At some point, it will become a necessary task to add outdoor lighting for your tennis court. This can happen during the construction process, or before your court is actually built. There will be factors that can save you money and have the right amount of lighting for your court size. But considering the cost of lighting contractors, how can I make this possible?
You can avoid many common mistakes with these simple tips and tricks. And get the best prices that won’t destroy your tennis court lighting budget at the same time. Read further and learn how to select the best tennis court lighting contractor.
Why do we need a tennis court lighting contractor?
There are a lot of reasons why it’s necessary to hire a lighting contractor. One of the main reasons is mainly because you need someone who knows what they’re doing. Since they are considered professional in this case, you need to select them carefully. This is so you save yourself time and the overall effort that goes into contracting them.
They can advise a solution based on what they recommend, but most of that can be through free advice over the phone. Until you need to start spending an hourly amount on their contracted services, here’s what you should be learning about them beforehand.
Factors to consider when selecting a tennis court lighting contractor
1. Location of contractor
The difference in location plays a big role in the total cost you can save. Local contractors who have high overheads tend to charge more. You might find a better deal from a contractor who is just outside that local circle. Some contracted services even come from out-of-state but regularly appeal to your needs.
Since they are eager for your business, they should have good track records for a business that applies to your location too. Despite where they are located, all the advice they provide is an advantage to you. This allows you to negotiate for the amount of time they are actually hired for a lighting job.
2. Price (hourly rate or piece rate)
Contractors, like everyone else in the construction business, will be keen to spot a loophole that gives them an upper hand. Free advice doesn’t cost you anything, but they also know this can affect them being hired. A good tip for getting the right price is calling contractors, asking if they recommend a tennis court lighting service.
Always ask if their hourly rates are negotiable for an entire project. Instead of paying by the hour, see if they are willing to consider friend referrals and recommendations for a discounted price. It doesn’t hurt to ask for a discounted cost if you mention your tennis court will benefit disadvantaged kids. Or is part of a community program that helps promote kid’s tennis.
3. Certification
Every electrical contractor needs to have a standard certification for construction. Even for sports lighting, light poles must be considered safe and stable in all weather conditions. The mounting base must meet the state requirements for construction and electricity safety too. Your lighting contractor will be happy to share these certificates upon request.
Even the workers who perform a construction task should have the proper certifications if they are contracted as subcontracted labor. Outdoor sports lighting is a major safety issue and should always include the necessary weather conditions that your state is used to. It goes without saying that your lighting contractor should be fully bonded and insured.
4. Warranty
Tennis court lighting has improved greatly in the last 20 years. The ability to save on lighting costs was increased recently when LED lighting systems were introduced. Needless to say, the warranty for these lights should also play a huge role in the overall cost. Many LED lighting panels have a 10-15 years factory warranty, but does that include an installation warranty from your contractor?
No contractor wants to have a bad reputation for their work, so their contract should include a warranty. These are often outlined in their services within the contract itself. It needs to include all phases of the lighting installation and electrical wiring. Not excluding other aspects such as changes in light levels or lighting control installations.
5. Know your lighting equipment
It might take some time to research what is available, but it always pays to understand the products and lighting. Each tennis court contractor will offer the preferred brand that they work with, so it helps to know that brand too. They might be getting a discount that you never see directly, so you should be familiar with lighting mark-ups.
Research the top brands that are meant for tennis court lighting. Take the time to look at the benefits of LED lighting that also include Kelvin’s control. This is what changes the color temperature that helps adjust court visibility. Don’t settle for lighting packages that might be too much strain or too bright for your needs.
6. Become familiar with lighting terminology
You don’t have to be an expert about lighting to know some important terms to describe their usage. Specific words including Lumens, focal point, court glare, and Kelvin are helpful to understand the tech-talk behind sports lighting. You can’t always expect your contractor to speak to you without using these terms, so learn them beforehand.
See also: Basic knowledge about tennis court lighting
This will show that you are knowledgeable about the product and perhaps they will share inside info. If you have good communication with them being aware of these terms, they will be less likely to price gouge.
How to save money when hiring lighting contractors?
1. Buying lighting lamps first
No rule says you can’t choose your own lighting fixtures in advance before they are installed. As long as you know what you’re buying, contracted services still need to be given a warranty for their work. This helps you keep the cost within your expected budget with brand name lighting that is perfect for your needs.
Don’t fall for the old trick that sports lighting professionals get big discounts because they have a licensed company. These companies will sell to anybody who wants to buy their product regardless of owning a business or not. Many large sports lighting manufacturers sell in bulk to smaller distribution outlets such as Home Depot or sports lighting suppliers.
2. Lighting poles
Once again, these are items that can be purchased in advance with no need to have a business or resale license. If you do have a business or a friend who does, it’s less problematic if they do require resale numbers. Lighting poles tend to cost more than the light unit itself, so look for auctions or scrap metal dealers.
It’s not uncommon that used light poles can be purchased from city and county scrap yards too. Inner-city parks with tennis courts may have replaced their poles recently, so there’s always second-hand or used equipment available. This is a cost-effective way to have your light poles bought beforehand and keep the contracted costs down.
See also: A guide of tennis court light pole height
3. Lighting control equipment
Did you know that modern sports lighting for a tennis court can be controlled with your smartphone? Or that the color temperature can be adjusted for glare and weather conditions? Your contracted service provider might try to sell you on a lighting unit that was collecting dust on their shelves…
Once again, you can benefit from the modern features of new technology that make having a tennis court more beneficial. It does help to have manual controls that don’t just include an on/off switch. Why not enjoy the advancement of LED lighting for your court that can be programmed for your specific needs.
Common mistakes when choosing the lighting contractors
- Don’t jump on the first contractor you find listed on the internet or phone directory. Ask around with friends or neighbors who have a tennis court. Find out what they recommend and who has the best pricing. The last thing you want is to get locked into a contract that you can’t modify and change to your liking.
- Don’t rush into deciding too early since your choice of lighting service should be convenient and stress-free. A contractor who is pushing for a service due to peak construction seasons isn’t worth the hassle. The best time for construction is always off-season depending where you live, so pay attention to bad weather patterns.
- Be prepared to ask around between contractors and ask for who they would recommend. If they’re willing to give this kind of helpful advice, you can be a bit more trusting in their services. Don’t deal with a company that is not willing to give free advice either. Unless they are paid to provide a service, free info is always worth speaking to them about court lighting.
As a final note, check on their reputation through their past customers. What kinds of problems later came up, or what was helpful about their service is important to know. If you do your research beforehand, you can choose the right person for tennis court lighting. And if you avoid extra overhead costs too, your contracting budget won’t get out of hand.
