Tools and Tricks of the Trade
One of the most frequent questions we get regarding our trade relates to how we bury the wires. The main clients in our industry are owners of estate properties with well-designed lawns and landscapes. The sight of us with a trencher and cutting ditches all over their lawn makes them anxious. This is majorly because they are of the thinking that their well-manicured lawns and landscapes would be negatively impacted. Due to this fact, full attention is paid towards the proper placement and burying of the wires. Despite being an effective and a very fast means of making ditches, trenchers poses several threats to the lawn and landscape. They include:
- Leaving a large ditch that could be near impossible to fill back in completely.
- Creating a potential threat to your irrigation system.
- Cutting of some wiring not deeply buried, therefore needing urgent repair.
- Cutting of tree roots, thereby causing fatal or permanent damage to the trees.
As a result, some clients do not like the idea of trenching their yards and would rather opt for hand digging, but in some instances a trencher is required regardless of the possible setback or damage. According to the National Electrical Code (NEC), the wiring which is required for a high voltage lighting must be installed at a minimum of 18 inches deep. In this kind of situation, when long distance ditches need to be that deep, it is only rational to make use of a trencher as the time and cost saved over digging trumps that required for the repairs that might need to be made. However, if its over a relatively short distance, then hand digging would be preferable.
Hand digging is particularly perfect for laying a low voltage wire to a depth of 6 inches which happens to be the depth required by the National Electrical Code. While doing this, the perfect tool to use is a flat edge spade. With this tool, a small cut which is nearly undetectable could be made in the lawn or landscape by stepping on the spade and carefully moving back and forth. Thereby ensuring that little or no damage is made to your well-manicured lawn or landscape.
Are you looking for Landscape Lighting in Greensboro? Located in Summerfield, NC Southern Lights- Architectural and Landscape Lighting serves properties and property management companies throughout the state of NC including Greensboro, High Point, Jamestown, Burlington, Reidsville, Oak Ridge, Brown Summit, Winston-Salem, Clemmons, Raleigh, Charlotte, Kannapolis, Salisbury, Gastonia, Matthews, etc.
Southern Lights has installed hundreds of outdoor landscape lighting systems and carries more certifications than anyone in the state. We specialize in lighting designs and service everything we install as well as lighting systems installed by others. With attention to detail and a solid knowledge of design, Southern Lights is the leading outdoor landscape lighting firm in the state of NC and beyond. See why our clients choose us. Contact us today by web (online form) or phone 336-451-4969
