Top Landscape Lighting Installation in Waukegan, Illinois Ranked

Enhancing your Waukegan property with professional landscape lighting installation transforms your outdoor space into a secure, beautiful, and functional extension of your home. This service involves strategically placing low-voltage fixtures to illuminate pathways, architectural features, and gardens, improving safety and curb appeal after sunset. For local homeowners, finding a qualified specialist ensures a design that complements your property's unique character while adhering to local regulations.

American National Sprinkler & Lighting

924 Turret Ct, Mundelein, IL 60060

American National Sprinkler & Lighting is a Chicago, IL-based company specializing in lawn sprinkler system installation, repair, and outdoor lighting services. Established in 1984, the company has grown from a small team to a large operation with over 40 vehicles and 80 employees. They focus on designing and maintaining reliable sprinkler and lighting systems, with a service approach that emphasizes quick scheduling and efficient repairs, often completed within one to two days. The company operates seven days a week to accommodate customer schedules and prioritizes minimizing the time clients need to be at home.

5.0

446 Reviews

Humbug Holiday Lighting of Chicago

chicago

Humbug Holiday Lighting of Chicago specializes in holiday and landscape lighting installation for outdoor spaces in Chicago, IL. They handle the entire process from installing and configuring lights to troubleshooting and removal after the season. This service helps homeowners enjoy festive lighting without the hassle of setup, maintenance, or storage.

5.0

141 Reviews

Pavestone Brick Paving, Inc

1645 Elk Blvd, Des Plaines, IL 60016

Pavestone Brick Paving, Inc is a family-owned hardscape contractor serving Chicago, IL, and the surrounding north and northwest suburbs. They specialize in designing and installing brick and stone patios, driveways, walkways, retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, and outdoor lighting. As an authorized contractor for Unilock and Rochester, Pavestone offers high-quality paver products and provides full 3D hardscape and landscape color renderings to assist with project visualization. With over 24 years of experience, they focus on craftsmanship and structural integrity to create durable and aesthetically pleasing outdoor living spaces. Pavestone also offers permeable paver installations for environmentally sustainable projects.

4.9

255 Reviews

SavATree - Tree Service & Lawn Care

3520 Commercial Ave, Northbrook, IL 60062

SavATree - Tree Service & Lawn Care has been serving the Chicago, IL area and its surroundings for over 40 years. The company offers a wide range of outdoor services including tree and shrub pruning, lawn fertilization, weed control, insect and disease management, stump grinding, and landscape lighting installation. Their team of ISA Certified Arborists provides expert diagnosis and personalized care to maintain the health and beauty of residential and commercial properties. SavATree also offers 24/7 emergency tree services to address storm damage and other urgent tree-related issues.

4.9

249 Reviews

Allscape Services

452 Scotland Rd, Lakemoor, IL 60051

Allscape Services is an outdoor landscape and lawn sprinkler service provider based in Chicago, IL. They offer a full range of services including lawn irrigation, landscape lighting installation, yard drainage, grading, and holiday lighting. With over 25 years of experience, they serve customers throughout northern Illinois and specialize in design, installation, maintenance, and repairs to enhance outdoor spaces year-round. Their capabilities include lawn sprinkler system installation and comprehensive holiday lighting services.

4.9

183 Reviews

See more providers in Waukegan, IL

Understanding Landscape Lighting and Its Benefits

Outdoor lighting, or exterior illumination, is far more than just placing a few lights in the yard. A well-executed system for landscape illumination serves multiple purposes. Primarily, it enhances safety by lighting walkways, steps, and potential trip hazards, reducing the risk of accidents. It also acts as a powerful deterrent to trespassers by eliminating dark shadows where intruders could hide. Beyond practicality, architectural and garden lighting dramatically boosts your home's aesthetic appeal, creating dramatic shadows and highlights that make your landscaping pop at night and extend your living space for evening enjoyment.

Common Fixture Types for Waukegan Homes

A professional installer will use a combination of fixtures to achieve a balanced and effective design. The most common types include:

• Path Lights: These are typically short, stake-mounted fixtures that line walkways, driveways, and garden borders, providing safe navigation and subtle guidance.
• Spotlights and Floodlights: Used for accent lighting, these fixtures are aimed at specific features like trees, statues, or your home's facade. "Up-lighting" is a popular technique where a spotlight is placed at the base of a tree to wash light up the trunk and canopy ¹.
• Deck and Step Lights: These low-profile, often recessed lights are installed on stair risers or under railings to illuminate steps and deck perimeters for safety and ambiance.
• Downlights: Sometimes called "moonlighting," these are mounted high in trees or on structures to cast a soft, natural-looking glow downward, mimicking moonlight ².

What to Expect: Project Scope and Pricing

The cost of an outdoor lighting project in Waukegan varies significantly based on the design's complexity, the number and quality of fixtures, and the labor involved. Most residential systems use efficient and safer low-voltage (12V) technology with long-lasting LED bulbs as the standard ³.

• Small Project: A basic setup to illuminate a primary walkway or a few key features with 5-10 fixtures typically starts around $800 ⁴.
• Standard Project: A comprehensive design that lights pathways, entryways, and several landscape features with 10-20 fixtures represents the most common scope. For this, Waukegan homeowners can expect an average cost between $2,000 and $6,000, with an average around $3,500 ^{5 4 6}.
• Large/Custom Project: Extensive designs with sophisticated techniques, architectural integration, and many fixtures can reach $10,000 or more ^{7 8}.

On a per-fixture basis, including the fixture itself and installation, costs generally range from $100 to $500 each, with basic LED fixtures starting around $70-$150 ^{4 6}. The final price encompasses professional design, all fixtures and transformers, wiring, and skilled labor to ensure a safe, reliable, and code-compliant installation ^{5 9}.

Navigating Local Regulations and Best Practices

In Waukegan, installing a new outdoor lighting system may require a permit, so it's crucial to work with a provider familiar with local codes ⁵. A key focus of these regulations is minimizing light pollution and "light trespass," which is stray light spilling onto a neighbor's property or into the night sky. Professionals achieve this by using shielded or "cutoff" fixtures that direct light precisely where it's needed and by carefully aiming lights away from property lines. This responsible approach ensures your installation is both beautiful and neighbor-friendly.

The Professional Installation Process

A quality landscape lighting installation follows a clear process:

1. Consultation & Design: A specialist visits your property to discuss your goals, assess the landscape, and create a custom lighting plan.
2. Equipment Selection: You'll choose from a range of fixture styles and finishes. High-quality LEDs are recommended for their energy efficiency, longevity, and excellent color rendering.
3. Installation: Technicians will trench for and lay low-voltage wiring, install the transformer (which plugs into an outdoor outlet), and securely place all fixtures according to the plan.
4. Final Adjustment & Demonstration: Once everything is powered, the installer will fine-tune the aim of each light and walk you through operating the system, which may include timers or smart controls.

Maintaining Your Lighting System

To keep your system looking and performing its best, periodic maintenance is recommended. This includes cleaning fixture lenses of dirt and debris, trimming back any plant growth that may be blocking light, checking wire connections for corrosion, and replacing any LED modules or transformers at the end of their long lifespan. Many professional installers offer annual maintenance services.

Why Specialized Expertise Matters

While DIY lighting kits are available, a professional brings invaluable expertise. They understand voltage drop calculations to ensure consistent brightness across long wire runs, possess the tools for durable and discreet wire burial, and know how to create layered lighting effects that add depth and interest. Most importantly, they ensure the entire system is safe, up to code, and built to withstand Waukegan's seasons.

Frequently asked questions

Sources