Porch lighting lumens

[jives]

Hi all:
Having trouble finding recommendations for the amount of light for a covered porch on our newly built garage.

The porch is 32 x 8, concrete floor, and has a tan metal ceiling (same as the garage roof). Certainly we don't need 100 lumens out there, and a speck of low mood lighting is not enough. We could go with dimmers, but if we do LED lamps in conventional fixtures we may no be able to. So, assume for a moment that we will only have one level of lighting available.

The plan is for 3 ceiling fixture placed evenly along the ceiling length. I am, however, thinking that maybe some sort of strip light, like the Home Depot linkable shop light, could be nice (would need to paint, or find one in a different color, and outside compatible).

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Commerci...22&gclid=CKnNkfGu_csCFYZXNwody5IEiA&gclsrc=ds

Or LED strips like this:
http://www.usledsupply.com/shop/project-photos-outdoor-patio

Thoughts on both issues?

 

[nh_yota]

When you say metal ceiling I assume you mean the ceiling is the roof so you can't cut in some recessed cans?

 

[jives]

When you say metal ceiling I assume you mean the ceiling
is the roof so you can't cut in some recessed cans?

No, sorry, I was unclear. The ceiling is flat, 8' high, separate from the roof. There is space
between the ceiling and the underside of the roof steel to put in recessed cans.

One issue, though, is that the ceiling is ribbed steel. It may be easier to put in linear lights
or LED strip lights in the ceiling corners. Again, though, I'm not sure how much light woul
d be good.

 

[bczygan]

2 good options.

Standard decorative wall and ceiling fixtures with dimmable LED bulbs with standard screw bases.

Decorative wall and ceiling fixtures with built in LEDs.

Ceiling should be recessed cans with dimable LED floods with enough wattage to light the space with general illumination.

Balance styles, and sizes of fixtures to go with the style of architecture and the size of the space.

Be careful about glass types as you don't want to look directly at the LED itself, but don't want to obscure the light.

Choose a color temperature that has some warmth without being too yellow color temperature.

Also consider walkway lights and a yard light to give general and task illumination to lead guests from the street or driveway, up to the porch.

You should have 4 of the recessed fixtures, each illuminating an 8x8 space.

Bill

 

[MrBalll]

I would not recommend the Home Depot lights. They are way too bright for what you want.

Like stated above, it won't be cheap, but dimmable LED bulbs would be nice. Some you can even dim from your smartphone if you want to go that route, vs installing the switch.

 

[Dustball]

This is my porch lit with four LEDs at night. They're just regular recessed housings with GE 10 watt 700 lumen LED retrofits, all on a dimmer.

 

[jives]

This is my porch lit with four LEDs at night. They're just regular recessed housings with GE 10 watt 700 lumen LED retrofits, all on a dimmer.

So, its not really necessary to go with "outdoor" type fixtures?

 

[simpler=better]

Use common sense when mounting, and any "damp" location fixture is fine. Most fixtures are damp rated anyway. If you're paranoid, make sure all your wirenuts are facing upright so that they won't collect condensation.

With that style house I'd go with a couple of thse fixtures:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-Bay-1-Light-White-Mushroom-Flushmount-JO106H/202022511

and some warm bulbs(I like my porch lights yellow or yelowish)
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Philips-...-Effect-Household-Light-Bulb-455857/206964416

Add a dimmer if they're too bright.

 

[nh_yota]

I would go with four or six 6" recessed cans spaced evenly apart along the center of the ceiling. My neighbors built a nice semi-wraparound farmhouse style porch last year and they went with 6" cans and incandescent PAR bulbs on a dimmer switch. If I were you I would do the same. You can swap out the PAR bulbs with LED trims in the future if you want.

 

[Falcon67]

A string of C7 Christmas lights works well and gives a nice soft mixed glow.

 

[TractorJeff]

Up here we use they yellow porch bulbs to minimize the bug attraction.
My porch is 32 by 12and is currently lit with wall sconces, though I did run the wire for eventual overheads.

 

[jives]

Up here we use they yellow porch bulbs to minimize the bug attraction.
My porch is 32 by 12and is currently lit with wall sconces, though I did run the wire for eventual overheads.

Forgot about the bugs. . . does yellow really cut down on them?

 

[Dustball]

So, its not really necessary to go with "outdoor" type fixtures?

Not if the fixtures are protected from the elements such as being under a roof.

This is very similar to what I have except I bought mine from Sam's Club-
http://amzn.com/B00JPBDL9W

Note that it's damp rated.

Looking at your picture, I'd do four recessed lights with each one centered between the posts.

 

[Gotcha640]

I have landscape lights close enough to the porch to get the key in the door, Christmas lights tucked under the eaves, light over the door on an inside switch, and can lights staggered off the landscape lights. I also have security type flood lights that light up 50 feet in front of the porch.

I like having everything on when there's a party going on, turn off the floods and the bright porch light after dinner, and for the sitting around with a few friends and a few beers, landscape and Christmas lights only.