Christmas light installation questions, answered

In Calgary, our seasonal Christmas light installation is $7/ft of roofline in your first year, then $2/ft each year after to reinstall the same lights, with a $250 minimum installation charge and takedown in spring at 40% of the installation amount. The first-year rate is $5/ft for the lights we custom-build for your home, which you keep, plus $2/ft to install them, so returning years cost much less. Each roofline break or dormer adds a one-time $17 extension cord, and trees are quoted from a photo of your tree. Your final quote comes after the Elves review your home on Google Street View and your photos, using these same rates.

In Calgary, your price is your roofline length in feet times $7/ft in your first year ($5/ft for the lights plus $2/ft to install them), plus a one-time $17 extension cord for each roofline break or dormer. The installation part is never less than the $250 minimum, and takedown in spring is 40% of the installation amount, shown on its own line. Outside Calgary city limits a $60 travel charge applies, waived when neighbours in the same area also book, and there's none for Bearspaw or Springbank. Your final quote comes after the Elves review your home on Google Street View and your photos, using these same rates.

Yes: returning clients in Calgary pay $2/ft to reinstall the lights we installed for them, instead of the $7/ft first-year rate, because they already own the lights. They don't pay for extension cords again, but the $250 minimum installation charge still applies, and takedown in spring is still 40% of the installation amount. The deposit is lower too: 25% for returning clients, 50% for new clients, and new lights, if you'd like them, are $7/ft again.

Yes. The lights we custom-build for your home are yours: in your first year you pay $5/ft for the lights plus $2/ft to install them. That's why future years cost much less: $2/ft to reinstall the lights we installed for you.

Yes. A deposit confirms your booking. It's 50% for new clients and 25% for returning clients. It shows you're committed before our Elves dedicate a two-person crew, a vehicle, fuel and their time to your home.

Yes: takedown is part of every seasonal Christmas light installation in Calgary, priced on its own line of your estimate at 40% of the installation amount. It never counts toward the $250 minimum installation charge, and you can prepay it with your install or pay for it later. Prepaying keeps things easy after Christmas, when nobody wants another bill. Most of our regular clients prepay.

For houses, G30 globe bulbs on custom-built E17 strands, on white or black wire. G30s are UV protected, so they don't yellow, shatter or crack as easily, and they keep their clarity. For trees, professional 5 mm contractor-grade mini lights, with a twinkle option. We buy them from a Canadian lighting supplier.

Yes. Every colour combination and pattern is designed for your home, unlike box-store systems with predetermined patterns. Tell us what you love when you request your estimate, and our Elves will help you design it.

Yes: in Calgary, our Elves install your own Christmas lights for $32.50 per strand, but lights that didn't come from us aren't warrantied. Return visits caused by failures in those lights are chargeable. Our Elves always use their own professional clips, even with client-supplied lights, so every installation meets our standard.

It depends on the tree. Deciduous trees get a branch wrap (every trunk and main branch wrapped) or a globe wrap (the canopy lit as a rounded globe). Tall, narrow columnar trees are wrapped from the base to the top. Evergreens like spruce and pine are wrapped base to tip, like a classic Christmas tree. We'll recommend the best style when we assess your trees.

A branch wrap follows the tree's structure: the trunk and every main branch are wrapped tight in mini lights, so the bare winter shape of the tree glows. A globe wrap lights the canopy as a full, rounded globe of light. Both suit deciduous trees, and we'll tell you which suits yours.

Trees are quoted from a photo of your tree, because every tree is a different size and shape. Send one of each tree with someone standing next to it for scale when you ask for your quote.

Most front-yard trees are straightforward. For very tall trees, the Elves review your photos and plan safe access before your final quote.

Professional 5 mm contractor-grade mini lights, in a steady glow or with a twinkle option.

In Calgary, trimming before the Christmas lights go up is optional, but it gives a tree a better shape, takes out problem branches and leaves a cleaner structure for the lights to follow. Our ISA-certified arborist trims roughly September to May, while trees are dormant or heading into dormancy: it's easier on the tree, and with the leaves off, it's clear what should come out. Trimming is quoted separately from any lights, and you can book it on its own.

Yes: our Elves take your Christmas lights down every spring in Calgary, in the month you prefer, from January to about April 1. Takedown is part of every seasonal installation, shown as its own line on your estimate at 40% of the installation amount. Unplug your lights whenever you're done enjoying them. Our Elves remove them once conditions are right.

You pick a preferred takedown month (January, February, March, or the end of March / early April), not an appointment. Takedowns are weather dependent. Removing strands in extreme cold can crack the wire and plastic, so our Elves wait for suitable conditions. Unplug your lights whenever you're done enjoying them. Our Elves remove them once conditions are right.

Yes. Unplug your lights whenever you're done enjoying them. Our Elves remove them once conditions are right.

We recommend it. Prepaying keeps things easy after Christmas, when nobody wants another bill. Most of our regular clients prepay.

Contractor-grade lights from The Light Elves are fully warrantied for 5 years when you use our seasonal setup and takedown service. Our full fix-up service applies only to The Light Elves' contractor-grade lights. Warranty touch-ups must be reported before December 20.

Clips are plastic and live in the sun and extreme temperatures, so they become brittle over time and should be replaced every few years.

Calgary and the surrounding areas: Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane, Chestermere, Okotoks, Bearspaw, Springbank and Priddis. A $60 travel charge applies outside Calgary city limits, waived when neighbours in the same area also book. There's no travel charge for Bearspaw or Springbank.

We serve Calgary and the surrounding areas. A $60 travel charge applies outside Calgary city limits, waived when neighbours in the same area also book. There's no travel charge for Bearspaw or Springbank.

Yes: our Elves install Govee Pro permanent lights you've already bought, in Calgary and the surrounding areas, for $5.85/ft of roofline. We install Govee Pro only, and if you haven't bought yet, tell us about your home and we'll advise which kits and how many to buy, from a retailer like Costco. Installs run mid-September through November only, because permanent lights need temperatures above about 10°C to install properly.

No. You buy and own the lights; we're the installers. We can advise on which Govee Pro kits and how many to buy for your roofline, then install them properly.

Yes, and many people do: Govee Pro is sold as a DIY product. We're here for second storeys, steep pitches and tricky rooflines, and for anyone who'd rather not climb. We bring the ladders and the experience, install it straight and tidy, and set up the app with you.

Mid-September through November only. Permanent lights need temperatures above about 10°C to install properly. Book early in the fall to get on the list.

In Calgary, Govee Pro permanent lights stay up all year, winter included: Govee Pro is sold for permanent outdoor installation, and for the product's ratings and specifications, check with Govee or your retailer. Our part is mounting them securely and neatly so the lines stay straight through the seasons. What the cold does limit is installing them: they need about 10°C or warmer, so permanent installs run mid-September through November only.

Yes, the Govee app on your phone. We set it up with you and add your first schedules and scenes before we leave.

Permanent Christmas lights in Calgary cost $5.85/ft of roofline to install with us, plus the Govee Pro kit, which you buy yourself, so the kit's price isn't part of ours. Two-storey homes usually need a boom lift, which adds $100, and each roofline break or dormer adds $30. The $250 minimum installation charge applies too, and there's no takedown or yearly charge: the lights stay up. Your final quote comes after the Elves review your home on Google Street View and your photos, using these same rates.

No. Our 5-year warranty covers seasonal installs. Permanent lights are covered by Govee's own warranty, not ours.

Yes. Permanent lights go under the eaves. Trees and bushes are still seasonal wraps, and plenty of customers do both.

Seasonal lights are custom G30 globe displays our Elves build, hang each fall and take down in spring. Permanent lights are Govee Pro smart lights that you buy and own, which our Elves install once under your eaves, where they shine down like pot lights; you control them from an app for any occasion, all year. Permanent installs run mid-September through November only, because they need temperatures above about 10°C.

Permanent Christmas lights are worth it in Calgary if you'll use them for more than Christmas: on a 100 ft roofline, installing them with us is a one-time $520 to $650 plus the Govee Pro kit you buy, while seasonal lights are $770 to $890 in the first year, takedown included, then $320 to $340 each year after. Over 5 years, seasonal comes to about $2,060 to $2,240 with us, against the one-time $520 to $650 plus the kit for permanent. The kit's price isn't ours and isn't included in these figures: you buy it yourself, from a retailer like Costco. If you mostly light up for the holidays, love the big-bulb look or want your trees wrapped, seasonal lights usually suit you better.

In Calgary, the permanent lights we install are nearly invisible during the day: Govee Pro lights are small fixtures mounted under the eaves, along the soffit, where they shine down like pot lights once they're on. They aren't a glowing-bulb roofline: that classic look is our seasonal G30 globes on custom-built strands. If the classic Christmas look matters most, choose seasonal; plenty of customers do both.

Yes. Storefronts, offices, condo boards and property managers. We plan power, access and timing with you before we quote.

Tell us about the site online or by phone; a photo helps. We plan power, access and timing with you, then send a written quote.

Yes. Entrance features, common-area trees and shared rooflines, planned around residents.