Hardscaping

Landscape lighting in Charleston

Good landscape lighting shows you the path, the steps and the one tree worth looking at, and leaves the rest of the yard dark. We light walks, steps, patios, walls and specimen trees with warm, shielded fixtures on a timer you set once, and we plan the whole yard at dusk before the first fixture goes in.

We price lighting by the fixture, plus the transformer and the timer. Send a few photos of the front and back, and you get the number the same day.

Request an estimate Call (843) 864-6504
We light
Paths, steps, patios, walls, trees and facades
The light
Warm, shielded, aimed at what matters
On the islands
Beach-facing lights set to the sea turtle rules
Warranty
Two years on our workmanship
Part of
Our hardscaping work
Landscape lighting plan drawingPlan drawing of a front yard lit at night: shielded path lights pooling on the walk, step lights at the entry, an uplight in a live oak, and the open lawn left dark.HouseDark lawn stays darkPath lights, shieldedUplight on the oakStep lightsFront yard lighting, in planPalmetto Landscape · Landscape lighting
What is included

Landscape lighting, planned before it is wired.

  • A walk of the yard at dusk to decide what gets lit and what stays dark
  • A lighting plan: fixture types, positions and beam angles
  • The transformer and timer mounted, with licensed trades adding an outlet where one is needed
  • Cable buried along beds and edges, clear of where you dig
  • Fixtures set and aimed after dark, not guessed at in daylight
  • Beach-facing fixtures on the islands shielded and timed to the sea turtle rules
Per fixture

Plus the transformer and the timer. The fixture line sets the range.

What it costs

What landscape lighting costs in Charleston: the fixture count sets the range.

Most of the cost is in the fixtures and the labor to set and aim them. A small front walk and a whole property are different quotes, and the plan settles the count.

Path lights Per fixture Low, shielded lights that pool on the walk instead of shining in your eyes.
Uplights Per fixture Aimed up into an oak or a palmetto. The classic Charleston look after dark.
Step lights Per fixture Set into walls and risers so every tread shows.
Wall and hardscape lights Per fixture Under the cap of a seating wall or an outdoor kitchen counter.
Moonlighting Per fixture Lights high in a tree aimed down, so the branches throw shadows on the lawn like moonlight.
Transformer and timer Priced each Sized to the fixtures, on a timer or a photocell.
Brass or copper fixtures Costs more Solid brass and copper outlast aluminum in salt air.

Roots and sprinkler lines are the usual surprises when we bury cable. We hand-dig near big trees and move a cable run rather than cut a root.

Lighting that looks expensive

Landscape lighting that looks expensive

The cheapest-looking yards at night are the brightest: a dozen stake lights marching up both sides of the walk, blue-white light, every bush lit the same. We do the opposite. Warm light, fewer fixtures, each one aimed at something worth seeing, and dark space between them so the lit things stand out.

Downtown, the city’s historic district rules point the same way: they do not allow uplighting on buildings and keep uplighting for specimen trees. We plan historic district lighting to that.

Sea turtles and the islands

Sea turtle lighting rules on Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island

Isle of Palms. From May 1 to October 31, lighting visible from the beach has to be off or shielded at night on Isle of Palms, oceanfront deck and porch lights included. On a beachfront lot we shield, aim and time every fixture so the yard is lit and the beach stays dark.

Sullivan’s Island. Sullivan’s Island restricts outdoor lighting visible from the beach during nesting season as well. We plan beach-facing fixtures to its code before we quote.

HOAs and fixtures. Some HOAs set fixture color, finish and brightness. We read the covenant before we pick the fixtures.

Where we build
Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, James Island, Johns Island, West Ashley, Daniel Island, Summerville, Hanahan and Goose Creek.
Straight answers

Landscape lighting questions Charleston homeowners ask us.

How many lights does my yard need?

Fewer than most people expect. A typical front yard takes eight to fifteen fixtures: the walk, the steps, one or two trees and the entry. We plan it at dusk before we quote the count.

LED or halogen?

LED. It uses a fraction of the power, lasts for years and now comes in warm color temperatures. We use warm white, around 2700K, which reads like lamplight.

Do I need an electrician?

Only for a new outdoor outlet or circuit, which licensed trades handle. We install the transformer, the cable and the fixtures.

What are the sea turtle lighting rules?

On Isle of Palms, lights visible from the beach must be off or shielded at night from May 1 to October 31. Sullivan’s Island restricts beach-visible outdoor lighting during nesting season too. We shield and time beachfront fixtures to fit.

Will the lights survive salt air?

Brass and copper fixtures hold up near the water. Cheap aluminum fixtures pit and fail in a few seasons.

How long does lighting take to install?

A typical yard takes a day or two to install, then an evening to aim the fixtures.

Get your number

Send the yard, take the price.

A few photos of the front and back, and what you want to see at night. That is enough for a real number the same day.

Request an estimate Call (843) 864-6504
More hardscaping

While we are on the property.

01 Hardscaping Every hardscape service in one place 02 Yard drainage French drains and dry creek beds 03 Irrigation Sprinklers, drip and controllers 04 Paver patios Patios, seating walls and pool edges