Permanent vs. seasonal lights
Every November thousands of GTA homeowners climb a ladder to hang the same strings again. Here is how permanent lighting compares.
Side by side
| Seasonal strings | Permanent lights | |
|---|---|---|
| Hanging & removal | Twice every year | Once |
| Ladder work | Every season, often on ice | None after installation |
| Colours | Fixed per string | Any colour, any time |
| Use | About 6 weeks a year | All year: holidays, parties, everyday lighting |
| Look in daytime | Clips and wires visible | Slim track matched to your trim |
| Storage | Boxes of tangled strings | Nothing to store |
What it costs over time
Seasonal lights look cheap at the store, but a professional hang-and-remove service is booked every year, and bulbs and strings need replacing. Permanent lights cost more up front and nothing to put up afterwards. For most two-storey homes the difference is recovered within a few seasons.
Who should stay with seasonal
If you rent, plan to move within a year, or only decorate for one week in December, seasonal strings may still make sense.