Enjoy Christmas lights without the annual hassle of hanging, removing, and storing them. Here’s what Spokane homeowners should know before investing in permanent outdoor lighting.
Every year, the holiday season brings the same routine: untangling strands of Christmas lights, checking burned-out bulbs, climbing ladders, and trying to install everything before winter weather makes the job even harder.
Homeowners in Spokane, Spokane Valley, and Liberty Lake have another option.
Permanent Christmas light installation in Spokane allows homeowners to enjoy a professionally designed holiday display without repeating the installation process every November and December. Instead of temporary string lights, a permanent lighting system stays discreetly mounted along the home’s roofline and can be customized for Christmas, other holidays, and everyday exterior lighting.
But is permanent lighting worth the investment? How much does installation cost? And what should you expect from a professional installer?
At Cline’s Signature Lighting, we install Gemstone Lights® permanent outdoor lighting systems designed to deliver beautiful holiday displays and year-round versatility. Here’s what to consider before scheduling your installation.
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Why More Homeowners Are Considering Permanent Christmas Lights
Traditional Christmas lights can look beautiful, but maintaining them year after year takes considerable effort.
Homeowners must install the lights, manage extension cords, replace damaged strands, and remove everything after the holidays. For larger homes or complicated rooflines, professional seasonal installation may be necessary.
Permanent Christmas lights offer a different approach.
A professional installer mounts a low-profile lighting track along selected roofline sections. The lights stay installed year-round, and homeowners control their colors, brightness, animations, and schedules through a smartphone app.
The biggest advantage is convenience. Once the system is installed, you don’t need to climb a ladder or arrange another seasonal installation to create a Christmas display.
You can switch from everyday architectural lighting to red-and-green Christmas colors in seconds.
And when the holidays are over, you don’t have to take anything down.
Permanent Christmas Lights vs. Traditional Holiday Lighting: What’s the Difference?
Before investing in permanent outdoor lighting, it’s helpful to understand how the two options compare.
Traditional Christmas Lights
Temporary holiday lights are typically purchased or installed for seasonal use.
They can be an attractive choice for homeowners who enjoy changing their decorations every year or prefer a smaller initial investment.
However, homeowners must also consider:
- Annual installation and removal
- Storage space for lights and accessories
- Replacing damaged bulbs, cords, and strands
- Working on ladders or elevated rooflines
- Scheduling professional installers during a busy season
If you hire someone to install your lights every year, that recurring expense is another consideration.
Permanent Christmas Lights
Permanent lighting systems involve a larger upfront investment but eliminate the need to reinstall the same roofline display every holiday season.
With Gemstone Lights®, homeowners can enjoy:
- Professionally installed lighting tracks that blend with the home’s exterior
- Millions of customizable colors
- Christmas patterns and animated holiday displays
- Smartphone-controlled brightness and schedules
- Warm-white lighting for everyday use
- Lighting for Halloween, Independence Day, birthdays, and special occasions
Unlike traditional Christmas lights, permanent lighting becomes a year-round feature of your home.
For homeowners who decorate every year and want a cleaner, more convenient solution, permanent lighting can be especially appealing.
How Much Does Permanent Christmas Light Installation Cost in Spokane?
One of the most common questions homeowners ask is how much permanent Christmas lighting costs.
Unlike a standard string of Christmas lights, a professionally installed system is designed around your property’s size, shape, and electrical requirements.
Several factors influence the final installation price.
1. Roofline Length
The total linear footage of lighting is a major cost factor.
A single-story home with a straightforward roofline generally requires less material and installation work than a larger home with multiple peaks, gables, or additional architectural features.
2. Installation Complexity
Homes with steep rooflines, multiple stories, or difficult access points may require additional labor and equipment.
The layout also affects how installers run lighting tracks, wiring, and power components.
3. Lighting Coverage
Some homeowners want Christmas lights only across the front of their house.
Others prefer a more complete installation that includes side rooflines, architectural peaks, or additional outdoor areas.
A front-facing installation can be a practical starting point when the budget doesn’t support lighting the entire home.
4. Electrical and Installation Requirements
A complete permanent lighting proposal should include electrical components, qualified installation, and applicable permitting and inspection requirements.
These details matter when comparing estimates from different installers.
Is Permanent Lighting Worth the Upfront Investment?
That depends on how you plan to use it.
If you only decorate occasionally, temporary Christmas lights may be the more economical option.
However, if you install holiday lights every year, pay for seasonal installation, or want attractive exterior lighting year-round, permanent lighting may offer greater long-term value.
The best way to evaluate the investment is to request a customized quote based on your home’s actual roofline and lighting preferences.
Get a Custom Gemstone Lighting Quote from Cline’s
Why Fall Is a Smart Time to Schedule Christmas Light Installation in Spokane
Waiting until December to think about outdoor Christmas lights can create unnecessary scheduling challenges.
In Spokane and surrounding communities, freezing temperatures, snow, and ice can make exterior projects more difficult as winter approaches.
Scheduling a permanent Christmas light installation in fall gives homeowners time to discuss their lighting design and installation needs before the holiday season gets busy.
It also gives you time to consider different lighting configurations instead of rushing a decision.
What If You Want Your Lights Installed Before Christmas?
If you want to enjoy your new lights this Christmas season, start with a consultation.
Installation timing depends on project scope, scheduling availability, electrical requirements, and weather conditions.
Cline’s can review your property and discuss the available installation schedule.
Even if your installation happens after the holidays, the system will remain useful year-round and be ready for future Christmas seasons.
What Does Professional Permanent Christmas Light Installation Include?
The finished look of a lighting system matters, but so does the planning and installation behind it.
At Cline’s Signature Lighting, we start by understanding the homeowner’s goals and evaluating the property.
Step 1: Home Assessment and Lighting Design
We’ll review the areas you want illuminated, measure the proposed roofline coverage, and discuss the appearance you’re trying to achieve.
Some homeowners prefer a dramatic holiday display across multiple roof peaks. Others want subtle everyday accent lighting that can transition to seasonal colors.
We’ll help you identify an appropriate design.
Step 2: Lighting Track and Electrical Installation
Gemstone Lights® use discreet track lighting designed to blend with the home’s exterior.
You can select a track that complements the existing trim, keeping the installation clean even when the lights are off.
The installation also involves the appropriate electrical components, wiring, connections, and power configuration.
Step 3: Permitting and Electrical Requirements
Permanent lighting isn’t just about attaching decorative lights to a roof.
Custom electrical systems can require licensed electrical work, permits, and inspection approval.
Cline’s employs a Washington-certified general electrical (01) electrician and incorporates the applicable electrical requirements into its installation process.
Step 4: App Setup and Demonstration
Once the lighting system is installed and appropriately approved for use, we’ll help you connect the Gemstone Lights® app and understand its features.
You can create different lighting scenes, adjust brightness, and schedule your lights to operate automatically.
The result is a permanent lighting system designed to be easy to use long after installation day.
Do Permanent Christmas Lights Require an Electrical Permit in Spokane?
Yes, custom, cut-to-fit permanent Christmas lighting systems in Washington require electrical permits and inspections, as guided by the Washington Department of Labor & Industries.
Homeowners should understand this distinction before choosing an installer.
Washington’s electrical guidance distinguishes between unaltered factory-assembled decorative lights and custom systems assembled and installed for a specific property.
Custom systems require licensed electrical contractors, appropriately certified electricians, permitting, and inspections.
Cline’s has a Washington-certified general electrical (01) electrician on staff. Based on guidance from a Washington state electrical inspector, our Gemstone installations require permitting, oversight by a 01 electrician, and inspection approval.
When comparing installers, ask who is responsible for the electrical work, obtaining the permit, and coordinating the required inspection.
A beautiful lighting display shouldn’t come at the expense of proper electrical installation.
For a more detailed explanation about permits, read our recent article:
“Do Permanent Christmas Lights Require a Permit in Spokane, Washington?”
Can Permanent Christmas Lights Be Used Year-Round?
Absolutely. In fact, year-round versatility is one of the biggest reasons homeowners choose Gemstone Lights®.
Instead of buying a system that is only useful in December, you can customize your home’s exterior lighting for virtually any occasion.
Christmas and Winter Holidays
Choose traditional warm white, red and green, multicolored patterns, or animated effects that highlight your home’s roofline.
Halloween
Switch to orange, purple, or other seasonal combinations without changing the physical lights.
Independence Day
Create red, white, and blue displays for Fourth of July celebrations.
Birthdays and Special Occasions
Customize lighting colors for family celebrations, anniversaries, graduation parties, or other milestones.
Everyday Architectural Lighting
One of the most practical benefits is using warm-white lighting to highlight your home’s architecture.
You can create a subtle, welcoming appearance without using bright holiday colors every night.
With Gemstone Lights®, you can also set schedules so your chosen lighting scene turns on and off automatically.
One professional installation gives you year-round control over your home’s exterior lighting.
Why Choose Cline’s for Permanent Christmas Light Installation in Spokane?
Choosing a permanent Christmas light installer involves more than comparing finished displays.
You’re selecting a company that will work on your home, install electrical components, and help you understand and operate the system.
At Cline’s Heating and Air, we’ve served the Spokane area since 1988. As a veteran- and woman-owned business, we deliver professional work and take responsibility for the details.
Our Signature Lighting service extends that commitment to permanent outdoor lighting.
Authorized Gemstone Lights® Installer
Cline’s installs premium Gemstone Lights® systems featuring customizable colors, patterns, scheduling, and discreet lighting tracks.
Qualified Electrical Oversight
With a Washington-certified general electrical (01) electrician on staff, we can coordinate the required electrical work and oversight for our Washington installations.
Customized Lighting Designs
Your home is unique, and your lighting design should reflect that.
We work with homeowners to select roofline coverage and lighting configurations that complement the property.
Local Service and Support
Cline’s is based in Spokane Valley and serves homeowners throughout Spokane and nearby communities, including North Idaho.
When questions arise, you have a local company to contact.
Our commitment to Setting the Standard applies to the installation process as much as the finished lighting display.
Frequently Asked Questions About Permanent Christmas Light Installation
How long does permanent Christmas light installation take?
Many residential Gemstone Lights® installations can be completed in about one day once the project is ready. Larger homes, complicated rooflines, electrical work, weather, and required approvals can affect the overall timeline. Cline’s will discuss the expected schedule during your consultation.
Can permanent Christmas lights be installed during winter in Spokane?
Winter installation may be possible, depending on weather, roof access, surface conditions, and the installation requirements. Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures can affect scheduling. Contact Cline’s to discuss your property and available installation dates.
Are permanent Christmas lights visible during the day?
Gemstone Lights® are installed in low-profile tracks designed to blend with the home’s roofline. You can select track colors to complement your existing exterior trim, creating a discreet look when the lights are off.
Can I install permanent lights on just the front of my house?
Yes. You don’t necessarily need to illuminate the entire roofline. Many homeowners focus on the front elevation or prominent architectural features. Cline’s can help determine what coverage makes sense for your design and budget.
Can I control permanent Christmas lights from my phone?
Yes. Gemstone Lights® uses a smartphone app that lets you select colors, patterns, brightness, and lighting schedules. You can create a Christmas display and later switch to everyday warm-white lighting without physically changing the system.
Do Gemstone Lights require a monthly subscription?
No. Gemstone Lights® does not charge a monthly subscription fee for use of its lighting control app.
Are permanent Christmas lights suitable for Spokane winters?
Gemstone Lights® are designed for outdoor use and changing weather conditions. A properly planned and installed system can provide year-round lighting through Spokane’s seasonal weather. Individual components still require appropriate installation and care.
Does Cline’s install permanent Christmas lights in Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake?
Yes. Cline’s Signature Lighting serves Spokane, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, and surrounding communities. We also serve parts of North Idaho, including Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls. We evaluate electrical requirements based on the property’s location and applicable jurisdiction.
Ready to Stop Hanging Christmas Lights Every Year?
Imagine reaching the holiday season with your Christmas lights already installed.
No tangled strands. No climbing ladders in freezing weather. No removing lights in January.
Just open your phone, select your favorite Christmas colors, and enjoy your home’s holiday display.
With Cline’s Signature Lighting, you can bring that convenience home while enjoying customizable lighting year-round.
Whether you’re ready to invest in permanent Christmas lights or simply want to explore your options, we’ll help you understand the available designs, installation requirements, and pricing for your property.
Get started with a personalized permanent lighting consultation.
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Call Cline’s Signature Lighting: 509-443-6146
Serving Spokane, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, and surrounding communities in Washington and North Idaho.