abvolt · Permanent Lighting
Permanent Christmas Lights on Chicago's North Shore
Abvolt Automation installs permanent, app-controlled roofline lights for homes in Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Highland Park, Winnetka and across the North Shore. Hang them once, then switch between Christmas, every other holiday and warm white accent lighting from your phone.
No more ladders every November
Temporary holiday lights mean a cold afternoon on a ladder, clips that snap, strands that fail, and the same job in reverse in January. Permanent lights are mounted along the eaves and fascia once and stay up year-round. When they are off, they sit tight to the trim and are hard to notice from the street.
Lights for the whole year
Each light can be set to any color or pattern, so the same install covers far more than December:
- Christmas and Hanukkah colors, twinkle and chase effects.
- Halloween, Fourth of July, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day and Diwali.
- Bears, Cubs, Sox or Blackhawks colors on game day.
- Warm white accent lighting on ordinary nights to light the house and walkways.
- Schedules and sunset timers so the lights turn on and off without anyone touching the app.
Installed by a licensed electrician
Most permanent light installers are holiday decorating crews. Abvolt Automation is a licensed electrical contractor, which matters for the parts of the job you do not see: a properly rated exterior GFCI outlet or dedicated circuit for the power supply, wiring routed through soffits and attics instead of stapled across siding, and connections sealed against rain, snow and ice. If the house needs new outdoor power, we handle it in the same visit.
Built for Chicago winters
Placement decides how well permanent lights hold up. We keep them out of gutter troughs, away from valleys where ice dams build, and clear of roof edges where snow slides off. On two-story homes we plan runs so every section can be reached for service without removing the whole system.
Your lights or ours
We supply and install complete systems, and we also install kits you have already bought, including Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights. Before the install day we measure the roofline against the kit length and controller limits, so you know whether a second kit or controller is needed.
Part of your smart home
Permanent lights connect to Alexa and other voice assistants. If we have set up your smart home system, the roofline can join your existing scenes, so "Good night" turns the house dark and "Party" lights it up. For path, garden and facade lighting, see lighting design and automation.
How an install works
- Free measurement. We measure the roofline, check eave height and find the best power location.
- Fixed quote. One price covering lights, mounting, wiring and any new outlet or circuit.
- Installation. Most installs are done in a day.
- App setup. We load your holiday and everyday presets and set schedules before we leave.
Fall is the busiest season. Booking in late summer or early fall gives you the best choice of install dates before Thanksgiving.
Where we work
We are based at 11 N. Skokie Hwy in Lake Bluff and install permanent holiday lighting across Lake Forest, Libertyville, Lake Villa, Highland Park, Glencoe, Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glenview and the rest of Lake County and the North Shore. See all service areas.
Frequently asked questions
What are permanent Christmas lights?
Permanent Christmas lights are LED fixtures mounted once along your roofline, usually under the eave or on the fascia, and left up year-round. They are controlled from a phone app, so you can set Christmas colors in December, other holidays through the year, and plain warm white on ordinary nights.
Can you see the lights when they are off?
From the street, very little. We mount the lights tight to the trim and run wiring out of sight. Where it suits the house, the lights can go in a low-profile channel painted or matched to the trim color.
Do permanent lights survive Chicago winters?
The systems we install are rated for outdoor, year-round use. Placement matters as much as the product: we keep lights out of gutter troughs and away from spots where ice dams form or snow slides off the roof.
How much do permanent Christmas lights cost?
Cost depends on the length of roofline, the height of the house, how many separate runs and controllers are needed, and whether new outdoor power is required. We measure during a free walkthrough and give a fixed quote. Over a few seasons it often costs less than hiring a crew to hang and remove temporary lights every year.
Can you install lights I already bought?
Yes. We install customer-supplied kits, including Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights. We check the kit length against your roofline before the install day so there are no surprises.
Do they work with Alexa or a smart home system?
Most permanent lighting apps connect to Alexa and other voice assistants, and can run on schedules or sunset timers. If you already have a smart home system from us, we tie the roofline lights into the same scenes.
Is a permit or new outlet needed?
Many homes need a new exterior GFCI outlet or a dedicated circuit near the power supply location. Abvolt Automation is a licensed electrical contractor, so we handle that work and any permit the village requires.
Get your roofline measured
Free measurement and a fixed quote from a licensed North Shore electrician. Book early for installs before the holidays.
Call (224) 369-8752 →