Roof Mounting

• To take advantage of the elevation your house naturally provides, consider the feasibility of mounting lighting to the edges of your roof. This will keep the lighting safely distant from any activities that might occur in the yard itself. Most importantly, it will allow you to run wiring directly from the lighting to sockets within the house, eliminating tripping hazards on the ground. However, roof lighting must be carefully considered in terms of its ability to provide adequate illumination for the whole yard. Because roof lighting can be difficult to adjust, this is a primary concern. Also, you will need to consider how much shadow interference might be caused by a roof-based lighting source. Tree branches might spoil the illumination before it reaches the ground.
  
  

Pole Mounting

• Extendable poles work well in outdoor lighting situations because they can be readily adjusted, depending on the dimensions of the area and possible items of interference. However, what this method achieves in terms of flexibility, it loses in its intrusiveness. Pole-mounted lighting can be an eyesore and the wiring in a pole-mounted lighting setup will run across the ground unless it is buried. This is a concern because of foot traffic and possible hazards resulting from inclement weather. If you do use pole mounting, make sure that the lighting source is placed at the extreme edges of the area to be illuminated.
  
  

Approximating Height

• In the case of pole mounts, you will have the chance to fine-tune the height of the lighting to meet the demands of the area. For medium-sized areas (500 to 600 square feet), lighting should be adequate between 10 and 12 feet. For large areas (601 to 1,000 square feet), you may need to go as high as 14 feet. The elevation will depend largely on the strength and size of the lighting that you will use. If in doubt about the best lighting choice for your needs, consult a professional in any local hardware store.