Outdoor Lighting Installation

Outdoor lighting keeps people from tripping on the front steps, lets you see who is at the door, makes a dark side yard less inviting to the wrong visitor, and lets you use the patio after the sun goes down. Done well, it also makes the house look its best from the street.

• Security and flood lights. Bright coverage for driveways, side yards and back corners, often on motion sensors.
• Entry and porch lights. The first thing a guest sees, and the light you use every night to find your keys.
• Patio and lanai lighting. Ceiling and wall fixtures rated for covered outdoor spaces.
• Soffit and eave lights. Downlights tucked under the roofline that wash the walls and light the ground below.
• Landscape and path lighting. Low voltage fixtures for walkways, palms, plants and architectural details.
• Controls. Photocells, timers, motion sensors and smart switches.

South Florida is hard on anything mounted outside. Salt air corrodes cheap fixtures from the inside out, summer storms drive rain sideways into anything that is not sealed, and the sun breaks down plastics. We plan for all of it:

• Location ratings. Fixtures in the open need a wet rating. Under a covered patio, a damp rating may be enough. We use the right one for the spot.
• Materials. Near the beach or the Intracoastal we steer you toward brass, copper or marine grade stainless steel and stainless hardware.
• Weatherproof connections. Sealed boxes, gaskets, and in-use covers on outdoor receptacles so they stay protected while something is plugged in.
• GFCI protection. Outdoor receptacles need ground-fault protection, and we use weather resistant devices made for the job.

Before hurricane season, it is worth checking outdoor fixtures for loose mounts, cracked lenses and corrosion. After a storm, any outdoor light or receptacle that was under water or damaged should stay off until it is checked.

Sea turtles nest on our beaches, and artificial light can lead hatchlings away from the ocean. Many coastal cities in Palm Beach and Broward have lighting rules for properties that can be seen from the beach during nesting season. In general that means fixtures that are shielded and mounted low, and long wavelength light in amber or red. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission certifies fixtures that meet wildlife lighting criteria. If your home faces the beach, we will choose fixtures that keep you within your city’s rules.

Lights that turn on by themselves at dusk, motion lights that do not trigger every time a palm frond moves, and timers that shut the landscape lights off at bedtime. We set them up so the system runs itself.

Reef Electrical is a licensed and insured family business, run by Ryan Bye, with 26 years in the trade, and his father, Richard. All of our work is guaranteed, and seniors and military get 15% off. Request service or call the number for your county.