Lighting Billericay

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 used behind furniture or ceiling fixtures to create a special effect. Not often seen in homes around the area, 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 – Standard Lighting illuminates your home when it’s dark, and there’s not enough natural light present. 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 in recent years, there are endless designs available to suit all styles of home. Chandeliers can be heavy so are built to withstand their own 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’ which grips into the ceiling. The design makes recessed lights space-saving friendly. Recessed lights have a decorative ‘trim’ exposed which creates the look of the light.

Flush Lights

Flush lights sit against the ceiling. Useful for when you want to save space and recessed isn’t an option. Lots of bathroom lights are flush incorporating a sealed design to keep damp and moisture at bay.

Semi Flush Lights

Semi-flush lights hang but stay close to the ceiling, a good compromise between a chandelier and flush Lighting that work 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 bulbs fitted to an arm that attaches to the wall. The arms can be fixed or adjustable so they can 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, bulbs are fitted, and covered son the light can only go ‘up’ they enhance the walls they’re fitted to and provide good all-round illumination throughout the room.

Up & Down Lights

Shines the light up and down along the wall, uses two bulbs.

Flush Wall Lights

Flush wall lights sit flush to 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 taking into account the number of lights and bulbs required.

Incandescent

Incandescent bulbs dominated in homes across the globe for over a century, until the introduction of long-life bulbs made an appearance in the 90’s. Incandescent bulbs are also known as traditional bulbs consisting of an airtight glass bubble and tungsten wire which 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 to 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 make them much better for the environment. LED’s 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 to purchase but work out more economical in the long run.

Smart LED

Smart LED bulbs are controlled by an app on your phone with smart technology it’s possible to 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 in conjunction with your sound systems and tv, adjusting with 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, taking into account your own personal tastes and preferences. Our process allows our Electricians to build the perfect lighting installation.

Ideally, Lighting should always be planned before building commences, sadly it’s often left as an afterthought which can lead to sub-par Lighting. Our qualified electricians have installed lots of Lighting 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 work out the number of lights needed, the bulbs needed and the wattage of bulbs.

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?

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 older people with age-related eye issues. Old eyes generally require more light and more task lighting.

When Is The Room Used?

This will vary on household to household rooms that are mainly used in the day 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 in 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 are not enhanced purposely by Lighting.

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. Very low 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. These attractive features can and should be enhanced with Lighting so are taken into consideration also.

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. Under kitchen cabinet lighting helps with cooking and enhances the overall look of the kitchen. 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 in from? What times of day does the natural light illuminate the room? And where? Lighting is planned to 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? If it’s a new build or extension wheres the most convenient place to put the switches? 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 evenings of summer patio, wall and deck lights illuminate your outdoor living areas allowing you to sit in comfort and entertain guests.

Outdoor Lighting also provides safety so homeowners/tenants and guests can move around and see where they’re going avoiding any trip hazards on the way.

Exterior Lighting provides a vital security aspect also illuminating poorly lit areas such as driveways and garages deters unwelcome intruders, while enhancing the aesthetic qualities of your home.

Outdoor Lighting needs to be done right to achieve the correct effect. Outdoor areas are similar to indoor areas in that they need the right amount of lights and the correct strength bulbs.

Over or under illumination can totally kill the atmosphere. Let one of our experienced lighting experts design and install your outdoor lighting, and we’ll get it just 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 features of the space.

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 that 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 fitted into walls like a brick.

Recessed Floor Lights – Lights are fitted into the floor and shine upwards, popular for decking.

Pendant Lights – Another form of ceiling light which hangs, decorative by design.

Modern Bulbs

All outdoor Lighting fitted by us is accompanied by the latest energy-saving light bulbs.

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, 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 lighting is the best type of Lighting for security. Motion sensor lighting remains off most of the time and is activated by movement. When the sensors disturbed a bright light comes on and remains on until well after the person who activated it has moved.

Motion sensor lighting is incredibly cost-effective as the bulbs are off most of the time. 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 bring-down home and business insurance in some instances.

Commercial Lighting

If you run any type of commercial operation whether it’s a burger van or a large distribution warehouse it’s essential the correct Lighting for the job is installed.

Our commercial electricians install and upgrade all types of commercial Lighting.

You may already have premises with dated energy heavy lighting, let us upgrade your lights to modern versions with energy-saving LED bulbs. Not only will you save a substantial amount of money your employees will likely be happier and more productive too. Research has shown that poor Lighting contributes to lower work performance and employee unhappiness.

We can send an electrician out to undertake a free no-obligation survey/quote. The electrician will work out the best lights and bulbs for your businesses needs allowing you to operate under the best possible Lighting.

If you’d like to discuss your Lighting needs further would like to a free no-obligation quote, please get in touch using the phone number for the contact form below