Evergreen Contracting & Irrigation installs landscape lighting for homes in Columbia. This is a historic river town, dense and full of old brick, dropping toward the Susquehanna. Lots are tight and the streets run on a grid. All of that shapes how a system goes in. Free estimates arrive within a week, and repairs are scheduled in 1 to 2 weeks.
How We Handle a Columbia Home
Evergreen Contracting & Irrigation has worked across Central PA since 2001. The crew brings more than 60 years of combined experience to the job. We read the property before choosing a fixture, because the house sets the terms. Handled well, the building holds its shape at night and the walk in stops being a guess. Estimates are free and reach you inside a week. Repairs are booked in 1 to 2 weeks.
The Town That Nearly Became the Capital
John Wright started a ferry across the Susquehanna here in 1730. The place was long known as Wright’s Ferry. His grandson laid the town out in 1788 and renamed it Columbia. He hoped Congress would make it the national capital.
In 1790 that vote fell one short. The borough was incorporated in 1814 and grew into a canal and rail hub. It was also a known station on the Underground Railroad. The old brick fabric from those years still fills the streets today.
What a System Delivers
On a borough lot every fixture has a clear job, and the result shows quickly. Nothing on the way to the door should have to be found by feel. Here is what the work covers:
- A house that reads clearly from the street at night
- No corner of the lot left as a dark pocket
- Firm footing on steps, walks, and the driveway
- Outdoor space that still works past sunset
- Brick, stone, and planting that keep their detail
Irrigation is our other trade. Both systems go onto one plan, and the same crew knows every run in the ground.
Bringing Out Old Brick
The town is built of brick, much of it handmade and generations old. That brick is all about texture, and texture only shows when light crosses it rather than hitting it flat.
We rake the beam along the wall from a low, close angle to pick out every course and joint. Warm bulbs suit the color, since cool white leaves old brick looking hard and lifeless. On a soft handmade brick we never drill the face either. Anchors go into mortar joints that can be repointed, so nothing damages a wall that has stood two centuries.
A Narrow Front on a Row House
Many homes here are narrow row and twin houses built right up to the sidewalk. There is only a few feet between the front wall and the sidewalk. There is no room to stand a fixture back.
That calls for a different method. Instead of uplighting from out front, we graze the facade from close in and light the entry directly. One well placed fixture at the door does more than several crammed across a thin strip. On a narrow front, precision beats quantity every time.
When You Share a Wall
Row and twin homes share a wall with the house next door. A shared front takes a plan, not just a fixture. Whatever you put up sits inches from someone else’s property.
We keep your light on your half and aimed at your portion of the facade. Nothing spills into a neighbor’s window or lights their side of the wall. Where two fronts run together, we match the scale so one house does not overpower the next. It keeps the whole row even and keeps things easy between neighbors.
Lots That Drop Toward the River
The borough sits on ground that falls away toward the Susquehanna, so plenty of lots run downhill. A slope changes what a fixture does after dark.
A light aimed uphill throws its beam into the sky, and one aimed downhill glares at whoever is below. We pitch each fixture to the grade it sits on and set them low on a slope. On a lot with a river view, we also keep every source out of the sightline. The water then stays part of the evening rather than washing to black.
Sitting Right on a Historic Street
Much of the borough sits inside a historic district that people come to walk and admire. On a street like that, one overbright house throws off a block that has looked settled for generations.
We plan yours to sit in with its neighbors rather than shout over them. Warm color and low output suit the period brickwork and keep the streetscape calm. Nothing spills onto the house next door or into a window. On a street this full of good old architecture, restraint is what makes a house look intended.
Why Choose Evergreen Contracting & Irrigation
In a town this size, a good install gets talked about. This is what your project includes:
- Central PA properties in our hands since 2001
- One crew across irrigation and outdoor lighting alike
- Two years of warranty on every new system installed
- Manufacturer coverage on the fixtures alongside ours
- Lower rates for veterans and serving military
- Servicing set monthly, quarterly, or by the season
- Family owned and locally run, the same faces each visit
We cover this part of Lancaster County, including nearby Marietta and Mountville.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our house is old brick. Does it need special treatment?
It does, and it is worth getting right. Handmade brick of this age is all texture, and a flat wash aimed straight at it falls dead.
We rake the beam along the wall from a low, close angle to bring out every course and joint. Warm bulbs keep the color rich. We also never drill the brick face on a house this old. Anchors go into the mortar joints, which can be repointed, so the wall is left undamaged. Done right, an old brick front becomes the best feature on the property.
Our house is right on the sidewalk. Is there room to light it?
There is, it just takes a different method. With only a few feet between the wall and the sidewalk, standing a fixture back is impossible. Uplighting the facade is out.
Instead we graze the wall from close in and light the entry directly. One well placed fixture at the door does more than several crammed across a narrow border. On a tight front the goal is precision, not filling every foot of ground. It reads far better for it.
We share a wall with the neighbors. Does that limit the plan?
Not much, it just calls for care. We keep your fixtures on your half and aimed at your portion of the front. Nothing spills next door. Where two fronts run together, we match the scale so neither side overpowers the other.
Our lot slopes toward the river. Does that change anything?
It does. We pitch each fixture to the grade so nothing throws skyward or glares uphill. Sources also stay out of a river view. You can see the standard in our low voltage work.
How quickly can a repair be scheduled?
Inside 1 to 2 weeks. Most faults trace to a connection, a knocked fixture, or a lamp at the end of its life. Our repair team carries the usual parts.
Contact Us
Evergreen Contracting & Irrigation is ready to walk the property with you. Estimates are free and arrive inside a week. What follows the install matters just as much. Seasonal visits and scheduled maintenance keep the system doing its job for years.
Call (717) 533-0606 or contact us today to schedule your consultation and get your property lit properly.