Wire it during the build
Every light we fit is wired inside the frame, so there is no cable clipped to the outside of a post and no fitting screwed onto a finished surface. That is only possible while the boards are off.
If you are having a deck built or resurfaced, this is the moment to decide. The labour to run the wire is close to nothing when the structure is already open, and considerable afterwards. If you are not ready to commit to fittings, we can still run the wire and cap it for later.
Where the light goes
Riser lights are the ones people notice, and they do the most for safety. Post cap lights give the deck its outline after dark. Under rail strip lighting washes the deck surface without any visible source and is the quietest of the three.
The common mistake is too much of it. A deck lit like a car park is unpleasant to sit on. We aim for enough to see the steps and read the edges, on a dimmer, and let the rest of the yard stay dark.
Low voltage and control
Deck lighting runs on a low voltage transformer rather than line voltage, which keeps the wiring inside the structure straightforward and safe. A timer or photocell means it comes on at dusk without anyone thinking about it, and a dimmer is worth having because the right level in midsummer is not the right level in November.
