Ever wonder how your alabaster glass gets discolored? If you own genuine alabaster lighting fixtures, this is one thing you definitely want to prevent. Discoloration occurs when you use a bulb with a higher wattage than the one recommended by the manufacturer. The excess heat, over time, can cook the moisture right out of the alabaster, causing the stain. Randall Whitehead, the professional lighting designer featured in various home decorating magazines and shows, recommends using a dimmable CFL bulb that doesn't exceed the alabaster's heat threshold.

JH lighting and The Basic Source's usage of the new GU24 technology directly prevents staining from the start. They offer alabaster fixtures with CFL's that take take less wattage to light and won't overheat. Whitehead points out in Residential Lighting magazine's January edition, "Maxlite [another manufacturer] even offers a screw-in socket, called the MLGSM, that instantly and permanently changes an incandescent fixture into a GU24 fluorescent fixture without rewiring." Another thing you can do is never remove the heat shields provided by your fixture's manufacturer. The shields are  there to protect your glassware so you won't have to replace the glass. 

A Residential Lighting reader said they used a soft sanding sponge. Be wary of sanding your alabaster to remove the stain. Along with the stain, you may sand away the protective sealant layer that normally acts as a dirt-repellant. Even though you may salvage the alabaster right now, over time, the spot can attract more dirt resulting in further discoloration. 

 About the Author: Akemi Hong is a writer and graphic designer. You"ll find Akemi occupied indoors as a marketing and design associate for 1STOPlighting.   

The funny thing about the ability to build structures like bridges, ships and cars is that they may all fall apart from rust. It won’t be now while the steel is shining and cars are passing through at 50 miles per hour. It will happen after a long, slow decline, after the bolts and screws have lost their true material make-up. What happens to iron when it meets oxygen? It degrades over time and fails you.

So let’s focus in on the most important structure in people’s lives—their homes. Speaking at a foundational level, homes located in moderate weather conditions have a lesser amount of worries about wear and tear caused from natural elements. But those located in higher humidity zones like the coast have concerns over the longevity of individual parts. The main purpose of this blog is to address the possible solutions homeowners can implement to prolong the life of an outdoor light fixture from rusting and also save time, money and the environment. More...