I'd like to install one and wonder if it's too hard to do. The transformation from this project was incredible. Dig a hole that is 18- to 24-inches deep and 6 inches in diameter. Once you measure the distance from the outlet to the lamp post, you'll know how much conduit to buy for your light fixture. | Darien, CT Perhaps the biggest issue, and hardest job, is digging the trench from the house to the lamp post if you want a conventional 120-volt power supply that you control from the house. Tip: For best results, let concrete set for eight hours or overnight before removing the work straps. Do this on the post and lantern side. Read More, Ross was terrific. Courtyard Concepts installed the patio of our dreams at a very competitive price. | Fairfield, CT Use your level to check that the layer is added. Choose a shade. I never gave it much thought until I moved to a rural area and realized how dark it is at night when you don't have all those municipal streetlights flooding the streets and driveway entrances with light. For this part, youll need a utility knife, wire strippers and wire nuts. Thank you for doing such a nice job on our walkway on such short notice. Compliment your post and enhance the value of your home by adding more character and charm with custom engraving. In most residential settings, an 8-foot lamp post works best. Once the level is straight, leave the lamp post to set for a minimum of four hours. Clear out rocks and loose dirt clods as you go. Fill the trench with the soil reserved on the plastic tarp. Use two work straps and wrap them both around the post. We will be sure to be a referral source for you! Our team is committed to providing outstanding customer service and is always excited for the opportunity to meet with homeowners. | Westport, CT Pour ready-mix concrete into the posthole, taking care to leave 6 inches of conduit exposed. Adjust the work straps while using a level against the lamp post. Brands: Quoizel lighting, General Electric, Leviton, Raco, Southwire, Responded promptly and professionally, fully explaining the issues, problem and what will be needed for ultimate resolution.[] If you don't want to go to all the trouble to run a power line to the post, solar-powered lamp post lights are the way to go. Dig a trench that runs from your lamp post area to your power source with a shovel. We just wanted to send a well-deserved thank you to you and your crew for a wonderful job on our new patio. The walkway is beautiful and an amazing improvement over what was there. We'll certainly be in touch when we have a need for our next project. The best option is to simply wire your lamp post to a nearby outlet. Thanks again and we look forward to our new walkway in the spring. Thank you & everyone for your hard work. The degree of difficulty with respect to installing the actual post depends on the post you'll be using. Installing a lamp post is a simple way to add outdoor lighting to your yard. I prefer to use a smaller diameter 2-inch PVC pipe for this job. | Wilton, CT When you ready to get a new lamp post or the tools to get the job done, The Home Depot delivers online orderswhen and where you need them. Courtyard Concepts installs granite mailbox and lantern posts, columns, pillars, fence posts, and hitching posts to residential properties. Thanks again for the great work, and for giving our kids the chance to watch! The tube would be placed in the trench and he would use the backhoe's powerful hydraulics to push the tube through the soil like a needle going through fabric. Repeat this operation until you've created a nice round tunnel under the sidewalk or driveway. Make sure all power is off at the main breaker box before you begin. Tip: Electrical codes vary on the proper depth for burying conduit, but a good rule of thumb is 18 inches for PVC, 24 inches for direct wire burial and 6 inches for RNC (rigid non-metallic conduit). Thread the correct length of 12-gauge UF-rated electrical wire through the pipe. You and your team did an amazing job and we are very pleased with how they look and your craftsmanship. These provide plenty of overhead light without spilling over into your neighbors yard. Buckley Electric & Automation LLC completed a granite light post & fixture installation project. Fill the hole with a 10-inch layer of gravel using a shovel. Shawn D. Akron, OH. Add a final touch of sophistication and elegance to your property with a solid granite lamp or mail post. They transformed our backyard into what our neighbors now deem the oasis!. Run plastic conduit from the light to the outlet. We love our new fire pit and seating area! Thank you for making our outdoor living space so comfortable & beautiful! Read More, 2022 Buckley Electric & Automation LLC, All Rights Reserved, Greenwich, CT This method has never failed me in the nice Midwest clay soils! | Weston, CT The steps look terrific. Lamp posts typically require using concrete for stability and support. Digging on your own land or out in the public right of way near the street without knowing where buried utilities are can be expensive and deadly if you make a mistake. Re-check with your level to make sure the top layer is flush. Connect your conduit pieces using PVC cement. Make sure the wires stay exposed through the top of the post as you work. Local store prices may vary from those displayed. Slide the shaft of the post over the conduit, pushing it about 12 inches into the concrete. Your crew is very professional and was a pleasure to work with. Photo Credit: Tim Carter. The sharp end of the PVC pipe cuts into the soil as it's tapped by the hammer. But you may be cursed with rocky soil, and have all sorts of issues with large rocks at your post location. | Redding, CT Use elbows to bring the conduit down from the house and into your trench. You can watch an informative video that shows a video on how to creatively tunnel under a sidewalk or a driveway at www.AsktheBuilder.com. You may be able to save money by doing the required trenching and drilling of holes to get the electric cable from the switch location to the lamp post. A sandy soil is dreamy to dig as it offers little resistance. Use a posthole digger to create a hole thats about 18- to 24-inches deep and 6-inches in diameter. Add a 2-inch layer of dirt and use a shovel or digging bar to compact the dirt. However, if you purchase a common steel or aluminum tube lamp post, it'll be a solo job that you can accomplish with little effort. It was a 14-foot long steel tube that had a flared cone tip much like a missile. I highly recommend [] Read More, Very savvy and good response time. All Rights Reserved. If you decide to get a solid granite lamp post like I have, you'll need several friends or a small crane to install it. Plumb each side of the post using a long level. Use a GFCI-protected one mounted on a nearby deck, patio or porch. | Norwalk, CT The workmanship is pretty much perfect and there were no surprises. Repeat this process until wet dirt begins to cover up the top layer of gravel. Be sure you're crystal clear on where the trench goes and how deep it must be. Overall the result is exactly what we envisioned- great work at a fair price. DEAR TIM: The house I grew up in had a lamp post out by the street. Did exactly what was promised at the agreed upon price in a timely, professional and friendly manner. Columns, posts, and pillars are a classy yet inexpensive upgrade to your landscape. Topped with a chiseled edge cap and a Quoizel aged copper fixture, this installation will pass the test of time! Create a classic look to match your authentic allure and appeal by custom ordering. It's now time to wire your lantern to the lamp post. There should be matching wires on the lantern side. You can create your own tunnel under a driveway or sidewalk using a PVC pipe that has one end cut at a 45-degree angle much like the tip of a hypodermic needle. Use your wire strippers to expose about 1/2-inch of bare copper on all the wires. We had a great experience working with Tom and his team, very professional. Use your wire nuts to hold the joined pairs together. Lamp posts are an ideal outdoor lighting option for front and back yards. It is considered a safer choice to bury underground. You can follow the step-by-step instructions in this guide or you can use our professional installation services. Need Help? Thank you for a fantastic job on the new patio and fire pit. However, if youre trying to install a temporary lamp post, here's how to do it without without using concrete. | West Hartford, CT, GRANITE LIGHT POST & FIXTURE INSTALLATION. Products shown as available are normally stocked but inventory levels cannot be guaranteed, For screen reader problems with this website, please call 1-800-430-3376 or text 38698 (standard carrier rates apply to texts), (By-the-Foot)10/2 Gray Solid CU UF-B W/G Wire, Ideas and Tips for Choosing Outdoor Lighting Fixtures for Your Home, How Many Lumens are Needed for Outdoor Lighting, Landscape Lighting Ideas for Your Front and Backyard, How to Install a Lamp Post Without Concrete, Buy Home Decorators Collection Harmony Machine Washable Multi 2 ft. x 8 ft. Abstract Area Polyester Indoor Area Rug, Shop Homestead Collection Living Room Furniture. Pull the pipe out of the soil and remove the soil plug from inside the pipe. Stake them into the ground about 36 inches away from the post. Before you ever put a spade or shovel into the ground for this project be sure to call 811 or go to call811.com or callbeforeyoudig.com to have all underground utilities marked for you. Frosted glass shades offer more ambient lighting. Do not get concrete into the conduit or onto the wires. Coordinate your existing outdoor sconces and other lighting hardware to create a more cohesive look. Place soil on a plastic tarp as you dig to make refilling this area easier. Sign up to my newsletter to receive expert advice for your home! Just click this link "underground wire tunnel video" or type that phrase into the AsktheBuilder.com search engine. He would dig a trench perpendicular to the driveway or sidewalk deep enough so as to not be too close to the underside of the pavement. | Stamford, CT It can take up to three days for a worker to come out and mark where danger lurks. The team worked within our design and financial constraints, and then delivered according to the proposed plan. Tighten it with the provided screws to hold it in place. | New Canaan, CT Always dig slowly and carefully within 2 feet of any painted mark on the soil. 2000-2022 Home Depot. I've got a lamp post here at my house in the country, and it's a welcome sight driving down my pitch-black road on a cloudy night! Your crew was competent and expressed a great deal of pride in their work. Will I need an electrician to provide power to the light post, or is that a DIY job? Know how far apart these two points are. The finished product reflects the effort the guys put in. Leave about 6- to 8-feet of conduit at the house location to reach the breaker box. As with any digging, that chore can be easy or tough depending on the soil conditions where you live. Your crew is very organized and detailed in their work. Great Experience! We really appreciate your professionalism and your willingness to work under really cold conditions. Tom is super nice and easy to work with in regards to the design and even accommodated some minor changes for us. If your soil is a modest clay, you might have no issues slicing through it if it's moist. This can be very convenient if, for some reason, you need electricity out by the post for something other than a light. Hiring Tom Hunt and Courtyard Concepts was the best contractor decision we ever made! We highly recommend Courtyard Concepts. Choose your lighting style. Before you begin, locate the outlet you want to connect to your lamp post. Respected by inspectors![] Look for white, black and green or copper wires. Complete the form below and each week you'll get: Unsubscribe at any time. Check the lamp post manufacturer's guidelines. Leave about 10 extra feet at the post location. Here's is the first step on how to install a lamp post. Our standard posts have two sides with a thermal finish and two sides with a split finish. Choose the best lamp post for your space. Use this guide to learn how to install a lamp post in concrete or without concrete. This client selected this solid granite 6 x 6 light post to replace the traditional cedar wood post. What are my options when it comes to lamp posts, and how are they set into the ground? What's more, understand that the markings on the ground can be off just a little bit. Outdoor lighting illuminates your yard. DEAR SHAWN: It's really funny, but I grew up in the city and lamp posts in front yards were pretty rare. Rigid non-metallic conduit (RNC) may be the best option. What happens if the electric cable has to pass under a finished driveway? We respect your email privacy. Tip: Pair your yard lamp post with decorative elements in your front or back yard such as planters or patio tables. You use this in the same way as my backhoe operator, but you tap the square end of PVC pipe gently with a sledgehammer so it penetrates the soil about 3 inches. Pair the wires from the lantern to the post based on colors. Keep adding dirt in 2-inch layers until you reach the top of the hole you dug. The added benefit if you decide to provide power like this, is that you can have a handy power outlet at the base of the lamp post. 100% Satisfaction! Rotate the pipe to cut the soil. It brightens your patio and helps deter crime or vandalism at night. They are reliable, punctual, respectful and so very talented. Slide your lantern onto the post. Figuring out how to wire a lamp post isn't difficult. The hole that was created was 6 inches in diameter which was plenty to insert a PVC conduit. Here's the basic steps of wiring a lamp post to an outlet with rigid non-metallic conduit (RNC). If you need to get a cable under a driveway or a sidewalk, there are any number of ways to do this. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Subscribe to the FREE Ask the Builder newsletter to receive professional advice for your home. After your concrete has hardened, remove the work straps. This will be your least expensive option, and if you have friendly soil, you could have a working lamp post up in less than 30 minutes. Tip: Consider using a professional electrician to add a switch or retrofit an existing switch for your new post lighting fixture. Please call us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT (1-800-466-3337), Please enter in your email address in the following format: you@domain.com. A simple hole on the other side of the driveway revealed the tip of the tube. They provide ample overhead lighting coverage. Others provide a brighter light or a diffused light with multiple bulb setups. Put the lamp post down on the ground and pull the wires through, working from the bottom to the top. Thanks again. Here's a lamp post pole doing double duty with an attached mailbox. We offer expert craftsmanship, quality products and detailed project management with a consistent focus on budget and design objectives. The patio looks fantastic! Please feel free to use us as a reference anytime. Clear shades provide more light. These features give a natural and inviting look to your property outlasting any other post material you can find. The standard finish strikes a balance between maintaining a rustic look and offering a good surface for engraving. Place the conduit pipe, along with the fitted wiring, in the trench. You need a smooth, solid surface when youre not using cement. Once again, clay and sandy soils can be your friend here while rocky soils will give you fits. The workmanship and design is excellent. It is more than we expected. Place the post in the hole you just dug. Toms prices are reasonable, and the members of his crew were amazing! Years ago when I was a young builder, the backhoe operator I used had a clever device he had made. Cut pieces as necessary. Safety Tip: Turn off all power to your main breaker box before you start to avoid serious injury. We are super happy with the work that Tom and team did. Peel away 2 to 3 inches of insulation from the UF wire on the lamp post side. Highly recommended! Additional services to enhance your granite posts, columns, and pillars: To view more images of our post, columns, and pillars, visit our granite posts portfolio. Craftsmanship, professionalism and integrity are the hallmarks of this contractor. Some post lamps come with one bulb. What other things do I need to be worried about? If you're not familiar with the National Electric Code, and all the nuances of working with electricity, I suggest you hire an electrician. Put them on opposite sides to help keep the post straight. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. Not to mention that at the end of the day they thoroughly cleaned up the premises without leaving a trace of their presence. Add conduit to the elbow in your posthole area so it comes up about 6 inches above the ground. COURTYARD CONCEPTS PO Box 373 Chelmsford, MA 01824 Phone: 978.256.5454 designs@courtyardconcepts.com, Serving the following communities and more: Acton, Andover, Arlington, Bedford, Billerica, Bolton, Boxboro, Burlington, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Marlboro, Maynard, Newton, North Andover, Stow, Sudbury, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro, Wayland, Westford, Weston and Winchester Copyright 2022 Courtyard Concepts | Sitemap, To view more images of our post, columns, and pillars, visit our.