Over 990,000 new single-family homes in the US included an outdoor deck in 2020, and some market researchers suggest there may be as many as 40 million homes that feature an outdoor deck.
But finding easy ways to light up an outdoor deck can be tricky. Conventional electric lights for outdoors require a lot of know-how and wiring skills to work properly.
One simple solution is solar deck lights. Solar lights won’t increase your energy bill, they’re easy to install, and there are a lot of options available.
But how do you install solar lights outdoors? It’s actually fairly simple.
Choose Your Lighting Option Correctly
Before you get down to the installation process, you should make sure that you have the right solar lighting system for your situation. The best solar lights for each yard and deck can vary from one home to another.
You should also take stock of how much sun exposure your deck and yard receive. If your deck is heavily shaded, solar lighting will be more challenging. Visit blueravensolar.com to learn more about solar panels and placement.
You should also decide on what type of lighting design you want. Make a sketch of your deck, and decide where you need lighting the most.
Once you have the lights you need, installing outdoor solar lights is easy.
How to Install Deck Post Cap Lights
Post cap lights are a good safety feature for outdoor decks and provide a wash of light that isn’t too intrusive. Installing them properly is mostly a matter of making sure the light fixtures fit your posts.
- Make sure the caps fit over the tops of your posts, which are usually 4×4 or 6×6 inches
- Remove the top of the lighting fixture and set it aside
- Attach the base of the cap light to the top of the post
- Ensure that the solar panels have access to light and that all of the internal elements of the cap light are connected
- Replace the top of the lighting fixture and turn it on
It’s easy to install lights on all of your deck posts in the morning, and have warm, safe light on your deck by evening.
How to Install Floor-Mounted Solar Deck Lights
Installing lights along the edge of your deck requires a little more work, but it adds another layer of safety.
- Mark the setout by positioning each of your solar lights where you want them, at equal intervals in the center of the board
- Cut out holes for each of the lights you want to place, making sure that your holes will fit the lighting fixture snugly
- Check your solar lights to ensure that the solar panels will receive sufficient light and that everything is connected
- Switch the lights on and slot them into the holes
Floor lights can keep you or your guests from falling at night, in addition to providing ambient light.
Solar Deck Lighting Keeps You Safe Without Increasing Your Power Bill
Deck lighting is an important safety feature, in addition to making an outdoor space more welcoming. Conventional electric lights for outdoor settings can mean expensive installation and ongoing costs, but solar deck lights make it easy to get the light you want without running up your bills.
Check out some other articles to learn more about how to make your home more efficient!