LIGHTING
Photo: Luminocity
Quality vs. quantity
Many landscape lighting contractors are swayed by low-cost equipment options, especially for ev- eryday tools like cutters, crimpers and hand tools used for manual work. However, the pros say you often get what you pay for, so go quality all the way. Most contractors fail to factor in the
Photo: Vande Hey Company
“Because our installations are below ground, things of- ten get mixed up and are not done exactly the way they’re supposed to because of the obstacles an installer encoun- ters,” Fischer says. “For me, it’s key to have a detailed plan or an outline of the job. Having an accurate plan to work with makes life a heck of a lot easier to orchestrate what needs to be done during the operation and the tools you’ll need to complete it.” For example, a routine service call involves replacing
faulty lamps. Without accurate records about the type or brand of lamp used in the system, contractors could ar- rive unprepared and needlessly spin their wheels. It comes down to efficiency on the job, and time is money, Fischer says. “Te less time we spend guessing why we’re there and what we’re supposed to do saves us dollars and cents.”
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time and resources it takes to travel to a big-box store to replace a cheap tool that has failed in the middle of a job, says Heinrich Fischer, CLVLT, COLD, and owner of Sundown Designs-NY, Fairport, New York. “When you factor your time and the
fuel it takes to leave the job site, get the replacement and then come back, you could have already paid for the upgraded tool,” he says. “And I’m not talking about something that’s gold plated, but a good quality tool that will last you longer.” But quality tools don’t remain sharp
or effective for long if they’re not cared for, Fischer adds. “Keep a cloth on you so you can get the soil, grease and oil off when you are finished on the job,” he says. “It only takes a few minutes, but it will keep those tools in excellent operating condi- tion and ready to go when you show up to the next job.”
Photo: Moonlighting Landscape Lighting Systems
June 2023 Irrigation & Lighting 21
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