Permanent roofline lighting is one of the fastest-growing add-on services in exterior contracting. Homeowners get architectural accent lighting year-round plus full holiday displays without ladders every November — and installers get a product they can quote, install in a day, and service for years.
This guide covers what the work actually involves, what it costs to start, and how to land a first install. It's written for people who already work on houses: Christmas-light installers, roofers, gutter and exterior crews, landscapers, and electricians.
What permanent roofline lighting is
A permanent system is a low-profile aluminum track mounted under the drip edge or fascia, holding individually addressable LED pucks. The track hides the hardware so the roofline looks clean in daylight; at night the homeowner controls colors, patterns, and schedules from an app — warm white architectural lighting most of the year, full color for holidays and game days.
Why installers add it
- It extends work you already do. If you hang seasonal lights, you already have the customers, the ladders, and the roofline experience. Permanent lighting turns a six-week season into a year-round service.
- One-day installs. A typical single-family roofline is one truck, one crew, one day.
- Recurring relationships. Every install becomes a service customer — pattern setup, seasonal programming, referrals.
What it costs to start
The honest answer: less than most people expect, if you avoid franchise-style programs. Watch out for programs that charge buy-in fees, force minimum stocking orders, or lock you into territories. The math only works when your money goes into product you've already sold.
With IronPeak's dealer-direct model there is no buy-in fee, no territory lock, and no stocking requirement. You buy kits per job at dealer pricing:
- 100 ft kit — $1,299 dealer-direct (typical small ranch roofline)
- 200 ft kit — $2,399 dealer-direct (most common two-car-garage single family)
- 300 ft kit — $3,499 dealer-direct (larger two-story homes)
Beyond the kit you need what most exterior crews already own: ladders or lift access, a drill, snips, and basic hand tools. The track cuts to length and the system is low-voltage.
The five steps to your first install
- Learn the product. Read the spec sheets, watch an install end-to-end, and put your hands on a track sample. You should be able to explain channels, pucks, controllers, and power runs before you quote anything.
- Price your market. Call it out honestly: measure typical rooflines in your neighborhoods, price the kit, add your labor and margin, and set a per-foot installed price you can defend.
- Sell to your existing list first. Past seasonal-lighting customers are the warmest possible leads — they've already paid you to be on their roof.
- Do the first install carefully. Photograph everything: daylight (clean roofline, hidden track) and night (patterns). Those photos are your marketing for the next ten jobs.
- Systematize. Template your quote, your install checklist, and your handoff walkthrough where you teach the homeowner the app.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be an electrician?
The systems are low-voltage LED. Local rules vary, so check your jurisdiction — but most installs are done by exterior contractors, not licensed electricians.
Is this only a Christmas product?
No — that's the point. Permanent systems run architectural white most of the year with holiday scenes on schedule. Homeowners buy it as outdoor lighting, not as Christmas lights.
How long does an install take?
Most single-family rooflines are a one-day job for a two-person crew once you've done a few.
What makes a good dealer program?
Three things: dealer pricing that leaves real margin, no fees or minimums that put you underwater before your first job, and a supplier who answers the phone. Ask hard questions about buy-ins, territories, and stocking requirements before you commit to anyone — including us.
Get the full guide
We wrote a free, no-signup-required playbook that goes deeper on pricing, tools, and the first-ninety-days plan: download the IronPeak Dealer Guide (PDF).
Ready to look at dealer pricing? Apply to become an IronPeak dealer — the application takes about two minutes, there's no buy-in fee, and your first kit currently ships with a free TrueCenter Apex 2-Pack (code FIRSTPEAK).