How To Add Lights To Existing Concrete Steps

Adding lights to existing concrete steps is challenging because those lights will need power and a way to turn them on and off. The problem is that this can require a lot of wiring and masonry work, which can be expensive. Naturally, this is a much easier approach while the building is still under construction, however, when dealing with existing concrete steps it is completely impractical. However, adding solar-powered LED lights attached to the concrete with double-sided tape is a practical alternative. Here is how you can do it.

1. Plan the job in advance.
2. Get the equipment you need.
3. Wipe off Dust from Concrete.
4. Add Double Sided Tape to Outdoor LED Light.
5. Place LED Lights on Concrete Evenly Spaced from Each Other.
6. Use Measuring Tape to Ensure LED Lights are Centered on the Concrete Steps.
7. Clean up from behind the work that you did.

The best solution is to use solar-powered LED lights that you can mount on the steps using double-sided tape. This solves all the problems with adding lighting because these types of lights store power during the day and automatically come on at night.

How to Add Lights to Concrete Using Simple Tape

The simplest way to add lights to outside concrete steps, is by using solar-powered LED lights that you can simply tape onto the steps. This is also the easiest way to add external lighting to an existing structure because it does not require wiring, drilling, or any other form of cutting. It is not only the easiest, but it is also the most economical because not only do you not need to pay someone to do the work, but these LED lights are inexpensive. It still requires you to do some work to install them, but it is a straightforward process that requires little skill.

Supplies Needed

The first thing that you need to do when adding LED lights to your steps is to get all the supplies together that you are going to need. Fortunately, this is a concise list, and you may already have some of the supplies that you need. These supplies are a measuring tape 3M double-sided mounting tape and low voltage outdoor LED lights. You should be able to get each of these items at your local hardware store or you can find them online. Before getting your supplies, you need to determine how many lights and how much tape you are going to need to do the job.

Measuring Tape

Measuring tape is simply a flexible ruler. Sometimes it rolls up into a storage package and in other cases, it is just a flexible ruler. They all come with measurements in inches, and some include measurements in centimeters. They are inexpensive, and you can get a decent quality measuring tape for about $10. You can pay more or less for one, but this is about the optimum price. The purpose of a measuring tape is to make the measurements you need for determining where to place the lights. They are also useful in determining how long to cut the strips of tape. It is the best way to do a professional-looking job.

3M Double-Sided Mounting Tape

3M double-sided mounting tape, is simply waterproof tape with adhesive on both sides. The purpose of this double-sided mounting tape is to secure the LED lights to the stairs. It is quite inexpensive at around $12 for a sixteen-foot roll. Unless you have an insanely long set of concrete stairs this is all you are going to need. Not only will this tape secure your LED lights to the stairs but because it is waterproof, they will remain secure even in bad weather. This is an important supply item for this project, but it is probably something that you will use in subsequent projects as well.

Low Voltage Outdoor LED Lights or Solar Lights

Low voltage outdoor LED solar lights to have solar panels and LED lights, as well as automatic on and off switches. These lights are designed to be attached to a surface so that they can be used without running electrical lines or drilling into the material. This makes this type of light perfect for adding lights to existing concrete stairs. All you need to do is attach them to an area where the sun will shine on them. They are not only the easiest to install but the most economical at only about $30 for a pack of six lights.

Step 1: Wipe off Dust from Concrete

The first thing that you need to do is wipe any dust off the concrete. This is because the tape sticks better when applied to a clean surface. If the concrete is dusty or dirty when you apply the tape it will be sticking to the dust or dirt and not the concrete. The result is that it will not stick as well as it should. By cleaning up the surface you are ensuring the best possible adhesion between the tape and the concrete. If you fail to follow through on this part the tape will come loose in your light will fall off.

Step 2: Add Double Sided Tape to Outdoor LED Light

Adding the double-sided tape to the outdoor LED lights needs to be done before putting it on the concrete because the lights have a smoother surface. This way you can make sure, that the tape is adhering well to the lights before applying them to the concrete. Once you have the tape properly adhered to the back of the light, you have the structure of the light itself to help with putting it on the concrete. Furthermore, the tape comes with a protective layer on the back, which makes sticking it to the light easier, by allowing you to push down on it without your fingers sticking to the adhesive.

Step 3: Place LED Lights on Concrete Evenly Spaced from Each Other

Placing the LED lights on the concrete is a simple matter of pushing the tape onto the concrete by applying pressure to the front of the LED lights. Make sure you space them evenly to provide the best lighting. When placing the LED lights on the concrete you should only need to apply a little bit of pressure for a couple of seconds for it to properly adhere to the concrete. When you remove your hand from the light wait a moment to see if it remains in place. Once you have the light remaining in place you are ready to go on to the next light.

Step 4: Use Measuring Tape to Ensure LED Lights are Centered on the Concrete Steps

It is important to use the measuring tape to make certain that the LED Lights are centered on the steps. This can be done by measuring from the edge of the step to the first light and then using the same measurement on both sides to make sure that the other lights are the same distance from the edge. The result of this process will ensure that they are properly centered on each step. This process will not only result in balanced lighting of your steps, but it will make the job look more professional than having the lights haphazardly placed on the steps.

8 Alternative Lighting Methods for Your Concrete Walkway

There are many alternative ways of lighting your concrete walkway. Some of them are more involved than others, and more expensive as well. If you only need a single pack of lights the method, we described above using solar-powered LED lights would cost you around $52, but the alternatives will cost more. However, each of these methods has its advantages if you can spend the extra money. Each of the following alternative lighting methods has different approaches to how the system works and you can’t be certain that one of them will fit your needs and your style.

Undercap Lights

Undercap lights are lights designed to hang underneath a ledge. For a stairway, they would go underneath the lip of the stairs. Undercap lights are bolted to the surface that they are mounted on, and they require running electrical lines. They are a good choice for a stairway with a substantial lip. Their main advantage is that they are completely hidden from view so that all you will see is the light coming from each unit. These lights will run $45 – $50 depending upon the length of the wire. These lights are a good solid alternative for lighting your stairs.

Stair Tread Lights

Stair tread lights are a solution that installs the lighting in the stair’s riser, which is the vertical part of the stair. Stair tread lights are designed to fit into the stair focusing their light down onto the step below them. They provide enough light for safety while not being distracting, the fixture itself is set in the step in such a manner that you barely notice it during the day, and only notice the glow by night. They are a nice subtle way of lighting a staircase whether it is inside or outside,

Driveway Illumination

Driveway illumination consists of overhead lights that are an alternative that places lighting any place it can shine down on the pathway. This includes placing the lights in trees, on a gable are on a roof. It has the natural effect of keeping them out of the way while providing a good source of light. The trick to this approach is finding the best place to put the lights since you are not going to be putting them on the ground. Hanging your lighting in already existing places avoids the expense and trouble of using poles and yet provides an elevated source of light.

Walkway Lights

Walkway lights are lights that line a walkway or staircase. There are many types of walkway lights, some require wiring and switches while others do not. You can even use lights designed for other purposes as walkway lights. The idea is to have several lighting fixtures evenly spaced along the sides of a walkway or staircase to light the path you will be walking. The variety of lights that can be used for this purpose makes providing specific information impossible. The purpose of these lights is to provide lighting for the path that they follow, the idea is to provide sufficient light for someone to walk the path safely.

Flood Lights

Flood lights are bright artificial lights that have a beam spread ranging from 45 degrees to 150 degrees. Floodlights are commonly used outdoors for safety and visibility. They are frequently used in parking lots. They can scare away burglars while providing a safe path to your door. When used in private homes they are most often mounted on the roof over a garage, porch, or both. These are bright lights that are going to need to be professionally installed and tend to use a lot of power. However, power usage can be reduced by using LED lights instead of incandescent bulbs.

Recessed Wall Fixtures

Recessed lights are a form of lighting where the fixture is installed into a ceiling or wall. They sit flush with the surface they are in to produce a smooth finish. The recessed light housing and wiring are hidden so that the light just seems to glow within the opening. The light bulbs are designed to be energy-efficient and long-lasting. This type of lighting works great in many types of rooms, and they have many options from which you can choose such as size, trim, and bulb temperature.

Wall Sconces

A wall sconce is a type of lighting that is attached to a wall in such a matter that it only uses the wall for support. They have a wide variety of styles, bulb types, and much more. The key is that they are exclusively mounted on the wall. This means that when used outdoors they are only useful for walkways that follow a wall.

Pathway Lights

Pathway lights are lights that are used to line a pathway so as to provide lighting for walking the path. You can get pathway lights that are solar-powered with automatic on/off switches to save power and the expense of running power lines. Some of them can even be directly inserted into the ground making installation easy. They are one of the easiest and least expensive types of lighting to install for an outdoor path. This makes them an excellent choice for outdoor lighting,