The Pros and Cons of DIY Lighting

Thanks to YouTube, you can look up tutorials on just about any do-it-yourself (DIY) project you want to tackle. As with any other DIY project, installing your outdoor lighting can be both challenging and rewarding. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of DIY lighting to help you decide whether or not to take the plunge.

The Pros of DIY Lighting

The most obvious benefit of doing any home improvements yourself is the money you can save on labor. For landscape lighting, the upfront costs will be lower, since you will only need to pay for materials and any additional tools you might need.

In addition to its cost effectiveness, though, a DIY lighting project can sometimes afford you other advantages that hiring a professional might not, including:

• Customization: You have complete control over the design of your lighting system and where you place your lights, so you can have it exactly the way you want it.
• Personal satisfaction: Finishing a DIY project is very personally rewarding.
• Flexibility: As your needs or style change, it’s easier to switch out lighting fixtures or move lights around when you don’t have to schedule a visit from a professional.
• Learning new skills: You will learn about electrical work, lighting design principles, and maintenance, which are great skills to have and might be useful for other projects.
• Creative control: Some lighting companies might limit you to certain types of fixtures. When you DIY, you can experiment with smart lighting, eco-friendly choices like solar-powered lights, and fixtures in a wide variety of styles.

The Cons of DIY Lighting

Of course, as wonderful as the upsides of a DIY lighting project are, you have to consider the downsides as well.

• Time-consuming: Unless you are already an expert in electrical wiring, lighting installation, and design, you will need to commit some significant time to learning these skills. There will also likely be an element of trial and error with installation and placement of lights to get the effects you want.
• Safety concerns: Any time you’re working with electricity, you want to make sure it’s done right. If you lack the appropriate expertise in electrical work, there is always the potential for mistakes, which could lead to electrical shocks, fire hazards, safety issues, or equipment failure.
• Quality control: Lighting professionals generally have access to higher-quality lighting fixtures that are more weather-resistant and durable than the ones available to the average consumer. Also, your lighting system might not run at peak efficiency if you do not install or maintain your lights correctly, leading to higher energy costs.
• Code compliance: Outdoor lighting should be up-to-code for safety. You could face fines if your lighting system is out of compliance and be required to redo the electrical work.
• Maintenance: A professionally installed lighting system is generally easier to maintain.

Houston Lightscapes Makes it Easy

If you have the time, feel confident you can acquire the necessary skills, and want to challenge yourself and save some money up front, DIY lighting can be a great option. On the other hand, if you are looking for a beautifully designed, safe, and efficient system professionally installed at a competitive price, Houston Lightscapes can help. If you’re still on the fence, schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with us. We will walk your property with you and design a completely customized system to meet your needs. We help with maintenance too! Call us to see what we can do for you.