FAQs
Landscape Lighting Questions and Answers
Most landscape lighting questions come down to three things: what can be lit, what it costs and when the work can start. Landscape Lighting by Oasis serves Columbia, Lake Murray and Chapin.
Open for calls Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Our Services
Landscape Lighting Questions About Our Services
What kinds of outdoor lighting do you install?
We install warm LED lighting for homes: path lights along walks and beds, deck and patio lighting, lighting around pools, uplighting on trees and the front of the house, and lighting that makes driveways and entries safer. Most homes combine several of these in one plan. Each service is described on our outdoor lighting services page, with details on how we design and install it.
How long do LED landscape lights last?
LED landscape lights last far longer than the halogen bulbs older systems used, often running many years of nightly use before a light source needs attention. Real life depends on how well each fixture is built and sealed against moisture, how it handles summer heat and how carefully it was installed. Our LED landscape lighting page explains what separates a durable fixture from a short-lived one.
Can you light a deck or patio without glare?
Yes. Deck and patio lighting works best when the light source is hidden or shielded, so you see the steps, rails and seating area instead of a bright bulb. Step lights, low fixtures and light washed across a surface all help. Our deck and patio lighting work keeps the same warm tone as the rest of the yard, so the space feels comfortable for a long evening.
Do you light the area around a swimming pool?
Yes, the area around it. Our pool landscape lighting covers the decking, plantings, fences and walkways that surround a pool, which makes the space easier to walk at night and gives the water a soft glow from the house. We do not install or work on fixtures inside the pool itself; our work stays entirely outside the water.
Can you uplight trees and the front of my house?
Yes. Uplighting places fixtures at the base of a tree or along the house so warm light rises across the bark, branches, brick or siding. It gives a property depth and shape from the street after dark. We aim each fixture to show the form of the tree or the facade without throwing light into windows. Our tree uplighting page has more on how we plan it.
Does landscape lighting help with home security?
Well-placed lighting removes the dark spots near entries, driveways, side yards and gates, so you can see who is approaching and walk your property safely at night. It does that without the harsh floodlights that light up a whole street. Our security landscape lighting uses the same warm LED fixtures as the rest of the design, so the home stays welcoming while the dark corners disappear.
Cost and Planning
Landscape Lighting Cost and Planning
How much does landscape lighting cost?
Landscape lighting cost depends on the size of the property, the number of fixtures, the types of fixtures and how far wiring has to run across the yard. A few path lights along a front walk cost far less than a full design covering trees, the house, a deck and a pool area. We give you a written quote after a lighting consultation, once we have seen the property.
What makes one lighting design cost more than another?
The biggest factors are how many areas you want lit and how many fixtures each one needs. Large trees, long driveways and multi-level decks take more fixtures and more wiring. Hardscape such as paths, walls and steps can add installation time when wiring has to pass under or around it. Fixture materials, such as copper path lights, also affect the total.
Can I start small and add more lighting later?
Yes. Many homeowners light the front of the house first and add the backyard, the deck or the pool area later. We plan the first stage with the full design in mind, so later additions match in color and style and the wiring has room to grow. That way the yard still reads as one design, even when it is lit over more than one project.
Scheduling
Scheduling a Lighting Consultation
How do I schedule a lighting consultation?
Call Landscape Lighting by Oasis at (803) 790-1216, Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, or send the form on our contact page at any time. Tell us a little about your property and what you would like lit. We will reach out during business hours to set up a time to visit your home and talk through the options.
What happens during a lighting consultation?
We talk about how you use your yard after dark and which areas matter most to you, then walk the property together. We look at the house, trees, paths, deck and pool area, note where power is available and think about where light will look best. From there we prepare a design plan and a quote for you to review before any work begins.
Why do you check the lighting after dark?
Lighting can only be judged at night. A fixture that looks well placed in daylight may throw glare into a window or leave a dark gap on a path once the sun goes down. Reviewing the finished work after dark lets us adjust the aim and brightness of each light, so the yard looks the way you pictured it from the start.
Our Service Area
What areas do you serve?
Landscape Lighting by Oasis is based in Columbia, SC, and lights homes in Columbia, around Lake Murray and in Chapin. That covers city neighborhoods with mature trees, lakefront homes with decks and paths toward the water, and Chapin neighborhoods on the lake's northeast side. Our service areas page describes how we work in each place and what homeowners there tend to light.
Do you work outside Columbia, Lake Murray and Chapin?
Our focus is on Columbia, Lake Murray and Chapin, where we can visit properties both during the day and after dark. If your home is nearby but outside those areas, call (803) 790-1216 and tell us where you are. We will let you know honestly whether we can take on the project and give it the attention a good lighting design needs.
Still Have a Question About Your Yard?
Every property is different, and the most useful answers come from looking at yours. Call during business hours or send the form, and we will arrange a lighting consultation at your home in Columbia, Lake Murray or Chapin.
