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Permanent Lights DIY vs Pro

Kits like Govee are built for DIY. The hard part isn’t the wiring. It’s a day on a ladder, getting every light in a straight line along the eaves.

What a DIY install involves

  1. Measure the roofline and buy enough kit to cover it, starting from an outdoor outlet.
  2. Plan the run so the control box sits near the outlet and the cable reaches the first eave.
  3. Mount every light along the fascia or soffit, usually a clip or screw every foot or so, from a ladder, keeping the line straight.
  4. Seal the connectors so water can’t get in, and tidy the cable.
  5. Set up the app, group the runs and save your scenes.

Side by side

Do it yourselfHire a WiredToWorking expert
CostThe kit onlyThe kit + from $545.95 (up to 100 ft, one story)
TimeUsually a full weekend for a first-timerA few hours for a one-story front; most of a day for long or two-story runs
Ladder workYouYour expert, with taller ladders and a second pair of hands on two stories
The finishDepends on your patienceEvery light in a straight line, connectors sealed, control box out of sight
If something isn’t rightYou fix it90-day Happiness Guarantee: we make it right

When DIY makes sense

  • A one-story house with a short, simple front.
  • You’re comfortable on a ladder and have a free weekend.
  • Your eaves are easy to reach and the outlet is close by.

When to hire a pro

  • Two stories, steep pitches or long runs all the way around.
  • You want aluminum track for a cleaner look from the street.
  • You’d rather not spend the weekend on a ladder.

Not sure which lights to buy? Compare Govee, Trimlight and Gemstone, or see what permanent lighting costs.

See your installation price →

DIY or pro questions

Are Govee permanent lights hard to install?

Not technically. They plug into an outdoor outlet and set up in an app. What takes the time is mounting every light from a ladder and keeping the line straight.

Do I need an electrician?

Not for a plug-in kit, as long as you have an outdoor outlet near the roofline. We don’t add outlets or circuits.

Can you finish a kit I started?

We install from the start rather than finishing someone else’s run. If you’ve put up part of it, tell us when you book.

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