What is permanent lighting?
How it works, what it costs, the pros and cons, and whether it is worth it.
Permanent lighting is a set of LED lights installed once along your roofline and controlled from your phone. It gives your home soft white light every night and colors for every holiday, and you never hang or take down lights again. Here is everything you need to know.
How permanent lighting works
- A slim track. A low-profile aluminum track is fastened under the roof edge. At Shine it is color matched to your trim, so it blends in by day.
- Small LED lights. The lights sit in the track in an even line. Shine spaces them about 10 inches apart.
- A control box. A weatherproof box connects the lights to power. The wires run through the soffit, not along your gutters.
- An app. You pick colors, brightness and zones, and set schedules like on at sunset and off at bedtime.
What people use it for
Every night
Soft warm white that makes the home look finished and lights up walkways.
Every holiday
Christmas, Halloween, the Fourth of July and more, set weeks ahead.
Big days
Team colors on game day, a favorite color on a birthday.
Businesses
Brand colors every night and a building that stands out after dark. Commercial lighting.
What does permanent lighting cost?
It depends mostly on how many feet of roofline you light. Most homes Shine installs land between $2,800 and $5,600 for about 100 to 200 feet. Running the lights usually adds only a few dollars a month to the power bill.
See the full price guide or see the power bill math.
Pros and cons
Pros
- No ladders, no hanging, no taking down
- Use it all year, not just at Christmas
- Schedules run on their own
- Very low power use
- Hard to see during the day on a good install
Cons
- Costs more up front than one season of hired holiday lights
- Quality and warranties vary a lot by brand and installer
- Some HOAs require approval first
- Needs a power source near the control box
- Warranties may not transfer if you sell (Shine warranties do not)
Permanent lights vs. other options
| Hire holiday lights yearly | DIY permanent kit | Pro permanent lighting | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who installs it | A crew, every year | You | A crew, once |
| How it mounts | Clips, taken down each season | Usually adhesive and clips | Fastened in a metal track |
| Used | About two months a year | All year | All year |
| If it breaks | Call the crew | You fix it | Installer fixes it under warranty |
More detail: permanent vs. hiring holiday lights and pro install vs. DIY kits.
Is permanent lighting worth it?
It is usually worth it if you want lights for more than just Christmas, plan to stay in your home for a while, or are tired of paying someone to hang lights every year. If you only want lights one month a year and plan to move soon, a yearly service can make more sense.
How to get started
- Get a quoteTell us about your home. We confirm your exact price with a free walkthrough.
- Pick your track color and install dayWe match the track to your trim and plan the lights around your roofline.
- Turn them onMost homes are done in a day, and you control the lights from your phone that night.
Quick answers
What is permanent lighting?
Permanent lighting is a set of LED lights installed once along a roofline, usually in a slim track under the roof edge, and controlled from a phone app. It can show warm white light every night and holiday colors on the dates you choose, so you never hang or take down lights again.
Are permanent Christmas lights the same as permanent lighting?
Yes. People call it permanent Christmas lights, permanent holiday lights, permanent roofline lights or permanent outdoor lighting. It is the same idea: lights that stay up all year and change with an app.
Can you see permanent lights during the day?
On a good install, barely. The track sits under the roof edge and is color matched to the trim, and the lenses are small. Most people do not notice it until the lights turn on.
How long do permanent lights last?
It depends on the brand. Many are rated for about 50,000 hours. Shine lights are rated for up to 100,000 hours, and Shine covers parts for life and labor for 5 years on homes.
Do permanent lights stay with the house when you sell?
Yes. The system stays with the home and the new owner can use the app. Warranty terms vary by company. Shine warranties do not transfer to a new owner.
Who installs permanent lighting near me?
Shine Lighting Co. installs permanent lighting for homes and businesses along the Colorado Front Range, including Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs and Castle Rock. Call 720-445-8570 or request a free quote online.
More guides
See all guides
What permanent lighting costs
How much permanent lights cost to run
Permanent lights vs. paying for holiday lights every year
Professional install vs. Govee and DIY kits
How to choose permanent lighting
Do permanent lights hold up in hail and snow?
HOA approval for permanent lights
Compare warranties by brand
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