Services
Outdoor Lighting
Low-voltage outdoor lighting — path lights, uplights on signature trees, step lighting, and architectural wash. Energy-efficient LED fixtures with smart timers and dimmers. Professional design highlights the best parts of your landscape and extends the patio season after dark.
Pricing varies by site. Final scope, materials, and access influence the all-in number — we'll quote your specific project after a quick conversation.
About our outdoor lighting work
Low-voltage outdoor lighting designed and installed for safety, security, and curb appeal after sunset. Every system runs on 12V through a multi-tap transformer sized at no more than 80% of capacity — leaves room to add fixtures later without rewiring. We design around layers: path lights for circulation, uplights on signature trees and architectural features, downlights from canopy for moonlight effect, step and hardscape lights for safety, and wash lights for stone or stucco texture. Fixtures are solid brass or copper from Kichler, FX Luminaire, or Volt — not stamped aluminum that pits out in two seasons. LED lamps run 2700K to 3000K for warm color and pull 4-7 watts each, so a 30-fixture system runs on less power than a single incandescent floodlight. Smart transformers with astronomic timers adjust dawn-to-dusk automatically and integrate with Lutron, Hunter Hydrawise, or app control. We design for the dark sky too — shielded optics and proper aiming keep light on your property, not in the neighbor's bedroom or washed across the night sky.
What's included
- Custom lighting design with night-time demo before final install
- Solid brass or copper fixtures — Kichler, FX Luminaire, or Volt
- Multi-tap transformers sized at 80% capacity for future expansion
- 12-gauge direct-burial low-voltage wire with waterproof connections
- Warm 2700K-3000K LED lamps with 40,000+ hour rated life
- Astronomic timers and smart app control (Lutron or fixture-brand app)
- Glare-shielded optics and proper aiming to respect neighbors
- Lifetime fixture warranty support and annual aiming tune-ups
Materials & techniques
Fixtures are solid brass, copper, or 316 stainless — materials that develop a patina instead of corroding. Transformers are stainless steel multi-tap (Kichler Pro Series, FX ZD, or Volt) with 12V, 13V, 14V, and 15V taps to compensate for voltage drop on long runs. Wire is 12-gauge or 10-gauge direct-burial PVC-jacketed copper, never CCA. Every connection uses King Innovation DryConn or 3M DBR/Y waterproof connectors filled with dielectric silicone. LED lamps are MR16 or integrated, 2700K-3000K, 90+ CRI for accurate color on stone, foliage, and skin tones. Optics range from 10-degree spot for tall trees to 60-degree flood for facade wash.
How the project runs
- 1
Night demo
Before you spend a dollar, we set up portable fixtures at dusk and walk the property with you. You see exactly which trees uplight well, where path lights actually help, and what stays dark.
- 2
Load calc and zone plan
Total wattage, voltage drop, and run length determine transformer size and wire gauge. Long runs get 10-gauge; short runs get 12-gauge. Every fixture lands within a 1-volt drop window.
- 3
Trenching and wire pulls
Wire buried 6-8 inches in beds, deeper under turf with a vibratory plow. Every splice is a waterproof DBR/Y silicone-filled connector — no twist caps, no electrical tape.
- 4
Fixture install and aim
Stake fixtures go on PVC ground sleeves so mulch refreshes do not bury them. Tree-mounted downlights use stainless lag bolts with arboriculturally sound spacing. All aiming happens after dark.
- 5
Programming and walk-through
Transformer programmed to astronomic dusk-to-midnight or full-night schedule. Owner gets app access and an as-built map showing every fixture, wire run, and splice location.
Frequently asked questions
Why low-voltage instead of line-voltage 120V?
Low-voltage (12V) is safer to install in damp soil, requires no conduit, and uses 80-90% less energy than equivalent line-voltage fixtures. It also dims and color-tunes far better. Line-voltage is only used for specialty applications like pool-deck floods or security floodlights.
How long do LED fixtures actually last?
Quality integrated LEDs are rated 40,000-50,000 hours — roughly 15-20 years on a dusk-to-midnight schedule. Replaceable MR16 lamps run 25,000-30,000 hours and swap out in 30 seconds when they eventually fade. Cheap big-box fixtures fail in 2-3 years from corroded sockets, not LED burnout.
Will lighting hurt my trees?
Not when installed correctly. Downlights mount with stainless lag bolts spaced to allow trunk growth and get repositioned every few years. Uplights stake into the ground 18-24 inches off the trunk, never against bark. Heat from LED is negligible — under 100°F at the lens.
Can I expand the system later?
Yes — that is why we size transformers at 80% of nameplate capacity and run extra capacity on home-run circuits. Adding 4-6 fixtures later is a tap-in to existing wire, not a new transformer.
Do I need HOA approval?
Most San Antonio HOAs allow low-voltage landscape lighting without approval as long as fixtures point down or at vegetation, not at neighboring properties. We design to dark-sky principles by default. If your HOA requires submittal, we provide the fixture spec sheets and aiming diagram.
Why hire us for outdoor lighting
In-house crew
Design, build, irrigation, and maintenance all run under one roof — no subbing out, no juggling vendors. You get one project manager from sketch through final walk-through.
San Antonio specialists
Built for South-Central Texas — heavy clay, caliche, long dry summers, and flash rain. Our designs and installs are tuned to what survives and looks good locally.
Clear pricing
No surprise line items. We size the work after a quick conversation or site visit and issue a written quote with materials and labor broken out so you can compare apples to apples.
