Lighting your job site

A wall can look perfect under the ceiling light, then reveal its bumps, filler joins and sanding marks as soon as daylight hits it at an angle. This selection brings together LED job site lighting designed for painters, plasterers and DIYers who want to work accurately. You'll find compact battery-powered lamps, floodlights, pole-mounted raking lights and LED tubes on stands. Use them to light a room before the permanent electrics are in, to check filler before painting or to inspect a finish before the work is handed over. Start by choosing according to use. To spot surface defects, opt for a raking light, handheld or pole-mounted, positioned parallel to the wall or ceiling: every imperfection then casts a sharp shadow. To light a whole room or stairwell, a floodlight or an LED tube on a stand gives more even light and reduces shadows while you apply. Also check the power supply: a built-in battery gives you complete freedom in rooms without sockets yet, while a mains-powered model suits long days on the same job site. For reliable inspection, combine an ambient light with a raking light.