Everything You Need to Know About Outdoor Lighting in Castle Rock, Colorado

As outdoor lighting pros, we get a front row seat to new trends, smarter fixtures, and the kind of installation tips you only learn from years in the field. We also get asked a ton of great questions, so we pulled together the top ten we hear most and shared our honest thoughts and answers. If you’ve got a question that didn’t make the list, drop it on our website and we’ll get you an answer fast. Check out the Q&A below from Illumin8 Outdoor Lighting owner, Bryan Daniel.

1. What fixture would you recommend to accent Castle Rock architecture and landscape?

I personally believe less is more when designing lighting in and around Castle Rock. Most lighting companies suggest installing 4-6 path light fixtures along a front walkway, which creates a very busy, cluttered look. Instead, I recommend using bollard fixtures from companies like Tailored Lighting to reduce the quantity of lights while actually increasing the aesthetic appeal of your walkway.

Many of these bollards come with custom heights and designs that beautifully broadcast light across the path. Some even offer the option to display your house address. I hope more Castle Rock homeowners lean into using corten steel bollards over traditional path lights—they complement our Colorado landscape perfectly and create a more sophisticated, minimalist look.

2. Should I choose a transformer with internal photocell/timer controls or a stainless enclosure with separate lighting controls?

This is an easy one for me—I always recommend a stainless steel enclosed transformer with separate controls. Here's why:

The quality of the stainless steel exterior will last a lifetime in Castle Rock's variable weather conditions. These transformers offer multi-tap voltage settings, which gives us the ability to dial in and solve any potential voltage drop challenges that might occur across your property. Most importantly, you have complete versatility with lighting controls—whether you want a simple photocell, a timer control, or a smart Wi-Fi control system, you're not locked into one option.

3. How deep do you typically bury the wire in a low voltage lighting system?

We typically aim to bury wire 6"-8" deep along the wire path. However, Castle Rock's rocky soil conditions sometimes only allow us a few inches of coverage in certain areas. This is perfectly okay and safe, as long as those shallow trenched areas aren't visible or located in high-traffic areas of your yard. Safety and functionality always come first, but we work hard to ensure a clean, professional installation.

4. Would you recommend permanent lighting over landscape lighting?

This is a tricky question because it really depends on what you're wanting to achieve for your home. However, my personal preference is to always light the landscape first—the trees, walkways, steps, and garden features—with a soft wash on the facade before considering any soffit or permanent lighting.

Landscape lighting creates depth, dimension, and drama that highlights the natural beauty of your property. It's about creating an outdoor experience, not just illuminating your house. That said, we're happy to discuss both options and design a system that fits your vision.

5. Is color-changing lighting popular in Castle Rock, Colorado?

No, it's actually not a very popular choice among Castle Rock residents. Color-changing capabilities can increase the price of a project by 30% or more, and it limits you to certain fixture brands and styles. For those reasons, most Castle Rock homeowners choose traditional warm white lighting, which creates a timeless, elegant look that complements Colorado's natural beauty year-round.

6. When designing lighting systems, do you consider Dark Sky International design principles?

Yes, 100%—it's the main focus of our design process. Protecting our incredible night sky here in Castle Rock is very important to us and to the community. We carefully select fixtures and aim lights properly to minimize light pollution and glare while still creating a beautiful, functional lighting system for your property.

7. What's the average price of a lighting system with path lights, uplights, and accent lights?

While there's no set price—because each house and landscape is unique in style, size, and challenges—an average 10-fixture project typically ranges from $3,000 to $5,000. The final cost depends on fixture selections, the complexity of installation, and which lighting control features you choose. We always provide a detailed estimate after evaluating your specific property.

8. How long does it take to install a 10-light system?

From start to finish, we can install a 10-fixture project in one day. We work efficiently while maintaining the highest quality standards, so you can enjoy your new lighting system right away with minimal disruption to your daily routine.

9. Do you subcontract your installations?

Absolutely not. This is something that truly separates us from other companies out there. We employ W2 employees, and we carry all the necessary auto insurance, workers' compensation, and general liability insurance for working on your property.

Rest assured, if one of our installers were to get hurt on your property, you don't have to worry about any liability—our workers' comp covers that completely. You're protected, and so are our team members.

10. What's the one thing you want Castle Rock residents to know about Illumin8 Outdoor Lighting?

Lighting Warranties! This is a tricky subject when residents are interviewing lighting companies. Many companies will throw out a "lifetime warranty" claim just to close the sale, but it's often not what it seems.

Here's our honest approach: We offer a comprehensive one-year labor and materials warranty at no charge. After that first year, if there's an issue with a lamp or fixture that has a 10-year manufacturer warranty, we'll warranty the fixture itself at no charge—but we will charge you for our time to come out and replace it. That's it. No hidden fees, no confusing fine print.

We believe in transparency and standing behind our work without making promises we can't keep.

Ready to Transform Your Castle Rock Property?

If you have additional questions about landscape lighting or would like to schedule a consultation for your Castle Rock home, we'd love to hear from you. Our team is passionate about creating beautiful, functional outdoor lighting systems that enhance your property while respecting our Colorado night sky. you can contact us at 719-284-3662 or email us here.