Permanent holiday lights are one of the fastest growing home upgrades around the GTA, and they come with a lot of questions. Before anyone books an install, the same handful come up again and again: Can you see them in the day? Will they survive winter? Will they wreck my roof? What about Diwali, not just Christmas?
Here are straight answers to the questions Brampton, Toronto and Ontario homeowners ask us most about permanent lights. If you're mainly weighing the price, start with our permanent Christmas lights cost guide.
1. What are permanent Christmas lights called?
You'll see them called permanent holiday lights, permanent outdoor lighting, eave lights, track lighting or roofline lighting. Brand names like Gemstone, Trimlight, JellyFish and Govee are also used as shorthand. They all describe the same idea: individually controllable LEDs mounted in a low-profile channel under your eaves that stay up all year.
2. Can you see permanent lights during the day?
Barely. The track is mounted on the fascia or under the soffit and is usually colour-matched to your trim, so from the street it reads as part of the house. Most people walking by in daylight won't notice them until they turn on.
3. Will they survive an Ontario winter?
A quality system will. Look for cold-rated components, sealed IP65 or IP67 connections, and a rigid aluminum track that's screwed in rather than stuck on with adhesive tape. Cheap kits tend to fail at the connectors and tape after a few freeze-thaw cycles, which is where most horror stories come from.
4. Will installation damage my roof or eavestroughs?
No. Nothing goes into your shingles. The track attaches to the fascia or soffit trim with small screws, and any wire entry points are sealed. It's also kept clear of the eavestrough so it doesn't interfere with gutter cleaning or guards.
5. How are permanent lights powered?
A low-voltage power supply plugs into a standard outlet, usually in the garage or an exterior soffit outlet, and a small Wi-Fi controller runs the show. Longer rooflines get extra power injection points so the far end is as bright as the start. If there's no outlet near where the run begins, one may need to be added.
6. Can I change colours for different holidays?
That's the main reason people choose them. From the app you can set Diwali golds and multicolour, red and green for Christmas, orange and purple for Halloween, red and white for Canada Day, green for Eid or St. Patrick's Day, team colours on game night, or plain warm white every other evening. You can also save scenes and put them on sunset timers so nothing needs switching on by hand.
Concept rendering shown for illustration.
7. Do they work with Alexa or Google Home?
Many permanent lighting controllers support Alexa and Google Assistant, and some work with broader smart home platforms. Support varies by system, so we confirm it for the specific system we quote, and we can tie it into the rest of your smart home setup.
8. How much electricity do they use?
Very little. They're low-voltage LEDs, and installers commonly report an increase of around $10 a month or less on a hydro bill for typical evening use. Running them on a schedule instead of all night keeps it lower still.
9. How long do permanent lights last?
Quality LEDs are rated for around 50,000 hours, which works out to many years of normal nightly use. Modular systems also let a single section be swapped instead of replacing a whole run. SmartAura permanent installs carry a 5-year warranty.
Bonus: Can I use them as everyday lighting, not just for holidays?
Yes, and many owners end up using them more on regular nights than on holidays. Warm white along the eaves adds curb appeal and lights up walkways and entrances, and a soft downward wash on stone or brick gives a home an evening glow without spotlights. Paired with motion rules, they can also brighten the whole front of the house when someone pulls into the driveway.
Concept rendering shown for illustration.
10. What happens if I replace my roof or paint my trim?
The track can be taken down and reinstalled. If you know a roof, eavestrough or trim project is coming in the next year or two, it's smarter to do that first and install lights after.
11. Can I install permanent lights myself?
You can buy DIY kits, but the hard parts are the ladder work on second-storey peaks, keeping the line perfectly straight across corners, sealing connections properly, and planning power injection on long runs. Most homeowners who try it on a two-storey home decide once is enough, which is why professional installs are popular.
12. Do I need permission to install them in Ontario?
On a detached home you own, low-voltage decorative lighting generally doesn't need a permit. If you're in a condo townhouse or a community with a homeowners' association, check with your board first, since exterior changes often need their sign-off. Keep lights aimed at your own home rather than into neighbours' windows.
13. When is the best time to install?
September through early November. The weather is still workable on ladders, and your system is ready for Diwali, Christmas and every holiday that follows. Installs can happen year-round when the roofline is dry and clear of ice, but fall calendars fill up quickly.
Ready to Skip the Ladder for Good?
SmartAura designs and installs permanent holiday lighting for homes across Brampton, Toronto, Caledon, Orangeville and the GTA, backed by a 5-year warranty. See our holiday lighting service or contact us for a free quote. Prefer the traditional route this year? We still offer seasonal holiday light installation and takedown service.