Lighting Brentwood

TM Hughes & Son are NICIEC domestic installers who specialise in all Electrical work, including Lighting.

Call Us Today – 01277 801560

We undertake all lighting installations, upgrades and repairs for domestic and commercial properties.

This includes all types of lighting, indoor, exterior and security. Whatever your lighting needs, we will deliver.

Domestic Lighting

Lighting will make or break the look of your home. Correct lighting design by one of our experienced Electricians will significantly enhance your indoor living areas’ overall look and feel.

There are literally thousands of different lights on the market with hundreds of different bulbs available. Choosing the correct lights and bulbs can be a minefield. The simplest way to choose a light for any given area or situation is to establish the primary purpose.

General Lighting

General, standard or ambient Lighting provides basic but essential illumination so you can use your home (in safety) after dark.

Task Lighting

Certain household tasks are easier if the work area has extra Lighting. Task Lighting is installed in kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and living areas to aid in cooking, shaving, make-up and reading.

Decorative Lighting

Decorative lights are more subtle than general lights and set the tone and atmosphere of each room. Lights are strategically placed and manipulated with coloured bulbs, lampshades and positioning.

Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor Lighting illuminates your outdoor living areas while providing safety and security.

Commercial Lighting

We offer a full range of commercial electrical services to the businesses of Brentwood.

Optimal Lighting is invaluable when it comes to the health and productivity of your employees. 

We design and install modern lighting installations with the latest energy-saving LED bulbs. We can work together to create the perfect lighting system for your premises and workflow.

A survey undertaken by one of our Electricians will allow us to write a free-no obligation quote.

We ensure commercial work is finished within the specified timeframe with as little disruption to your everyday business as possible. Sometimes, it’s possible to work around your business hours, so there’s no disruption at all.

Commercial Lighting includes General ambient lighting, task, security and emergency lighting.

Security Lighting

Protect your home and business with motion sensor security lighting. Dark outdoor areas are attractive to unwanted visitors who may want to damage or rob your property.

Install outdoor motion sensor lighting, and the area will light up as soon as intruders walk in—a cheap to run (lights are off most of the time) but highly effective deterrent. The lights are correctly set by one of our expert Electricians, ensuring cats, and wild animals do not activate the lights. The lights won’t come on in the day automatically.

Motion sensor security lighting is useful for lighting walkways, convenient when you need to go to an outbuilding after dark, no need to wire in or flick a switch, just walk outside.

Where To Place Security Lighting

Domestic Properties

• Driveways
• Garages
• Sides of house
• Front of house
• Backdoor
• Outdoor Walkways
• Sheds

Commercial Properties

• Entrances
• Fire Escapes
• Sides of building
• Vulnerable windows
• Shutter doors
• Dimly lit parking areas
• Outdoor storage areas

All Security lighting fitted includes the latest energy-saving LED bulbs and includes a free, no-obligation quote.

Lighting Installation Planning

When having extensions or extensive refurbishments, Lighting should be planned simultaneously as the rest of the work. This way, Lighting can be designed and installed to the best possible standards and will work correctly with your refurbishment.

Our Electricians have undertaken many lighting installations over the years and use stringent procedures in both the design and installation process.

Installing Lighting correctly takes planning with several factors to take into consideration. These include

Building Regulations

The first thing to take into account is the building regulations. All Electrical work must be completed to regulation standards and signed off by a certified Electrician.

TM Hughes & Son are NICEIC Domestic Installers who are well-versed and keep up to date with the current building regulations.

All lighting installations designed and built by us are safe and comply with Building Regulations. The correct certification is also issued. Rest assured, you won’t have any legal headaches after the work’s completed.

Existing Lighting Plans

You may already have lighting plans supplied by your architect or builder. If so, we’re happy to work on these plans. Otherwise, we’ll design the lighting installation for you.

Size Of Each Room

Every room is measured to determine the number of lights needed, and bulb strength, lights and bulbs are then adjusted as necessary in accordance with the other factors.

Use Of Each Room

The room used for ‘work’ rooms, such as kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms, and offices, will likely require extra task lighting, while living rooms and bedrooms will likely require more subtle Lighting.

Time Of Day Each Room Is Occupied

Required lighting levels vary from day to night. It’s pointless installing multiple lights in a room that’s rarely used at night. In this case, a single light may suffice.

Age Of People Using The Lighting

As a general rule of thumb, the younger you are, the less light you require. Establishing ages allows us to determine the ideal bulb strength; we can also take any eye conditions house members may have.

Furniture Position

Lighting can and should be made to work with your furniture. Dining tables benefit from extra illumination. Reading chairs will benefit from a reading light; you may want to backlight your armchairs to make the living room feel more homely.

Radiators & Windows

In most cases, radiators will want to remain hidden. However, if you have an expensive designer radiator, you may want it illuminated so it stands out. Lights are generally kept away from windows which provide natural light during the day and are covered at night.

Architectural Features

Lighting installations are designed around the structure of your home. Ceiling height will decide between a chandelier and recessed lights, for example, and you may want a feature wall or fireplace to stand out, highlight an arch or uplight a corridor from the floor.

Natural Light

Windows and glass doors provide ample light to rooms. We take note of the light direction and time of day the light is most potent, which depends on the direction the windows facing (south-facing windows get more light than north-facing windows)

Location Of Light Switches

You may be used to the positioning of your current light switches, and the position may work well with the new installation. Otherwise, we’ll move the switches somewhere more convenient.

Light Styles & Designs

Once we have worked out the best way to build your installation, you choose the style of lights you like to your own taste. There are hundreds of styles to choose from, with new styles coming onto the market regularly.

Light Types

We install all types of lights and bulbs for domestic properties. Each type of light serves a specific purpose or provides a certain effect. Different types of lights (and bulbs) can be combined in any room to create a truly unique effect.

Lighting Directions

Indoor Lighting will generally shine up or down or will be pointed in a certain direction. Some lights shine outwards. Whatever lights you choose, they will light in a certain direction and, in some cases, multiple directions.

Down Lighting

Downlights are the most common form of Lighting attached to the ceiling. They shine downwards, lighting up the room. Most downlights are covered to make the light more subtle and pleasant.

Up Lighting

Uplights shine light upwards. The ceiling acts as a diffuser bouncing the light back down onto the room.

Directional Lighting

Directional Lighting is set to point in a specific direction.

Back Lighting

Lighting’s fitted behind an object to create a special effect or highlight a feature.

Lighting Uses

Lighting can be broken down into three types

Ambient

Ambient Lighting is used to light up your homes. The downlights attached to your ceiling are the best example of ambient lighting, which allows you to move around your home freely in safety.

Task

Task lighting is added as extra luminance to assist day-to-day tasks such as cooking, cleaning, grooming and reading.

Accent

Accent lighting is to add dimension to your room and enhances features. Under the counter and under the kitchen unit is an example of accent lighting, doubling up as task lighting.

Decorative

Decorative Lighting is there purely for decoration, not for illumination, creating a special look or effect.

Ambient Lights

Pendants – Pendant lights hang from the ceiling. A standard pendant will hold single bulb others hold several bulbs. Pendant lights usually feature a shade. Some have naked bulbs with a lower wattage.

Chandeliers – Chandeliers are larger-styled lights featuring metal and glass (or both) holding multiple bulbs that either point up or down (depending on the design). Chandeliers are typically heavier than pendant lights, so they must be fixed securely to the ceiling.

Flush – A compact design that sits flush to the ceiling. Available in a range of thicknesses and designs. Most bathroom lights are flush and sealed to prevent moisture from entering.

Semi Flush – Sit very close to the ceiling but still have some ‘hang’ a good compromise between a flush light and a chandelier.

Recessed – Recessed lights sit inside the ceiling, and holes a cut into the ceiling for the lights to fit. The ideal light for older properties with low ceilings.

Track – A series of spotlights (usually between 3-6) sit inside a track mounted onto the ceiling. The lights can be moved and pointed in different directions.

Ambient Wall Lights

By diffusing the light on the ceiling, wall lighting is generally milder and more pleasing to the eye than downlighting.

Arm – Arm wall lights feature a single arm and bulb or a double arm and two bulbs. Some feature lampshaded others are adjustable and can be pointed in different directions.

Uplighters – Uplighters sit flush close to the wall. The bulb is covered around the sides the light shines upward.

Up & Down – Up and down wall lights shine lights both up and down. The uplight illuminates the room while the downlight lights up the wall beneath, creating a unique visual effect.

Flush – Flush wall lights sit close to the wall. The bulbs are not covered, so light shines around and up.

Strip – Useful for lighting pictures, mirrors, desks and sometimes worktops.

Light Bulbs

To achieve the best possible Lighting for your space, the correct light bulbs must be fitted. There are different types, sizes, colours and wattages. We can work out the exact amount of bulbs, type and power outage required based on the size of your room, the purpose of the room and your individual needs and wants.

Incandescent

The original light bulb, Incandescents, uses a wire filament sealed in airtight glass. The filament illuminates when powered by electricity. Incandescent bulbs are cheap to buy but last nowhere near as long as modern LED bulbs. Incandescent bulbs are slowly but surely being phased out across Europe.

Halogen

Halogen bulbs are energy efficient but don’t last as long as any other types of bulbs. Halogens also get hot quickly. As with Incandescent bulbs, halogens are making way for LED bulbs.

Compact Fluorescent

Energy-efficient bulbs that are available in a wide range of colours last longer than incandescent lights but are more expensive to buy. CFL bulbs contain hazardous materials, so they need handling with care (especially if broken)

LED

The ultimate light bulb LEDs are incredibly energy efficient and run a lot cooler than halogen bulbs. LED bulbs last around 50 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. LEDs cost more upfront, but you’ll save money in the long run on your energy bills. Most new lighting installations we build include LED bulbs, which are the best for most situations.

• A standard bulb needs 100 watts to achieve 1600 lumens
• An LED bulb needs 14 watts to achieve 1600 lumens

Smart LED

Smart LED bulbs are controlled by an app on your smartphone or other devices. You can switch the lights on/off from your app, dim/brighten, automate/time, etc. You can control your bulbs from anywhere (as long as you connect to the internet).

Lumens

Lumens are how bright your lightbulb is. Every room will need a certain amount of lumens. Hallways require the least amount of lumens, while bathrooms require the most. Each room is measured so we can work out exactly how many lumens are required to illuminate the space optimally.

Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor Lighting serves several purposes Illuminating outdoor areas such as entrances, driveways, paths and garages while enhancing your garden and home. 

Nothing beats a lit outdoor living area on those warm summer evenings when you’re entertaining. Lighting provides safety; you are far less likely to trip and fall on illuminated paths and decking.

Lights add a valuable layer of security to your home; also, thieves and vandals are far less likely to target homes that are well-lit after dark.

Lighting outdoor areas properly is a skill that requires experience and careful planning. Our electricians design and install all types of outdoor lighting accompanied by the latest energy-saving light bulbs. 

Outdoor Lights

There are several types of outdoor light available to cover all types of spaces, structures and situations.

Brick – Brick-shaped lights that fit into garden or house walls in place of a standard building brick

Bollard – Ideal for paths and driveways, lights are built into short posts which are fitted into the ground

Ceiling – Flush or recessed lights that are fitted to the porch and alcove ceilings

Floor –  Fitted to the floor and can usually be pointed in different directions.

Pendant – Fitted to exterior ceilings, pendants hang from a wire and are a favourite for porches (when height allows)

Post – Like bollard lights but taller popular at front doors and driveways

Recessed – Fit recessed into the ground and shine upwards, popular for decking and pathways

Wall – fitted to the wall, they can feature arms, sit flush and are available as spotlights.