Outdoor and motion lights

Choosing an outdoor fixture

Outdoor fixtures must be rated for wet locations if exposed to rain, or damp locations under a covered porch. Motion sensors light a path when someone approaches and save energy. Dusk-to-dawn photocells turn lights on at night automatically. Shielded fixtures point light down, which is kinder to neighbors and the night sky.

Sealing against weather

Outdoor boxes on stucco often have gaps where water gets behind the fixture. We seal the fixture base along the top and sides with exterior sealant, leaving a gap at the bottom so any water that gets in can drain. Old fixtures may have rusted screws or a rotted gasket, which we replace.

Motion sensor tuning

Motion sensors have range, time and sensitivity settings. We aim the sensor away from streets and trees that move in wind, and set the timer so the light stays on long enough to unlock the door.

Solar lights

Where there is no outdoor box, solar lights avoid wiring altogether. We mount them where they get sun.

Scope

Our electrical fixture repairs overview lists the electrical work we take on.

Lighting paths and entries

Good outdoor lighting makes entries safer and helps you find keys. Light the door, the steps and the path without glare in eyes. Low-glare fixtures with frosted shades or shielded LEDs are easier on visitors and neighbors. Warm color temperatures look softer outdoors.

Garage and side-yard lights

Side yards and driveways are good places for motion floodlights. They light up when someone walks by and stay off otherwise. Garages often have older jelly-jar fixtures that can be replaced with sealed LED fixtures on the same box.

Smart outdoor lighting

Smart bulbs, smart switches and app-controlled floodlights allow schedules and remote control. Many smart switches need a neutral wire in the switch box; we check first. Camera floodlights combine lighting with video and need decent Wi-Fi at the location.

Stucco repairs around fixtures

Old fixtures sometimes leave stucco holes or cracks. We patch small areas and paint to match as closely as possible before mounting the new fixture.

What to send

Photos of the existing fixture and the wall around it, and the model of the new fixture.

More questions

Can motion lights be set to stay on at night at a low level? Some fixtures offer a dim mode that brightens on motion.

Do LEDs attract bugs? Warmer color LEDs tend to attract fewer insects than cool white.

House numbers and porch lights

Visible house numbers help guests and emergency responders find you at night. Some porch fixtures include number plates, and lighted address signs can mount near an existing porch light. We mount numbers where they can be seen from the street and light them with the porch light. Many valley homes have numbers on the curb that fade; a lit wall number is a good complement.

Why outdoor fixtures fail

Sun, rain and sprinkler spray degrade plastic lenses, corrode screws and crack gaskets. Water entering a fixture can trip a GFCI or short the socket. Bulbs left on all night burn out quickly. Replacing failing fixtures with sealed LED units reduces maintenance.

Patios and pergolas

Covered patios with an existing fixture box can take a damp-rated ceiling fixture or fan. String lights plug into an outdoor GFCI outlet with an in-use cover and hang from hooks set into posts or fascia. We secure guide wires for long spans so the lights do not sag.

Garage interiors

Garage workbenches benefit from bright LED fixtures on existing boxes. Shop lights can plug into existing outlets and hang from chains.

Security and comfort

Well-placed lighting lets you see who is at the door and walk safely to the car. Motion lights in dark side yards discourage people from lingering. Constant bright floodlights, though, can bother neighbors and create harsh shadows; a softer always-on porch light combined with motion floodlights for driveways and side yards balances both. Timers and photocells keep lights from burning all day.

What to send

Photos of each outdoor fixture you want replaced, where it is on the house, and the models you have chosen.

Aiming motion sensors

Sensors pick up movement across their field better than movement straight toward them. We tilt the head so the walkway crosses the detection zone, and keep it off the street so passing cars do not trigger the light all night.

Bulb color outside

Warm white near 2700K to 3000K looks friendly on stucco and is easier on neighbors. Cooler daylight bulbs can feel harsh on a porch. We bring the fixture you choose and let you look at it after dark before we leave.

Gaskets and caulk

Outdoor fixtures get a bead of caulk across the top and sides, with the bottom left open so condensation can drain out.