For path and garden lights on a low-voltage transformer, see landscape lighting. For motion floodlights, see security lighting. Many homes use all three.
Exterior Lighting, Defined
Exterior lighting installation includes wall lanterns beside doors, porch ceiling fixtures, deck and stair lights, post lights along a driveway, and lights on garages or sheds. These run at the same voltage as the lights inside, so the wiring method, box and fixture rating all matter more once rain and sun are involved.
Fixtures exposed to rain need a wet location rating. Covered porches usually need at least a damp rating. Any cable run underground to a post or outbuilding must be buried at the correct depth or run in conduit, according to current code.
Where Homeowners Want More Light Outside
- Front steps and walkways that are hard to see after dark
- Decks and patios used in the evening during long summers
- Detached garages, sheds or workshops with no power
- Driveways where a lamppost would help
- Back doors with a fixture too small or too dim
Warning Signs on Existing Outdoor Fixtures
- Water or insects inside the fixture globe
- Rusted mounting plates or gaps between the fixture and siding
- Lights that trip a breaker or GFCI after rain
- Post lights that lean or have cracked bases
- Cable run along the ground or stapled to fences
What Exterior Work Involves
An outdoor electrician checks where power can come from, often an existing interior circuit near an exterior wall. Boxes on siding or brick need a proper mounting block and a seal so water cannot run behind the fixture. For posts and outbuildings, the electrician plans a trench route, burial depth and whether the run needs GFCI protection.
A photocell, timer or smart control can be added so the lights come on without anyone remembering to flip a switch.
- Wet or damp location rating for each fixture
- Mounting block and seal against siding or brick
- Burial depth and conduit for underground runs
- GFCI protection where required
- Switch placement inside the door
Safety first. Keep ladders well away from the service drop, the wires running from the utility pole to your house. Do not run extension cords through windows or under doors to power outdoor lights. If an outdoor fixture trips the breaker every time it rains, leave it off until the cause is found, and see why outdoor circuits trip for related clues.
How it usually works
Call with the locations
Describe the areas outside that need light; the call puts you in touch with a local electrician.
Site visit and route
The electrician finds a power source and plans how cable reaches each fixture.
Mount, trench and wire
Fixtures are sealed to the house, and any underground cable is buried or run in conduit.
Set controls and test
Switches, timers or photocells are set and each light is checked after dark if possible.
For Birmingham-area homes
Birmingham's hills make steps, retaining walls and steep driveways common, especially on Red Mountain and Shades Mountain. Those grade changes are where people trip at night, so outdoor lighting here often focuses on stairs and slopes. Frequent summer lightning also makes surge protection worth discussing alongside new exterior circuits.
Related electrical problems
Noticing one of these? Each guide explains likely causes and what's safe to check before you call about outdoor lighting.