I am thinking of installing the permanent out door lights. You know the ones...they change colours and programs etc.
I dont want to pay someone to do it. Way too expensive.
But, I am unsure of the steps or process involved as I have a home that has multiple roof lines and various jut outs.
I guess to start with, how do you know what length to get and how do they connect and form a continuous string. Or do you get a long one and then stretch it as far as it will go and then connect another one?
My next door neighbour shocked me with the $6,000 quote he just got for Gemstone Lights to be installed. Wow. I’d say about 1/3 of the houses in my neighborhood have them. Lots of disposable income splashing around despite what people say.
My next door neighbour shocked me with the $6,000 quote he just got for Gemstone Lights to be installed. Wow. I’d say about 1/3 of the houses in my neighborhood have them. Lots of disposable income splashing around despite what people say.
and this is exactly the reason why I would like to do it myself. i just dont know whether to order 2 - 100ft strands or 15 - 15ft strands. I dont know enough about how they all work together.
Check Costco. They had what looked to be DIY permanent outdoor lights in the Christmas section. Govee brand. I am considering them myself
Getting the lights isnt the issue, its choosing which length to get to cover the house as the roof lines are various and I have jut outs for the second floor...etc.
To make them look better; especially in the seasons where I don't have them on, I bought channels from Lee Valley to conceal them: https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop...-tape-lighting
They do make a significant increase to the cost, but still comes in way cheaper than having them done professionally. I will also say, the professional ones definitely look better; but this at least still keeps the cost within reason and closer to the cost of regular strings of lights.
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I don't love how the mounting methods for these work. At the end of the day, these lights will die sooner or later so being able to remove them to either replace them or remove them entirely would seem to be important.
Gemstones require you to bore holes into the soffit, which leads to a nice clean look - but those holes are of course permanent.
The Govee ones at Costco are stick on ones, which lead to a orthodontic look that's not as clean as the Gemstone ones. Especially if you don't have white or black soffit to have the wiring blend in.
Still waiting for a better solution here....
Last edited by I-Hate-Hulse; 10-14-2024 at 12:56 PM.
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Just finished installing the Govee Pro today. Amazon Prime Day deal on the 200’ version was 30% off. I think the sale is still going on the Govee website. Long hard day up and down the ladder but very happy with the result. Go with Pro vs the Costco version if you don’t mind spending a bit more. They’re much brighter. Also found someone to 3D print mounting brackets on Marketplace. Fit very well so I don’t have to worry about the sticky adhesive failing.
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I have Gemstones, but they certainly weren't $6k. Under $2k for me, on a small-ish two story house. But that was in late 2020.
My in-laws just got Govee lights and seem happy with them so far. I do wonder about the longevity of the stick-on aspect, and as a Gemstone snob I much prefer the cleaner install of the Gemstones. But the prices aren't even comparable.
And whatever brand you go with, not having to put up and take down lights is awesome.
Just finished installing the Govee Pro today. Amazon Prime Day deal on the 200’ version was 30% off. I think the sale is still going on the Govee website. Long hard day up and down the ladder but very happy with the result. Go with Pro vs the Costco version if you don’t mind spending a bit more. They’re much brighter. Also found someone to 3D print mounting brackets on Marketplace. Fit very well so I don’t have to worry about the sticky adhesive failing.
I installed the Govees last year. I went to a 3D printing shop in New Horizon mall and got the brackets printed there for a very reasonable amount. I have the 3D file somewhere that I could send over to whoever wants it. The next move would be to get a track that is color matched to the soffit and hide the govees.
The app is ok to use and my wife changes up the colors for the season. Currently have fall colors for Thanksgiving.
The install does take awhile as you have to manually screw in each light, i used brackets on every 2nd or 3rd light.
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Permanent outdoor lights
