Photo courtesy of Michael Murray, Murray Landscaping LLC
Designing and Installing Lighting In New Construction and Landscapes
Any lighting project can be a challenge, but when working on new construction and landscape projects it can be particularly difficult. When working with an existing home and landscape you know what you have to deal with. You know exactly what is there and where it is. You know the size, features and color of the home. You know the type and size of plants and trees and can figure the rate of growth to expect over time. Unless you are the builder, landscaper, irrigation and lighting contractor, you can certainly expect changes from the original design of all these aspects of the project as presented on the first plan. Even if we are doing all aspects of the landscaping, we all know we make changes as the project progresses. The homeowner changes particular features of the house and maybe even the color. He may add things on the property such as a putting green, or a patio with a retaining wall. His wife may decide she doesn't like particular plants or trees you picked. Or maybe the things you included for the landscape aren't available when it comes time to do the job. Changes are inevitable so you are going you be able to go with these changes. This is a particular challenge if you are only doing the lighting as you are the last one to really be able to get started doing your thing. This brings up another problem which is scheduling your part of the project. New construction never seems to be completed on time, although sometimes, rarely, it is completed ahead of schedule. This means you are at the beckon call of others. High end homeowners don't like excuses.
A case in point to illustrate these challenges involves a contractor I'm working with on a very large lighting project. The contractor is only doing the lighting phase and the landscape and irrigation are being done by separate contractors. Scheduling has been a nightmare. First the project is five months behind schedule as far as the landscape being done. The irrigation contractor had to wait until the planting was complete to do his thing. We had to wait until he pulled all his pipes to get started. This job was first designed over a year ago using a site visit from me and the CAD department at NightscapingŪ. Working together a comprehensive plan for the lighting was developed and approved by the homeowner. The electrician placed outlets everywhere needed according to our plan. All the voltage drops were calculated and the type and quality of fixtures were decided on.
The time came for us to do our thing and guess what? Almost every plant, tree and their locations was changed. The original plan was basically worthless. We now had to redesign and do all new wire calculations on the entire project. We had to try to use the fixtures as best we could as were originally proposed. This would really not be that great of a problem except the project originally had over two hundred fixtures on it. At this time there are three hundred twenty five fixtures and eighteen transformers and there will likely be more. Outlets had to be moved and more added because of need and the changes to the landscape to be able to hide transformers.
I spoke about scheduling. First, this project is in the Northeast and didn't start until the middle of November. The contractor is not a large contractor and has limited manpower. A big part of his business this time of year is doing irrigation blowouts and leaf cleanup which couldn't be ignored. On top of all that he was given notice by the general contractor that all the wires had to be in the ground in two days because the sod was about to be installed. Now you would always do this anyway except there was10,000 feet of wire to be laid before 45000 sq. ft. of sod and 300 yds of mulch which the landscape company was going to install all in one day and did. Somehow we got it done but what a challenge. Normally a project of this scope isn't that difficult because you would install each zone as it's own individual project. However, due to accommodating the schedule of others it became not only difficult but very stressful. Expect different types of challenges on every new construction and landscape project. Usually a lot more than you would on existing homes. True, this is a bit of an extreme case but only by size. It can and will happen on any size property for new construction and landscape projects. In summary, a few things to consider when designing and installing lighting in a new landscape.
- Always design and install with growth in mind. The amount of light you need to light a 1" Caliper Pear tree today will not be the same in two years, so plan ahead with your wire and voltage to be able to add on.
- Leave some extra wire to be able to move fixtures farther away as plants and trees grow.
- Oversize the transformer to meet the need of additional wattage or to add fixtures in the future. It is very rare on these new installations that the homeowners will not want to add more right away if you did a good quality job.
- Plan for this as the cost of running some extra wire today will save even more in labor tomorrow. This is especially important if you are installing inside a garage or basement.
- Finally, explain to the homeowner when presenting your estimate that it is exactly that, an estimate and the price may change but only with their approval and that your price includes the ability to handle growth of the system in the future.
New construction can be a challenge but if you take a deep breath and think in advance it can be rewarding as well.
Bob Schmid
NightscapingŪ Mid Atlantic States
215 Glenview Court
Marlton, NJ 08053
Phone# 609-760-3181
Fax# 856-810-8407
Contractor of the Week Michael Murray
Michael Murray of Delran, NJ is a business owner of 6 years. Murray Lightscaping LLC specializes exclusively in the design, installation and maintenance of low voltage lighting systems. Michael has a passion for architectural, landscape and task lighting, as well as various water effects. He also designs, installs and services interior low voltage lighting systems such as under-counter kitchen lighting, entertainment center lighting and art lighting.
Michael's first introduction into the lighting industry began when a neighbor asked him to help him design and install a lighting system for his pool and patio area, which quickly evolved to lighting his entire property. A few months later he was introduced to NightscapingŪ. He quickly familiarized himself with the organization, their product lines and support systems. Michael states that NightscapingŪ, "gave me the confidence I needed to grow the business". He attended NightscapingŪ University which became a turning point for the growth of his business.
Michael's business model utilizes strategic alliances with builders, architects, landscapers, building management companies, hardscaping and pool organizations. He primarily serves the South Jersey area, but has commercial customers throughout the State of New Jersey. His reputation reflects a professional and customer focused approach to business...answers and returns phone calls promptly, dependable follow-up with customers and their lighting systems, and quickly resolves any customer issues. His business objectives include honoring God in all he does, developing his people, pursuing excellence that sets him apart from the rest and growing profitability.
Michael is involved in the local community and committed to taking a portion of his business to support local and worldwide charitable organizations. He was honored to have been given the privilege of designing and installing a lighting system for a 911 Memorial in Livingston, NJ, commemorating residents of Livingston who lost their lives in the September 11th 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. One of the focal points that he illuminated was a piece of steel from the World Trade Center placed in the center of the memorial.
If you were to ask him what aspect of this business he enjoys the most, he would comment, "I love to see the expression on my customer's faces the first time they see their new lighting system and their comments on how beautiful their home and landscaping now looks." Michael clearly states that "This has been one of the most rewarding business experiences of my life".
Friends working with Friends
Michael Murray
Michael Murray
Murray Lightscaping LLC
267 Black Baron Drive
Delran, NJ 08075
p 856.220.8416
f 877.657.6648
mtm267@comcast.net
267 Black Baron Drive
Delran, NJ 08075
p 856.220.8416
f 877.657.6648
mtm267@comcast.net
Seasonal Lighting Accents
There is a house in my neighborhood whose Christmas display has a lighting effect which is extremely unique. Their entire front yard and house is well decorated as many others are, but in addition they have a Christmas ferris-wheel that stands about 6'. At the base of the ferris-wheel they've placed a light which creates a gigantic shadow of the ferris-wheel the size of their two-story Victorian home. As the Christmas teddy-bears ride around on the ferris-wheel, so does their shadow on the home.
The effect wouldn't have been enough on its own, but intermixed with the beautiful lights and candy-canes, it makes for a spectacular display. And how simple of an idea to make the lighting design unique.
Rebekah Paullus
What Is UL1838?
Before the UL1838 standard for low voltage lighting was introduced, UL1571 and UL506 were the accepted safety standards in our industry. However, these standards, UL1571 and UL506, were found to be inadequate in the face of emerging low voltage lighting technologies and techniques.
Rather than revise two separate documents, UL1838 was developed to address the particular concerns regarding low voltage landscape lighting. At which time requirements regarding low voltage garden lighting were deleted from UL Standards 1571 and 506.When viewed collectively, this information concludes that equipment rated UL1571 and UL506 does not comply with the UL standard for low voltage landscape lighting systems. Versions of UL1571 revised after 1994 specify that the requirements within this standard (UL1571) do not cover low voltage garden lighting. Furthermore, it is not permissible for a UL506 transformer to supply luminaires constructed to UL1838 requirements.
UL1838 is the only UL standard that covers low voltage landscape lighting. Do not jeopardize our industry and your lighting designs with sub-par equipment that does not meet UL1838 standards for low voltage landscape lighting.
All NightscapingŪ products and components are certified as safe operating by multiple nonprofit regulatory agencies. These certifications are all with regard to the absolute latest standard for safety in this industry, UL 1838.
With NightscapingŪ you are guaranteed to receive industry approved equipment and a safe operating lighting system that you will enjoy for years to come.
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