Lighting, screens and privacy
Lights are easiest to place while the frame is open. We plan the cable runs in the drawing, set the fixtures where they light the steps and the table and not the neighbor's window, and check the whole thing at dusk after the crew goes.
Line-voltage wiring and anything on the house's panel are done by a licensed electrician and listed separately.
What is included
A lighting plan on the drawings
Low-voltage fixtures in posts, rails or treads
Transformer and timer, with a switch where you want it
Slatted screens and wind breaks in wood or metal
The price
What changes the cost
We print no average, because yards differ. These are the things that move the number.
Number and kind of fixtures
Step lights, post caps and under-rail strips are priced one by one.
Power
A new outlet or circuit needs an electrician; low-voltage runs from an existing one.
Screen height and length
A tall or long screen carries wind load and needs heavier posts.
Material
Cedar slats and metal frames are priced differently.
Timing
Lights are cheapest to run while the frame is open.
The work
The work, in order
- 01
Step 1: Plan on the drawing
We mark each light and screen on the plan.
- 02
Step 2: Run the cable
Cable goes in while the frame is open, before the boards close it.
- 03
Step 3: Fix the fixtures
Fixtures go in and are tested.
- 04
Step 4: The dusk check
We return after dark, aim and dim each light, and walk the yard from the street and the neighbor's side.
- 05
Step 5: Care sheet
We leave you the timer settings and a note on bulbs and cleaning.
Permits and rules
Low-voltage lighting usually needs no permit by itself, but anything wired to the house does. Screens and wind breaks over a certain height can need a permit and may be limited by your HOA or city.
We check both before we draw.
Questions about this work
Can I add lights to an old deck?
Often yes, with surface-mounted fixtures; it costs less when done during a rebuild.
Will the lights bother my neighbors?
That is what the dusk check is for. Fixtures are aimed down and shielded.
Can the lights be on a timer or my phone?
A timer is standard. Phone control depends on the transformer.
Can you build a privacy screen?
Yes, to your drawing, within the height your city allows.
Plan the lights
Tell us about the yard and the hour you would use it. We write back about a visit.