The Hidden Costs of Pathway Lights: Why Quality Lighting is Worth the Investment
Pathway lights work wonders when lighting up your gardens or driveways, enhancing your home’s architectural features like never before. But if you shop for them, the hefty price tags can often put you off. This might have you wondering— what makes these simple fixtures so expensive?
In this blog, we’ll break down the hidden costs of pathway lights and explore why investing in top-quality lights can be worth each penny. Let’s jump right in!
Breaking Down the Costs of Pathway Lights
According to Statista, the value of the global outdoor lighting market is projected to hit USD 23.8 billion by 2030. Pathway lights make up a significant fraction of the market, and it’s no surprise why. But what exactly makes them so pricey over other outdoor lighting options?
Here’s a detailed breakdown of the costs of pathway lights to help you understand what you’re paying for:
Durability and Weather Resistance
The primary reason pathway lights cost more than traditional outdoor lighting is that they’re made of top-quality materials like brass and die-cast aluminum. Evidently, these materials are way pricier than lower-grade metals, adding to the initial cost of your path lights.
Premium materials ensure your lights last longer without needing constant replacements. Although the upfront costs seem higher, these lights are incredibly weather-resistant too. This ensures your pathways remain lit up year-round.
Installation and Maintenance
Although it’s possible to get your hands on low-cost pathway lights that allow DIY installation, they usually don’t last long. On the flip side, high-quality path lights require professional installation services to ensure proper placement, wiring, and security.
Unless they’re solar-powered, your path lights must also be installed close to power outlets, hence the hefty installation cost. Made with high-quality materials, path lights also save you from replacements and maintenance costs. But these conveniences add up to higher upfront costs yet offer you peace of mind in the long run.
Energy Costs
Since cheaper lights use halogen bulbs, opting for them means signing up for higher electricity bills over time. Luckily, modern path lights use advanced technology, such as solar power and LED bulbs, to stay energy efficient. These lights use up 75% less energy than conventional ones but obviously come with a higher price tag.
Speaking of advanced technology, some path lights even have smart controlling features, such as brightening, dimming, or scheduling. However, brands often charge higher for smart features, and justifiably so.
Aesthetic Appeal and Craftsmanship
Perhaps the best part is that pathway lights come in all sorts of styles, from low-voltage designs to impressively aesthetic ones. No wonder the detailed craftsmanship plays a big role in the price of these outdoor lights. Especially if you’re opting for handcrafted or highly detailed designs, get ready to pay the premium for the effort.
While cheaper lights will do the job, they miss the ‘wow’ factor for your paths, driveways, and walkways. High-quality lights, on the other hand, boost the aesthetics of your outdoors. (at a price, of course.)
Why Quality Pathway Lights Are Worth the Investment
As with everything else, you get what you pay for when buying pathway lights. Simply put, investing in quality lights is definitely worth it, for obvious reasons. Here’s a list of perks that come with quality pathway lights:
Optimize Your Safety
The most obvious reason to invest in quality lights is safety. When your walkways are well-lit, there’s less chance of anyone tripping or falling. Bright, dependable lighting keeps your walkways safer, particularly for kids and elders. This makes the professional installation of path lights totally worth it.
Cost Savings in the Long Run
Although quality pathway lights come with a seemingly higher price tag, they save you quite a lot of money in the long run. LED and solar-powered lights use less energy, which means lower electricity bills. Plus, once you invest in quality lights, you won’t have to replace them as often, reducing maintenance and replacement costs.
Increased Property Value
Another huge benefit of high-quality pathway lights is that they boost your property’s value, which is especially important if you plan to sell your home. Many buyers love outdoor lighting for its aesthetic appeal and even more for its safety. Hence, a well-illuminated patio, walkway, or deck makes your home way more desirable.
Smaller Carbon Footprint
While this one’s less obvious, the sustainability that comes with energy-efficient path lights can’t be ignored. Since these lights use less energy and mostly use solar energy, they don’t add to your carbon footprint. The result? You can light up your driveways all you want while remaining 100% eco-friendly!
Boosts the Aesthetics of Your Home
Lastly, and most obviously, high-quality lights scale up your home’s exterior, making it attractive to anyone who lays their eyes on it. When lights are bright, they highlight your home’s architectural features, which ultimately boosts the aesthetics of your space. Plus, they help create a warm, inviting atmosphere, even at night.
FAQs
How Do Poorly Made Pathway Lights Impact Your Safety?
Low-quality pathway lights quickly dim or lead to uneven illumination, which in turn increases the risks for slips, trips, and falls, potentially increasing accidents. Path lights also outline your patios and decks to keep things safe, but if poorly made, they make accidents more likely.
Will Investing in Quality Pathway Lights Increase My Property Value?
Yes, investing in quality pathway lights will not only increase your safety but also increase your home’s value. Real estate experts reveal that properties with professionally installed path lights catch buyers’ attention sooner and often sell for a higher price.
How Can I Ensure My Pathway Lights Are Energy-Efficient?
To ensure your lights are energy-efficient, look for LED bulbs, which use less energy than traditional lighting options. Also, opt for solar-powered lights, and even better, ones with an ENERGY STAR rating so they best live up to the energy-saving standards.
Final Words
Summing up, you’ll need a generous budget to invest in quality pathway lighting, but the long-term benefits make it worth every penny. In addition to transforming your outdoor safety and aesthetics, they ensure you save up big in the long run. So, if you wish to upgrade your outdoor lighting, pathway lighting pays off in more ways than one!
Looking for quality pathway lights that add value to your home? Gardenreet has a range of lights to choose from, ready to upgrade your property!