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Creating Nighttime Appeal O utdoor property design has come a long way from picnic tables, folding aluminum chairs and poured concrete slabs that served as patios. A dry stacked stone wall was as close as a homeowner got to "hardscape." The changes from these simple beginnings have been enormous, but one detail can raise those improvements to yet an entirely new level — lighting. Hardscape Amazing installations are being created with stone. Multi- level, multi-functional spaces are transforming a simple back- yard into an oasis for entertaining and relax- ation. Stone terraces border swimming pools, elevated plains adjoin exterior kitchen areas, and integrated stone benches overlook garden and planting areas. Beautiful during the day, these areas can take on rapturous appearances at night — if lit well. Well-placed hardscape lighting can be achieved with a little imagi- nation, a bit of pre-planning and a touch of desire. Hardscape elements in a yard are justly named because they are literally built of stone. Heavy masonry is permanently assembled, so it is vitally important to design the lighting before work begins on the wall. To begin the design process, think about the space and its use. Look for steps, changes in elevation and areas that meet the landscape. Each of these areas can benefit from light. Then think about beauty and aesthetics. What will make the hardscape more attractive, thereby adding interest to the landscaping, yard and surround- ings? Finally, determine placement for power. Low-voltage landscape lighting is operated by a large transformer that converts the 120V power in your home to 12 volts and, as such, must be plugged into a grounded conve- nience outlet (GCO). Most homeowners prefer to have the transformer out of sight. Now, match a lighting product to the task. There are several options for lighting masonry steps. If the riser or stringer/side wall is constructed of conventional-sized bricks, a brick light is matched to those specifications and can easily be built into the construction. A smaller step light could be built into these areas, but might require added stonework to provide an appropriately sized opening in which to mortar the housing. Finally, hardscape-specific lights can be assembled under the stone tread. Care should be taken to ensure an adequate amount of overhang to prevent glare and avoid mobility interference. The most common method of adding visual interest to a hardscape wall is the insertion of hardscape-specific light under the capstone. These units can be mortared into the joint or screwed in place with the aid of masonry fasteners. The hard- scape lighting does a nice job, but care should be taken regard- ing glare. If the wall is especially high, or if the wall is extremely close to a seating area, the user may be exposed to an unwel- come glint of light. Alternate elevations can be considered, and would provide some added visual excitement within the design. If an alternate position is not possible, a wall wash may be in order. A wall wash is a lighting fixture that mounts close to the www.landscapeirrigation.com June 2014 Landscape and Irrigation 19 Hardscape lighting is positioned randomly under the capstones of a wall that abuts exterior stairs Hardscape lighting is engineered to mount in the space between wall and capstone. Hardscape lighting is randomly positioned under the capstones of a pergola support wall. Wall wash lighting to the right pours light onto the short wall surface. Path and spread lighting sits in the snow-covered bed area adjoining the snow-covered stone flooring.