Every year around Thanksgiving, the same scene plays out in neighborhoods from Encinitas to Santee. Someone pulls the ladder out of the garage, untangles a box of lights, and spends a Saturday on the roof hoping every strand still works. More of our customers are asking about permanent Christmas lights instead, so here are straight answers to the questions we hear most.
What are permanent Christmas lights?
They’re a slim LED track that mounts to your fascia and stays up all year. We install Oelo systems. Each run is a durable metal channel, custom cut to fit your house and ordered in a color you pick to match your trim. It’s not a string of lights stapled under the eaves. During the day most people won’t notice it. At night you control everything from an app on your phone.
Can you use them for more than Christmas?
Yes, and that’s the part most people end up loving. Use white for everyday accent lighting, orange for Halloween, red, white and blue for the Fourth, or brown and gold on Padres nights. Set a schedule once and you don’t have to think about it again.
How much do permanent Christmas lights cost?
It mostly depends on how much roofline you want lit and whether the house is one or two stories. Since every install is cut to fit, we give you a flat quote after a quick look at your house.
What are the downsides?
Fair question. The upfront cost is more than a box of lights from the hardware store, and the app needs Wi-Fi to work. The track also stays on your house for good, which is exactly why we cut it to fit and match it to your trim. We’re happy to show you photos of homes we’ve done.
Why have an electrician install them?
Lights that run all year should be wired like any other permanent fixture on your house. We look at where the system ties in, check that the circuit can handle it, and install it cleanly. No extension cords across the porch, and no tripped outlets every time it rains.
Ready to skip the ladder this year?
Book online or call us at 619-596-1918 and we’ll take a look at your house and put together a flat quote. Want to see more first? Check out our permanent holiday lights page for videos and a day and night comparison.