Landscape lights being damaged by snowplow

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mark32

mark32

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Currently in NJ
So, I will soon be on a job in which the owner is tired of having to replace his landscape path lights in the spring that have been damaged from his snow removal guy. The lights now sit in an 18" pebble stone border that hugs the driveway. I'm assuming the lights are damaged due to the snow being pushed, not the plow itself. Anyway, just trying to see what my options are. Can't just move the lights out of the border and into the grass as then they'd be in the way of the lawn guy (Same dude :)) So I was thinking of using a standard 3" post and light fixture and just screw in a medium (or candelabra) base 12 volt bulb. Also thought of a landscape light with like a 36" stem so the guy could see the light, but I'm not sure that would solve the problem as it would still be relatively delicate. Any ideas for me??
 
Where does this guy think he is in Florida? Around here you have to deal with the snow and ice. Shrubbery gets damaged and landscape lighting gets broken. I've never seen border lighting like that survive. Most are cheap plastic anyway. Even the RAB 120v mushroom fixtures (which are not plastic) installed with 1/2" RGS on "Rocket stakes" break all the time.

My options would be to stake the driveway with markers and find a snow removal guy that uses a blower and will be more careful. There is really no way to not push snow to the sides with a plow. That how it works.

Or live without the "runway" lighting.

-Hal
 
Haha, well said Hal. Your words were going through my mind when this gentleman explained his woes to me. He's some sort of engineer and seems to have a solution, although he hasn't told me what it is yet. Thanks !
 
hbiss said:
I can hardly wait. Probably Jersey barrier with holes in it. :roll:

-Hal
Click to expand...

Hey, stop stealing my ideas! :lol:

Seriously, there are some architectural lighting solutions that are basically bollards with fixtures, but I have to believe they are pricey.
 
gadfly56 said:
Hey, stop stealing my ideas! :lol:

Seriously, there are some architectural lighting solutions that are basically bollards with fixtures, but I have to believe they are pricey.
Click to expand...

Oh sure, you can go with commercial bollards and the like but even then you risk damage if they are too close to the curb. Been there seen it.

I was joking about runway lights, but something like that that is barely above grade might do the trick. Besides real runway lights, Google came up with this- https://www.aqlightinggroup.com/out...MIs-3u_Jfe2wIVgwOGCh12PwYiEAYYAyABEgIftPD_BwE

-Hal
 
And also quite seriously, how about putting LV connectors on the leads to each path light so that he can just pull them out of the ground for the winter and put them back each spring.
 
Install heating cables or tubing in the path or driveway - then there is no need for a snowplow, until that heavy snow with drifting comes along and you plow it anyway because it will take a while to melt it.:blink:
 
hbiss said:
Where does this guy think he is in Florida? Around here you have to deal with the snow and ice. Shrubbery gets damaged and landscape lighting gets broken. I've never seen border lighting like that survive. Most are cheap plastic anyway. Even the RAB 120v mushroom fixtures (which are not plastic) installed with 1/2" RGS on "Rocket stakes" break all the time.

My options would be to stake the driveway with markers and find a snow removal guy that uses a blower and will be more careful. There is really no way to not push snow to the sides with a plow. That how it works.

Or live without the "runway" lighting.

-Hal
Click to expand...

+1

ANYTHING close to a snow plow will get damaged or destroyed. I have seen PVC electrical conduit on buildings busted up by plow drivers. Concrete curbs are busted up by the thousands. If you truly love something, keep it far away from a snow plow.
 
Update....

So I went back to this job to do some unrelated work, while there though I discussed the landscape lighting dilemma with the home owner. We both agree that a light with a very low profile, such as the one hbiss linked us to in post #10, would be the best solution. However, the home owner turns out to be more about quantity than quality as he wants to purchase cheap led path lights off of Amazon instead, but buy extras and just replace the snow plow damaged ones in the spring. Which brings us back to square one, but oh well, at least he'll have me replace all his lights (Around 30) and the existing transformer. Assuming he'll choose a cheap Amazon transformer as well ;)

Thanks for the replies!
 
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