Holiday Lighting FAQ Center
Straight answers about pricing, scheduling, insurance, service, removal and storage for residential and commercial holiday lighting in Central Ohio.
Pricing
- How much does professional Christmas light installation cost?
- Most Central Ohio homes range from $1,200 to $4,500 in the first season. Single-story roofline-only packages start near $900, and large custom homes with wrapped canopy trees and landscape lighting run $3,500 to $8,000. Commercial programs typically start around $5,000.
- What is included in the price?
- Design, all materials and lighting, installation, unlimited in-season service, January removal and climate-controlled off-season storage. There are no hourly charges and no fee to replace a failed bulb.
- Is the second season cheaper?
- Yes. Because your custom strand set is already fabricated, tested and stored, returning clients typically see a 15-30% reduction compared with the first season.
- Do you require a deposit?
- A deposit reserves your installation date and covers fabrication. The balance is due after installation is complete and you have approved the display.
Installation Timeline
- When should I book?
- Book in August or September. Our calendar typically fills by mid-October, and premium neighborhoods such as Dublin, New Albany and Powell sell out first.
- When do installations happen?
- Installations run from early October through the first week of December. Lights are set on timers and stay dark until you choose to turn them on.
- How long does installation take?
- Most residential installations are completed in a single visit of two to five hours. Large estates and commercial properties may take one to five nights.
- Do I need to be home?
- No. Once the design is approved we only need exterior access, and we confirm by text when the crew arrives and when the work is complete.
Insurance & Safety
- Are you licensed and insured?
- Yes. We carry $1M general liability plus workers' compensation on every crew, and we can issue a certificate of insurance naming your entity as additional insured for commercial and HOA work.
- Will installation damage my roof?
- No. We use damage-free clips matched to your specific roof and gutter profile and never use nails, staples, screws or adhesives.
- Can you work on steep or slate roofs?
- Yes. Our crews are trained and equipped for steep-pitch, slate and tile roofs using slate hooks, roof anchors and lifts where appropriate.
- Is the electrical work safe?
- Every display uses outdoor-rated, UL wet-location components on GFCI-protected circuits, and we verify total load stays well under circuit capacity before energizing.
Maintenance & Service
- What happens if a bulb burns out?
- Call or text and we repair it within 48 hours at no charge. Unlimited service visits, replacement bulbs and replacement strands are included all season.
- What if wind or ice knocks down a strand?
- We re-secure it at no cost. Storm-related service is part of every package, and community entrances and commercial storefronts are prioritized within 24 hours.
- Who fixes a failed timer?
- We do. Timer, photocell and GFCI troubleshooting is included in your seasonal price.
Removal & Storage
- When are the lights removed?
- Removals begin January 2 and run through February by route and weather. You receive your window in advance and do not need to be home.
- Is removal included?
- Yes. Takedown of every strand, clip, stake, cord and timer is included in all full-service packages.
- Where are the lights stored?
- In our climate-controlled facility, on racks, labeled and inventoried by your property's elevations. Storage is included at no additional cost.
- Do I own the lights?
- We own and maintain them, which is why service, replacement and storage are included. Purchase options are available on request for permanent architectural systems.
Commercial Projects
- How much does commercial holiday lighting cost?
- Commercial and HOA quotes start at $2,000 per season and are priced after a walkthrough. The number depends on linear footage, lift or overnight requirements, wrapped tree count and documentation needs. Every quote is all-inclusive: design, installation, in-season service, takedown and storage.
- Can you install outside business hours?
- Yes. Most commercial installations are performed overnight or before opening so parking, drive lanes and entrances stay clear during operating hours.
- Do you provide certificates of insurance and W-9s?
- Yes, before work begins, naming your ownership entity and management company as additional insured.
- Do you offer multi-year commercial agreements?
- Yes. Multi-year agreements lock pricing, guarantee your installation window and reduce annual cost.
- Can you handle multiple properties in a portfolio?
- Yes. We standardize packages across portfolios with coordinated scheduling and single-invoice billing.
Residential Projects
- Do you light trees as well as rooflines?
- Yes. Tree wrapping, shrub lighting, wreaths, garland and landscape uplighting can all be combined with roofline lighting in one package.
- Can I choose the colors?
- Yes. Warm white, cool white, multicolor and custom palettes are all available. We recommend one color temperature per elevation for the most polished result.
- What if my home has few exterior outlets?
- We audit available circuits during the estimate and install timed, GFCI-protected runs sized to your display rather than daisy-chaining extension cords.
Scheduling
- Can I pick my installation date?
- Yes, subject to availability at booking. Earlier bookings get first choice, and returning clients are rebooked each August before new dates are released.
- What happens if it rains or snows?
- We reschedule roof work in unsafe conditions at no cost to you and complete ground-level work in the meantime.
- How late in the season can I still book?
- We hold limited capacity into mid-November, but availability is not guaranteed after mid-October. Contact us and we will tell you honestly what is left.
Warranty & Guarantee
- Do you guarantee your work?
- Yes. Every installation is guaranteed for the full season: if any part of the display fails, we repair or replace it at no charge within 48 hours.
- What if I am not happy with the design?
- We adjust it. If the finished display does not match the approved design, we return and correct it before invoicing the balance.
LED Lighting
- Do you use LED lights?
- Yes. We install commercial-grade LED C9 and mini LED strands, which use roughly 80% less power than incandescent and stay bright through Ohio winters.
- Do LEDs look as warm as incandescent bulbs?
- Quality faceted warm white LEDs are nearly indistinguishable from incandescent at street distance. The blue, plasticky look comes from cheap bulbs, not from LED technology.
- Will LEDs raise my electric bill?
- Barely. A typical LED display adds only a few dollars per month, versus a noticeable increase with incandescent strands.
Custom Designs
- Can you create a custom display?
- Yes. Custom work includes photo renderings of your property, animated and pixel-mapped features, light tunnels, illuminated monograms and large-scale entry installations.
- What is permanent holiday lighting?
- Track-mounted RGBW fixtures installed once into your roofline. They provide warm white accent light year-round and full color for holidays, controlled from your phone with no annual installation.
HOA Approval
- Will my HOA approve your installation?
- In nearly all cases, yes. We design within community guidelines on color, timing and placement, and can provide a written scope for architectural review when required.
- Do you work directly with associations?
- Yes. We provide board-ready proposals, attend board meetings, and bill associations or management companies directly for community-wide work.
Payment Options
- What payment methods do you accept?
- Credit and debit cards, ACH bank transfer and check. Commercial and HOA clients can be invoiced on net terms.
- Do you offer payment plans?
- Yes. Seasonal balances can be split into monthly installments, and multi-year commercial agreements can be billed monthly or annually.
Service Areas
- What areas do you serve?
- All of Central Ohio, including Columbus, Dublin, Powell, Delaware, Lewis Center, Westerville, New Albany, Galena, Sunbury, Worthington, Upper Arlington, Gahanna, Hilliard, Plain City, Bexley, Blacklick, Grove City, Pickerington, Reynoldsburg, Canal Winchester, Marysville, Pataskala, Polaris and Clintonville.
- Do you charge travel fees?
- No. Every community in our published service area is covered at standard pricing with no travel surcharge.
- What if I am just outside your service area?
- Contact us anyway. We often extend routes when several properties in the same area book together.
Ready for the best-looking house on the block?
Free on-site design consultation. Fixed, all-inclusive pricing. Installation, service, takedown and storage included.