You’ve spent a ton of money on your yard, but what good is a deck going to do you in the dark? Your home is your castle, and it’s important that you be able to use it all, at all times. Our ancestors lit their yards with fire, and then with oil light. Gas lights were popular during the nineteenth century, as were electric lights in the twentieth century.
Today, we’ve got many options that still include the options we just listed. Many homeowners opt for solar lighting for their outdoor lighting fixtures. These include LED lamps, garden torches, hurricane lamps, etc. The lights are usually wired underground, but can also operate by batteries. Gas lanterns are still a popular choice for garden or deck lighting. Beware the colours you choose though, since gas lighting in the yellow to orange range does not attract insects. Fixtures are usually available in bronze, cast aluminum, brass or copper. Copper is preferred due to its durability and the soft patina that it develops with age.
You can run your gas lights on either liquid propane or piped natural gas. A manual toggle switch enables you to control the lights. Other lighting control options are a solar photocell. You can also use an electronic safety starter attached to a transformer.