FAQs
Christmas light installation questions
Cost, timing, how the lights attach, what happens if something goes out, and how takedown works. If your question is not here, call (850) 498-4546.
Everything people ask
How much does Christmas light installation cost in Tallahassee?
Professional Christmas light installation with ShipShape Exteriors starts at $1,000 for the season, and that price is all-inclusive: design, commercial-grade LEDs, installation, mid-season service, January takedown, and storage until next year. Final price depends on roofline length, roof height, and how many peaks, columns, and trees you want lit.
When should I book Christmas lights for this season?
Book as early as you can. Installations begin October 1 and the schedule fills from the earliest bookings down, so booking early is how you control your install date rather than taking what is left. Thanksgiving week is the first block to fill every year.
Do I need to buy the lights?
No. Commercial-grade LED lights, clips, timers, and cords are all included and are cut to fit your roofline. They stay with ShipShape Exteriors between seasons, get stored properly, and are inspected before they go back up — so you are not storing boxes of tangled strands in your garage.
Will anything be nailed or stapled to my house?
No. Nothing is nailed, stapled, screwed, or glued to your home. Non-penetrating clips sized to each surface hold the lights on shingles, gutters, and fascia, and everything is removed completely in January without leaving marks.
What happens if a section goes out mid-season?
Call or text and it gets fixed. Mid-season service is included in the price for the whole season — a dark section, a loose run after a storm, or a timer that drifted are all covered with no extra charge.
Do you take the lights down and store them?
Yes. Everything comes down in January, gets labeled and coiled by section, and is stored until next season. Takedown and storage are included in the season price, not billed separately at the end.
Can you light peaks on a two-story house?
Yes. Two-story rooflines and high gable peaks are standard work and are handled with the right ladder equipment and fall protection. A skipped top peak is the most common reason a lighting job looks unfinished, so the peaks are treated as part of the design rather than an add-on.
Do you wrap trees and columns?
Yes. Rooflines, peaks, porch columns, entryways, railings, wreaths, garland, and feature trees are all available. The mix is decided during the design walk based on what your house gives you to work with — some homes are carried by the roofline, others by the vertical elements.
What colors can I choose?
Warm white, cool white, red and white, and full multicolor are the common choices, along with combinations that pick up an accent color from the house. Real light samples come to the design consultation so you can see them against your own brick, siding, or stone.
Do you reuse my existing lights?
No. Installations use commercial-grade LEDs supplied and owned by ShipShape Exteriors, cut to fit your roofline. Store-bought strands are not built for a full season outdoors and are the most common cause of a display going half dark in December.
Do you install Christmas lights for businesses in Tallahassee?
Yes. Commercial holiday lighting covers storefronts, office buildings, restaurants, shopping centers, hotels, medical offices, apartment and townhome communities, and HOA common areas across Tallahassee and the surrounding area, including Thomasville, Georgia.
Can you install outside of business hours?
Yes. Commercial installations are commonly scheduled early morning, evening, or on a weekend so the work does not interfere with customers, parking, or deliveries. Timing gets set when the job is scheduled.
Do you handle multiple properties or locations?
Yes. Multiple buildings, multi-tenant properties, and portfolios with several locations can be coordinated under one design and one schedule so everything is lit consistently and comes on at the same time.
Why is professional installation more than buying lights myself?
Because the price covers the whole season, not a box of lights. It includes commercial-grade LEDs cut to your roofline, the ladder work, mid-season repairs, takedown in January, and storage until next year. Store-bought strands cost less up front and are replaced most years.
Is the price per season or a one-time cost?
Per season. The season price covers design, install, service, takedown, and storage from October through January. Returning customers are re-quoted each year, and the price generally holds when the design does not change.
When is payment due?
A deposit holds your install date, with the balance due at installation. Nothing is owed at the design consultation and nothing is ordered until you approve the design and the price.
Do you charge extra to travel to Thomasville or Monticello?
No. Thomasville, Monticello, Havana, and the rest of the service area within about an hour of Tallahassee are quoted the same as in-town work, with no travel surcharge.
How long does the design consultation take?
Plan on about 20 to 30 minutes. The walk covers your roofline, peaks, columns, entry, and any trees worth lighting, with real light samples on hand so you can compare warm white against cool white and color in person rather than guessing from a photo.
How long does installation take?
Most residential installations are finished in a single day. Larger homes with multiple stories, long rooflines, or extensive tree and column work can run into a second day. You do not need to be home during installation.
When do the lights come down?
Takedown runs through January and is included in the season price. Everything is removed, labeled by section, coiled, and stored until next season, so nothing ends up in your garage.
Merry Christmas
Still have a question?
Call or text (850) 498-4546 — or ask on the quote form.