Underground Journal

Materials Used In Outdoor Light Fixtures

If you live within three miles or so of a salt body of water then you likely are aware of what happens to outdoor products of all kinds. It’s important you pick out the right kind of outdoor light fixtures. The light fixtures you decide to buy need to be able to withstand the harsh conditions of living so close to saltwater. A bit of good information would be to learn what many of the outdoor fixtures are made from in regards to the type of material.
Outdoor light fixtures are made up of different materials. The next five examples explain what these different materials are.

·    Spun Aluminum casts is the aluminum from recycled auto transmissions. Spun aluminum usually has a small content of lubricants from the transmissions.  These impurities in the aluminum cast make the fixture break down faster. It is usually found in cheaper outdoor light fixtures.  Life expectancy is four months to one year.

·    True Aluminum casts are made with raw aluminum with no supplemental materials in the cast.  This material is not one of the best choices you can make however it will last longer than spun aluminum casts. Life expectancy is one and half to three years.

·    Solid Brass outdoor fixtures stand up well to salt corrosive environments.  The raw solid brass material patinas nicely as it ages. It must be rinsed to avoid salt build up on the fixture. The solid brass outdoor lighting fixtures are available in a number of different finishes such as bronze and brushed nickel. The life expectancy for this material is four to seven years.

·    Solid Copper outdoor fixtures are made of raw copper and will last a long time in salt corrosive environments.  Solid copper light fixtures patina well as they age. Solid copper is one of the best materials to use around salt water and is affordable as well. These outdoor fixtures should still be rinsed often.  Stay away from copper plated aluminum outdoor fixtures since they will only last for a year or less. Life expectancy of solid copper is five to ten years.
·    Ceramic outdoor fixtures are another excellent choice and one of the top materials to use in and around saltwater environments. Ceramic light fixtures do not rust around salt corrosive environments. Life expectancy is eight to fifteen years.

All outdoor light fixtures need to be maintained and cared for. They also require routine cleaning to make sure the fixtures last for their given length of time. If you plan on installing light fixtures around a salt corrosive area, the fixtures will need to be fully rinsed on a monthly basis.  By rinsing the fixtures, the salt will not be allowed to build-up and cause damage.  Another concern with outdoor fixtures are bird droppings.  Bird droppings contain an acidic compound which breaks down the paint’s finish when it is not rinsed off the fixture. By spending just a small amount of time each month tending to the cleaning of your outdoor light fixtures, they are sure to look nice and work well for many years to come.

If you’re looking for high-end outdoor lighting fixtures that last a lifetime, look no further than a company called Minka Lavery. While expensive, minka outdoor lighting has an unbeatable charm and quality. I highly recommend them for lighting outdoors.

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