Are Permanent Holiday Lights Worth It? A Roofer's Honest Answer

Every fall, thousands of Colorado and Wyoming homeowners drag the ladder out of the garage, untangle last year's strands, and spend a cold afternoon clipping lights to the roofline. Permanent holiday lights promise to end that ritual for good. But homeowners considering them usually have two big questions: are they actually worth the money, and will that track look ugly on the house the rest of the year?

J Bretz, founder of Excel Roofing, answers both from a roofer's perspective rather than a lighting salesman's. Excel Roofing has been installing roofs across Colorado and Wyoming since 1993, and the company installs permanent holiday lighting as well. That roofing background matters, because the most expensive permanent lighting mistakes happen at the roofline and the gutters, not at the light itself.

The Real Cost of Climbing a Ladder Every Year

Before talking dollars, Bretz starts with the ladder, because the ladder is the hidden cost of traditional holiday lights.

• More than 500,000 Americans are treated for ladder related injuries every year, and roughly 300 die, according to CDC and Consumer Product Safety Commission data.
• Most ladder deaths come from falls of 10 feet or less, which is about the height of a typical single story roofline.
• During the holiday season, the CPSC reports an average of about 160 decorating related injuries treated in emergency rooms every day, and nearly half of them involve falls.

Age makes the math worse. Put simply: the older people get, the harder they land, and a strand of lights is not worth a broken wrist or a head injury. A permanent system takes the annual ladder trip off the calendar entirely.

What Do Permanent Holiday Lights Look Like During the Day?

This is the most common objection, and it has a straightforward answer. A good permanent lighting system lives inside a slim metal track that is color matched to the home's trim and soffit. The track mounts to the soffit, tucked behind the fascia board and underneath the gutter.

From the street, the result is a track that is effectively invisible during the day. There are no dangling wires, no plastic clips, and no visible bulbs sitting on the roofline. At night, the lights appear along the eave as if they were built into the house.

How Much Do Permanent Holiday Lights Cost?

Pricing is quoted by the linear foot of roofline covered. Here is how the numbers break down, based on figures Bretz shares from Excel Roofing's own installs and the broader market.

Two and three story homes cost more because of the added height and access. Excel Roofing also offers financing for homeowners who would rather spread the cost out.

The Part Most People Overlook: Year Round Use

The payback math only counts the holidays, but permanent lights work every night of the year. Homeowners commonly use them for:

• Warm white accent lighting for everyday curb appeal
• Halloween and Fourth of July color schemes
• Game day colors for the Broncos and the Avalanche
• Birthdays, holidays, and any other occasion worth celebrating

Once the system is installed, changing the look of the house takes a few taps instead of an afternoon on a ladder.

What About DIY Permanent Light Kits?

DIY kits are cheaper up front, and for some homes they can be tempting. Bretz points to three problems that show up in Colorado and Wyoming specifically:

• Adhesive clips fail. Most kits rely on adhesive mounting clips, and those clips do not survive the region's repeated freeze thaw cycles.
• Straight lines are hard. Getting a clean, level run across an entire roofline is a challenge without the right equipment and experience.
• The ladder is still there. A DIY install puts the homeowner right back on the ladder, which is the very risk a permanent system is supposed to eliminate.

The Installation Mistake Most Lighting Companies Won't Mention

This is where a roofer's perspective changes the conversation. According to Bretz, permanent lights should be mounted to the soffit, hidden underneath the gutters. They should never be screwed into the gutters themselves.

Why Gutters Are the Wrong Mounting Surface

• Gutters move. They expand, contract, and shift with temperature changes throughout the year.
• Gutters fill with ice. In Colorado and Wyoming winters, that added weight and movement puts stress on anything attached to them.
• Gutters need to stay sealed. Every screw driven through a gutter is a potential leak point, and gutters only do their job when they are sealed up tight.

Roof Mounted Systems and Aging Roofs

Bretz also sees systems installed directly on the roof. For any homeowner whose roof is getting older, or whose home was recently hit by hail, the roof should be inspected before any lighting goes up. Otherwise, the light system may have to come down when the roof is replaced, adding cost and hassle at exactly the wrong time. Many Excel Roofing customers choose to install permanent lighting at the same time as a new roof for this reason.

How Long Do Permanent Holiday Lights Last?

Quality LEDs are rated for 20 years or more. Just as important, a well designed system allows a single failed light to be replaced on its own, rather than swapping out an entire strand or run.

Excel Roofing installs Shawtech permanent lighting systems, which are covered under Excel Roofing's three year warranty.

So, Are Permanent Holiday Lights Worth It?

For homeowners who decorate every year and plan to stay in their home, Bretz's answer is an easy yes. The system pays for itself quickly, removes the annual ladder risk, and adds year round curb appeal. The one condition is choosing the right installer: someone who understands roofs and gutters, not just lights.

When to Schedule a Permanent Holiday Lighting Install

Excel Roofing installs permanent holiday lighting all year round, often in combination with a new roof. November through December is the company's busiest season for lights only installs, so homeowners who want their system in place before the holidays should schedule early.

Appointments can be booked by calling Excel Roofing or by using the online scheduler at excelroofing.com to pick a day and time that works. The Excel Roofing Learning Center also offers videos covering the company's full range of roofing products and services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are permanent holiday lights worth the money?

For homeowners who decorate every year and plan to stay in their home, yes. Excel Roofing's average install is about $3,500, while paying a crew to hang and remove lights typically runs around $2,000 a year, so a permanent system usually pays for itself within two years.

How much do permanent holiday lights cost per foot?

Professionally installed systems commonly run $20 to $40 per linear foot. Excel Roofing's systems run about $30 per foot, with two and three story homes in Colorado and Wyoming costing more because of the added height and access.

Can you see permanent holiday lights during the day?

Not when they are installed correctly. A quality system sits in a slim metal track that is color matched to the trim, mounted to the soffit behind the fascia and under the gutter, so it is effectively invisible from the street.

Should permanent lights be mounted on gutters?

No. Gutters shift and fill with ice, and screwing a light track into them creates holes that can leak. Excel Roofing mounts its systems to the soffit, hidden underneath the gutter, so the gutters stay sealed tight.

How long do permanent holiday lights last?

Quality LEDs are rated for 20 years or more. With a good system, a single failed light can be replaced on its own instead of replacing the whole run. Excel Roofing's Shawtech systems are covered by a three year warranty.

Are DIY permanent light kits a good option in Colorado?

They cost less up front, but the adhesive clips on most kits do not hold up to Colorado and Wyoming freeze thaw cycles. Getting the runs straight is difficult, and the install still requires time on a ladder.

When is the best time to install permanent holiday lights?

Excel Roofing installs permanent lighting year round, often alongside a new roof. November and December are the busiest months for lights only installs, so scheduling early is recommended.