I had similar worries when I installed recessed deck lights last summer. A few quick tips from experience:
- Definitely seal around the lights—used silicone caulk myself, held up great through winter.
- Drill pilot holes first to avoid splitting or cracking boards (learned that one the hard way...).
- Go slow and steady; rushing leads to mistakes.
Honestly, once you get past that initial anxiety, it's pretty straightforward. Just measure twice, drill once, and you'll be fine.
Good tips overall, but I'd actually reconsider silicone caulk for sealing around deck lights. I used it myself a couple years back, and while it held up okay initially, after two winters it started cracking and peeling. Ended up having to redo the whole thing—pretty frustrating.
Instead, I'd recommend using a marine-grade sealant like 3M 4200 or something similar. It's specifically designed for outdoor exposure and temperature swings, so it stays flexible longer without cracking. Costs a bit more upfront, sure, but saves you from redoing the job later on.
Also, totally agree about pilot holes—can't stress that enough. Learned that lesson myself when installing railing posts... split wood is no fun to fix.
Anyway, just my two cents from experience. Deck lighting is definitely worth the effort though; makes evening hangouts way nicer.
Great point about the marine-grade sealant—I've seen silicone caulk fail more times than I'd like to admit. Another thing worth mentioning is drainage. Even the best sealant won't hold up if water pools around your deck lights. Learned that the hard way myself... ended up drilling tiny drainage holes underneath to let moisture escape. Deck lighting really does transform the space though, especially if you're setting up a home bar area—makes those evening drinks feel a bit more special.
"ended up drilling tiny drainage holes underneath to let moisture escape."
Smart move with the drainage holes—I've done something similar myself. Curious though, has anyone tried solar-powered deck lights? Been thinking about them for sustainability reasons, but not sure if they're bright enough for a bar setup...
Been thinking about them for sustainability reasons, but not sure if they're bright enough for a bar setup...
I've actually tried solar-powered deck lights myself, and honestly, they're a bit hit or miss. Last summer, I set up a few around my patio bar area thinking they'd be perfect for evening hangouts. They looked great aesthetically, but the brightness was pretty underwhelming—especially on cloudy days or after shorter winter days. Ended up supplementing with some plug-in string lights to get the right vibe. Sustainability-wise they're great, but if you're aiming for solid lighting at your bar setup...might wanna reconsider.
