The Real Difference Between DIY and Professional Christmas Lighting

There are a plethora of YouTube videos and how-tos online 

Product Quality 

One of the biggest differences between a DIY display and a professional display is product quality. The average American homeowner purchases their Christmas lights from bix box stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s. The products they sell are consumer grade and usually need to be replaced every season. If a light on the roofline were to go out (and don’t they always?), the entire line needs to be removed from the roof, the bulb replaced, then fastened back up on the house again.

In contrast, a professional lighting company purchases their lighting from commercial grade manufactuers. Becausue a commercial grade string of roofline lighting is what is called retrofit, if a bulb on the roofline were to go out, it is a simple task to unscrew that bulb and replace it with a new one with no hassle. In addition, commercial grade lights are warrentied for 5 years and are extremely energy efficient, meaning no more high electricity costs this winter. A professional will also have access to commercial grade products specifically meant to secure the decor, such as plastic non-destructive fasteners. 

Price

The average home owner can spend about $1,500 in DIY Christmas lighting, not accounting for the time, effort, and thought put into their display. How many lights do you buy? How many extension cords are needed? What do you need to buy to fix the lights on the structure of your home? Inevitably you will over or under buy, and even more time and money are wasted.

The average price for a professionally installed display may be more expensive averaging about $3,000, but comes with so much more ease of mind. A full service lighting company will not only pitch unique, custom designs, but also take care of the installation, perform maintenance during the season, take care of the removal, and organize and store it for you year round, all for one price. 

Installation Techniques

Installing Christmas lights can be dangerous! Every holiday season there’s a a sharp increase in injuries, trips to the ER, and even the occasional death as homeowners perform light installation chores that are unfamiliar to them. Modern homes have high gables and peaks that are almost impossible for the average homeowner to reach, even with tall ladders. For DIYers, even hanging wreaths or garland around the home can be a huge challenge. No one wants to destroy the structure of their home, but at the same time, it needs to be secure!

Luckily, professional installers are well trained in non-destructive installation techniques. Professional installation crews are well versed in correct drilling techniques, the appropriate utilization of anchors and screws, how to use all-in-one clips, and even the best way to wrap mini lights for each kind of shrubbery. 

Design

The most important part of any lighting project is the design aspect. Unfortunately, most DIY holiday designs are limited to what can be accomplished by the homeowner instead of what design would make the biggest impact. Professional, commercial grade lights come in any color of the rainbow and enable professional lighting designers to create a perfect, custom color scheme that’s just right for your unique home.