Quick verdict
A horizontal hood accessory for WAC's adjustable landscape wall wash fixture that shields the lamp from view along the wall, so the wash of light on the facade is seen and the fixture is not. WAC is a professional lighting brand and its accessories are machined to fit its fixtures exactly, in black or bronze to match. A wall wash seen from an angle along the wall glares without a hood; with one it reads as light on the wall alone. It fits the 5220 wall wash only.
Strengths
- Hides the source from viewers along the wall
- Exact fit for the WAC 5220 adjustable wall wash
- Finish matches the fixture in black or bronze
- Professional-grade metal construction
- Vertical hood also available for other viewing angles
Weaknesses
- Fits one WAC fixture family only
- Premium brand pricing for an accessory
- Must be ordered in the matching finish
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Light on the Wall, Not in the Eye
A wall wash fixture is placed close to a facade to graze it with light, and from a path running along that wall the fixture itself is in full view. The hood is the fix. WAC’s horizontal hood fits the company’s 5220 adjustable wall wash exactly, blocks the sightline along the wall and leaves the wash untouched, in black or bronze to match the fixture.
This review is based on the maker’s specifications and on glare control practice in landscape lighting generally. We have not used this accessory ourselves.
Why a Hood
Wall washes are low and close to the surface, which is what gives the grazing effect, and it is also what puts the lamp at eye level for anyone walking past. The hood shields that angle. The wall still reads lit from top to bottom; the fixture becomes a dark shape at its base.
Horizontal Versus Vertical
WAC offers two hoods for this fixture. Horizontal blocks the view from along the wall, the usual case for a path or drive beside a facade. Vertical blocks the view from above or below, for a wall washed below a balcony or seen from a lower garden. Choose by where the viewers stand; some installations use both.
Fit and Finish
The hood is machined for the 5220 and attaches cleanly. Order it in the same finish as the fixture, black or bronze; a mismatched hood on a premium fixture looks wrong. The metal and coating are the same as the fixture and weather the same way.
Aiming
The hood trims a little spill toward the viewer. After fitting, adjust the fixture angle slightly so the wash still reaches the top of the wall.
Who Should Buy It
- Owners of WAC 5220 wall washes beside a path or drive.
- Lighting designers finishing a WAC installation.
- Anyone whose wall wash glares from the street.
Common Owner Complaints
Price for an accessory. It is the cost of a brand that fits.
Placement Tips
Fit the hood, then walk the path along the wall at night in both directions and from the far end of the drive. If the lamp shows from one direction, rotate the fixture a few degrees on its stake. Where a facade is seen from both along the wall and from below a balcony, fit the vertical hood as well. Keep the fixture a consistent distance from the wall along a run so each wash matches.
Care
Wipe the hood and lens each season; a hood collects pollen and webs that dull the wash. Check the finish for chips from strimmers and touch up with matching paint to stop corrosion.
Alternatives to Consider
The WAC vertical hood for other viewing angles. Repositioning the fixture behind a planting. Generic hoods, which do not fit this fixture.
Verdict
For a WAC wall wash on a walked-past facade, the horizontal hood is the finishing piece that turns a visible lamp into invisible light. Match the finish, fit it and re-aim.
Full specifications
WAC Landscape Lighting Horizontal Hood Glare Control Accessory for Adjustable Wall Wash Fixtures, Black FAQs
Horizontal shields the view from along the wall, which is the usual path or driveway angle. Vertical shields the view from above or below. WAC sells both; choose by where people stand.
It trims spill toward the viewer and leaves the wash on the wall. Re-aim slightly after fitting.
No. It is sized for the 5220 wall wash. Other WAC fixtures have their own accessories.
It fits exactly, matches the finish and is made of the same metal, which generic hoods on a premium fixture are not.
