What’s involved
We come round at dusk and walk the property with you. We point out the obvious things to light (the feature tree, the front door, the path) and the less obvious ones (the dark corner behind the bin store, the side return that nobody looks at). We sketch positions, agree quantities, and quote a fixed price.
We install: soffit LED downlight strips with dusk-to-dawn or app control; garden and landscape lighting including uplighters, path lights, and spike fittings; security floods and PIR lighting properly positioned and aimed; decorative lighting including festoon strings, wall sconces, gable lights, and feature pendants; and outdoor sockets and garden power with armoured cable buried in a sand-bedded trench at the right depth.
How long it takes
A small front-of-house install (4 soffit downlights, dusk sensor): a half day. A full garden lighting scheme with cable runs to multiple zones: 1 to 2 days depending on the run.
How we quote
Cost depends on the number of fittings, cable runs, control type, and whether we’re running new circuits or extending existing ones. We’ll walk the property with you first, then quote a fixed price in writing. No surprises on the day.
What you get
- IP-rated fittings throughout (IP65 minimum outside).
- Proper RCD-protected outdoor circuit from your consumer unit.
- Weatherproof junctions, glands at every cable entry, all earthed and bonded.
- Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) for any new circuit.
- App or sensor control if you want it; a single switch by the back door if you don’t.
- A property that looks like someone thought about it after dark, not just before sunset.
Equipment we install
We install Hue, Lutron, dusk-to-dawn sensors, PIR-triggered security floods, and app-controlled scenes. We’ll recommend based on how often you’ll actually use the controls.
Frequently asked
Can you design the lighting scheme for me?
Yes, happy to. We’ll walk the property in the dusk and talk through what you want highlighted, where the shadows fall, and what kind of feel you’re after: warm and decorative, bright and secure, or both. We’ll suggest fitting positions and quantities; you choose the finish.
Soffit lighting, can it go on any house?
Most modern houses with overhanging eaves, yes. Older properties with shallow soffits, or stonework with no obvious cable route, are trickier. We’ll do a quick site survey and tell you honestly whether it’ll work and what it’ll look like.
What about smart controls, Hue, dusk sensors?
All standard. We install Hue, Lutron, dusk-to-dawn sensors, PIR-triggered security floods, app-controlled scenes. We’ll recommend based on how often you’ll actually fiddle with the controls, sometimes the simplest setup is the right one.
Will it survive Essex weather?
Yes if it’s installed properly. IP-rated fittings, junction boxes outside the weather line, glands and grommets where cables enter, all earthed and bonded. We don’t take shortcuts on weatherproofing, it’s where cheap outdoor installs fail.