| Garage Lighting |
Many people fail to consider their garage lighting when planning the lighting design for their new home or remodeling project, but given the fact that many men spend a lot of their time in the garage, this could be a mistake. In the past many home owners got by with a single overhead fixture in the center of their garage - or worse yet, relied on the light from their automatic garage door opener.
Modern garage lighting might not be a concern if you only use your garage for getting in and out of your car, but if you use your garage as a workshop or storage space, you’ll need to shine some light in those dark corners and cubbyholes.
Because many garages don't have windows, lighting is important for being able to see, especially if you have a workshop in your garage. If you're going to be working on your car in your garage, good lighting it essential for safety and convenience. One of the best options for the primary lighting in your garage is an overhead fluorescent fixture. These typically house two or four long fluorescent tubes, and can provide good illumination over a large area. They also have a ballast that will need to be replaced from time to time, but since fluorescent lights generally use less energy and last much longer than incandescent lighting, you'll save money over time.
For task lighting above a workbench or other work area, you can install a track light or a high-quality flourescent fixture. If you decide to go with a flourescent, your best bet will be a fixture that takes T8 tubes and uses an electronic ballast. T8 tubes give off color that is closer to the real thing, and the electronic ballasts will prevent the lights from flickering all the way down to zero-degrees Fahrenheit.
Another modern choice in garage lighting is cordless LED task lights. These lights are especially useful if there isn’t a wall outlet nearby, and they shine bright for 10 hours or more on a single charge. And LEDs give off much less heat than incandescent bulb, which is a big plus on those hot summer days out in the garage.
If you spend a lot of time in the evening working on your car, you'll probably want a set of free-standing 1000 watt halogen work lights. These will turn night into day inside your garage, and are great when you're working under the hood. Just be aware that they do generate a good deal of heat, which could be a problem during those hot summer months. Especially if you have a detached garage with no insulation or air conditioning.
And finally, if your garage doesn't have windows, you might consider installing several skylights. These won't do you much good at night, of course, but having natural illumination during the day will save on energy and provide warm, general lighting for your garage.
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