Well now, here we have a very good question indeed.  Let’s take a look at what we feel constitutes professional landscape lighting.

Everyone knows that there are landscape lighting products available at the home improvement and hardware stores, and I’m betting that we can all agree that those products are not in any way to be confused with professional landscape lighting products, right?  That being said, I have seen irrigators, handy men, landscapers and others put that stuff in and call it “professional.”  That is just wrong.Back-entry

The first thing we need to look at is the product used in the project.  Professional grade outdoor lighting products are not sold in hardware stores, but instead are sold through distribution points or direct to contractors, depending on the manufacturer.  These products are much more robust than the DIY products, using significantly better sockets, connections and metals.  There are powder coated aluminum fixtures, brass, bronze, copper and stainless steel products made in the USA and abroad. 16007AZT27

We must also consider the contractor in question.

pro•fes•sion•al  (noun):  1. somebody whose occupation requires extensive education or specialized training; 2. a worker in a paid occupation that usually requires a high degree of training and skill; 3. somebody with a high degree of skill or competence

Is the contractor a lighting designer or someone who specializes in another field, but will put in lighting when they can?  They could be an irrigation expert who has had specific specialized outdoor lighting training, or maybe even a landscaper who has taken the time and made the effort to learn how light works in a space.  I would say that the difference is in the education, training, and experience.  Most people can tell the difference between lighting systems designed by lighting designers and those by lighting installers.  A professional outdoor lighting system would be designed and installed by an outdoor lighting design company.

The last component would include skill in the service and repair field.  Professional outdoor lighting companies will be there to stand behind the work done, whereas those who install lighting as simply an addition to their primary business usually don’t understand enough about lighting products and how they work to troubleshoot and repair the systems.  We receive calls quite often from people who tell us that their system never really worked properly, and the original installer would not come fix it.certified-AOLP-2

I believe professional means just that, professional: a well-educated designer who has a proficient, experienced team of technicians to install and maintain that lighting system.  We are proud to say that NightScenes is a professional outdoor lighting design/install/maintenance company in each aspect in the field of landscape lighting.  Contact us to see the difference for yourself.