Lighting
Landscape lighting in Charlotte, NC
Lighting is easiest to do right while the trench is already open for something else. We wire it in as we build, not as an afterthought.
Why we wire lighting into the hardscape build
Every patio, wall, or path we build already involves a trencher and a call to 811 for locates. Running low-voltage lighting conduit at the same time costs far less than coming back later and cut through finished pavers or an established bed to add it. We size the transformer to the actual fixture count and run cable in a loop where practical, so one bad connection doesn't take out an entire run of lights.
Fixture choice depends on what's being lit. Uplights on a serviceberry or a crape myrtle, which shows up in a lot of front yards around here, often topped badly by someone trying to control its size, want a narrow beam and a low output so the tree reads naturally instead of looking like a stage prop. Path lights along a walk want a wider, softer spread aimed down, not out, so they mark the edge without throwing glare at eye level. Step lighting gets recessed into the riser itself where the wall or steps are being built new, which keeps the fixture out of the way entirely during the day.
HOA rules in some Ballantyne and Steele Creek subdivisions restrict fixture types or brightness visible from the street, so we check that during the walk rather than installing something that has to come back out. On South Carolina jobs in Fort Mill and Tega Cay, low-voltage lighting typically doesn't require the same permitting as line-voltage electrical work, but we still coordinate with Duke Energy locates before trenching near existing service lines.
Where lighting earns its keep
- Step runs on a sloped lot, where a missed edge in the dark is a real fall risk, not just a look
- Path lighting along a walkway from the driveway to a side gate or a back patio
- Uplighting on a specimen tree like a Little Gem magnolia or a mature river birch
- Wash lighting along a retaining wall to show the texture of the block instead of flattening it
- A patio or seating area extended into a usable space after dark, especially through the long stretch of summer evenings
- Low, shielded fixtures tucked into a bed rather than fixtures that glare straight into a neighbor's window
Our steps used to be a hazard after dark. Now the dog walks them fine at 10pm. Sample review.
Homeowner, Ballantyne
Adding lighting to an existing yard
Lighting doesn't have to wait for a new hardscape project. We run conduit and cable through existing beds with hand tools where a trencher would do more damage than good, keeping disruption to established planting to a minimum. If your yard already has beds full of Otto Luyken laurel or an azalea line along the foundation, we route around root balls rather than through them.
If you're planning a patio, wall, or path build and want lighting included from the start, mention it when you book a walk, or look at paver patios and retaining walls to see how lighting typically gets folded into those proposals.
What changes a lighting plan
| What you are lighting | Uplighting a river birch takes a different fixture and beam spread than washing a fieldstone wall or marking the edge of a step. We don't put one fixture everywhere and call it a system. |
|---|---|
| Where the transformer sits | It needs an exterior outlet and a run back to it. On a long lot that means heavier gauge wire so the far fixtures aren't dim, and that gets decided on the plan, not on site at dusk. |
| What is already buried | Irrigation lines, gas, and the conduit we ran under the patio. Lighting goes in after hardscape for exactly this reason, and 811 gets called regardless of what we think we know. |
| Trees that grow | A fixture aimed at a fifteen-gallon magnolia is aimed wrong in six years. We set it so it can be walked out as the canopy widens, and we tell you roughly when that will be. |
| How dark you want it | Most yards around here are over-lit. We aim fixtures after dark, ideally with you standing in the yard, and we usually end up turning things down rather than adding more. |
Questions about landscape lighting
How much does landscape lighting cost in Charlotte?
It depends on fixture count, transformer size, and how far cable has to run from the power source. Lighting added during a hardscape build costs less than lighting trenched in afterward, and both get written into a proposal after the walk.
Is low-voltage lighting safe to run myself, or does it need a permit?
Low-voltage systems typically don't carry the same permit requirements as line-voltage electrical work, though we still coordinate with 811 and Duke Energy for locates before trenching near buried lines. We handle the transformer sizing and wiring so the system holds up over years, not just the first season.
Can lighting be added to a yard you didn't originally build?
Yes. We run cable through existing beds by hand where needed to avoid disturbing established plants, and tie into a new or existing transformer depending on what's already there.
Will HOA rules affect what lighting I can install?
Some Steele Creek and Ballantyne subdivisions restrict fixture brightness or type visible from the street. We check your HOA's architectural guidelines during the walk so nothing has to come back out after installation.
Book a yard walk
Walk the yard with Luis.
A walk around the property with you, then a written proposal with the plan and the plant list.
Or call (704) 555-0163 · Mon-Fri 7:30am-5pm · Sat by appointment