The old saying is true, "You get what you pay for." We see it all too often on our job sites where a homeowner opts for a perceived cheaper design installation, gets poor advice from a landscaping company that does not specialize in outdoor lighting, or goes the DIY YouTube route. Trust us, we get it! We all want to save time and money, but in many instances, less is not more and will be costly in the long run. Here are a few reasons why less expensive powder-coated aluminum outdoor lighting fixtures can dim your lighting expectations.
And if you're not in the mood to read, check out this video!
The powder coat finish will flake.
Powder-coated aluminum lighting looks great at first. Plus, it lasts longer than plastic and has slightly better-quality electrical components. However, while attractive at the start, the powder-coating will begin to chip and flake within a short period of time, resulting in a light fixture with an inconsistent exterior finish.
Aluminum degrades and corrodes.
Aluminum corrodes, especially near the oceanfront and in moist, humid environments.
We see this all the time on our jobs in greater Orlando Fl, Deland FL, and throughout this semi-tropical state. Where the aluminum corrodes, the powder coating disintegrates. We will save you the metals rust and corrosion science class and move on to reason three!
Moisture damage
While these lights appear to be the superhero in your efforts to save time and money, they have a kryptonite weakness, just like Superman. MOISTURE! The construction of these types of lights allows moisture into the fixture, which starts to work its science magic - and not in a good way - leading us back to points one and two, corrosion and flaking.
Clouded lenses
Much like your automobile headlights, dirt, grime, and oxidization take their toll with each passing season. As moisture gets trapped inside the fixture, it begins to cloud the lenses, which affects your overall outdoor lighting presentation and design.
It's worth noting that even with proper care and maintenance, lighting fixtures made of inferior quality materials will not last. Even the most carefully designed lighting scheme lacks luster if the lights are missing or dim.
At LED Scapes, we replace these types of lights all the time. That's why in the next blog post we're covering "Why it's essential to choose heavy-duty glass, weatherproof metals, and quality wiring."
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