Ultimate Guide For Buying Inground Uplights

In ground garden lights are a versatile addition to any outdoor space. Able to light areas for safety and aesthetic purposes alike, well-placed ground lights for garden areas can transform your outdoor living space into something special. In this article, we’ll take a look at various in ground lighting options, as well as some decorative uplight designs to consider.

What Are The Benefits of Using in Ground Uplights?

In ground uplights can be used in a variety of ways, providing just as many benefits to your outdoor living space. One of these benefits is the ability to extend that space itself.

With an outdoor lighting scheme in place, you can make more of your garden visible and usable after dark. A well-lit garden makes for the perfect outdoor dining experience and can create a welcoming and serene ambience.

You can also use such lighting to decorate the landscape itself. If you have ponds, fountains, flower gardens, shrubbery or trees you want to show off, garden uplights can highlight them all. Statement lights like well-positioned ground lights can draw the eye exactly where you want it.

LED garden uplights may also benefit you in the long run. Garden ground lights can bring focus to the best elements of your outdoor living space. This can impart dimension, depth and dynamic shadows upon the home’s exterior. It can also enhance the kerb appeal at the same time.

With all of the home’s most attractive attributes on display, it may increase your overall property value. Ninety percent of potential homebuyers say they would either want or need landscape lighting installed in a home they purchase, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

How To Use Ground Lights for Outdoor Lighting Around the Home

In ground uplights are versatile in the many ways they can be incorporated into the garden area. Pathway lighting options often include in ground landscape lights to this effect. You can install recessed LED ground lights outdoors along a footpath or driveway to define its borders clearly. This could make it not only safer to navigate but further beautify the garden as well.

Deck and patio ground lights are another common application for outdoor ground lights. Using these lights around the perimeter of these areas can zone them off from the rest of the garden. This will also provide nice indirect lighting for enjoying the area at night.

Wall grazing with outdoor lights is also possible. By placing outdoor landscape lights close to the wall, you can highlight any unique textures that the wall has to offer. This is key when lighting the façade of a building.

How To Use Recessed Ground Up Lights to Light the Façade of a Building

With LED ground lights, outdoor spaces from the garden to the home can get an upgrade. In ground LED lights are especially instrumental for illuminating the façade of a building.

Wall washing and wall grazing are the two most common techniques for lighting façades. These shine a large wash of light across a greater surface area, adequately illuminating the exterior and drawing attention to the walls.

You can achieve wall washing by installing recessed uplighters for garden at a small distance from the house. Doing so will allow you to shine beams of light at specific areas you want to draw attention to. If you want to graze the wall and draw attention to its details, place them closer to the wall. In doing so, you will be able to show off the textures of the wall itself.

Below are the steps to take to install your outdoor ground spotlights to light up your home.

1. Plan it out. Determine the areas of the architecture you want to highlight.

2. Create a lighting scheme. Design a plan that will include:
   1. Placement of the lights
   2. Locations of the lights
   3. The recessed lights you want to use, including their dimensions

3. Dig the holes. Dig where you plan to install the light fixtures and be sure they sit flush with the ground.

4. Install the lights, according to the manufacturer’s directions.

5. Test and adjust. Turn the power on and be sure that the lights are shining where you want them to. Make any changes you deem necessary.

Which is The Best Type: LED, Solar or Halogen?

When considering various outdoor lighting ideas to implement into your space, the type of bulb you choose is important. Modern solar, versatile LED and traditional halogen bulbs are the most common options for outdoor lighting. Take a look at their differences to determine what is best for your landscape plan.

• ENERGY EFFICIENCY – LED lights are incredibly energy efficient, using 80 percent less energy than traditional halogen bulbs. That said, solar lights require no power at all except the natural energy of the sun.

• LIFESPAN – LED lights can last tens of thousands of hours as opposed to the 1,000 hours halogen bulbs last. Solar lights, on the other hand, tend to only last around five years maximum.

• LOW HEAT – LED bulbs give off practically no heat, while halogen bulbs can get so hot they aren’t safe to touch. Due to the low energy usage of solar lights, they hardly get hot at all.

• COLOUR TEMPERATURES – Halogen bulbs are only available in specific colour temperatures, while LED bulbs come in a wide range of them. Solar lights also tend to be limited in their colour temperature options.

• BRIGHTNESS – LED lights are considerably brighter than other types of lights. You can also dictate just how bright they are by choosing different lumen counts. Halogen bulbs indicate their brightness levels through wattage, but it’s hard for them to match the brightness of LEDs.

Solar lights are the dimmest of them all. Since they require the light of the sun to charge, rainy or cloudy days will limit how bright they are able to shine at night.

• DURABILITY – Solar lights tend to be made out of lower quality materials, where LED bulbs are built from durable parts that are less prone to damage. Halogen bulbs can be damaged by impact or vibration due to their fragile makeup.

Ultimately, LED bulbs stand out as the clear winner in these metrics. Still, it comes down to personal choice and preferences, so think about your own needs when choosing.

What Are The Rules For IP Ratings When Using Ground Lights?

Whether employed in uplighting techniques for pathways, decorative uplight designs or safety lighting, all outdoor lights are exposed to the elements and weather. To ensure they don’t take on damage from moisture and debris, you need to be sure the lights have the right IP rating.

IP ratings, or Ingress Protection ratings, are a way to understand how well a light fixture can tolerate exposure to wetness and dust. The first digit stands in reference to the resistance against solid matter, while the second indicates the resistance to moisture.

First Digit – Solids 

0  –  No protection offered

1  –  Offers protection against any objects larger than 50 millimeters

2  –  Offers protection against any objects larger than 12.5 millimeters

3  –  Offers protection against any objects larger than 2.5 millimeters

4  –  Offers protection against any objects larger than one millimeter

5  –  Dust Protected offers protection against most entry of dust

6  –  Dust Tight offers protection against all entry of dust

Second Digit – Water

0  –  No protection offered

1  –  Offers protection against vertically dripping water

2  –  Offers protection against vertically dripping water from a 15-degree angle

3  –  Offers protection against vertical water sprays when tilted at a 60-degree angle

4  –  Offers protection against water splashes from any direction

5  –  Offers protection against light jets of water

6  –  Offers protection against strong jets of water

7  –  Offers protection against total immersion up to one meter

8  –  Protects against complete immersion at depths beyond one meter

In order to ensure your lights are well protected, it is recommended that you purchase IP67 rated waterproof lights. At the bare minimum, you should choose IP65 but no lower.

How To Use Ground Lights to Illuminate Trees

There are plenty of ways to use uplights to highlight trees. Some tips include:

• Position an in ground light directly beneath narrow trees to give them a more dramatic look.

• Aim uplights right up to the underside of trunks belonging to bushy, large trees. This will make the foliage itself more detailed and distinct.

• Show off the texture of the bark and leaves by aiming a light at an angle of 45 degrees from a small distance away.

• Turn your tree into a focal point with two or more spotlights. Cross their beams of light to reduce shadows. It’s best to do this on taller trees.

• Silhouette the trees near the garden or walls of your home using spotlights to cast their shadows behind them.

How To Maintain Outdoor Ground Lights

LED lights are quite low maintenance. This is owed to their durability and their long lifespans. Occasionally, you will need to go around and take a look at all of the lights.

Check the lights to ensure they have not been covered by dirt or debris. If they have, simply dust them off with a dry cloth, or wipe them off with a damp cloth. You can also check for any burnt-out bulbs or loose wiring that you may need to repair.

What is The Average Lifespan of LED Ground Light Fittings?

LED lights are famous for their incredibly long lifespans. They outlast tens of thousands of hours, providing you with bright and consistent lighting all the while. At a minimum, you’ll find LED lights to last around 20,000 hours. Some of them can last as long as 50,000 hours or longer.

Be sure to check the rating on the products before you purchase them to see how long you can anticipate your LED ground lights to operate without replacement.

How Deep Should You Bury Mains Supply Cables For Outdoor Inground Lights?

In order to ensure proper coverage, you should bury lighting cables around 600 millimeters deep. Typically, the cable will be laid upon a base made of sand and then covered up using road stone. Then, it gets covered with soil.

If you are unsure about any part of the process, you should contact a qualified electrician to handle it for you. This can eliminate risk of injury or improper writing.

Outdoor Uplighting Ideas 

With the ODL028 6 Watt 316 Stainless Steel Recessed LED Ground Light, you can light up pathways, trees and garden walls with ease. This light features a stainless steel faceplate that surrounds the clear glass front, which contains the LED bulb. This bulb outputs 430 lumens of 3200k warm white light, making it great for combining with other lights of its kind. The fixture measures a total size of 100 millimeters in diameter and is rated IP67 for safe outdoor use.

Perfect for patios and decks, the ODL047 1 Watt Round Brass Finish LED Ground or Decking Light is a small light that can beautifully outline perimeters. It generates 70 lumens of 3000k warm white light, creating a soft, indirect light. This illumination shines at a 30-degree beam angle. The fixture features a durable build with a polished brass exterior and boasts an IP67 rating. It measures 38 millimeters in diameter by 82 millimeters high, making it small and easy to incorporate almost anywhere.

Enjoy a sleek and modern way to light your garden with the ODL030 12 Watt 316 Stainless Steel Recessed LED Ground Light. This ground light for gardens features a beautiful 316 stainless steel faceplate that houses the glass cover above the LED bulb. The bulb itself generates 900 lumens of 3000k warm white light, making it bright enough for any application. Its IP67 rating makes it completely safe for outdoor use. Overall, it measures 145 millimeters in diameter.

Decorate your outdoor living space with the ODL047A 1 Watt Square Brass Finish LED Ground or Decking Light. This light features a modern square shape and is finished in opulent polished brass. The bulb inside emits a total of 70 lumens of 3000k warm white light that shines at a 30-degree beam angle. It measures only 38 millimeters by 38 millimeters, making it the perfect size for any deck or patio. Thanks to its IP67 rating, it is safe for use in any weather.

As a model landscape lighting contractor, you want to have a lighting solution for every customer and situation. Yet what happens when you need an accent light, but you cannot have a fixture sticking up from the surface? Or, what if your customer wants to spread light along the ground in several directions?

That’s when you need to know about in-ground lighting.

In-ground lighting is popular with commercial accounts because a below-ground fixture is less likely to get damaged from activity around the light, including lawn care, as well as foot and auto traffic. In addition, it prevents theft. But the style can be right for residential customers, too.

When an In-Ground Fixture Makes Sense

Let’s look at a few specific scenarios when in-ground lighting makes sense. In all of these instances, you may not want an accent light sticking up above ground.

• The location is in turf, where an accent fixture above ground would be a tripping hazard or vulnerable to damage from lawn mowers and weed trimmers.
• The location is along a driveway or other concrete structure and accent lights would be too visible or in the way.
• The location is around a well-traveled path, where foot traffic might damage an accent light or cause someone to trip.
• The customer prefers the look of in-ground lighting. They simply do not want to see an accent light sticking up.

When You Need to Spread Light Along the Ground

VLO 12V LED In-Ground Accent (16023CBR27)

Our 2700K and 3000K fixtures are equipped with the Lumen Effects System, which allows you to easily switch between three-lumen outputs: 350,550, or 850, with the use of the Magnetic Key. Available in 15, 35 and 60-degree angles and is IP67 drive-over rated to tackle static loads uo to 4600lbs - making it perfect for illuminating driveways and walkways.

12V LED All-Purpose Recessed Light (16140CBR27)

If you want to cast light along the surface of the ground, in-ground lighting is the best choice. Accent fixtures cannot direct light in multiple directions along the surface. One especially versatile in-ground fixture is the 12V LED All-Purpose Recessed Light.

12V Brass Beacon In-Ground (15498CBR)

In-ground lights can produce impressive effects on driveways by casting beams of light across the surface. This look is becoming more popular, and there are some fixture designs that direct light to the sides, such as the Brass Beacon In-Ground and the 12V Brass Side Throw In-Ground (15499CBR).

Some Limitations of In-Ground Lighting

In-ground lighting has advantages, but also some distinct limitations. Be aware of these, so you can help your customers make the right decisions.

• Integrated LED in-ground fixtures come in all the same color temperatures, lumen levels and beam spreads as accent fixtures, but they do not afford the same flexibility when installing or directing light. Pick the location carefully. Unlike accent lights, in-ground fixtures are not easy to move. You can create a 15° tilt from 90° – and you can do this in two directions, forward and backward – but it’s not the same as an accent light that allows you to choose any angle in any direction.
• If there is a heavy root base, it might not be the right location because digging may be difficult.
• In-ground fixtures require some maintenance in all seasons. You have to clear off the surface: grass clippings, leaves, snow, etc. You also need to trim around them if they are in turf.

Installation Recommendations

• In-ground lighting in soft dirt – The most popular surface for in-ground lighting is soft dirt. To install a fixture in this surface, you want to dig a hole 3-4 inches wider and 12 inches deeper than your fixture. Backfill the hole with pea gravel until the fixture is level with the ground. Connect your fixture to your trunk line. As with any fixture, leave a coil of extra wire below the ground, in case you need to move the fixture later. Fill in around the fixture with soil to secure the fixture in the ground.
• Accent light below ground – With the aid of a special component, it is possible to install an accent light below ground, in lieu of an in-ground light. Kichler Lighting makes a Well Light Universal Sleeve Kit (16190) that you can place in the ground just as you would an in-ground light. Then, you can insert most Kichler accent lights into the gimbal and adjust the angle of the light. There are also several accessory tops available, allowing you to further customize the design.
• In-ground lighting in concrete – To install in-ground lighting in concrete, use the pour kit available from Kichler Lighting: PAR38 Well Light Concrete Pour Kit (15608AZ). This hollow, bucket-like piece is placed in the bed before the concrete is poured. Run your conduit up to and under the kit and pull the wire into the pour kit, leaving yourself some extra wire. After the concrete is poured and dry, the in-ground fixture will fit easily into the space preserved by the pour kit.

Well Light Universal Sleeve Kit (16190) 

The Well Light Universal Sleeve Kit enables you to place an accent light below ground and adjust its angle.

Well Light Concrete Pour Kit (15608AZ) 

The Well Light Concrete Pour Kit is placed in the bed before the concrete is poured. When the concrete is dry, the in-ground fixture will fit easily in the space preserved by the pour kit.

Know When to Go with the In-Ground Option

While concrete, soft dirt and turf are the most common applications for in-ground lights, they are not the only ones. Wooden decks, as well as brick and stone patios and pathways, are also possibilities. In-ground fixtures are more work to install, but they may be your only option when the situation calls for a fixture that is out of the way of foot or auto traffic, or not visible above the surface. Know your way around in-ground fixtures, and be the contractor who is prepared with an option for every customer need.