Surrey Homes | SH55 | May 2019 | Extensions & Outdoor Living supplement inside

The time of year for exterior
lighting is here!
Exterior Lighting Think LED
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Traditionally, most outdoor fl oodlights have used halogen
bulbs, which use 20-30% less energy than older
incandescent bulbs, but which come nowhere near
LED bulbs for their energy-saving potential. Where a
halogen bulb might last around 2,000 hours, LED fl oodlights
can last 30,000 hours or more. This means that you won’t have
to go through the hassle of replacing your fl oodlight (or its bulb)
nearly as often. A recent project paid back on its investment
within two and a half years just from the energy saved. The
products then have another six years of expected service which
means even more energy saving compared to the previous
more conventional lighting method. LED really is a no brainer!
Below is some initial information to assist you to make an
informed decision in your search for exterior lighting:
Location is everything
Windows, doors, drainpipes and gutters may all be obstacles
to fi nding the right placement, so it’s important to think about
this early. When you have decided on the right spot, try and
get an idea of the size of light that will fi t in the space. It would
be no good buying a high-powered fl oodlight, only to fi nd
that it’s too big to fi t in the position you have chosen for it.
IP rating
This refers to how well they’re protected from intrusion of water
and dirt. So, for example, a light with an IP rating of 65 (IP68) will
be very protected from both intrusion and moisture and would
therefore be ideal for an exterior location near any moisture.
Our experts are
How do you want your outdoor light to activate?
As lighting technology progresses, fl oodlights are becoming
more sophisticated in how they are activated. In addition to the
standard on/off switch that you can use to manually activate your
light, you can also fi nd fl oodlights with motion sensors, which
will illuminate when someone (or something) passes in range of
its sensor. Alternatively, ‘Dusk till Dawn’ fl oodlights automatically
switch on when the ambient light falls to a certain level and
then switch off again in the morning when the sun comes up.
Get the right brightness
With all lighting, now you can no longer choose your
brightness by wattage; the key indicator now is to look at the
lumen output (lumens).
Floodlights come in a broad range of brightness outputs, perhaps
more than any other type of light. There is no hard and fast rule
for picking fl oodlights of a certain brightness, but below is a rough
guide that may help.
Small Patio
Medium Garden (150m²)
Car Park
500 lumens
2400 lumens
9000-20,000 lumens
To find out more you can call The LED Specialist.
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Telephone 0118 9507125
www.theledspecialist.co.uk