If you’re looking to light up your home with street lights, there are several important things to consider when you go shopping for them. The quality of the light, the materials used in their construction, and the ease of installation are all key factors that will determine how much use you get out of them and how satisfied you’ll be with your purchase. With the right information, though, you can find street lights that look great in your yard and are easy to maintain. Just keep these tips in mind when you shop and compare:
1. Look for quality
Street lights are prone to all the same problems that your regular household lighting suffers from, so it’s important to make sure you don’t get stuck with a dud. Poor-quality materials will be more susceptible to heat, cold, and rough handling than high-quality ones will be. The materials should also be weather-resistant and non-corrosive. Finally, they should also be made of a material that is readily available in case you need to replace any parts down the road.
2. Consider your options
There are many different types of street lights on the market today. Some are more suitable for use outside than others, while some have features that will make them more attractive to look at in your yard. You may want a light that has motion-activated sensors so it comes on when someone is nearby, or one with a timer so you can plan when it turns on and off. Shop around to find the right combination of features and styles for your needs.
3. Pick of the right materials
Before you purchase a street light, take the time to compare its materials against other models’. Most lights are made from different combinations of plastic, cast aluminum, and steel. Each material has benefits and drawbacks that you should consider before buying a street light made from it. Plastic lights look good and are easy to replace when they break, but they’re less durable than aluminum. Aluminum lights are sturdy and long-lasting, but they take up a bit more space in your yard because they have to be lined up with the stakes that you use to anchor them in place. Steel is both sturdy and heat-resistant, making it ideally suited for outdoor light installations.
4. Check out your options for installation
Most street lights come with installation instructions that tell you exactly how to go about putting them up. These might tell you whether or not you need a ladder or a backhoe. In some cases, you can mount the light on a wall or a building, but if you have to install it in your yard, you’ll need to keep your measurements precise. Most lights come with stakes that you can use for anchoring them temporarily, but make sure your purchase includes enough of these before making any final decisions.
5. Make sure the light will be visible in daylight
Most street lights require some sort of power connection to work properly. These connections can come from solar panels or from electrical outlets. Solar street lights are cheaper than their electric counterparts are, but they require good weather and lots of direct sunlight in order to work properly.