How would you light this dry-stacked stone wall?
irrig8r
1 - 20 of 33 Posts
Joined
·
4,601 Posts
My connection is slow tonight, so I couldn't edit the above with more info, so here it is:
This is a path that goes from the bocce court at one end to the wine cellar at the other. Two staircases descend from the pool/ patio/ outdoor dining area. These clients do a lot of entertaining. They expect a lot of foot traffic throughout.
The path is approx. 325 ft. from one end to the other. It's about 8 ft. wide, with a landing (not shown) that adds 6 ft. width in a spot in between the stairways, that will be a seating area and a wrought iron fence (not done yet) along the top of the lower wall (path level).
The rocks in the wall are not stable enough to do any serious core drilling. I'm looking for something small and inconspicuous, like maybe (I've heard of doing this) the Nightscaping Seegarliter placed horizontally a foot down from the top of the wall and projecting out 3 or 4 inches.
Along the stairs I could use some conventional copper pathlight fixtures on the higher side at the top of the wall, but I'm concerned about glare when seen from below. Maybe something with an adjustable top like one of those that Unique or FX offers?
There is uplighting of some parts of the upper walls to do, but I have to avoid glare into the eyes of people going down the stairs too.
Anyway, I think this is going to take some experimenting to deal with the glare issues in all directions.
Any thoughts?
This is a path that goes from the bocce court at one end to the wine cellar at the other. Two staircases descend from the pool/ patio/ outdoor dining area. These clients do a lot of entertaining. They expect a lot of foot traffic throughout.
The path is approx. 325 ft. from one end to the other. It's about 8 ft. wide, with a landing (not shown) that adds 6 ft. width in a spot in between the stairways, that will be a seating area and a wrought iron fence (not done yet) along the top of the lower wall (path level).
The rocks in the wall are not stable enough to do any serious core drilling. I'm looking for something small and inconspicuous, like maybe (I've heard of doing this) the Nightscaping Seegarliter placed horizontally a foot down from the top of the wall and projecting out 3 or 4 inches.
Along the stairs I could use some conventional copper pathlight fixtures on the higher side at the top of the wall, but I'm concerned about glare when seen from below. Maybe something with an adjustable top like one of those that Unique or FX offers?
There is uplighting of some parts of the upper walls to do, but I have to avoid glare into the eyes of people going down the stairs too.
Anyway, I think this is going to take some experimenting to deal with the glare issues in all directions.
Any thoughts?
Joined
·
3,350 Posts
Gregg, here is my idea from what I can see in the picture.
1. the staircase- I would find a large fairly flat stone probably 2/3 to 3/4 of the way to the top. I would drill a 1/2 hole through the stone from the front to the back. I would mount a Unique Gemini on the stone to downlight the wall and the stairs. Just find like stones to mount to all the way down the staircase at even intervals if possible, for even lighting. Not only are you not able to core out the steps, but in this case you wouldn't want to because of glare and trying to negotiate steps.
2. On the outside walls I would use a well light with a good spread lense at a predetermined interval along the base of the walls. I don't see any place to hide a tranny so you will probably have to run power down that wall somewhere and I would use a subteranean tranny to hide it.
(oh yeah, double stack your well or get a fixture with a deep socket to fight glare.)
1. the staircase- I would find a large fairly flat stone probably 2/3 to 3/4 of the way to the top. I would drill a 1/2 hole through the stone from the front to the back. I would mount a Unique Gemini on the stone to downlight the wall and the stairs. Just find like stones to mount to all the way down the staircase at even intervals if possible, for even lighting. Not only are you not able to core out the steps, but in this case you wouldn't want to because of glare and trying to negotiate steps.
2. On the outside walls I would use a well light with a good spread lense at a predetermined interval along the base of the walls. I don't see any place to hide a tranny so you will probably have to run power down that wall somewhere and I would use a subteranean tranny to hide it.
(oh yeah, double stack your well or get a fixture with a deep socket to fight glare.)
Joined
·
4,664 Posts
looks like the foothills area north of stanford to me.
On the paths perhaps you can use shorter ones... Coppermoon has a really nice compact path we are very happy with. You may wanna check with a west coast distributor or terradek on thoes.
On the uplights its going to be tough i think. Is there more landscape planned around the paths ?
I would almost say your over thinking this... Why not traditional deck lights since the wall is unstable to core drill ? I think Cast deck lights would look great on this wall but thats just my opinion. I would lean that way then use some small wash lights in other areas to show off the levels of the wall and possibly some other fixtures mixed in but I would try to keep it from being too busy... looks like the got a simple look of a wall and path that you could of seen 100 years ago. I would try to keep the lighting in mind with that. If they are planning iron railings on the stairs you could also see about doing some fiber optics or other linear lighting recessed into the bottom of the railings ???
On the paths perhaps you can use shorter ones... Coppermoon has a really nice compact path we are very happy with. You may wanna check with a west coast distributor or terradek on thoes.
On the uplights its going to be tough i think. Is there more landscape planned around the paths ?
I would almost say your over thinking this... Why not traditional deck lights since the wall is unstable to core drill ? I think Cast deck lights would look great on this wall but thats just my opinion. I would lean that way then use some small wash lights in other areas to show off the levels of the wall and possibly some other fixtures mixed in but I would try to keep it from being too busy... looks like the got a simple look of a wall and path that you could of seen 100 years ago. I would try to keep the lighting in mind with that. If they are planning iron railings on the stairs you could also see about doing some fiber optics or other linear lighting recessed into the bottom of the railings ???
Joined
·
4,601 Posts
Not familiar enough with the Unique line to know the Gemini by name. I'll have to look. Not really interested in coring the steps themselves, looking to light them from the walls as needed.
Well lights close in might work. Not sure how well that crushed gravel is packed, but it won't be changing to anything like asphalt or concrete. There's a wider maintenance road at the bottom of the lower slope, so the path doesn't need to be used for any vehicles either.
Thanks.
BTW, might be worth buying an auger for that many well lights...
Joined
·
4,601 Posts
The deck lights is something they used elsewhere... same shape but cheaper than the Cast... Luma Landscape Lighting product.. black finish is already fading in 4 years
I was looking to try something less conventional.
Thanks for your input.
BTW, it's above Los Gatos. Close though
Joined
·
4,106 Posts
Gregg
At the steps and landings, I would lean first towards some sort of core-drill fixture like a Hunza steplite. Then I would look towards something like the Seegarliter or the Hunza Twig, inserted into the stone wall at various points. Only problem with the second method would be spacing and beam spread.
As for the longer walls along the gravel pathway... I would be using an inground (well-light) spaced evenly, with a grate or other glare reducing accessory.
I hope your client's are ready for the quote! That is going to be one expensive walk way to light....
Let us know how you procede.
Have a great day.
At the steps and landings, I would lean first towards some sort of core-drill fixture like a Hunza steplite. Then I would look towards something like the Seegarliter or the Hunza Twig, inserted into the stone wall at various points. Only problem with the second method would be spacing and beam spread.
As for the longer walls along the gravel pathway... I would be using an inground (well-light) spaced evenly, with a grate or other glare reducing accessory.
I hope your client's are ready for the quote! That is going to be one expensive walk way to light....
Let us know how you procede.
Have a great day.
Joined
·
891 Posts
I would try stellars with the knuckle cut off & linear spread lense along with apollos with linear spread lense and glare guards
Joined
·
4,601 Posts
I'm going to look into pricing on these FX fixtures. The MR-11 uplight is a new one to me. 8,000 hrs. for the Xenolux sounds promising. And 4" diam. sounds good. With the glare shield of course.
http://www.fxl.com/products/documents/119463464318660144.pdf
The Unique Nova also looks interesting. Not sure how they can squeeze an MR-16 into that diameter housing though...
http://www.uniquelighting.com/Spec Sheets/Nova.pdf
I also like the FX CG, and the ML-20 is a smaller version of it. Still 4.85 " across though. For on the walls above the steps.
http://www.fxl.com/products/documents/119463380518656432.pdf
And I might be able to get Nightscaping to customize a Seegarliter with a flat/ blunt end so it doesn't look quite so phallic. Fits OK in 1" conduit.
http://www.nightscaping.com/pdfs/seegar_gd7520cu.pdf
http://www.fxl.com/products/documents/119463464318660144.pdf
The Unique Nova also looks interesting. Not sure how they can squeeze an MR-16 into that diameter housing though...
http://www.uniquelighting.com/Spec Sheets/Nova.pdf
I also like the FX CG, and the ML-20 is a smaller version of it. Still 4.85 " across though. For on the walls above the steps.
http://www.fxl.com/products/documents/119463380518656432.pdf
And I might be able to get Nightscaping to customize a Seegarliter with a flat/ blunt end so it doesn't look quite so phallic. Fits OK in 1" conduit.
http://www.nightscaping.com/pdfs/seegar_gd7520cu.pdf
Joined
·
4,106 Posts
Gregg... I like that FX CG fixture, and while you are looking at small diameter/footprint inground well lights, you might want to check into these from Intense! Lighting:
http://www.intenselighting.com/productinfo.php?id=356
They are quite nice... I used some this past spring in a drive-over situation to highlight some Wrought Iron gates. They are rugged, and to my surprise and delight, have had no water ingress to date. They come with a grated lens for glare control and you can also fit a honeycomb glare louver to the lamp with a clip. They are a nice, small dia. inground.
Have a great day.
(P.S. Jack is doing well, and I will send out an update to all the friends and family just as soon as we get home... Not sure if that will be today or tomorrow at this point.)
Joined
·
4,601 Posts
BTW, never heard of Intense! lighting before. They look like they're probably up there in a price range w/ Hunza, Vision3, BK, etc.
Looks like they are in Anaheim...
So what is it about so many lighting companies in Southern Cal? Could it have anything to do with a labor pool of so many skilled defense plant workers (machinists) laid off in the eighties and early nineties?
Is it that people live outdoors more of the year?
Looks like they are in Anaheim...
So what is it about so many lighting companies in Southern Cal? Could it have anything to do with a labor pool of so many skilled defense plant workers (machinists) laid off in the eighties and early nineties?
Is it that people live outdoors more of the year?
Joined
·
4,601 Posts
I was just browsing the Nightscaping catalog and ran across the Sazliter. This looks interesting at only 2.5" across. I'm going to check with the factory. I know they could replace the standard SCB with a wedge base with no hassle. I wonder if it might also be wide enough for an MR-11 ??? Now that would be a very low profile uplight.
http://www.nightscaping.com/sazliter.htm
And being brass, it should have a lifetime warranty, right James?
http://www.nightscaping.com/sazliter.htm
And being brass, it should have a lifetime warranty, right James?
Joined
·
196 Posts
If you would like to try our DS-1 Stainless steel deck light. try mounting with a bracket that would slide in or lag it to the rock/ wall at even levels. Normal wholesale is $47. We will accommodate and ship direct to you for $25 each.
![Image]()
![Image]()
Joined
·
196 Posts
We make the same item in solid brass also.
Joined
·
1,295 Posts
Given the nature of the wall - very irregular and loose, I would avoid deck-type lights. Also tons of labor. Thinking also of consistency in design, I would look to light both stairs and paths in the same way. The obvious conclusion would be to use china-hat type path lights spaced about 10 ft. apart just behind the uphill side of the stone walls. Where possible you could have path lights on the opposing side as well. Of course, being sure to select path lights with no glare when viewed from below.
I also see a nice pergola at the top of the path - that may be a useful mount for a downlight for addtional illumination at the path head.
I also see a nice pergola at the top of the path - that may be a useful mount for a downlight for addtional illumination at the path head.
Joined
·
4,601 Posts
Thanks Steve. Good observation- there already is one there at the top landing shining from above... a tacky fixture from Luma. I'd like to do something better there too as part of renovating the entire lighting system.... first this project to get my foot in the door. Check your PMs.
Joined
·
960 Posts
Is this really a great idea to mention wholesale prices openly? Couldn't this have been done in PM? How's a guy to make a decent markup when his cost is laid bare for the public to see. Thank you.
1 - 20 of 33 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
