Built for PNW weather
Commercial LEDs are weather-sealed and rated for months of rain and wind. Store strands fail mid-season — and a failed section behind a roof peak means another ladder trip.
The basics
Why pros don't hang your store-bought lights.
Most established installers supply commercial-grade LED lighting rather than hanging boxes from the garage. It's not upselling — it's the only way to guarantee the result.
Cut to fit
Bulk wire is measured and cut to your exact roofline, so runs end where they should — no half-lit peaks, no dangling extension cords.
Guaranteed & maintained
Because the installer owns the product, they can promise it works all season and fix failures free. Nobody can guarantee your ten-year-old strands.
Checklist
What full service should include.
01
Design & quote
Roofline measured, design agreed, price fixed before install day.
02
Safe install
Roofline clips — never staples or nails that pierce gutters or shingles.
03
Maintenance
Failed bulb or dark section? The installer comes back and fixes it.
04
Takedown
Everything removed after the holidays — you never touch a ladder.
Timing & vetting
Book in fall. Vet like any contractor.
Install calendars in the Vancouver–Portland area fill first-come through October, and homes booked early usually get the widest choice of pre-Thanksgiving dates. By mid-November, choices can narrow quickly.
Vet a lighting installer the way you would vet anyone working on your roofline: ask for proof of license and insurance, read real local reviews, and get clarity on what happens if something fails in December. Ask whether maintenance and takedown are included and what the clips attach to. Staples, nails, or adhesive on shingles can create avoidable roof and gutter damage.
Ready to compare? Here is what Ace's 2026 holiday lighting service includes. If you are bundling fall work, you can also request gutter cleaning during the same scheduling window; our gutter cleaning cost guide explains that service.
Red flags when booking:
- No proof of insurance for ladder or roof work
- Staples or nails instead of roofline-safe clips
- No maintenance plan for failures
- Unclear takedown terms
- No written quote or scope
“Leo responded quickly and communicated well about arrival time and cleanup. Respectful of our property.”— Molly M., 5-star Google review
Common questions
Hiring a holiday lighting installer.
When should I book a Christmas light installer?
September or October is usually best. Installers in the Vancouver–Portland area book first-come, and early customers get the widest choice of pre-Thanksgiving install dates. By November, choices can narrow quickly.
Why do installers use their own lights instead of mine?
Commercial-grade LEDs are designed for extended outdoor use, cut to fit the roofline, and easier for the installer to maintain. An installer cannot reliably guarantee aging store-bought strands supplied by a customer.
What should a full-service holiday lighting package include?
Look for design and measurement, commercial-grade lights, installation with roofline-safe clips, in-season maintenance if a section fails, clear takedown terms, and a written quote.