How To Install Hanging Lights Outside

Turn your night, unused outdoor spaces into a nighttime oasis with the help of patio lights! Hanging patio lights across the backyard, deck or inside of an outdoor structure similar a gazebo or pergola is a perfect style to add together ambient landscape lighting for every day utilize, parties and outdoor events. Coil down a niggling to start at the offset or click on i of the links beneath this text to skip straight to the patio lights topic you're looking for!

With a picayune planning, patio string lights have the unique ability to make whatever outdoor infinite more than exciting. We made this guide for anyone looking to go started.

Hanging Patio Lights Guide

• How to Hang Patio Lights
• Where to hang patio lights
• Patio light planning tips
• What makes good quality patio lights?
• Hanging patio lights FAQ

How to Hang Patio Lights

The installation procedure tin vary depending on where and how you decide to hang your patio lights. To get you started, we've created a list of the basic steps, supplies yous might demand and methods to utilise.

Supplies You lot Might Need

• Hooks- these could be screw-in hooks or another diverseness.
• Aught ties
• Carabiners
• Extension cords
• Guy Wire Kit

Hanging Patio String Lights Bones Steps

1. Draw a rough sketch with measurements
2. Assemble your poles if applicable
3. If using guy wire, hang this first. Using a guy wire tin can prolong the life of your light strings by removing the tension that is created on the string every bit your patio lights hang over fourth dimension. In some situations, the light strings may demand to exist threaded through the guy wire prior to being hung.
4. Hang your offset patio calorie-free string with the male person plug closest to your outlet.
5. Use zip ties or hooks between each bulb every bit needed on deck railings or other structures. If applicable, attach the strings to your guy wire as you go.
6. If working with multiple low-cal strings, finish hanging your beginning run and so connect the male person finish of the second string to the female cease of the kickoff and continue going in this way until all strings are in place! If your low-cal string doesn't have end to end connectors, run an extension cord to your second lite cord and continue hanging your patio lights. If hanging incandescent patio lights, go along maximum wattage in mind and switch to a different outlet if necessary to avoid ability disruptions!
7. Plug your patio lights in and enjoy the ambiance!

Patio Lights Hanging Across a Backyard Deck

Where To Hang Patio Lights

If your grand doesn't have many readily available options for hanging patio lights, you may need to create your own. You tin affix poles to deck railings or use the railings themselves to hang your lights. For larger backyard installations you may need to attach wires to trees and sink poles into the ground. In smaller patio settings with no existing surfaces to hang lights, you tin can cement poles into painted buckets or decorative planters using the DIY method below.

DIY Patio Light Pole

What yous will need

• 1 Large Terra Cotta Clay Pot
• 1 Small Terra Cotta Clay Pot ( to fit inside the larger version)
• Quick Dry Cement
• Thick Wooden Post or Pole
• Spiral-In Hook
• Gardening Soil
• Flowers/Plants or Decorative Stones

Directions

Attach a hook to one end of your pole, this will provide an anchor for the low-cal strings to adhere to. Mix the cement into your smaller clay pot and while it is still moisture place your pole or wooden post in the cement. Hold the pole still or find something to keep it centered while it dries. Drying shouldn't take too long if you're using quick dry out cement. Once dry, place the smaller pot inside the larger pot and make full to the peak with soil. Plant flowers or place stones around the base of the pole on peak of the soil. Now you have a functional pole for hanging your patio lights that also serves every bit a decorative planter!

Note: this DIY pole for patio lights is recommended only for coverage over small areas such as a 12x12 patio. For larger spaces, more than permanent and sturdy hanging solutions should exist used.

Patio Lights Planning

Select the Best Patio Lights for Your Space

Patio lights and outdoor string lights have become incredibly popular for creating cozy outdoor spaces year-circular. Because of that popularity, mass retail stores and online markets are flooded with thousands of patio lite variations and degrees of quality. If yous're planning on hanging patio lights for long-term utilise, it's incredibly important to select high quality light bulbs and strings that are designed to be durable and continue looking great over time in outdoor settings.

The following quick guide volition help you identify quality patio lights. If you want more than detailed information on patio low-cal pick, we recommend watching our Choosing Outdoor String Lights video.

How to Identify the Best Outdoor Cord Lights

1. Expect for bulbs that can be removed from the cord. This allows you to easily supplant bulbs if needed and modify colors or themes over fourth dimension if you want.
2. Choose shatterproof bulbs over glass if possible, particularly if you lot live in a climate with volatile weather or severe storms.
3. LED bulbs last longer, apply less energy, and stay cool to the touch, which makes them better than incandescent bulbs for long term outdoor and patio use.
4. Look for light strings with heavy duty wire gauges between 16-18 and an insulation rating of SPT1, SPT2, or SJTW. Notation: Wire gauge refers to the diameter of the copper inside the lite cord and the SMALLER the number, the BIGGER the judge, which can be confusing.
5. If you're hanging lights beyond a big space, consider outdoor string lights with hanging grommets. The hanging grommet is a machine-cut pigsty within a rubber brace above each calorie-free. You lot can thread a support wire, also chosen a guy or guide wire, through each of these holes to help bear the weight, if needed.

How to Hang Patio Lights FAQ

What size pole / mail service should I use?

2x2 or 2x4 forest is not recommended. A 4x4 post securely placed in the ground is typically sufficient for near backyard patio light applications. If your lighting display is more circuitous and you accept many string light runs being supported from a single mail, a 6x6 postal service tin be used. It is larger, provides even more stability, and gives you lot more surface area to attach your strings, if needed.

How far should I sink the postal service?

If using concrete, most brandish applications that are 8' to x' off ground do good from posts sunk about 24" to 36". This is approximately one/4 to 1/3 of the mail service's height being sunk clandestine and secured with concrete. For taller applications in the ten' to fifteen' height range we recommend sinking the post i/three of the fashion in the ground.

How far apart should poles exist spaced?

Pole spacing is based on personal preference and the needs unique to the space you are trying to decorate. For case, more circuitous patio cord calorie-free patterns may require the utilize of additional poles.

When should a guy wire be used?

Nosotros recommend the use of guy or guide wire on longer light runs and projects where large, heavy patio bulbs are being used. When you stretch lite wires betwixt ii points, there is constant lateral tension. It'due south kind of like a perpetual tug of state of war on your light strings, which isn't ideal. By using guy wire between 2 anchor points instead of the calorie-free string, you lot're removing the tug of war completely which means the lights you worked so difficult to install are less likely to autumn or sag over time.

How loftier should lights be hung off the ground?

Patio light display scenarios can vary widely and it's not uncommon to see lights hung at very different heights even from 1 end to another. Generally, though, it'due south good to have lights 8-10' off the ground at a minimum only so in that location's walking clearance. If you lot are using larger bulbs, yous may want to consider raising the height of your display further, based on personal preference.

What hardware should be used to adhere lights to a post?

Hanging hardware like cable clamps are typically sufficient for most applications. Use the appropriate spiral or bolt for your hanging surface and ensure the cable clamp is secure. Additional clamps tin can be used to secure the ends if needed.

How can lights be attached to a tree?

Because trees take varying bark types, traditional cable clamps tin work but may require longer screws to ensure the clamp is secured to the tree. Alternative hardware includes things like C hooks (sometimes called wheel hooks) that can be inserted into a tree and then the cord light tin can be attached to the C hook hardware.

Do you accept a helpful patio lights installation tip or idea that you lot'd similar to share, or questions nearly hanging patio lights? Permit us know in the comments below!

Patio Lights Hanging Across a Backyard Space!

Source: https://www.christmaslightsetc.com/pages/how-to-plan-and-hang-patio-lights.htm

Posted by: abarcaalts1960.blogspot.com

Share this post