Lighting can completely change the appearance of a swimming pool and the surrounding outdoor living area after the sun goes down. Whether you’re illuminating the water itself, highlighting landscaping, lighting a pathway or creating a more inviting patio, there are plenty of options available.
The materials used in outdoor light fixtures are worth considering along with appearance, brightness and placement. Pool areas expose fixtures to moisture, weather and, depending on their location, pool chemicals and other potentially corrosive conditions. Choosing fixtures designed for the environment in which they’ll be installed can help reduce premature deterioration and maintenance problems over time.
There’s also an important distinction between lighting installed around a swimming pool and lighting designed to operate in or directly with the pool itself. Underwater pool lighting has specific electrical and safety requirements, so don’t assume that a fixture suitable for ordinary outdoor landscape lighting is appropriate for use in or immediately adjacent to the water.
Choosing Corrosion-Resistant Pool-Area Fixtures
When you’re installing outdoor lighting around a swimming pool, corrosion resistance is an important consideration. Moisture alone can be tough on outdoor fixtures, while coastal air, irrigation, pool chemicals and other environmental conditions can make material selection even more important.
Brass and copper remain popular choices for quality outdoor landscape lighting because of their durability and ability to withstand outdoor exposure. Stainless steel and other materials can also be appropriate when the fixture has been designed and rated for the conditions in which it will be installed.
Instead of choosing a fixture based on material alone, look at the entire product. Make sure it is intended for outdoor or wet-location use as appropriate, and pay attention to the manufacturer’s installation and maintenance recommendations. Around a swimming pool, a well-made fixture designed for the application is generally a better investment than simply choosing the least expensive light that looks good in the box.
Brass Light Fixtures
Solid brass is a popular material for outdoor landscape lighting because it combines durability with an appearance that changes naturally as the metal ages. Brass is an alloy made primarily from copper and zinc, and quality cast-brass fixtures can hold up well in demanding outdoor environments.
One characteristic of unfinished brass is that it won’t necessarily continue looking the way it did when it was new. Exposure to the elements causes the surface to oxidize and develop a patina over time. Some homeowners appreciate that naturally aged appearance, while others prefer fixtures with a particular finish or periodically clean them according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Brass fixtures typically cost more upfront than inexpensive fixtures made from lighter-duty materials, but durability can make them worth considering when you’re planning outdoor lighting that you hope to keep for many years. Just don’t mistake “corrosion resistant” for “maintenance free” or “corrosion proof.” Environmental conditions, pool chemistry, finishes, installation and maintenance can all affect how well a fixture holds up.
Copper Light Fixtures
Copper is another attractive option for outdoor landscape lighting. Like unfinished brass, copper changes appearance as it ages, developing a patina rather than retaining the bright appearance of new copper indefinitely. For many homeowners, that evolving finish is part of the material’s appeal.
Copper is also recyclable and can work particularly well when you’re trying to create a consistent look throughout an outdoor living area. Copper fixtures can be used for pathway lighting, landscape accents and other applications surrounding a pool, allowing the lighting itself to become part of the overall backyard design.
As with brass, however, quality and suitability for the particular installation matter. A copper fixture isn’t automatically appropriate for every location simply because it’s made from copper. Look for fixtures specifically designed and rated for the outdoor conditions they’ll encounter.
Don’t Overlook Modern LED and Low-Voltage Options
The fixture housing isn’t the only thing worth considering when planning pool-area lighting. LED technology has changed outdoor and swimming pool lighting considerably, offering long service life, lower energy consumption and a wide range of lighting effects compared with many older lighting technologies.
Low-voltage landscape lighting is also widely used around patios, walkways and landscaping. For actual underwater pool lighting, purpose-designed low-voltage LED systems are available as well. These aren’t simply ordinary landscape lights placed underwater; pool luminaires must be specifically designed, tested and listed for that application.
Modern systems may also offer dimming, color-changing effects and integration with pool or outdoor-lighting controls. Those features aren’t necessary for everyone, but they’re worth considering if you’re planning a larger backyard renovation rather than simply replacing one old fixture.
Plan Pool Lighting in Stages if Necessary
With so many possibilities available for both in-pool and pool-area lighting, costs can vary considerably. If your budget is limited, there’s nothing wrong with developing a longer-range lighting plan and completing the project in stages.
You might begin with the lighting that’s most important for the initial pool installation and then add landscape, pathway or accent lighting later. Planning ahead can help ensure that those additions eventually work together rather than looking like a collection of unrelated fixtures purchased at different times.
It’s also worth distinguishing decorative lighting from lighting needed for safe movement around steps, walkways and other areas after dark. Think about where people will enter and leave the pool, how they’ll move between the house and pool area, and where changes in elevation or other obstacles need to remain visible.
Most importantly, don’t improvise when electricity and swimming pools are involved. In-pool lighting and electrical work in the immediate pool environment are subject to specialized safety requirements involving equipment selection, installation, grounding, bonding and ground-fault protection. Use equipment listed and intended for its application and have electrical work performed in accordance with applicable codes by a qualified professional.
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