Yardd
Wasatch Front · Salt Lake & Utah County

Permanent Lighting

Installed once. Every holiday, every night, effortless.

Typical pricing: $18–$35/linear ft installed

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Home exterior with permanent architectural lighting

Overview

Permanent outdoor lighting has quietly become one of the smartest upgrades on the Wasatch Front. A system like Trimlight, Gemstone, or Jellyfish tucks UV-stabilized RGBW LEDs under your eaves and rooflines — invisible by day, programmable for any holiday, game day, or just a warm porch glow every night. No more ladders in November, no more half-out strings in January. A good install pays for itself in 3-5 years in holiday-lighting savings alone, and adds meaningful curb appeal year-round.

There's also landscape and architectural lighting: path lights, tree uplighting, downlighting from mature trees (moonlighting), deck stair lighting, and façade wash. These are subtler but transformative — a Wasatch home with thoughtful landscape lighting reads as noticeably higher-end at night, which matters for resale and for actually using your yard after 9 pm in the summer.

Yardd connects homeowners with lighting specialists who handle permitting, run low-voltage or line-voltage cleanly, and program the system for you. Quotes are free and usually back within 24 hours.

Why this matters locally

Built for the Wasatch Front

  • Utah winter is long — 4+ months where a permanent system replaces ladder-climbing, stapling, and re-stringing every year
  • High-elevation UV is brutal on cheap strip lights — specify UV-stabilized LEDs rated for 50,000+ hours
  • Snow and ice load call for professional clips and anchor channels, not adhesive mounts
  • Summer evenings are long and comfortable — landscape lighting extends patio use from May through October
  • Many newer Wasatch Front HOAs encourage (or require) permanent systems instead of seasonal strings

Project types

Trimlight & Jellyfish
Landscape path lighting
Tree uplighting
Holiday programming

Key decisions

  • ·System choice: Trimlight, Gemstone, and Jellyfish are the three major brands — quality is comparable; price differs by installer
  • ·LED type: RGBW (red + green + blue + dedicated warm white) beats RGB alone for classic white-light use
  • ·Control: app-based with scheduling is standard; voice control via Alexa/Google is a common add
  • ·Runs: eaves only vs. eaves + roof peaks + garage + columns affects linear footage and cost
  • ·Landscape add-ons: path lights, uplights, and downlights are usually quoted separately
  • ·Warranty: look for 5-10 year product warranty + 2-3 year labor warranty; installer reputation matters

How it works

  1. 1

    On-site walk

    Installer measures linear footage, identifies power source locations, and discusses eave-only vs. full-roofline vs. landscape additions.

  2. 2

    Design & quote

    You get a quote broken down by zones (eaves, peaks, landscape). Most providers also preview what the house will look like with their app's color presets.

  3. 3

    Install

    Track or channel is mounted under the eaves; LEDs are clipped in and wired back to a small controller (usually in the garage). Landscape zones get trenched low-voltage wiring.

  4. 4

    Programming & walkthrough

    Installer programs holiday presets (your birthday, favorite team colors, etc.), sets up your app, and shows you how to add custom schedules.

Frequently asked questions

How much does permanent lighting cost on the Wasatch Front?+
Expect $18-$35 per linear foot installed. A typical 150-200 foot home install (eaves + garage) runs $3,000-$7,000. Adding landscape lighting (path lights, uplighting) is usually $150-$300 per fixture. Fully programmed systems with app control are the norm at this price.
Trimlight vs. Jellyfish vs. Gemstone — what's the difference?+
All three are quality systems using similar UV-stabilized RGBW LEDs in an under-eave channel. Differences are mostly installer-dependent: warranty terms, app polish, and crew experience. Get quotes from at least two and ask to see their app in action.
Are permanent lights visible during the day?+
Barely, and that's the whole point. The track sits tucked under the eave painted to match your soffit. From the street you see a subtle line, not lights. Quality installers hide all the wiring and power runs.
Will the HOA let me install this?+
Most Wasatch Front HOAs explicitly allow permanent lighting systems — many actually prefer them over seasonal strings. Check your CC&Rs for any color-scheme restrictions (some require "warm white default, colors on holidays only"). Your installer can usually help.
How long do the LEDs last?+
Quality RGBW LEDs are rated 50,000+ hours — roughly 20+ years at average nightly use. Budget systems using cheaper LEDs can fade or fail in 3-5 years, especially at our elevation. Ask for the LED spec sheet.
Can I program holidays myself, or does the installer do it?+
Both. Installers typically preload 20+ holiday presets (Halloween, Christmas, July 4th, etc.) during install. You can create your own patterns via the app any time — favorite team colors on game day, kids' birthdays, whatever.
Does it work with landscape lighting too?+
Yes — most permanent lighting installers also do landscape (path lights, tree uplighting, deck stair lighting). You can quote both together for one coordinated system, or add landscape later as a separate project.
What happens when a bulb goes out?+
Individual LEDs can be replaced in the track without pulling the whole system. Most warranties cover bulb failures in the first 5 years; after that a single replacement call is typically $100-$200.

Homeowners also consider

Decks

$25–$60/sq ft installed

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Outdoor Kitchens

$8,000–$40,000+

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Fire Pits

$2,500–$12,000

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Ready to start your permanent lighting project?

Get free, no-obligation quotes from vetted installers on the Wasatch Front — usually within 24 hours.

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