As we all know, the effects of salt water on landscape lighting systems and coastal environments are very hard on man-made objects. With the recent surge in the market antique brass landscape lighting fixtures many landscape lighters are not considering the long term affects of using brass instead of copper. Antique brass fixtures are great because they offer a beautiful patina look right out of the box. So unlike copper you do not have to wait for the fixture to patina. So from day one, you get the natural aged look. But with most brass fixtures on the market you tend to lose that beautiful aged look within a few weeks of being outside near the coast.
There are many variables that can help you to choose what metal is best for you…the first and most important variable is the environment that you live. Over time a landscape lighting system is only as good as the materials that they are constructed of. If you live within three miles of a brackish or saltwater environment then you know what happens to outdoor products of any kind. Outdoor lighting fixtures take a beating when installed in these areas, that is why it is important to find the right light fixtures for the right areas. Even if you don’t live near the coast using landscape lighting fixtures made from materials that will last is paramount.
At ClaroLux®, we offer several different types of materials for every budget and environment. If you live near the coast then we have two products that we recommend that you can choose from – copper and brass.
Solid Brass Lighting Fixtures – If you are looking to use primarily brass and you are located near the coast then you will need to understand that the brass look that you purchased will not always look like it did when it was first installed. Cast brass outdoor light fixtures are designed to stand up well to salt corrosive environments but the brass material will patina with age. Most raw brass or bronze fixtures must be rinsed to control the salt build-up.
Solid brass outdoor fixtures can come in different finishes like bronze and brushed nickel made by creating a chemical reaction. ClaroLux’s® brass line has a limited lifetime warranty and is designed specifically for coastal environments. Their brass fixtures also come with ClaroLux’s® patented protectant sealant that helps to preserve the finish and material for many years to come.
The fixture shown here was manufactured by one of the top landscape lighting companies in the country. This particular fixture does not come with a protectant sealant to preserve the antique brass finish. The photo was taken by one of ClaroLux’s® Dealers in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico after two months of being installed. The photo shows how salt water environments can destroy the finish on some landscape lighting fixtures in a very short period of time. The harsh coastal climate in Puerto Vallarta is one of the reasons for this particular dealer switching to ClaroLux’s® brass line. He loves the brass look but was having a hard time finding a lighting company that could help him with his request. ClaroLux® delivered not only a product that could stand up to the test of time but also remained as beautiful as the first day it was installed.
Solid Copper Lighting Fixtures – – Copper is ClaroLux’s® number one seller to their Dealers in coastal environments. ClaroLux’s® copper landscape lighting fixtures are designed to stand up well to salt corrosive environments but will need to understand that the polished copper look will patina with age. ClaroLux® recommends to rinse your light fixtures off periodically to control the salt build-up. Solid copper outdoor fixtures can come in different finishes like polished, brushed or stained copper. Beware of copper plated aluminum fixtures that are advertised as copper fixtures. ClaroLux’s® copper line has a limited lifetime warranty and is designed specifically for coastal environments.
The fixture shown here is ClaroLux’s® CL-AL1-I copper landscape lighting fixture that was installed 0.5 miles away from the coast. The photo was taken by one of ClaroLux’s® Dealers in Charleston, South Carolina after three months of being installed.
As you can see the shinny polished copper look is now a nice brown/green patina. Copper is one of the most durable metals that also gives you that beautiful natural patina look. Copper lighting fixtures tend to patina better than any other affordable raw material on the market and that is why copper is ClaroLux’s® #1 choice for coastal environments.
