Exterior Electrical Services
Outdoor Lighting
in Vancouver, WA
You want to use the patio after dark without dragging out extension cords. You want the walkway lit so nobody trips. You want the house to look good from the street when the sun goes down. Newman Electric wires and installs outdoor lighting across Vancouver and Clark County. Permanent, weatherproof installations tied directly into your home's electrical system.
Outdoor Lighting Types
What Newman Electric Installs Outside Your Home
Outdoor lighting in Vancouver, WA needs to handle rain nine months of the year. Every fixture we install is rated for wet or damp locations, mounted in weatherproof boxes, and wired with the right conduit and connectors for the Pacific Northwest climate.
Whether it's swapping a single porch light or wiring up a whole new patio with recessed cans and landscape lights, Newman Electric handles it.
Porch & Entry Lights
Wall sconces, pendant lights, and ceiling mounts at your front and back doors. We wire them to a switch inside or a photocell for automatic dusk-to-dawn operation.
Patio & Deck Lighting
Recessed cans in covered patio ceilings, step lights, and post-mount fixtures. We wire directly to a switch or dimmer so there's no plug-in string lights to deal with.
Security Floodlights
Motion-activated floodlights on the corners of the house, above the garage, or anywhere you need coverage. We aim them correctly so they light what you need without blinding the neighbors.
Path & Landscape Lights
Walkway lights, garden uplights, and tree wash fixtures. Low-voltage landscape lighting runs off a transformer that we mount and wire to a dedicated circuit with a timer.
Garage & Driveway Lighting
Overhead fixtures inside the garage, exterior wall packs above the doors, and driveway lights. All weatherproof, all switched or automated.
Soffit & Accent Lighting
Recessed soffit downlights that wash the exterior walls, or LED strip lighting along architectural features. Subtle at night and invisible during the day.
Why Hire an Electrician
Outdoor Lighting That's Built to Last
in Vancouver, WA Weather
Plug-in string lights and solar stakes are fine for temporary use. But if you want outdoor lighting that works every night, looks clean, and doesn't create safety issues, it needs to be hardwired by a licensed electrician.
Weatherproof Wiring
Vancouver gets about 43 inches of rain a year. Every outdoor connection Newman Electric makes uses weatherproof boxes, outdoor-rated wire, and proper conduit. No exposed splices, no junction boxes left unsealed. It holds up through the rain, year after year.
Proper Circuit Capacity
Adding 6 or 8 outdoor fixtures to an already-loaded circuit is how you end up tripping breakers. Newman Electric checks the circuit load, adds a dedicated circuit when needed, and sizes the wire correctly. Your outdoor lighting won't interfere with anything inside the house.
Controls That Make Sense
Timers, photocells, motion sensors, smart switches. We wire your outdoor lighting to whichever control method fits how you actually use it. Porch lights on a photocell so they come on at dusk. Floodlights on motion. Patio lights on a dimmer switch by the back door.
Code & Safety
Outdoor Lighting Code
Requirements in Washington
Outdoor electrical work in Washington state has specific requirements beyond what applies indoors. Newman Electric follows all NEC and WAC requirements for every outdoor lighting installation in the Vancouver, WA area.
- GFCI Protection Required
Per NEC 210.8(A), all outdoor receptacles and lighting outlets need GFCI protection. This applies to patio lights, landscape transformers, and any exterior outlet.
- Wet Location Ratings
NEC 410.10(A) requires that outdoor fixtures exposed to weather be rated for wet locations. Covered porch fixtures can be damp-rated, but anything exposed to direct rain must be wet-rated.
- Buried Cable Depth
NEC Table 300.5 sets burial depth for underground wiring. UF cable to landscape lights must be buried at least 24 inches. In conduit, the depth varies by conduit type. We trench and bury to code.
- Permits for New Circuits
Adding a new outdoor circuit for lighting requires a permit from the City of Vancouver or Washington State L&I depending on your location. Newman Electric handles the permit and inspection.
Customer Reviews
What Homeowners Say About Newman Electric
"Great guys. Great price. They worked on a faulty light fixture and checked some outdoor lights that weren't working. Good work. Good value. Very ethical. How it should be :)"
"Garret and Roman are just the very Best. They were so easy to work with and did a phenomenal job installing an outdoor EV Charging outlet at our home that doesn't look like an afterthought. Would highly recommend this company for any of your electrical needs."
"Newman Electric is top notch. We use them for our personal projects and have used them for 10+ remodeling projects for our business and they have always showed up on time and been honest with pricing. Ryan and his crew are professional and friendly!"
Common Questions
Outdoor Lighting FAQs
It ranges widely. Replacing a porch light on existing wiring is simple. Installing 8 recessed lights in a covered patio ceiling, running a new circuit, and adding landscape lighting along a walkway is a bigger job. Newman Electric gives free estimates so you'll know the cost before we start.
Low-voltage landscape lighting (12V) runs off a transformer and is good for path lights, uplights, and accent fixtures. Line-voltage (120V) is for wall-mounted fixtures, porch lights, floodlights, and recessed cans. Most outdoor lighting projects use both. Newman Electric installs and wires both types.
Sometimes. If the existing circuit has enough capacity and the wiring path works, we'll tie into it. If the circuit is already near capacity, or if you're adding a lot of fixtures, a new dedicated circuit is the better move. We'll check the load and let you know what makes sense.
Yes. NEC 210.8(A) requires GFCI protection for outdoor outlets and lighting circuits. This protects against ground faults, which are more likely outdoors where moisture is present. Newman Electric installs GFCI protection as standard on every outdoor lighting circuit.
Yes. We install timers, photocells (automatic on at dusk, off at dawn), motion sensors, and smart switches that you can control from your phone. We'll recommend the best option for each area based on how you use it.
Not by much if we use LED fixtures, which we always recommend. A set of 6 LED landscape lights running 6 hours a night uses about the same power as a single 60-watt incandescent bulb. LED patio can lights and wall sconces are similarly efficient.
Related Services
Other Exterior Electrical Work
Lighting Installation
Interior fixture installation and wiring
LED Lighting Retrofit
Upgrade outdoor fixtures to LED
EV Charger Installation
Level 2 charger in your garage or driveway
Dedicated Circuits
New circuits for exterior loads
Electrical Panel Upgrade
More capacity for new outdoor circuits
Smart Home Wiring
Smart switches and outdoor automation
Hot Tub Wiring
Dedicated 240V circuit for your spa
Electrical Repair
Fix outdoor fixtures that stopped working
Service Area
Outdoor Lighting Across
Vancouver & Clark County
Newman Electric installs outdoor lighting all over the Vancouver, WA area. Patio lighting in Salmon Creek, security floodlights in Battle Ground, path lights along walkways in Camas, covered porch fixtures in Ridgefield. We've done exterior work on homes from every era, from 1960s ranches to brand-new construction.
We also handle outdoor lighting jobs in Cowlitz County. Longview, Kelso, Woodland, and Kalama homeowners get the same crew and the same free estimate.
Ready to Light Up
Your Outdoor Space?
Newman Electric installs outdoor lighting for homes across Vancouver, WA and Clark County. Patios, walkways, porches, driveways. Give us a call and we'll come take a look. The estimate is free.