I need exterior lighting ideas!

[custom1]

I am getting the garage wired next weekend and have do decide how I want my exterior lights. My first thought was 6" recessed cans with floods. One over each door and one over the man door. This would be clean and modern. The electrician said they attract bugs and bees like to build nests in them. I don't want to be reaching into a nest every time I have to change a bulb.
I don't really have room above the doors on the wall for anything. So that leaves Coach lights beside and between the doors. Or the standard dual flood lights on the corners. I have floods on the corners of my house but I don't really like the look.
Here is a pic. Its not current. I'll try to post a more recent one tomorrow.

Show me pics of what you have and share the pros and cons.

Thanks John

 

[sparky1562]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=136&pictureid=969

I put coach type lights between the doors, connected to a motion sensor, then put the standard floods on the corners, one on a switch, one on a motion sensor. The coach lights look nice, but don't put out much light. When I need more light, I have the floods. Bees and bugs have not been an issue with these. I do have recessed can type on my porch, and wasps love them.

 

[Gary S]

I put florescent dusk-to-dawn lights on all sides of my garage. At 26 watts each, they run so cheap that you hardly know they are on and you have great light all night.
I have some similar to this
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=187705-337-FNF26PCUT&lpage=none

and some of a different style that isn't available anymore. And, the florescent lamps last much longer than incandescent or halogen.

 

[thdewey]

I put florescent dusk-to-dawn lights on all sides of my garage. At 26 watts each, they run so cheap that you hardly know they are on and you have great light all night.
I have some similar to this
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=187705-337-FNF26PCUT&lpage=none

and some of a different style that isn't available anymore. And, the florescent lamps last much longer than incandescent or halogen.

I got two of these @$5 each at a surplus store. I love'em. These cover a pretty big area for the size.

 

[Kevin54]

I have the standard coach lights on mine on dimmers so it puts out enough light just to see what you need to see unless need to turn them all the way up. On one front and one rear corner I have 500 watt halogen outdoor lights that I can use if need be. On separate switches.

 

[custom1]

Well, Here are some more recent pics.

View media item 1910
I went to Lowes to get ideas and bought this one to try. Just wedged the mount under the siding to see how it would look. Kind of has that old garage look, But I think the scale is off. Too small.

View media item 1909
A buddy came over and said it looked like a shower head!
So I guess I'll be taking that back.

I may have the answer though. I remembered I have 4 of these square flush mount lights that I took out of the kitchen and some bedrooms when we were remodeling. They match the ones under the overhang on the house. They are from the 50's and would probably still outlast anything made in China that I could buy now.
Just a little more work cutting the holes and making mounts( I cut the original mounting rods to get them out of the ceiling).

View media item 1912
They put out a good bit of light. There is a nice reflector inside and the outside trim must be stainless, they have not rusted in over 50 years.

View media item 1911
I can put one over each door and one over the man door and have one left for a spare.
Plus the wasps can't get in.
What do you think?


John

 

[PhantomEB]

Mom has told me light up the backyard like daylight with motion sensor put up high but wired to the floodlights over the man door.

 

[custom1]

Oh yea, I forgot to mention, no matter which lights I go with they will be on a motion sensor and a switch so I can lock them on.
Any other types I'm not thinking of?
I do prefer the lights be high or in the overhang. Its just better light and not in your eyes.

John

 

[ymerej]

I like your idea to reuse those old flush mount lights, and they'll match lights on the house too! I've been thinking of doing a similar setup over my garage door when I get that far in the project. I would go with the cheap flood lights except 1) they're ugly, and 2) I don't want to shine lights directly back towards my house and especially towards my neighbors houses.

 

[lynchmob723]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=136&pictureid=969

I put coach type lights between the doors, connected to a motion sensor, then put the standard floods on the corners, one on a switch, one on a motion sensor. The coach lights look nice, but don't put out much light. When I need more light, I have the floods. Bees and bugs have not been an issue with these. I do have recessed can type on my porch, and wasps love them.

Where is your motion sensor? It looks like you mounted the flood in the wall not the eave, is that correct? I was thinking of doing this same thing