Posted in Beachfront Homes, Beachfront Property Upkeep
One of the best ways to add value, beauty, and functionality to any property is to install landscape lights. When done properly, they let you enjoy your property late into the night while also adding an element of security and a lot of curbside appeal. However, if you plan on using landscape lighting on your oceanfront property, there are several hurdles that you need to overcome and limitations you will have. Most of the problems with lighting by the shore come from the corrosive atmosphere of seawater and salty air present at the shore.
Dealing with Corrosion
Unfortunately, most garden lights contain metals that will react with salt and moisture, two things which are in abundance if you own ocean front property. The metal has a chemical reaction which causes it to break down, how fast it does so depends on the type of metal, any protective coatings the metal has, and how much exposure the metal has to the salt and water. Whatever metal the light fixtures you are going to install is made out of, studies have shown that it corrodes at least ten times faster when its placed eighty feet away from the ocean than when its placed eight hundred feet away.
Because of the incredibly harsh nature of the environment around your ocean front property, all the light fixtures and components that you plan on using in the system need to be chosen for their ability to resist corrosion first and foremost. This affects not just the fixtures but also the transformers and wiring used. For your light fixtures, solid bronze is by far the best metal to use. It is incredibly resistant to corrosion and will actually begin to look better as it ages instead of worse.
On final note, because beachfront property is subject to more violent storms than properties further inland, make sure that you have all your light fixtures securely staked down or fastened to objects. It will prevent you from losing them in high winds, and perhaps more importantly prevent them from becoming high-speed projectiles.
Using Landscape Lighting Effectively
How you actually use landscape lighting actually differs for oceanfront property than it would be on landlocked properties. Lighting should always complement the natural surroundings of the landscape. For properties right next to the sea, that natural beauty comes from the light of the moon off the ocean. To complement this, you could try to use moonlights perched in some trees on your property along with some dimmer fixtures along paths. The paths should look natural and draw the eye to the ocean. If you are lucky enough to have a dock or a pier, you can light that as well, but it should be with glare-free lights.
Whatever you do, do not use lights that interfere or distract from your home’s view of the ocean. You paid a lot of money for an oceanfront view – enjoy it!
One of the best ways to beautify beachfront homes is to install landscape lighting. However, you need to take special precautions when using lighting next to the ocean. Make sure that you use corrosion resistant light fixtures, wires, and transformers to protect against the salty sea air and water. The lighting techniques you use will be a little bit different as well. You won’t need as much light because you have the natural light of the moon reflecting off the water. Instead, use lights to draw the eye out to the ocean to admire the all-natural beauty out there.
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