Decking Lights

Decking lights can transform an average decking in to an after sunset sanctuary and there are now a lot of lights available that do just that. In most cases around the home if you plan your lighting it can transform an average looking room in to a fantastic looking room and increase the usability of that room. A perfect example of this is under cabinet lighting, it looks great but also means that you’re not working in your shadows. The same applies for lighting outside – it can be functional and create a sense of ambience. Decking lighting can also improve the safety of your decking, by illuminating edges and steps they will become much clearer.

The answer to this question depends on what stage you are at with your decking. If you already have a decking then your options are going to be more limited than if you are just planning your decking. If you are designing or having some one design your decking then you have the advantage of being able to be more creative with your lighting.

Decking lights can be grouped in to two when talking about power, you get mains powered (usually low voltage that is converted by a transformer) and solar power. Both power sources have their advantages and disadvantages.

Low voltage lights come have more opportunities than solar, they can be either an ambient light sources or a brighter more functional light source, the downside to them is that depending on the sort of light you go for it may have to be installed by a professional. Low voltage lights will also mean that wires will need to be involved and that means running wires from your house and hiding them to get to the lights.

Solar decking lights on the other hand are no effort to install at all. They have no wire and so can be installed virtually anywhere. The downside to solar is that unless you spend a lot of money on them they are really only good for an ambient light source.

There are three sources of light for deck lights these are:

• Filament bulbs such as your standard incandescent technology household bulbs or halogen.
• Led
• Fibre optic

Filament bulbs will be low voltage powered, most solar deck lights more often than not due to there low power requirement will be LEDs, and fibre optic lights will like filament bulbs be powered by the mains.

When people say deck lights they invariable think of little round ‘portholes’ sunk in to the decking boards, but there are many more options available than that, and if you think creatively there are even more options available. There are a number or recessed lighting options, if your decking has a back or side to it such as the one pictured you could put in low level brick lights, the same applies for around the perimeter of the decking.There are then the post type style of lights, these come as low voltage or solar powered, these can look great around the edge of your decking. If you have young children though or boisterous dogs these may not be the ideal solution as they can easily be damaged.

There is then there is the more traditional spotlight and ‘spike’ option. ‘Spike’ doesn’t necessary have t be a spike it could be a post that can be screwed to the decking. You can also do the spike option though, if you have planters on your decking you could put the lights in there. You could even put the lights of the decking and position them towards it to light it up – this may not be an ideal solution though as it may be a bit glary.

Now lets get on to the more creative solutions. Most decking will be constructed using standard methods and will leave a 3mm gap between the decking boards. Even with the new composite decking this will be the case. You could install a waterproof light source below your decking in-between the joists so that it give a futuristic glow from the gaps! Depending on your decking style you would probably need to fit this when assembling your decking.

If you are at the assembly stage of you decking you could also look at fibre optic lighting. By drilling a series of tiny holes in your decking boards and feeding the fibre in to these holes prior to assembly you can create a fantastic sparkling effect decking.

Looking online you can find a myriad of different lights and by being creative you can create some great effects that will make your decking a usable place in the home at night.