TM Hughes & Son Electrical Services is your local Billericay Electrician and lighting specialist.
Call – 01277 801560
We are NICIEC-registered Electricians offering
- Lighting Installation
- Lighting Upgrades
- Lighting Repairs
Our services cover all types of Lighting for domestic and commercial properties.
- Indoor Lighting
- Exterior Lighting
- Commercial Lighting
- Security lighting
Indoor Lighting
Indoor Lighting is primarily used for practical purposes such as moving around safely. Lighting is also used for undertaking tasks and as decoration. Various lighting methods are easiest explained in directions.
Down Lights
Downlights are the most commonly used in homes across the globe. A light fitting on the ceiling points the lights downward, illuminating the room. Ceilings are the most efficient position for lighting up an area maximally. The traditional ceiling rose (usually accompanied by a lampshade) is the most typical downlight found in homes.
Uplights
Uplights point the light to the ceiling, which then bounces down, illuminating the room. Uplights are less harsh. Bouncing the light off a white ceiling diffuses the light, creating a more pleasant effect. Uplights are relatively common in Billericay homes.
Back Lights
Backlighting is an aesthetic technique behind furniture or ceiling fixtures to create a special effect. Not often seen in homes around the area, it is generally utilised by those who want to create something extraordinary in their homes.
The above lights will be used for one of these purposes.
- Standard Lighting – illuminates your home when it’s dark and there’s not enough natural light. They are usually fitted on the ceiling.
- Task Lighting – Task lighting helps you cook, clean, shave, make up, sew, read, etc. They are placed in areas where the tasks are performed.
- Decorative Lighting – Decorative Lighting enhances the look of your home, usually placed on walls, above, below, and behind features to create the desired effect.
Standard Lights
Pendants
Pendants hang from the ceiling and usually hold a single bulb and lampshade. Some Pendants will have 2-3 bulbs to shine light in multiple directions instead of just down.
Chandeliers
Chandeliers are highly attractive ceiling lights that are commonly made from decorative metal. Gold, silver, brass, copper and chrome Chandeliers are standard, coloured glass has become popular recently, and endless designs are available to suit all home styles. Chandeliers can be heavy, so they are built to withstand their weight. Some may require additional support.
Recessed Lights
Recessed lights sit inside the ceiling. Recesses are cut to the size of the light; each light has a ‘frame’ that grips into the ceiling. The design makes recessed lights space-saving and friendly. Recessed lights have a decorative ‘trim’ exposed, which creates the look of the light.
Flush Lights
Flush lights sit against the ceiling. Useful when you want to save space, and recessed isn’t an option. Lots of bathroom lights are flush, incorporating a sealed design to keep dampness and moisture at bay.
Semi Flush Lights
Semi-flush lights hang but stay close to the ceiling, which is a good compromise between a chandelier and flush Lighting that works well in the kitchen and dining room.
Track Lights
Multiple lights are fitted onto a ceiling-mounted track. The lights can be moved and pointed in different directions, allowing the illumination of different areas from one location.
Wall Lights
Wall lights are generally softer than ceiling lights. They can be used on their own or in conjunction with downlights. Wall lights can also be used for tasks in some situations.
Single Arm Wall Lights
A single bulb fitted to an arm that attaches to the wall. The arms can be fixed or adjustable to be pointed in different directions. Some have lampshades. Some don’t.
Double Arm Wall Lights
Double arms use two arms and two bulbs, which are usually fixed. As there are two bulbs, less powerful bulbs are generally used. Again, some incorporate lampshades.
Uplighters
Uplighters shine the light upwards, and bulbs are fitted and covered so the light can only go ‘up’ They enhance the walls they’re fitted to and provide good all-around illumination throughout the room.
Up & Down Lights
Shines the light up and down along the wall and uses two bulbs.
Flush Wall Lights
Flush wall lights sit flush with the wall. The design ensures no space is wasted, and the light shines outwards.
Picture & Mirror Lights
They are specially designed to sit above mirrors and pictures. Mirror lights make it easier to perform mirror tasks, while picture lights make pictures stand out and more noticeable.
Light Bulbs
When installing new Lighting, the bulbs need to be considered carefully. Light bulbs are available in different sizes, colours and wattages. We can work out the best bulbs for your space by measuring the room and considering the required number of lights and bulbs.
Incandescent
Incandescent bulbs dominated homes across the globe for over a century until the introduction of long-life bulbs appeared in the ’90s. Incandescent bulbs are also known as traditional bulbs, which consist of an airtight glass bubble and tungsten wire that lights up as electricity flows through. Incandescent Bulbs can still be purchased, although they are gradually being phased out, making way for modern LED bulbs.
LED
LED bulbs use considerably less energy than incandescent bulbs. They also last for a significantly longer time. LED bulbs use 75% less energy and last 50 times longer. Expect your LED bulb to last around 50000 hours. LED bulbs don’t get anywhere near as hot as traditional bulbs, combined with lower energy usage, making them much better for the environment. LEDs are much better at converting energy to light. An 8w LED bulb will emit the same light as a 60w incandescent bulb. LED bulbs are more expensive but more economical in the long run.
Smart LED
An app controls smart LED bulbs on your phone. With smart technology, you can control the lightbulbs in your home from anywhere. Smart bulbs can be dimmed, brightened, timed, automated, adjusted, etc. Some smart bulbs have settings that help you sleep. Others can work with your sound systems and TV, adjusting the sound/music.
Compact Fluorescent
Compact Fluorescent bulbs offered an energy-saving alternative to incandescent bulbs. They were bigger, awkwardly shaped and included hazardous materials. Compact Fluorescent bulbs are going to be phased out shortly.
Planning A Lighting Installation
When designing a new lighting installation, we plan on a room-by-room basis, considering your tastes and preferences. Our process allows our Electricians to build the perfect lighting installation.
Ideally, Lighting should always be planned before the building commences. Sadly, it’s often left as an afterthought, leading to sub-par Lighting. Our qualified electricians have undertaken many Lighting installations in Billericay over the years. All installations are meticulously planned from the beginning.
Building Regulations
All lighting installations must be fitted and signed off by a fully qualified electrician. Rest assured when using TM Hughes & Son Electrical services. All installations will adhere to the current building regulations. Our Electricians are NICEIC-registered domestic installers. Your installation will be safe, legal and accompanied by the required certification.
How We Plan Installations
Here’s what we take into consideration when planning a new lighting installation.
Has The Lighting Already Been Planned?
If you have recently had an extension or new build, even your builder or architect may have already planned the Lighting. In this instance, we can work on their existing plans.
Size Of Room?
The first step is to measure the size of the room. Established room size helps us determine the number of lights needed, the bulbs needed, and the bulbs’ wattage.
Use Of Room?
Some rooms require more light than other bathrooms, and kitchens need more light to carry out tasks; living rooms need less light.
Who Uses The Lights?
The choice of light will depend on the age of the people living in the home. Couples with young children will have different lighting requirements than those with age-related eye issues. Old eyes generally require more light and more task lighting.
When Is The Room Used?
This will vary from household to household rooms mainly used during the day and require less Lighting than rooms only used at night.
Windows, Radiators & Other Permanent Fixtures?
All homes have permanent fixtures such as windows and radiators. Windows let natural light in, so we tend to place lights away from windows. Rooms with Velux windows on the roof will always let in lots of light, even some light when it’s dark. Radiators are a necessary evil. While they provide lovely heat, they generally don’t look great, so Lighting does not purposely enhance them.
Ceiling Height?
Ceiling height will help determine the type of light-fitted, high ceiling over a dining table. Then, a large chandelier may be in order. Shallow ceiling? A chandelier won’t work, and recessed lights will work much better.
Architectural Features?
Special architectural features include arches, alcoves, vaulted ceilings, feature walls, fireplaces and more. Lighting can and should enhance these attractive features, so they are also considered.
Other Features?
Not all features are natural or permanent. You may have family photos on the wall you want illuminating, a large decorative mirror. Or a prized model boat, perhaps? Anything special to you can be illuminated so it stands out.
Furniture Position?
Lighting needs to work with the furniture. Lighting helps with cooking under the kitchen cabinet and enhances the kitchen’s overall look. Seating areas are made more homely with chandeliers. Low pendant lighting works well with dining tables. Where the furniture is (or is going) is factored into the planning.
Natural Light?
Where does the natural light come in? What direction does it come from? What times of day does the natural light illuminate the room? And where? Lighting will work with the natural light supplied via your windows and doors.
Light Switch Position?
Where are your current light switches? Will the positions work well with the new lighting installation? Where is the most convenient place to put the switches if it’s a new build or extension? Where would you like to see new switches?
Decoration?
What are the colours of the room? Do you want the lights to match your decor? What light tones would work best with your current or new decor?
What Do You Like?
Ultimately, this is your Lighting. We can go through the options so you can pick your favourite lights, bulb colours and switches.
Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor Lighting is important for both the warm and colder months. During the long summer evenings, patio, wall and deck lights illuminate your outdoor living areas, allowing you to sit comfortably and entertain guests.
Safety & Security
Outdoor Lighting also provides safety so homeowners/tenants and guests can move around and see where they’re going, avoiding any trip hazards.
Exterior Lighting provides a vital security aspect, as well as illuminating poorly lit areas such as driveways and garages to deter unwelcome intruders while enhancing the aesthetic qualities of your home.
The Right Lights & Bulbs
Outdoor Lighting needs to be done correctly to achieve the correct effect. Outdoor areas are similar to indoor areas because they need the right amount of lights and strength bulbs.
Over or under-illumination can kill the atmosphere. Let one of our experienced lighting experts design and install your outdoor Lighting, and we’ll get it right.
Types Of Outdoor Light
There are various types of outdoor light, each serving a different function and providing a different effect. The best lights for your property will depend on your outdoor area size/shape, function, and space features.
- Wall Lights – Attached to exterior walls, available in many designs and materials, they can sit flush, protrude from the wall, shine outwards, up or down, depending on the effect you want to create.
- Ceiling Lights – Outdoor ceiling lights for porches and covered outdoor areas with a solid ceiling. Sit flush or recessed.
- Bollard Lights – Short post lights are generally fitted in multiples and are ideal for lighting up paths and driveways.
- Post Lights – Tall lamp post-style lights commonly used at the front of driveways.
- Spot Lights – Fitted to the wall or in the ground, spotlights are adjustable and multi-directional.
- Floor Lights – Sit on the floor and can be pointed in different directions.
- Brick – Brick-sized lights that sit flush and fit into walls like a brick.
- Recessed Floor Lights – Lights are fitted into the floor and shine upwards, making them popular for decking.
- Pendant Lights – Another form of ceiling light that hangs, decorative by design.
Modern Bulbs
The latest energy-saving light bulbs accompany all outdoor Lighting we provide.
Security Lighting
Apart from secure locks on your doors and windows, security lighting is the best way to protect your property. This applies to both the home and business.
The commercial business was the first to utilise security lighting. Homeowners soon caught on, and security lights deter criminals, from petty vandals to organised burglars.
We install all types of security lighting for both domestic and commercial properties. Combining a good security lighting system with alarms, CCTV, and decent locks makes your home/business seem like an impenetrable fortress to vandals and thieves.
Motion Sensor Security Lighting
Motion sensor lighting is the best type of security lighting. Motion sensor lighting remains off most of the time and is activated by movement. When the sensors are disturbed, a bright light comes on until the person who activated it has moved.
Motion sensor lighting is incredibly cost-effective as the bulbs are often off. Motion sensor lighting is placed around dimly lit and/or vulnerable areas such as garages and driveways (home) entrances, windows and fire escapes (commercial properties).
Motion sensor lighting increases safety by illuminating dark areas when walked into. The addition of security lighting will sometimes bring down home and business insurance.
Commercial Lighting
If you run any commercial operation, whether it’s a burger van or a large distribution warehouse, it’s essential that the correct Lighting for the job is installed.
Our commercial electricians install and upgrade all types of commercial Lighting.
Save Energy Increase Productivity
You may already have premises with dated, energy-heavy Lighting. Let us upgrade your lights to modern versions with energy-saving LED bulbs. You will save a substantial amount of money, and your employees will likely be happier and more productive. Research has shown that poor Lighting contributes to lower work performance and employee unhappiness.
Contact Us
We can send an electrician out for a free, no-obligation survey/quote. The electrician will work out the best lights and bulbs for your business’s needs, allowing you to operate under the best Lighting.
Please contact us using the phone number or email below.
Hi, I’m Terry, the founder and owner of TM Hughes & Son Electrical Services
Please get in touch to book an appointment or receive a free, no-obligation quote
Call: 01277 801560