Quality Materials: The Rundown.

It's difficult to know what you are dealing with if you have never had to deal with it before. For instance, I always feel I am being taken advantage of anytime I have to use a mechanic... "It's going to cost WHAT!?" The thought process usually goes along the lines of, "Shoot, he probably did two hours worth of work and replaced a $5 part." But, because I don't know much about engines, I usually trust that my mechanic is going to fix it the right way and use top quality parts. After all, If it breaks again, he knows I will be right back in his shop in a foul mood asking what the heck went wrong.

The same is true in outdoor lighting as it is with your mechanic, plumber, you name it. Most people I talk to know little to nothing about outdoor lighting. So, if you are looking to have outdoor lighting installed, how can you know if you are getting something that will be done right, and stand the test of time? It is at this time I would like to encourage you to hire a professional. It is highly likely that a dedicated outdoor lighting professional is going to use top quality materials. After all, if it fails, they have to go back and fix it, costing them money with a trip to your house, and the materials to replace it. So it is in our best interest as lighting professionals to use quality materials. Not to mention, our reputation depends on it!

So what ARE quality materials, you ask? The industry standard for a quality fixture is copper and brass. Neither of these materials corrode like aluminum will, therefore protecting the lamp inside from moisture longer. However, keep in mind that both copper and brass will patina and change color. Beware, however, as I have noticed that some fixture companies have started to use the name "brass" to insinuate a quality product, while cutting corners in other places such as brass thickness and O-rings. Again, the best bet is to rely on a professional that you trust to inform you on your fixture options.

Aluminum is the third option when considering fixture material, and most equate it to a lesser quality product. (See first picture) There are a few companies that manufacture quality aluminum products, however most companies use aluminum as their "economy/builder grade" light fixture option. A good question to ask anyone installing lighting fixtures is what material it is made out of. If they answer, "Aluminum," you may want to start shopping around.

Plastic...Don't even consider plastic if you are serious about installing outdoor lighting. This is what you will find at the big box stores and, to put it nicely, it is junk that you will end up throwing away after a couple of years.

Other factors to consider when looking at fixture materials is O-rings. Rubber O-rings function to seal out water from the inside of the fixture. Today 99% of light bulbs (or lamps as the industry calls them) are LED, which stands for Light Emitting Diode. Essentially they are electronics, and they don't play well with moisture. The better quality fixtures will have either a double O-ring or a threaded top to the fixture with a single O-ring. Some of the lesser quality fixture will have the double O-ring, however the tolerances and materials on some of these fixtures are just laughable. You can tell they incorporated the "Double O-Ring" because it is supposed to portray quality.

This rundown is only scratching the surface of what makes a quality light fixture, but hopefully gives you an idea of what to look for when shopping around for a pro. Don't be afraid to ask your professional to bring a few sample options to inspect. Hold it in your hands and make sure it is good heavy quality, and ask them to explain to you the attributes of each one. Again, find a professional you trust and they will help you figure out which option will be right for your project. Outdoor lighting is an investment in your property, so make sure you purchase a product that will last for years to come.

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