Lighting & Finishing
A patio that is safe after dark and looks complete, step lights, edge borders and concealed cabling fitted to your existing surface.
What Goes Wrong
The difference between a patio that feels finished and one that does not usually comes down to a few specific decisions made during installation.
Solar and battery fittings lose output significantly during Cambridge’s overcast winters, leaving steps and seating areas dark when they are most needed.
A weatherproof transformer and mains-powered LED fittings deliver consistent output year-round, controlled by a timer or dimmer switch.
Surface-laid cables across a patio are a trip hazard and degrade quickly when exposed to frost, UV and standing water.
Cables are run through conduit beneath the patio surface or along the base of an adjacent wall, keeping the surface clear and the wiring protected.
Fittings placed without a site assessment often create bright spots near the house and leave step edges or path routes in shadow.
Positions are agreed on site to cover the seating area, step risers and path routes evenly, with recessed step lights angled to illuminate the tread edge without glare.
Bare patio perimeters without border edging allow slabs to spread over time and leave the surface looking incomplete against the surrounding garden.
Edging defines the perimeter and locks slabs in place; joints are filled with flexible compound for porcelain or kiln-dried sand for block paving.
What We Cover
From a single step light to a full seating area setup with edge detailing, the scope depends on what the patio currently lacks.
Recessed LED fittings set into step risers, wired to a low-voltage transformer for safe, consistent illumination.
Weather-resistant wall fittings positioned to cover seating areas and path routes without glare or dark patches.
Low-profile fittings along patio edges that define the perimeter and extend usable light across the surface.
Cables routed through conduit beneath the surface or along walls, keeping the patio clear of trip hazards.
Controls wired in alongside the fittings so light output can be adjusted without accessing the transformer.
Border edging and jointing compound fitted to complete the patio perimeter and lock slabs in position.
Flexible compound or kiln-dried sand to suit the slab type.
Outdoor-rated transformer for mains low-voltage LED circuits.
Directed light covering dining and seating zones after dark.
Why Choose Us
We schedule a site survey before quoting, so the plan fits your patio, not a generic template.
A site visit assesses cable routes, power supply and light positions before pricing the work.
Lighting, cabling, edging and jointing are quoted as separate lines so you can see exactly what each element costs.
Jointing compound and edging are specified to suit porcelain, sandstone, limestone or block paving, not a one-size approach.
We schedule a survey that covers Cambridge property types and cable routing constraints.
The installer advises on what the patio actually needs, a simple step-light setup is quoted if that is all the space requires.
Pricing Estimates
| Job | Typical cost | Typical scope |
|---|---|---|
| Basic finishing touches | £150-£400 | Small job |
| Patio lighting installation | £300-£1,200 | Several fittings |
| Full finishing package | £800-£2,500 | Larger patio |
Common Questions
Not if the layout is planned before any fittings go in. A surveyor will look at your patio size, seating arrangement, and existing features to recommend the right number and type of lights. Fewer, well-placed fittings almost always read better than many scattered ones.
It depends on how you use the space. If you sit outside after dark, lighting is a practical necessity. If the patio is only used in daylight, edge detailing, pointing, and border finishes may be all that is needed to make it look complete.
No. Hard-wired low-voltage systems give the most reliable, permanent result, but solar and battery-powered fittings are a viable alternative where trenching is not practical. Hard-wired setups need an electrician and a cable route from the house; solar and battery options do not.
The survey covers the layout, notes where seating sits, and plans light positions around that. Uplighters, recessed deck lights, and wall-mounted fittings each suit different configurations, so the choice follows the survey rather than a one-size approach.
Finish materials and fitting colours are chosen to complement the paving already in place. Whether the surface is porcelain, sandstone, limestone, or block paving, fittings and edging details are selected to sit flush and match the tone of the existing surface.
Yes, provided fittings carry an IP65 rating or higher, which is the standard minimum for fully exposed outdoor use. Cables should be rated for direct burial, and junction boxes must be weatherproof. A surveyor will confirm the right specification for your exposure level.
Step and path lighting is specifically designed to mark level changes and edges without creating glare. Recessed riser lights or low bollards keep walkways clearly visible after dark while leaving the surface unobstructed during the day. See Garden Paths & Walkways for related options.
Hard-wired LED fittings have no batteries to replace and very long lamp lives. Cables buried below the surface leave nothing exposed to trip over or deteriorate. Recessed fittings sit flush with the paving, so there is nothing to clean around beyond the normal patio surface.
Describe the patio, what it currently lacks and how the space is used. We will schedule a site survey and quote lighting, cabling and finishing as separate line items.