If you’re thinking about permanent outdoor lights, you might be wondering what the installation actually looks like and whether there will be visible wires all over the house.
A good installation should look clean. The lights should follow the roofline evenly, the track should blend with the soffit or fascia, and most of the wiring should be hidden as much as possible.
Here’s how the process usually works.
First, We Measure the Roofline
Before anything is installed, we need to know how many feet of lighting the home needs.
Some customers only want the front of the house. Others want the front, sides, back, or multiple roof levels.
For a simple home, photos can sometimes give us a good estimate. For more complicated rooflines, an on-site measurement is better.
This also helps us figure out how much track, wiring, and power will be required.
Choosing the Track
The lights are installed inside an aluminum track.
The track is usually mounted under the soffit or along the fascia, depending on the house.
We try to match the track colour with the home so it blends in during the daytime.
For most homes, black or white works well.
This is one of the biggest differences between permanent lighting and regular Christmas lights. You don’t have loose wires and clips hanging around the roofline.
Planning the Light Spacing
Before installing the track, we plan where the lights will sit.
Keeping the spacing even is important because uneven lights are very noticeable once they are turned on.
Corners, peaks, garages, and different roof levels also need to be planned properly so the final result looks balanced.
Installing the Track
Once everything is measured and planned, the aluminum track is installed along the roofline.
The track needs to be straight and secure.
This part takes time because even a small difference in alignment can be noticeable from the ground.
On homes with multiple peaks or higher rooflines, installation can take longer because of ladder access and the number of corners.
Installing the Lights
After the track is in place, the LED modules are installed inside it.
The lights are connected together and tested as the installation moves along the house.
We don’t want to finish the entire roofline and then find out there is a connection issue somewhere in the middle.
Testing during installation helps catch any problems early.
Running the Wiring
The wiring is one of the most important parts of the job.
The goal is to keep it as clean and hidden as possible.
Depending on the house, wiring may run through the soffit, attic, garage, or another protected area.
Every home is a little different, so the wiring plan can change depending on the layout.
Power Supply and Controller
Permanent outdoor lights use a power supply and controller.
The power supply provides the correct voltage for the lighting system, while the controller allows you to control the lights from your phone.
We try to install these components in a protected and accessible location.
For larger homes, more than one power supply may be needed.
Power Injection on Longer Runs
One thing customers usually don’t see is power injection.
On longer lighting runs, the voltage can drop as the lights get farther away from the power supply.
To prevent this, additional power can be added at different points in the system.
This helps keep the brightness and colours consistent from the first light to the last one.
It’s an important part of a proper installation, especially on larger homes.
Connecting the App
Once the physical installation is finished, the controller is connected and the system is tested.
We then set up the app and make sure the customer can control the lights.
From the app, you can usually change:
- Colours
- Brightness
- Patterns
- Speed
- Schedules
- Different lighting effects
We also test different colours around the entire roofline to make sure everything is working properly.
How Long Does Installation Take?
It depends on the size and shape of the house.
A smaller, straightforward installation can usually be completed faster than a large two-storey home with several peaks and roof levels.
Things that can affect installation time include:
- Total footage
- Height of the house
- Number of roof levels
- Corners and peaks
- Access around the property
- Wiring distance
- Number of power supplies needed
We would rather take the extra time to make the installation clean than rush the job.
Will You See the Lights During the Day?
You may notice the track if you look closely, but a properly installed system should blend into the house.
That is why track colour and placement are important.
From normal ground level, the system should look clean and much less noticeable than traditional Christmas lights.
At night, you see the lighting effect. During the day, the goal is for the system to stay in the background.
Can Permanent Lights Be Installed on Any House?
Most homes can have permanent outdoor lights installed, but every house is different.
Some homes have very little soffit space, unusual rooflines, difficult access, or areas where wiring is harder to hide.
That doesn’t always mean lights cannot be installed. It just means the installation may need a different approach.
Sending a few clear photos of the house is usually the easiest way to get started.
Final Thoughts
Permanent outdoor lighting is not just about putting lights on the roof.
A good installation takes planning.
The track needs to be straight, the lights need to be evenly spaced, wiring needs to be clean, and the power system needs to be sized properly.
When all of that is done correctly, the finished system looks like it belongs on the house.
At Northam Lights, we install permanent outdoor LED lighting for homes and commercial properties across British Columbia and Alberta.
If you want to know how permanent lights would work on your home, send us a few photos and we can give you an idea of the layout and approximate footage.