Plenty of people hang their own lights and enjoy it. This is for everyone else: the homeowners who want the result without the two Saturdays, the ladder, and the trip back up in December.
What DIY actually costs
The receipt is not the cost. Add the strings, the clips, the timers, the extension cords, the ladder if you do not own one, and then the part nobody budgets: your time on a wet roof in November.
| Cost | DIY | Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Lights and clips | You buy, every few seasons | Included, leased |
| Install time | 6 to 12 hours on a ladder | None |
| Bulb failures | Your problem, your ladder | Fixed within 48 hours |
| Takedown | Another half day in January | Included |
| Storage | Your garage | Included |
| Risk | You, on a roof, in the rain | Insured crew |
The three reasons people switch
- 1Ladder time. Most roofline work in this region happens on wet shingles in the dark. Falls from ladders are the number one holiday decorating injury, every year.
- 2The look. Commercial C9 bulbs, custom-cut runs and consistent spacing read completely differently from store-bought strings stretched to fit.
- 3It stays working. Store strings fail mid-season. A leased, serviced install gets repaired without you doing anything.
See what a done-for-you install costs on your house.
Get My Free QuoteWhen DIY is the right call
If you have a single-story rambler, a short front roofline, an easy ladder setup and you actually like doing it, do it yourself. Buy commercial-grade C9 LEDs rather than the cheapest set, use shingle clips instead of staples, and put it on a timer.
If your roof is two stories, steep, or hard to reach, that is the line where this stops being a fun afternoon.
Captain Clean Holiday Lights installs warm white C9 roofline lighting from Bellingham to Everett and across Whidbey Island. A seasonal service of Captain Clean Pro Wash, established 1985.
(360) 404-7167
