Site Preparation and Utility Marking
Before any wire is run, underground utilities are marked, existing irrigation and cable runs are documented, and fixture positions are staged, so the build starts without surprises underground.
Outdoor Lighting Installation Built to Last
Installation as Permanent Infrastructure
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Installation as Permanent Infrastructure
Outdoor lighting installation is the physical build of a lighting system — the trenching and wire, the connections, the transformer, the fixture mounting, and the after-dark aiming that turns a plan into the real thing. Light TN installs outdoor lighting across Middle Tennessee to licensed contractor CE-D: 76580 standards, treating the work underground with the same care as the light you see above it.
The difference between a system that performs for twenty years and one that fails in three is the part no one sees. We use direct-burial wire and sealed, waterproof connectors at every junction — never twist-and-tape — bury cable at proper depth, and size the transformer to the fixture load with room to grow. Voltage drop is calculated across every run, so a fixture at the far corner of the lot is as bright as the one by the door.
An installation ends the way every Light TN project does — after dark, aiming every fixture at operational brightness, with a set of as-built records in your hands. Where wire must cross a finished lawn or bed, we bury it with the L2 Line Layer, the only trenchless machine of its kind in the Nashville market, so the landscape stays intact. Light TN is a family-owned outdoor lighting design studio based in Burns, Tennessee.
Outdoor lighting installation is the right service for:
- Owners with a finished design or fixture list ready to build
- Properties replacing a failed or underperforming system
- Upgrades from consumer-grade fixtures and wiring to commercial-grade
- New construction, installing lighting during the landscape build
- Estates with complex, multi-zone systems needing phased installation
What's Included
The installation is a permanent infrastructure build, executed and documented end to end. It includes:
Trenchless Wire Burial
We operate the L2 Line Layer, the only precision trenchless machine of its kind in the Nashville market, to bury cable under established lawns, beds, and root zones without open trenching — so finished landscape stays finished.
Commercial-Grade Connections
Direct-burial wire and gel-filled or mechanically sealed waterproof connectors at every underground junction — never twist-and-tape — because the connection is where most outdoor systems fail.
Transformer and Voltage Engineering
Transformers sized to the fixture load with at least 20% headroom for future additions, and voltage drop calculated across every run, so brightness holds even to the far corners of the lot.
Daytime Circuit Testing
With wire and fixtures in, a full circuit test verifies continuity, load balance across transformer taps, and the integrity of every connection before nightfall.
After-Dark Aiming
Every fixture aimed after dark at design brightness — beam angles set, lenses swapped where needed, the source hidden — so the finished system looks the way it was drawn, not the way it fell in daylight.
As-Built Documentation
Fixture location maps, wire route diagrams, transformer tap assignments, and zone circuit records, so the system can be serviced and the next shovel in the yard knows where the wire is.
Backed Workmanship
Commercial-grade fixtures under manufacturer lifetime warranties and a one-year workmanship warranty on the installation, with a fixture failure rate under two percent a year against the 15–25% of consumer-grade work.
Installation Challenges We Solve
Underground Connections That Fail
Most outdoor lighting service calls trace to failed connections — twist-and-tape corroding underground. We seal every junction with waterproof connectors built for direct burial, so the connection is not the weak point.
Voltage Drop That Dims the Far Runs
Long runs without the right wire gauge or transformer taps let voltage sag, so distant fixtures go dim and shift color. We engineer gauge and taps to the run, so the whole system holds its brightness.
Trenching That Tears Up the Landscape
Open trenching through beds, root zones, and under hardscape does real damage. We bore the wire in with the L2 Line Layer, so established planting and finished surfaces stay intact.
Fixtures Set in Daylight, Never Checked at Night
A fixture placed to a plan in daylight rarely lands the intended effect after dark. We return at night and aim the full system at brightness, where the real adjustments happen.
No Records After the Job
A system with no as-built documentation becomes a guessing game the moment a landscape crew hits a buried wire. We deliver maps and diagrams, so the system is serviceable for its whole life.
Ideal Properties for Outdoor Lighting Installation
New Construction
System Upgrades
Estate Builds
Failed-System Replacements
Commercial Exteriors
Owner-Designed
Family-Owned
Licensed & Insured
Award-Winning Design
Lifetime Warranties
4.9-Star Rating
Design Before We Dig
500+ Projects Completed
How Outdoor Lighting Installation Works
The Design-First Process
An installation is built in stages, treated as permanent infrastructure rather than a day’s labor.
Step 1: Pre-Installation Planning Review
Timeline: Week 1
We review your lighting design or rendering and fixture list, confirm transformer sizing against the load, identify wire routing and trenchless needs, and stage the build so install day runs clean.
Step 2: Utility Marking and Site Staging
Timeline: Before Install Day
Underground utilities marked, irrigation and cable runs documented, and fixtures staged to their positions, so nothing underground is a surprise.
Step 3: Wire Routing and Underground Infrastructure
Timeline: Day 1
Wire runs installed first — trenched or bored to depth with the L2 Line Layer, pulled through conduit at transitions, and terminated at the transformer to licensed contractor CE-D: 76580 standards.
Step 4: Fixture Mounting and Daytime Test
Timeline: Day 1–2
Fixtures mounted, connected, and set to preliminary positions, then a full circuit test to verify every fixture, connection, and tap before dark.
Step 5: After-Dark Aiming and Validation
Timeline: Same Evening or Next Day
We return after dark to aim every fixture at operational brightness, setting beam angles, heights, and lenses until the system matches the design.
Step 6: Documentation and Handoff
Timeline: Within 3 Business Days
As-built documentation delivered — fixture maps, wire routes, transformer taps, and zone records — and we walk you through the system.
What Sets Us Apart
Installation is treated as the permanent build it is — engineered underground, buried without damage, and signed off after dark, by the studio that designed it.
The Only Trenchless Machine in the Market
We are the only outdoor lighting company in the Nashville market operating the L2 Line Layer, a precision trenchless installer that bores wire under finished lawns and beds without open trenching. It is the difference between wiring a mature landscape and damaging it.
After-Dark Aiming as Standard
Many installers aim in daylight and call it done. We include a dedicated after-dark aiming pass on every job, because a fixture only shows its real effect at night — and that pass is where installed becomes designed.
Built for a Failure Rate Under 2%
Commercial-grade connectors, correctly sized transformers, and engineered voltage drop hold Light TN’s annual fixture failure under two percent, against the 15–25% typical of consumer-grade installations. The reliability is built in underground, before the first fixture lights.
TRUSTED BY HOMEOWNERS ACROSS MIDDLE TENNESSEE
Our clients' feedback reflects our focus on thoughtful design, professional installation, and outdoor systems that perform exactly as intended.
Light TN's talented team delivered exceptional outdoor lighting design, showcasing a remarkable blend of creativity, attention to detail, and professionalism that exceeded our expectations. Their vision and commitment to quality shone through in their implementation of stunning low voltage landscape lighting that truly enhanced the aesthetic of our outdoor space.
Cynthia Williams
I’ve had the chance to work closely with Daryl and the Light TN team through branding and creative projects through my company, Proof Branding, and I can confidently say they run a first class operation. Daryl is thoughtful, professional, and truly cares about the quality of his work and the experience his clients have. Light TN is clearly built on expertise, attention to detail, and pride in what they do. If you’re looking for a team you can trust and enjoy working with, I would highly recommend Daryl and Light TN.
Matt Cheuvront
Daryl with Light TN, was very professional and very helpful towards questions and concerns about the lights operations and programming ability, including installation. Once installed the light strips blended right in with our homes trim being unnoticeable during the daytime or when not in use. 5 Star experience, dealing with Daryl and Light TN.
john covington
We have been using Daryl and his services since 2020. We feel much safer with our beautiful lighting and it’s also makes it very easy taking dogs out at night. One of many benefits. Highly recommend Daryl and Light TN!
Irina “Ira” Hines
4 months agoI used Light TN service on two different properties. Excellent outcome both times. A very professional service at a fair price.
Bob Pelt
Darryl at LightTennessee is great! He’s always quick to respond very professional with his services and the work that he does do is top notch!
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ABOUT LIGHT TN
Light TN is an outdoor lighting design and installation company based in Burns, Tennessee, serving Nashville and communities throughout Middle Tennessee. Founded in 2020 by Daryl Bentfield, Light TN specializes in landscape lighting, architectural lighting, permanent roofline lighting, smart outdoor lighting systems, and outdoor audio. Light TN has completed over 500 custom installations and maintains a 4.9-star Google rating across 100+ verified reviews. The company is a licensed Tennessee contractor, BBB accredited with an A+ rating, and a certified BlueHopper permanent lighting installer.
Daryl Bentfield is the owner and principal designer of Light TN, with over 25 years of professional design experience including a background in production and visual storytelling before specializing in outdoor lighting. Daryl personally designs every project and works on site with his crew during installation.
Investment and Pricing
How much does outdoor lighting installation cost? It is driven by fixture count and property size, along with wire routing complexity, trenchless needs, and site conditions. A Light TN installation is scoped to the property, not sold as a package, and you get an itemized number before any work begins.
Key Cost Factors
Fixture count is the primary driver, with the mix of fixtures, the distance and grade the wire must cover, how much cable needs trenchless burial across finished landscape, transformer and zoning needs, and fixture finish shaping the rest. We scope to the property, so two homes of the same size can price differently.
Project Investment Ranges
Small Project (15–25 fixtures): $4,500–$8,500
Medium Project (25–45 fixtures): $8,500–$16,000
Large Project (45–75 fixtures): $16,000–$30,000
Estate Project (75+ fixtures): $30,000–$60,000+
What's Included
Site preparation and utility marking, trenchless wire burial where needed, commercial-grade direct-burial wire and sealed connectors, a correctly sized transformer with headroom, premium fixtures under manufacturer lifetime warranties, daytime circuit testing, after-dark aiming, as-built documentation, and a one-year workmanship warranty.
Payment Terms
A 15% deposit is due on projects over $10,000, with the balance at completion and your sign-off. We accept cash, checks, major credit cards, Zelle, and Venmo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Light TN installation is scoped by fixture count and property size — most residential systems run from the mid four figures into the five figures, with estate projects higher. The on-site consultation is complimentary, and you get an itemized number before any work begins.
Yes. Light TN buries wire across finished lawns and beds with the L2 Line Layer, the only trenchless machine of its kind in the Nashville market, so established landscape stays intact instead of being open-trenched.
Light TN uses commercial-grade direct-burial wire and sealed waterproof connectors at every junction, transformers sized with headroom, and engineered voltage drop, which holds the annual fixture failure rate under two percent against 15–25% for consumer-grade work.
Yes. Light TN installs from your completed design or fixture list, confirming transformer sizing and wire routing first, and finishes with after-dark aiming so the system performs as drawn.
Light TN aims every fixture after dark at operational brightness because a fixture set in daylight rarely lands the intended effect — beam angles, heights, and lenses are adjusted at night, where the difference between installed and designed lives.
Yes. Light TN delivers as-built documentation on every installation — fixture location maps, wire route diagrams, transformer tap assignments, and zone records — so the system stays serviceable for its whole life.
Light TN installs landscape lighting on a low-voltage system — wire is buried, trenchlessly across finished landscape with the L2 Line Layer, fixtures are mounted and connected with sealed waterproof connectors, the transformer is sized to the load, and every fixture is aimed after dark.
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Light TN designs and installs custom outdoor lighting systems for homes and properties across Middle Tennessee. Every project starts with a consultation, a custom plan, and a commitment to doing the work cleanly — with results that hold up over time.