous, a work of art. Over time, however, the homeowner became bored with their landscape lighting, even though guests and neighbors would rave with every visit. The homeowner was no longer energized or inspired by the landscape lighting. Was the system failing? Was the design uninspiring when the newness lost its shine? What happened to the mystique and the breathtaking brilliance?

What to Do When a Landscape Lighting System Has Lost Its Luster

If homeowners feel that their landscape lighting has lost its drama, interest, and ambiance, they can diagnose the fundamental problem by considering the questions listed below.

Question: Has the lighting plan lost its pop because it is outdated in style and technology?

A landscape plan is not a one-and-done project. The lighting fixtures should be up-to-date. The programming technology can easily be upgraded, allowing the designer and the homeowners to adapt and adjust to new ideas, new schedules, and changes in the landscape. Subtle, incremental changes in the lighting design style and application inject freshness and flair. Landscape lighting that lifts the eyes upward and brightens the landscape on a dark winter evening can stimulate the soul and positively elevate mood.

Question: Are undetected or unresolved electrical issues stunting the brilliance of the lighting system?

Halogen bulbs can go dark without warning. On the other hand, LEDs fade in brightness as they age. Engineering refinements have vastly improved bulb performance and affordability since the emergence of the technology over the last decade. LED bulbs are not indestructible, but they are amazingly tough.

Damaged fixtures can affect performance. Heat is the enemy of the LED bulb. High-quality fixtures, such as those used by Southern Landscape Lighting Systems of Acworth, GA, have heat-dissipating features engineered into the hardware. If damage compromises the heat dissipating properties of the fixture, the longevity and illuminating power of the bulb will be reduced. Inadequate maintenance can interfere with system operation and diminish the beauty of a lighting system.

Question: Do the lighting hardware and layout need maintenance?

General maintenance is vitally important for a landscape lighting system. Vegetation should be pruned and shaped annually. Precocious plants need more attention from the landscape crew. Landscape maintenance crews can wreak havoc on a lighting system. The lighting position of various lamps may need evaluation several times a year to keep the system functional and beautiful.

If the evening landscape seems dull, opaque, or muted, the solution may be as simple as cleaning the lenses on the fixtures. Be sure and clean all the lenses to keep the lighting balanced and proportioned as intended by the lighting designer. A reputable landscape lighting company will offer a regular maintenance plan that covers most, if not all, of the maintenance services mentioned in this article.

Question: Does the landscaping need attention?

An illuminated landscape may appear dull for reasons other than a deficiency in the lighting design or hardware. Edged planting beds accentuate definition. Clean, well-shaped shrubbery and bushes communicate order and draw a contrast with the sharp, straight lines of the home. Winter color from mums, evergreens, and other cold-weather vegetation add a living dimension during the dormant winter months. Refresh mulch beds with a dark mulch that will keep its dark brown texture until spring arrives. The deep brown will contrast nicely with the grays and greens associated with winter.

Question: Do individual hardscape features need some TLC?

If “drab” best describes the landscape even when the landscape lighting system is functioning at its full glory, then consider these suggestions that can create eye-popping results. Pressure wash the sidewalk, driveway, and walkways. Include curbing in the pressure washing job if the curbing is stained with black tire marks. Rock walls and landscape boulders become almost luminescent when grime, algae, moss, and weathering discolorations are removed. A reputable pressure washing company will know how to handle delicate hardscapes such as fountains, fences, ponds, benches, and statuary.

Question: Does the home, the centerpiece of the landscape lighting plan, need to be spruced up?

Harness the power of paint. A fresh coat of paint on railings, columns, shutters, porch furniture, gutters, the mailbox, and garage doors can make the drab dazzle! Polish the brass. If there is none, consider adding some if it fits the décor. Doorknobs, locks, a door knocker, street numbers, and wall sconces will shine in the bright beams of LED low-voltage landscape lighting.

Showcase the front porch with seasonal accents and amenities. The front door should evoke notions of a grand entrance to a warm welcome. A brilliant lighting designer can illuminate the walkway and front door so that the trek is not only safe but also breathtaking. Upgrade the front porch lighting. Change out the existing front porch light for a stylish, elegant chandelier.

A subtle, tasteful adjustment or a slightly nuanced design shift may have the neighbors asking, “What have you done to your home. It looks fabulous!” The alteration may have been something as simple as manipulating the warmth of the entrance lights so that the initial impact is more inviting and calming.

For more information about landscape lighting installation and service, contact the office by phone at (678) 324-6842 or by email at lindsey@southernlls.com.

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Acworth, GA, Landscape Lighting Company Shares Tips for Lighting the Lake House

 Southern Landscape Lighting Systems of Acworth, GA, installs and services residential and commercial outdoor lighting systems in the metro Atlanta area. Customers receive the highest quality professional design, lighting products, installation, and continuing service support. The lighting team specializes in providing amazing lighting designs and installations for many of the lake homes in the Atlanta area. As a leading provider of lake property outdoor LED low-voltage lighting, Southern Landscape Lighting Systems of Acworth offers these tips on buying and illuminating the perfect lake property.

Over the last year or so, remote work has created new opportunities for people who live and work in the metro Atlanta area. Some homeowners who own weekend lake homes are selling their primary residence in order to make their lake home their new primary residence. Other homeowners are intent on selling their existing home and opting for the relaxing, idyllic life on the lake. Lakefront property can be both relaxing and invigorating. Listed below are some factors to consider when buying a lakefront dream home.

Waterfront properties have more value than other homes and tend to enjoy significant appreciation while holding their value in a down market. On the other hand, be ready for the sticker shock of lakefront property, especially in the Atlanta area. Moving into 2021, housing prices, in general, have skyrocketed in response to massive shifts in demographics due to the pandemic and the new opportunities stemming from the widespread acceptance and implementation of remote work setups.

To avoid expensive or disappointing surprises, carefully consider the current condition of the lake home. Excessive moisture and lake-associated weather patterns can cause water and mold damage. The ebb and flow of lake levels can also have a destructive impact on shoreline landscape features.

A submersible LED lighting system may forfeit some longevity as it is submitted to much higher ambient temperatures when low lake levels expose lighting fixtures. Other landscape features may suffer damage from the unique circumstances associated with lakefront property.

LED lighting requires less intensive maintenance than traditional halogen lighting. For the traditional halogen lighting system, the constant moisture from the lake adds to the chore of annual maintenance. The homeowner must clean lenses, grease sockets, and repair any damage to wiring. LED lights require less voltage, operate at much lower temperatures, and withstand weather, moisture, and wear. Halogen bulbs are not so shock-resistant.

The orientation of the home to the sun and how it sets impacts heating and cooling, morning and evening ambiance, and lake wind effect on outdoor activities. Do either the front or back decks have any shielding from the sun? Orientation may impact lighting considerations. Excessive foliage or surrounding hills and mountains may increase lighting usage levels. LED operates on eighty percent less energy than halogen bulbs. An extra hour or two of operational time under an LED system will be economically negligible.

A new lighting design and installation project should consider not only the functional aspects of the home’s orientation but also any guidelines covered in the HOA agreement. Lake lots tend to be smaller, which means residences are closer to each other than in many standard neighborhoods. Tighter lighting restrictions may apply to prevent or reduce light pollution or light encroachment on nearby neighbors. Guidelines for dock and deck lighting also come into play when upgrading an existing system or installing a new lighting system. Both municipal code compliance and adherence to HOA lighting guidelines must be met. A reputable, experienced lighting company will operate within regulatory boundaries.

Failing to comply with building codes when remodeling a lake home, including the landscape lighting system, may not be problematic in the short term. However, the discovery of code infractions when the lake home is for sale can be catastrophic. A thorough home inspection prior to purchase is strongly advised to prevent any surprises.

Following the simple tips listed below can make the lake home lighting endeavor a rewarding experience.

• Hire a qualified, reputable home inspection professional with specific expertise in lakefront and riverfront properties.
• Schedule an inspection with a landscape lighting professional with experience in dealing with systems that are exposed to high moisture levels. Dock lighting involves submersible fixtures and components that must be impervious to water intrusion. Not all lighting specialists are competent with this type of lighting.
• Consider replacing an existing traditional halogen lighting system with LED lighting technology which is safer and more durable than older halogen systems. LED lighting features lower fixture temperatures and lower voltage requirements.
• Consider light pollution restrictions. Some HOA’s will have well-defined landscape lighting restrictions. A competent lighting design and installation company will ensure that the system is code compliant for the municipality and the HOA.

Southern Landscape Lighting Systems of Acworth, GA, is a leader in lake home lighting and dock lighting. Homeowners can trust the landscape lighting professionals to illuminate a pool, spa, deck, a general recreation area, a fire pit, an outdoor kitchen, an outdoor office or workstation, as well as walkways, steps, benches, water features, gardens, and driveway entrances.

For more information about LED landscape lighting installation and service, contact the office by phone at (678) 324-6842 or email lindsey@southernlls.com.

Tips for Lighting the Lake House