Covered on a Rosemead visit
- Motion-sensor floodlights replacing old halogen or bare-bulb fixtures
- Dusk-to-dawn fixtures with a built-in photocell
- Wall lanterns by the garage, side door and back patio swapped on existing boxes
- Camera floodlights on an existing exterior light box
- Sensor range, timer and sensitivity adjusted after dark if needed
- Fixture bases sealed to stucco so rain stays out of the box
Outside what we take on
- Roof and foundation repairs.
- Opening framing or the roofline to reach a new fixture location.
- Projects big enough to need a general contractor.
Outdoor light on a Rosemead lot
Rosemead homes have a median year built of 1959, and the typical lot is a single-story house with a long driveway down one side and a detached or rear garage. Original exterior lights were often a single porch fixture and one bulb over the garage door, which leaves the side yard and back of the driveway dark.
A Department of Energy lighting design guide calls photosensors and motion sensors two controls “especially useful with outdoor lighting.” Photosensors keep a light off in daylight; motion sensors switch it on when someone is there and off a short while later. For security and utility lights, the guide says the best controller may combine both.
How an outdoor light swap goes
Find the box
We locate the existing exterior box and switch, and shut off the breaker for that circuit.
Swap the fixture
The old light comes off, the new mounting bracket goes on, and the wires are connected in the box.
Seal it
The base is sealed to the stucco or siding, leaving a weep gap at the bottom where the maker calls for one.
Aim and set
We point the sensor at the walkway or driveway and set the timer and range, then walk past it to test.
Bigger jobs, free estimate
New exterior boxes, wire run along the house or underground, and new circuits for yard lighting are bigger electrical jobs with their own free estimate. We work on existing exterior light locations and plug-in low-voltage kits.
While we’re out for this, Rosemead customers often add holiday light hanging, mailbox installation, light fixture replacement, doorbell and video doorbell installation, fence and gate repair or outlet, switch and GFCI replacement.
What to text
A photo of each light you want changed, a wider shot showing the area it should cover, and the fixtures you picked if you already bought them.
Outdoor lighting questions
Can you replace my porch light with the same kind?
Yes. Existing porch and wall lights are swapped like-for-like on the same box.
Why does my motion light flicker?
LED bulbs that do not suit the sensor, or a loose wire. We check both and swap the bulb or fixture.
How much does it cost to install a motion sensor light?
It depends on the fixture and mounting height. Send a photo of the light you have now.
Why does my motion light turn on by itself?
Cars, tree branches or a sensor set too sensitive. We aim it lower and reduce the range.
Can a motion light stay on low all night?
Many have a dusk-to-dawn low setting that brightens on motion. We set it if yours has one.
Do I keep the wall switch?
Yes. Leave it on so the sensor controls the light; flipping it off and on can override some models.
Will it work on stucco?
Yes. We fasten to the box and seal the base to the stucco.
Can you add a camera floodlight?
Yes, on an existing exterior light box with Wi-Fi reaching that spot.
What about solar lights?
They need no wiring. We can mount them where there is no box, facing the sun.
Can the light avoid shining into a neighbor’s window?
Yes. Aim the heads down and use a fixture with a shield or narrow beam.
Does a photocell need sun?
No. It needs open sky, not direct sun. Don’t mount it where a porch light shines on it.
Can you install landscape lights?
Plug-in low-voltage kits, yes.
How long does a swap take?
Depends on the job; we’ll let you know after we see photos.
Can you light the back of a long driveway?
If there is a box on the garage or rear wall, yes. A sensor flood there lights the turn-in and the walk to the back door.
What bulb color works outside?
A warm white is easy on the eyes and on neighbors; brighter, cooler light suits a work area by the garage.
Lighting tips for Rosemead homes
- Swapping old fixtures for LED lightsHow to choose and install LED light fixtures in a Rosemead ranch home, from flush mounts and kitchen lights to porch lights and dimmers.
- Garage and backyard outlets that trip, corrode or quitGarage GFCI outlet keeps tripping or won’t reset? Why garage and patio outlets fail in Rosemead homes, what to check, and how we fix them. Free estimate.
Jobs like this one are everyday work for our Rosemead handyman service, from the blocks off Garvey Avenue to the streets near Rosemead Park. A photo by text gets you a quote first.
Part of electrical repairs. You can also browse all our services or read about repairs in postwar Rosemead homes.