Evergreen Contracting & Irrigation installs landscape lighting for homes in Hummelstown. The local brownstone shows up on porches and foundations all over this borough. It takes light unlike any other stone. Most households here also leave and return in the dark. Both of those shape the plan. Free estimates arrive within a week, and repairs are scheduled in 1 to 2 weeks.
How a Hummelstown Project Works
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 Brownstone Built
Frederick and Rosina Hummel founded this place in 1762 and first named it Frederickstown. They bought the land for 200 pounds and sold lots to German settlers. The borough was incorporated in 1874.
What set the town apart was the stone. The Hummelstown Brownstone Company quarried here from 1867 to 1929, and that stone went into buildings across the country. Locally it turns up everywhere, from foundations to whole facades. The Warwick Hotel still stands as a tavern, and Indian Echo Caverns sits just south of town.
What You Get Out of a System
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.
Lighting Brownstone the Way It Deserves
Local brownstone is the reason this page reads differently from the others. It is a warm red-brown stone with real texture, and it drinks up light rather than bouncing it back. Treat it like pale limestone and it looks flat and dull.
The trick is a low, raking angle that catches the grain and the tool marks. That side light brings out the color the stone is known for. Cool white bulbs kill it, so we stay warm to hold the red tones. A brownstone porch or foundation lit this way becomes the best feature on the house.
Home After Dark, Gone Before Light
This is a commuter town, and most people here drive to work. Half the year that means leaving before sunrise and coming home well after sunset. The system has to suit that rhythm.
We build the schedule around real arrival and departure times, not a generic dusk-to-dawn setting. The driveway and the path to the door carry longer hours, since that is the part used most. A pre-dawn window can light the way out to the car on winter mornings. The rest of the system runs quieter and shuts down when the house is asleep.
When the Tour Buses Roll Past
The road between Harrisburg and Hershey runs right through here. A lot of traffic passes a lot of front yards. A property on one of those through streets is on display more than most.
Passing headlights wash out anything low contrast, so we build in stronger contrast up front. Fixtures get shielded so no beam points back toward the road. The quieter, more detailed work goes to the sides and rear, away from the traffic. Your house still reads as a home rather than a blur seen from a moving car.
The Quarry Left Some Odd Ground
Old quarry country leaves its mark on a lot. Some yards here sit over fill, broken stone, or a shallow ledge close to the surface. You find out the moment a shovel stops dead.
We probe the routes before finalizing anything. Where solid rock sits high, cable runs along bed edges and under mulch rather than fighting through it. A fixture that cannot be staked gets a small footing instead. The route may wander a bit, and the system still goes in properly.
Seeing the Whole Plan Before It Goes In
Nobody should have to picture the result from a sketch. On anything beyond a couple of fixtures, we can set up a temporary mock-up on site after dark.
We stand a few units in the actual spots and look at it with you. You see the aim, the spread, and the brightness before a cable goes in the ground. Changes at that point cost nothing at all. Adjustments after installation take time and money, so this is worth the hour it takes.
Why Choose Evergreen Contracting & Irrigation
In a close borough, 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 southern Dauphin County, including nearby Hershey and Middletown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our house has brownstone. Does it need special treatment?
It does, and it is worth getting right. Brownstone is a warm, textured stone that absorbs light instead of reflecting it. The usual approach leaves it looking flat.
We light it from a low, raking angle that catches the grain and the color. That side light is what brings out the red-brown tone the stone is prized for. We also stay with warm bulbs, since cool white washes the color straight out of it. Done right, the brownstone becomes the standout feature on the property.
We leave and get home in the dark. Can the system fit that?
Yes, and that is exactly how we plan it here. Rather than a generic dusk-to-dawn setting, we build the schedule around when you actually come and go.
The driveway and the front walk run longer hours because they are used most. We can add a short pre-dawn window so the way to the car is lit on dark winter mornings. The rest of the system stays quieter and switches off once the house is down for the night.
Our house is on the Hershey road. Will lighting even show?
It will, with the right plan. Passing headlights wash out soft light. We work in stronger contrast up front and shield everything from the road. The detailed work goes to the sides and rear where traffic does not interfere.
Can we see it before committing?
On most projects, yes. We set up a temporary mock-up after dark so you can judge the aim and brightness first. 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.