Solar Deck Lighting

How Solar Lights Work

Solar deck lights use a photocell, or PV panel, that charges a Nickel-Cadmium battery during the daylight hours. When the sun goes down, these lights go on and stay on with a soft glow. Each solar light has its own battery and works independently of the others. The lights can be placed anywhere because there are no cords or wiring to be concerned about. This is especially useful in a situation where the deck area is removed from the house.

During the day the PV panels must have access to full sunlight for the solar deck lighting to work properly. If the panels are blocked by shrubbery or other landscaping features, the lights will not work properly, and in some cases, not at all. The panels must be checked often for bird droppings, dirt, or other materials that could keep the photo cells from getting light.

Under optimum conditions the solar lights will run for about ten hours at night in the summertime, and considerably less in the winter.

Solar Deck Lighting Sets the Mood

It is almost impossible to create a serene ambiance with traditional porch lighting. It is normally situated to cast light down on the deck area, and can cast harsh shadows. Deck lighting can be placed subtly, allowing the homeowner to enhance the deck with a soft glow, or highlight a particularly interesting landscaping feature.

Paths and steps that lead to the deck can be illuminated for safety. The amount of light can be controlled by the number, and type, of solar lights used. There are many different styles and designs to add interest to your deck area:

• Stepping stones are lights that are integrated right into a brick walkway.
• Pond lights can float in your deck fountain or a nearby pond.
• Planter lights are solar lights inside of planters that do dual duty on your deck.
• Solar luminaries come in many different designs, from dragonflies to flowers.
• Torch lights illuminate from a different level than the ground lighting.
• Solar statuary figures act as accents during the day and lamps at night.

Installing the solar lights takes about thirty seconds, and is as easy as pushing a stick into the ground.

Lighting Effects

The design of light you choose will change the way that your deck looks:

• Lights that are mounted in trees will give a soft, romantic feeling with down-lighting.
• Using small lights on the ground and angling the light upward highlights key objects by up-lighting.
• Mounting lights on either side of an area is called cross-lighting, and helps to reveal detail while softening shadows.
• Placing a light on the ground in front of an object will throw the shadow on the surface behind it, creating interest. This is called shadowing.
• Using spotlights behind a landscape feature will give a striking effect called silhouetting.

Planning Your Deck Lighting

Make a sketch of your deck area, the landscaping that you have, and the plants that you plan to have in the future. Add in any other features that you plan to add later on. Your deck design will help you decide which style of solar light fixtures you would like to install.

After choosing the style of light, plan the placement. Pay particular attention to steps and walkway areas surrounding the deck. If there are any special features of the deck or architecture surrounding it, plan to illuminate that for interest. Think about how much illumination you will need based upon the type of use your deck will get. Do you entertain a lot? Do you have a pool? Choose solar deck lighting that will enhance, not only your deck area, but your home.

Where to Buy Solar Lighting

Since the popularity of solar lighting is growing by leaps and bounds, it is much easier to find that it used to be. The hardest part may be choosing a style! Some great places to look for solar lights are:

• Home Depot
• Lowe’s Home Improvement Store
• Solar Light Store
• Outdoor Solar Light

Adding solar lighting to your deck is a simple home improvement project that will allow you to enjoy your deck at night as much as during the day.