Permanent lights vs. Christmas lights
Is permanent lighting worth it, or should you stick with a seasonal install? A straight comparison from a company that installs both.
Texas Beam Co. installs permanent lighting and Christmas lights across Greater Houston, so we don't need to push you one way. Here is how they compare.
| Permanent lighting | Christmas lights | |
|---|---|---|
| Installed | Once | Every season |
| Takedown | None | After the holidays |
| When you use it | Every night, all year | The holiday season |
| The look | Warm white every night; any color or pattern for holidays and game days | Holiday lights on a timer |
| By day | Low-profile track under the eave, painted to match your trim | Lights clipped to the roofline through the season |
| Control | Phone app: scenes, colors, sunset schedules | Timer |
| Price | Quoted per home with your free design | $8 per linear foot of roofline, every season, no minimum |
| Warranty | Manufacturer's warranty on the system | Lifetime warranty on the lights |
Are permanent lights worth it?
Permanent lighting is usually the better fit if you decorate every year, want lights for more than December, or never want to see a ladder again. It goes up once and does Christmas, Fourth of July, game days and a warm white glow every other night.
Do the math for your house. A seasonal install at $8 per linear foot on a 150-foot roofline is $1,200 every season. Divide your permanent quote by your seasonal cost to see roughly how many seasons it takes to break even. Details in our guides to permanent lighting cost and Christmas light installation cost.
When a Christmas install makes more sense
- You only want lights for the holidays.
- You plan to move soon.
- You want to try lights on your house for one season first.
Already a Christmas customer? We can design permanent lighting for the same roofline and price both together.
Permanent vs. Christmas light questions
Are permanent Christmas lights worth it?
If you decorate every year or want lights beyond December, usually yes: you pay once instead of every season, and you use them all year. If you only want December lights or are moving soon, a seasonal install can make more sense.
Can permanent lights do Christmas?
Yes. Christmas is one of the saved scenes in the app, along with other holidays, game days and the everyday warm white.
Which costs less?
A seasonal install costs less in year one. Permanent lighting is a one-time install, so it compares better the more seasons you count. We can price both side by side.
Can you see permanent lights during the day?
Barely. The track sits under the eave and is painted to match your trim. HOA approval for permanent lighting.
What warranty comes with each?
Christmas lights come with a lifetime warranty. Permanent lighting carries the manufacturer's warranty for the system installed; we go over the exact terms with your free design.
Do you install both in my area?
Yes, in every town we serve: Houston, Katy, Fulshear, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Spring, Magnolia, Conroe, Humble, Kingwood, Sugar Land, Richmond and Pearland. See service areas.