Installed Once
No more seasonal ladder work, install, or takedown.
Honest Decision Guide
Are Permanent Christmas Lights Worth It?
For homeowners who decorate every year and want app-controlled lighting throughout the year, permanent lights can be worth the higher upfront cost. If you only use lights for a few weeks and prefer changing your setup every year, traditional lights may still make more sense.
Local Edmonton-area installers · Free, no-obligation estimates
The 30-Second Verdict
Who Should — and Shouldn't — Upgrade
Permanent lighting isn't the right call for every home. Here's the honest split.
Permanent may be worth it
Permanent lights may be worth it if you:
- Put up lights every year
- Want to avoid annual installation and removal
- Want colours and patterns for more than Christmas
- Prefer an integrated, professionally installed appearance
- Plan to stay in the home for several years
Traditional may be better
Traditional lights may be better if you:
- Have a limited upfront budget
- Rarely decorate
- Enjoy changing the physical layout every year
- Are moving soon
- Only want a very simple seasonal display
Side by Side
Permanent vs. Traditional Lights
The factors homeowners actually ask about — without pretending either option is perfect.
Upfront cost
Permanent
Higher — a one-time professionally installed system
Traditional
Lower — buy strands as you go
Annual setup
Permanent
Installed once
Traditional
Repeated every year
Control
Permanent
App-controlled colours, scenes and schedules
Traditional
Depends on the product
Uses
Permanent
Holidays, architectural lighting, events and everyday accents
Traditional
Usually seasonal only
Storage
Permanent
None
Traditional
Requires off-season storage
Roof work
Permanent
No repeated seasonal installation
Traditional
Usually installed and removed annually
Appearance when off
Permanent
Designed to blend into the roofline
Traditional
Wires and clips may stay visible while installed
Repairs
Permanent
Individual components may require a service visit
Traditional
Strands are replaced or repaired manually
Neither option is maintenance-free. Permanent systems occasionally need a service visit; traditional strands burn out and get replaced.
Are They Worth the Cost?
Do the Math for Your Home
We won't tell you permanent lights “pay for themselves.” Instead, compare the annualized cost of a permanent system against what traditional lights actually cost you every year — including your time.
Permanent system
Annualized cost = installed price ÷ years of ownership
Traditional lights
Permanent, per year
$500
Traditional, per year
$555
On these numbers, permanent lighting works out to about $55 less per year.
Rough comparison only. It doesn't include occasional repairs on either side, electricity, or any effect on resale value. Your installed price depends on your roofline — get a free estimate for the real number.
The Actual Advantages
What You Really Get
Every benefit here is something you can see on a real install — not a marketing claim.
Explore 12 permanent outdoor lighting ideas for every season
App-Controlled
Colours, scenes, and schedules from your phone.
Warm White Everyday
Elegant architectural lighting, not just Christmas.
Every Occasion
Halloween, game days, birthdays, Canada Day & more.
Built for Outdoors
Components designed for permanent outdoor installation.
Blends With Your Home
Low-profile track designed to disappear by day.
The Honest Part
What Are the Disadvantages of Permanent Lights?
You're already thinking about these — so let's put them on the table instead of pretending they don't exist.
Higher initial investment
A professionally installed permanent system costs significantly more upfront than a few boxes of seasonal strands. The math only works if you'll actually use it for years.
Professional installation required
This isn't a weekend DIY project. The track, wiring, and controller need to be installed properly, which means booking an installer and scheduling around weather.
Repairs may require a technician
If a component fails, you can't just swap a strand from the garage. Most fixes are simple service visits, but they're not something you handle off a ladder yourself.
Product and warranty quality vary
Not all permanent lighting systems are equal. Track quality, LED design, installation workmanship and local support all affect the long-term ownership experience.
It's not for every homeowner
If you rarely decorate, are moving soon, or love rearranging your display every year, traditional lights are probably still the better fit.
Local Proof
Lighting Looks for Edmonton Homes
Explore warm-white, holiday and custom-colour roofline looks for Edmonton-area homes.
CanstarProject
CanstarProject
CanstarProject
CanstarProject
Built for Alberta weather
The systems we install are selected for cold-climate use — snow, wind, rain, and Edmonton winters. Ask us for the temperature rating of the exact product on your quote.
Clean by day
The low-profile track is colour-matched to your roofline. From the street, most people don't notice it until the lights come on.
The system we install
Commercial-grade LED pixels in a discreet aluminum track, run by an app-based controller — installed and supported by a local Edmonton-area team.
Warranty in writing
Every install includes a 3-year Canstar product warranty, a separate 3-year RML workmanship warranty and free labour on covered replacements during that period. Written terms are included with the estimate.
No Pressure Process
How the Free Estimate Works
- 1
Send us your address
Or a photo of the front of your home — either works.
- 2
We measure your roofline
We estimate the footage that would be lit, no site visit needed to start.
- 3
You get a clear quote
A real number with installation options, not a vague range.
- 4
Pick colours & book
Choose your look and schedule the install when you're ready.
Your Questions, Answered First
Permanent Lighting FAQs
Direct answers to the questions homeowners actually search and ask — the fine print comes second.
Learn how permanent lighting may affect curb appeal and home value
For homeowners who decorate every year and want lighting they can use year-round, yes — the higher upfront cost buys you a system you never install or take down again. If you only light your home for a couple of weeks each December, traditional lights may still be the more economical choice.
Cost depends mostly on the length of your roofline, so quotes are based on your specific home rather than a flat rate. Send us your address or a photo of the front of your house and we'll measure the roofline and give you a clear, no-obligation number.
Permanent systems are designed to run for many years, and the LEDs are rated for far longer than seasonal strands. RML installations include a three-year Canstar product warranty, a separate three-year RML workmanship warranty and free labour on covered replacements during that period.
From the street, most people never notice the track because it sits low-profile along the roofline and is colour-matched to your home. Up close it is not invisible — you can see a slim channel along the fascia.
Yes. Warm white is one of the most popular everyday settings, and it looks like classic architectural accent lighting rather than Christmas lights.
Individual components can be diagnosed and serviced without replacing the whole system. Because the system is permanently installed, repairs are typically handled by a technician rather than by swapping a strand yourself.
Yes. Run warm white for everyday curb appeal, then switch to colour scenes for Halloween, game days, birthdays, Canada Day, and Christmas — all from the app.
Yes. The systems we install are built for cold-climate use, and because everything is controlled from your phone there is no ladder work in the snow. Confirm the temperature rating for the specific product on your quote.
Most homes with a standard roofline are a good fit, but not every home is. Complex rooflines, certain fascia materials, or stucco details can affect the install, which is why we look at your home before quoting.
Still Deciding? That's Fine
Get the Real Number for Your Roofline
The only cost figure that matters is the one for your home. Send us your address or a front-of-home photo and we'll send back a clear, no-obligation estimate.
Send the property address or area
Describe the roofline or exterior areas
Review measurements, options, and next steps