Christmas Lights sidewalk arches

[Bails]

These sidewalk arches are all over Long Beach. I assumed that they were everywhere in Socal. A couple of my neighbors have them and I think they are cool, so last weekend I decided to put some up. Now the question is, how to do it? At first I thought drive some rebar into the ground, two sticks of half inch PVC with a connector at the top. It turns out that the guy that invented the idea lives in Long Beach and he has a different method. Instead of the rebar he uses emt electrical conduit to drive into the ground, and some emt connectors for the PVC arch. I found a shopping list and a video to make the whole process super easy.

The suggestion is to figure out how far apart each arch is going to be and buy an extension cord to match. Their example says 15 feet apart, I wanted mine 10 feet apart and Home Depot had 9 foot cords, so I went with that. makes it a clean setup.

All in with the EMT conduit and connectors, PVC, lights (25foot strands), extension cords, and zip ties, I was in for $30 bucks an arch at Home Depot. I started at Lowes and ended up talking with about 10 different people doing the same thing, Lowes was out of the 3/4 EMT conduit so off to HD. It looked to me the EMT pipe was cheaper to use than rebar and came together better.

pictures to follow on the next post from my phone

 

[Bails]

Check it out

 

[Bails]

Shopping list and video link. #lifeisgreatinthe908

 

[DLC]

This is in a planned development in San Marcos ca

They go all out!

 

[Boat Potato]

The guy you mentioned invented it in LB is one of my relatives. He was in the LB post. They have definatley taken off in the area. We are in lakewood and started doing them a couple years ago. My kids made a flyer and gave one to all the neighbors to do them and it had instructions on how to set them up. Surprisingly about 70 percent of them put them up and have continued! Personally I like the rebar and 3/4" pvc method better. It's easier and cleaner.

 

[Socalx09]

We did it across my dad’s driveway one year. PVC pipe and rebar like in the instructions above. It had to be tall enough for the suburban to go under. I’m not sure where he ever got the red PVC pipe from since it wasn’t spray painted. Ended up having to put supports in the middle. The following year, we did the walkway. It’s actually still in the side yard. He never used them again as each year he did less.

Some of the arches I have seen are pretty cool. They definitely took their time and made it look nice.

 

[traquer]

Great idea. I haven't seen that anywhere in Texas, it'd be cool to start the trend

 

[steamin rice]

A lot of homes in my area (Cave Creek, AZ) do that, and make the arches go across their driveways. They look good.

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

Turned out great! Nice job

 

[crzy2bealive]

Just did mine

 

[regor]

Just did mine

View attachment 1309748 View attachment 1309749

Love the flag, house looks great also!!!!

 

[Ultra...Good]

Not sure how far you go into the ground, but watch out for utilities-have them marked.

Otherwise those look really cool. Sounds like it is pretty simple to do too.

 

[4Waters]

Not sure how far you go into the ground, but watch out for utilities-have them marked.

Otherwise those look really cool. Sounds like it is pretty simple to do too.

Well aren't you the Grinch?

Yes, definitely want to know where your utilities are

 

[HOOTER SLED-]

Funny....I call these the Lakewood arches. Pretty close to the LB.

 

[JL95]

On a similar note I found out the hard way that Bainbridge circle in Murrieta does not do the entire synchronized light show anymore. Bummer.

That pic from above reminded me of that street.

 

[Bails]

Not sure how far you go into the ground, but watch out for utilities-have them marked.

Otherwise those look really cool. Sounds like it is pretty simple to do too.

I drove them 1 foot into the ground. I made sure to miss my sprinklers. The other thing I was worried about is the gardener not being able to cut the grass. This is another reason I went with the emt conduit, I figure the weed whacker won't damage them.

 

[bowtiejunkie]

Great idea. I haven't seen that anywhere in Texas, it'd be cool to start the trend

There are quite a few in Prosper, TX. From what I hear people hire it out instead of DIY.

 

[DLC]

Just did mine

View attachment 1309748 View attachment 1309749

Love your Roof ! How did you do it ? Separate strings of lights ….


House looks Awesome!

 

[DLC]

I drove them 1 foot into the ground. I made sure to miss my sprinklers. The other thing I was worried about is the gardener not being able to cut the grass. This is another reason I went with the emt conduit, I figure the weed whacker won't damage them.

Wait …. you have a Gardner ?

Junior doesn’t cut the grass….


lol

 

[Bails]

Wait …. you have a Gardner ?

Junior doesn’t cut the grass….


lol

you know when I wrote that, I thought the RDP police might take a run at me. All RDP members pay cash for everything and cut their own grass.

 

[DLC]

On a similar note I found out the hard way that Bainbridge circle in Murrieta does not do the entire synchronized light show anymore. Bummer.

That pic from above reminded me of that street.

wow that is Amazing !


But it would suck to run out at night if you lived on the street