Life is full of choices...but - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

HoneyDo · 10-25-2007, 03:10 PM

they're NOT all good.First off, I'd like to thank the Pro's in this forum for your time in answering my call for help. I've been lurching behind the scenes trying to gain an understanding of low-voltage landscape lighting before hiring a contractor to install. I can handle finding "the best" contractors in my area while realizing I can pay for the highest quality materials and still end up with a poor system. That said, I'd like to see if y'all can arrive at a consensus on which manufacturers produce the overall highest quality materials without charging an arm & leg. Please don't cherry-pick by fixture type as I would like to use one manufacturer for the entire job (fixtures/transformer/etc.).Please rate your top 3 manufacturers for lighting equipment. Keep in mind, I'd like to have a system installed that is as maintenance free as possible as I don't have the time or patience to fool with constantly replacing lamps and I sure don't want to be buying new fixtures/transformers/etc. I don't have "stupid money" or a million dollar mansion so please keep your choices "reasonable".P.S I live in Indiana and we do get a moderate amount of snowfall and below freezing/zero temps. Thanks again for your input.

James Solecki · 10-25-2007, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoneyDo

they're NOT all good.First off, I'd like to thank the Pro's in this forum for your time in answering my call for help. I've been lurching behind the scenes trying to gain an understanding of low-voltage landscape lighting before hiring a contractor to install. I can handle finding "the best" contractors in my area while realizing I can pay for the highest quality materials and still end up with a poor system. That said, I'd like to see if y'all can arrive at a consensus on which manufacturers produce the overall highest quality materials without charging an arm & leg. Please don't cherry-pick by fixture type as I would like to use one manufacturer for the entire job (fixtures/transformer/etc.).Please rate your top 3 manufacturers for lighting equipment. Keep in mind, I'd like to have a system installed that is as maintenance free as possible as I don't have the time or patience to fool with constantly replacing lamps and I sure don't want to be buying new fixtures/transformers/etc. I don't have "stupid money" or a million dollar mansion so please keep your choices "reasonable".P.S I live in Indiana and we do get a moderate amount of snowfall and below freezing/zero temps. Thanks again for your input.

If I had to rate 3 excellent all over manufacturers of LV outdoor lighting components I would go with.

1: Nightscaping
2: Vista
3: Unique

That being said, there is a lot of things that can be done wrong with any of these products that can cause their poor performace and failure. Make sure you find a couple of professional lighting companies. Look at their portfolios, if possible visit a jobsite and most importantly get some references and then check them.

Best of luck

NightScenes · 10-25-2007, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Solecki

If I had to rate 3 excellent all over manufacturers of LV outdoor lighting components I would go with.

1: Nightscaping
2: Vista
3: Unique

That being said, there is a lot of things that can be done wrong with any of these products that can cause their poor performace and failure. Make sure you find a couple of professional lighting companies. Look at their portfolios, if possible visit a jobsite and most importantly get some references and then check them.

Best of luck

I would agree with James in that even the highest quality fixtures like Hunza are only as good as the installation and maintenance.

I also like:
Unique
Kichler (brass in your environment)
Vista

Good luck with your project,

HoneyDo · 10-27-2007, 10:35 AM

I thank you two gentlemen for your replies. I was hoping this thread would solicit more response. The more informed I become, the better choices I make. Through my limited research on LV lighting, it seems contractors are all over the map on what "brand(s)" offer the best quality at "affordable prices". So, I was hoping to get more input. Maybe another way of asking my question would have gathered more replies? Any thoughts?

If you, as a LV outdoor lighting contractor, were to install a system at YOUR home and could only pick from ONE manufacturer for all your components, who would it be? Remember, you'll pay for quality products but you don't have money to throw away, unnecessarily. Feel free to offer your top three choices.

NightScenes · 10-27-2007, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoneyDo

I thank you two gentlemen for your replies. I was hoping this thread would solicit more response. The more informed I become, the better choices I make. Through my limited research on LV lighting, it seems contractors are all over the map on what "brand(s)" offer the best quality at "affordable prices". So, I was hoping to get more input. Maybe another way of asking my question would have gathered more replies? Any thoughts?

If you, as a LV outdoor lighting contractor, were to install a system at YOUR home and could only pick from ONE manufacturer for all your components, who would it be? Remember, you'll pay for quality products but you don't have money to throw away, unnecessarily. Feel free to offer your top three choices.

I think most contractors use products from manufactures that are most responsive to their needs. It's not just product quality (though that is VERY important). When I started in this business I contacted several manufactures (Nightscaping, FX, Hadco and Kichler) and Kichler was the most responsive. They have been there for me at every turn and therefore I am loyal to that manufacturer. I do use products from several professional lighting manufactures but the majority of my purchases are Kichler. The quality is good and the price is reasonable.

When you talk about top-of-the-line product you are talking KIM, BK, Hunza, Beachside and the like. These products are built for commercial use and the prices show it.

For my home, I have Kichler lighting. I do have other manufactures as well because I test products at my home and therefore have a myriad of products here.

g.catanese · 10-27-2007, 11:24 AM

I'm surprised no one has mentioned FX.

My top three are:

Nightscaping
FX
Vista

Of those, I use:

Copper fixtures from all three.
Transformers (Powercenters) from Nightscaping. (Though the other two work fine.)
Aluminum alloy fixtures only from FX, because I've never had a finish failure with them, and I can't say that about any other brand.

They are also all manufactured in the U.S. That makes a difference to some people more then others.

NightScenes · 10-27-2007, 11:38 AM

Hey Gregg, I mentioned FX.

g.catanese · 10-27-2007, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightscapespaul

Hey Gregg, I mentioned FX.

Sorry Paul, I missed that.

I also found FX less responsive to my suggestions for things like tweaking their products or a new fixture idea.

That's why, after first using Nightscaping, then switching to FX after discovering a lot of older Nightscaping product rusting in the field, I switched back....when Nightscaping made changes to their line.

However, in my experience, FX still makes the best aluminum alloy fixtures, hand down. They are my first choice when a customer doesn't want to spring for copper and brass, or would rather have a colored finish (I don't see the point of powder coating copper, except for fixture interiors.)

Nightscaping benefited from the pressure of competition, and they offered me more choices for customization.

Somewhere along the line I also experimented with Vista...

Though I have had problems with their finishes, and with well lights filling up with water... they are the quickest to adapt to the market. They come up with a lot of new designs and are very efficient at turnaround time for orders (usually three or four days!)

So I use product from all three, depending on the application.

Lately, I've also taken another look at Unique. I had dismissed them earlier on, but I'm reading one of Nate' s books, and Joey and the local rep Zach, both seem responsive... stay tuned.

A W Smith · 10-27-2007, 12:21 PM

does consumer reports have anything on fixtures?

Billy-Integrity · 10-27-2007, 01:33 PM

as far as we are concearned all lines (i have yet to find one this does not pertain to) have thier good and bad.

We used to be really fond of CAST lighting but after working with some others we have limited the number of cast bullets we use. I do still like thier path lights. Some clients instantly love bronze and it is a strong selling point especially when placed next to alloy alluminum from other manufactures.

If you needed 3 brands I would consider excellent quality for the money I would probably bang my head on the wall picking 3.

in no particular order I would say

Unique
Coppermoon
cast

We also have experience with the higher end ones such as Kim and we have seen the hunzas and beachsides as well but they are a $$$$ line and only a select few clients will spring for them.

I have had experience with FX and vista on service calls and both were full of water (hey but the finish was intact right ????)

After experimenting with concave vs flat lens (cast uses concave) we have determined that even with lenses installed the concaves will distort the light.

I guess the bottom line is dont limit yourself or your clients to a single line. I think Kichler offers the most bang for the buck in thier AZT bullets also the coppermoon cm125 is going to be a real contender in the reasonably priced catagorey and in my opinion really raises the bar.

NightScenes · 10-27-2007, 01:52 PM

I would agree that Coppermoon is going to make a serious run in this industry.

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