How much does permanent holiday lighting cost?

Permanent holiday lighting cost depends on the linear footage of your roofline, track type, number of controllers, and property complexity. Accu-Bright provides free, no-obligation estimates for every project. The Celebright system typically pays back the install cost within a few years of avoided seasonal lighting service fees, while delivering year-round value with a 15-year or 50,000-hour transferable product warranty and a 20+ year LED lifespan.

Will permanent lighting damage my home or roof?

No. Accu-Bright's Celebright system uses color-matched aluminum track that is professionally mounted along your roofline, soffits, or trim. No holes are drilled into the roof. Wiring runs discreetly through the attic or along existing channels. The system is specifically designed to preserve and enhance your home's architectural lines.

Can permanent lights be used year-round, not just for holidays?

Absolutely. Most Accu-Bright customers use their Celebright system for everyday architectural accent lighting with a warm white glow at night, automated security lighting with dusk-to-dawn scheduling, and then switch to holiday colors and patterns for Christmas, Halloween, Independence Day, and other occasions. That is the whole point — one system, every season.

How do I control permanent outdoor lights?

Accu-Bright installs the Celebright system which comes with a free cloud app for iOS and Android, plus a web portal for browser-based control. You can also use voice commands through Amazon Alexa, Google Home, or Apple HomeKit. IFTTT integration allows advanced automation. Control your lights from anywhere in the world — home, work, or vacation.

What happens if a permanent light bulb burns out?

Individual Celebright bulbs can be replaced without replacing the entire system. The data line design ensures that if one bulb fails, all other bulbs continue operating normally. This is a major advantage over cheaper systems where a single bulb failure can affect the whole string. Replacement bulbs are available through Celebright's authorized dealer network.

Do permanent lights look tacky or visible during the day?

No. The Celebright system installed by Accu-Bright uses compact 20mm frosted bulbs inside color-matched aluminum track with over 100 color finishes available. The track blends seamlessly into your existing trim, fascia, or soffit color. When the lights are off during the day, the system is virtually invisible. Celebright's motto is 'invisible by day, brilliant by night.'

How long does permanent lighting installation take?

Most residential Accu-Bright installations are completed in a single day. Larger or more complex homes with multiple rooflines, dormers, or additional structures may take two days. Our team personally oversees every project to ensure quality.

What warranty comes with permanent outdoor lighting?

Every Accu-Bright installation comes with a 15-year transferable product warranty on all system components including parts and materials (LEDs, track, controller), plus a 5-year labor warranty on the installation work itself. Celebright requires its dealers to offer at least 10 years; Accu-Bright chose to go above that. The product warranty is transferable to new homeowners if you sell your property, which can increase your home's resale value. Accu-Bright is a division of Accu-Dry Waterproofing, which has been backing its work with industry-leading warranties since 1990.

How much energy do permanent LED lights use?

Very little. Each Celebright RGBW bulb draws approximately 0.5 watts at full brightness. A typical 100-bulb permanent lighting system uses less electricity than a single 60-watt incandescent light bulb. Most Accu-Bright customers report no noticeable increase in their electric bill, even when running the lights nightly.

Why should I trust Accu-Bright if it is a new company?

Accu-Bright Lighting is a division of Accu-Dry Waterproofing, which has been serving Chicagoland homeowners since 1990. Accu-Dry has completed over 10,000 home service jobs, holds 198+ Google reviews at 4.9 stars, and maintains an A+ BBB rating. Accu-Bright brings that same 35-year track record of reliability, professionalism, and customer care to every permanent lighting project. Same team, same commitment, new service.

What is the difference between permanent lights and Christmas lights from a store?

Big-box store LED strips and string lights are consumer-grade products not designed for permanent outdoor installation. They lack IP68 waterproofing, professional track mounting, color-matched profiles, individual bulb control, smart home integration, and proper weatherproofing. They will degrade in Chicago weather within one to two seasons. The Celebright system installed by Accu-Bright is a professional-grade architectural lighting system rated for -40°F to 185°F, IP68 waterproof, with a 50,000-hour bulb life and a 15-year transferable product warranty plus 5-year labor warranty.

Do permanent lights increase home value?

Yes. Permanent outdoor lighting enhances curb appeal, improves exterior visibility and safety, and adds smart home functionality that today's buyers actively look for. A professionally installed Celebright system already in place saves future homeowners the time and cost of their own installation. Accu-Bright's transferable 15-year product warranty makes it an even stronger selling point during resale.

What is RGBW lighting and why is it better than RGB?

RGBW stands for Red, Green, Blue, and White. Unlike standard RGB systems that create white by blending red, green, and blue light together resulting in a cool, artificial-looking white, RGBW systems like Celebright include a dedicated 2700K warm white LED. This produces a true, warm incandescent-like white light that is ideal for everyday architectural accent lighting. RGBW also delivers deeper color saturation, higher brightness, and lower power consumption than RGB-only systems. Most competitors like Trimlight and JellyFish use RGB only.

What does IP68 waterproof rating mean for outdoor lights?

IP68 is the highest possible waterproof rating available. It means the Celebright system installed by Accu-Bright is rated for continuous submersion in water. For Chicago homeowners, this means the lights withstand heavy rain, snow, ice, sleet, extreme humidity, and temperature swings from -40°F to 185°F without any risk of moisture damage. Most competitors offer lower IP ratings that protect against rain but not continuous submersion or heavy sustained moisture.

What areas does Accu-Bright serve near Chicago?

Accu-Bright Lighting serves all Chicago suburbs across Chicagoland, headquartered in Westmont, IL. Service areas include DuPage County (Downers Grove, Naperville, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Hinsdale, Lombard, Elmhurst, Clarendon Hills, Darien, Oak Brook), Will County (Bolingbrook, Plainfield, Joliet, Lockport, Homer Glen, Mokena, New Lenox, Frankfort, Orland Park), Cook County suburbs (La Grange, Western Springs, Burr Ridge, Tinley Park, Oak Lawn), and Kane County (Aurora, Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles). Accu-Bright is a division of Accu-Dry Waterproofing, serving Chicagoland homeowners since 1990.

How does Accu-Bright compare to Trimlight?

Accu-Bright installs the Celebright system which offers several advantages over Trimlight. Celebright uses RGBW technology with a dedicated warm white LED, while Trimlight uses RGB only which produces artificial-looking whites. Celebright is IP68 waterproof rated for continuous submersion. Celebright offers 12 different track profiles and 100+ color-matched finishes compared to Trimlight's more limited selection. Celebright uses multi-bulb strings with only 10-15 connection points per 100 bulbs, reducing failure risk. Accu-Bright is backed by Accu-Dry Waterproofing's 35 years of trusted home service in Chicagoland.

How does Accu-Bright compare to JellyFish Lighting?

Accu-Bright's Celebright system offers key advantages over JellyFish Lighting. Celebright features RGBW with a dedicated warm white LED versus JellyFish's RGB-only system. Celebright has IP68 waterproofing rated for continuous submersion while JellyFish is rated at IP67 (temporary immersion only). Celebright provides full cloud-based remote access from anywhere and integrates with Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and IFTTT. Every Accu-Bright install comes with a 15-year or 50,000-hour transferable product warranty plus a 5-year labor warranty and is backed by Accu-Dry Waterproofing's 35-year reputation in Chicagoland with 198+ reviews at 4.9 stars.

Can permanent lights work with Alexa and Google Home?

Yes. The Celebright system installed by Accu-Bright integrates natively with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and IFTTT. You can use voice commands to turn lights on and off, change colors, activate presets, and adjust brightness. IFTTT integration allows advanced automation like triggering specific lighting patterns when your doorbell rings, syncing with weather forecasts, or activating security lighting when your phone leaves the house.

How many colors can permanent outdoor lights display?

The Celebright RGBW system installed by Accu-Bright can display over 16 million colors per bulb, with billions of possible combinations when multiple bulbs are combined. Every single bulb can be individually controlled, allowing custom patterns, sequences, color chases, and displays. The system also includes a dedicated 2700K warm white LED for elegant everyday architectural accent lighting.

What track colors are available for permanent lighting?

Accu-Bright offers over 100 enamel-coated aluminum track color finishes to match virtually any home exterior. Colors include whites, beiges, browns, grays, blacks, greens, blues, reds, and specialty finishes. The track is custom color-matched to your existing trim, fascia, soffit, or siding color so the system blends seamlessly into your home's architecture and is virtually invisible during the day.

Is permanent outdoor lighting safe for my home?

Yes. The Celebright system installed by Accu-Bright operates on 24V DC low voltage, which is inherently safe for residential use. An AC/DC converter in the control box plugs into a standard 120V household outlet. The system is IP68 waterproof, operates safely from -40°F to 185°F, and all connections are waterproofed. Each bulb draws only 0.5 watts. The aluminum track is non-combustible. Accu-Bright's professional installation ensures all wiring is properly routed and secured.

Can I schedule permanent lights to turn on automatically?

Yes. The Celebright app allows you to set automatic schedules by specific times, days of the week, or sunrise and sunset tracking based on your location. You can program holiday displays months or even years in advance. Set your Christmas lights to activate on November 25th and switch to warm white on January 2nd — all automatically. The system also supports dusk-to-dawn security scheduling.

What is the best permanent lighting system for Chicago weather?

For Chicago's extreme weather — hot summers, freezing winters, heavy rain, snow, and ice — Accu-Bright recommends the Celebright RGBW system because of its IP68 waterproof rating (highest available, rated for underwater use), operating temperature range from -40°F to 185°F, waterproofed connections, and enamel-coated aluminum track that resists corrosion. The multi-bulb string design with only 10-15 connection points per 100 bulbs further reduces moisture infiltration risk compared to competitors using 99 single-bulb connections. Accu-Bright has installed systems across the Chicago suburbs and every system performs through all four seasons.

Permanent Lighting Comparison: How Celebright Stacks Up

Name: Accu-Bright Lighting
Address: Westmont, IL
Telephone: (630) 663-4598
Rating: 5

Connor Tierney
5 days ago
6 min read

Choosing a permanent outdoor lighting system is a significant investment in your home. This permanent lighting comparison breaks down how the Celebright RGBW system installed by Accu-Bright stacks up against the most popular alternatives: Trimlight, JellyFish Lighting, Gemstone Lights, Oelo, and EverLights. If you're new to permanent holiday lighting, start with our permanent holiday lighting overview for a complete primer on how the systems work.

Accu-Bright is an authorized Gold Partner Celebright dealer and installer serving the Chicago suburbs — the highest dealer tier in the region. A division of Accu-Dry Waterproofing, trusted by Chicagoland homeowners since 1990.

Side-by-Side Permanent Lighting Comparison

Feature	Celebright (Our Choice)	Trimlight	JellyFish	Gemstone	Oelo
LED Technology	RGBW	RGB only	RGB only	RGBW	RGB only
True Warm White	Yes - dedicated 2700K LED	No - blended RGB	No - blended RGB	Yes	No- blended RGB
CRI (Color Rendering Index)	90+ (Industry leading)	75-80	75-82	90+	75-80
Bulb Spacing	8 inches	12", 9", 6"	16", 9", 6"	9"	10"
Waterproof Rating	IP68 (underwater rated)	Varies by generation	IP67	IP67	IP68
Wattage Draw Per Bulb	.5W	.6 - .9 W varies by model	Up to 1W	Up to 1W	Up to .7W
Connections Per 100 Bulbs	10-15	varies	varies	99	varies
Bulb Style	20 mm frosted LED	10 mm clear LED	24 mm flush mount puck	30 mm flush mount puck	25 mm flush mount puck
Track Color Options	100+	50+	not specified	151	10
Track Profiles	12	multiple	not specified	15	not specified
Smart Home Integration	Alexa, Google, Apple, IFTTT	App and voice with hardware	App and Alexa/Google with hardware	App + Cloud + Voice	App + Cloud
Remote access	Full Cloud -anywhere	Cloud / app 2.4 ghz only	Cloud / app 2.4 ghz only	Cloud / app 2.4 ghz only	Cloud / app 2.4 ghz only
Warranty	15 -yr product or 50,000 hour + 5 year labor transferable	Varies by installer	varies by installer	varies by installer	varies by installer

Two Specs Worth Understanding

CRI (Color Rendering Index): CRI measures how accurately a light source renders true colors on a scale of 0-100. A CRI of 90+ is considered excellent — colors look natural, skin tones look healthy, and white reads as true white. CRI in the 75-82 range produces noticeable color distortion: whites look slightly off, and accent colors lose vibrancy. Celebright and Gemstone both deliver 90+ CRI; Trimlight, JellyFish, and Oelo sit in the 75-82 range.

Bulb Spacing: Bulb spacing determines how smooth and continuous the light wash looks on your home. Tighter spacing produces a more uniform glow with no visible "dot" effect; wider spacing leaves gaps. Celebright uses 8-inch spacing across every install — the sweet spot between smooth coverage and cost-efficiency. Trimlight and JellyFish offer configurable spacing (6 to 16 inches), so the visual result depends on which tier the customer pays for. Gemstone uses 9-inch spacing; Oelo uses 10-inch.

Celebright vs Trimlight

Trimlight is one of the most well-known names in permanent lighting, but there are key differences homeowners should understand.

LED Technology: Trimlight uses RGB-only LEDs. When you set them to "white," the system blends red, green, and blue together, producing a cool, slightly blue-ish or purple-tinged white. Celebright uses RGBW with a dedicated 2700K warm white LED — the same warm tone as high-end landscape lighting. For everyday architectural use, this makes a major difference in how your home looks at night.

Color Accuracy: Celebright delivers a 90+ CRI rating, meaning colors and whites render the way the eye expects them. Trimlight publishes 75-80 CRI — a noticeably less accurate rendering, particularly for warm whites and skin-tone-adjacent colors.

Bulb Style: Trimlight uses a 10mm clear LED that exposes the diode directly. Celebright uses a 20mm frosted lens that diffuses the light into a softer, more architectural wash — closer to the look of traditional lighting but with full RGBW color capability.

Track Options: Celebright offers 12 track profiles and 100+ enamel-coated aluminum color finishes. Trimlight publishes around 50+ color options and fewer track profiles, which can limit installation on complex rooflines or unusual trim profiles.

Local Trust: When you hire Accu-Bright, you're hiring a division of Accu-Dry Waterproofing — 35 years serving Chicagoland with 200+ Google reviews at 5 stars. Trimlight installations vary by franchisee.

Celebright vs Oelo

Oelo matches Celebright on IP68 waterproofing — but the comparison ends there. Oelo is an RGB-only system without a dedicated warm white diode, so its everyday white reads cool and artificial compared to Celebright's true 2700K warm white. Oelo also publishes 75-80 CRI; Celebright delivers 90+, meaning truer color rendering across both whites and accent colors. Smart home integration on Oelo is largely local, while Celebright offers full Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and IFTTT compatibility with cloud-based remote access. Every Accu-Bright install is backed by a 15-year or 50,000-hour transferable product warranty plus a 5-year transferable labor warranty. Celebright also provides significantly more track profile and color options.

Celebright vs JellyFish Lighting

JellyFish is known for its flush-mount design, but it has notable limitations.

LED Technology: JellyFish uses RGB only — no dedicated warm white LED. Celebright's RGBW technology produces true 2700K warm white for everyday architectural use.

Color Accuracy: JellyFish publishes 75-82 CRI. Celebright delivers 90+ CRI, which means truer color rendering — whites read as true white instead of slightly off, and accent colors look more saturated.

Waterproofing: JellyFish is rated IP67, which covers temporary immersion (up to 1 meter for 30 minutes) but not continuous submersion. Celebright is IP68 — rated for continuous submersion. In Chicago's ice storms, ice dams, and prolonged moisture exposure, that difference adds up over time.

Smart Home: JellyFish smart home control is more limited than Celebright's. Celebright integrates natively with Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and IFTTT, with full cloud-based remote access from anywhere — not just on local 2.4 GHz WiFi.

Bulb Style: JellyFish uses a 24mm flush-mount puck design. Celebright uses a 20mm frosted bulb that creates a softer, more diffused light wash — closer to the look of traditional architectural lighting.

Celebright vs Gemstone Lights

Gemstone is one of the few competitors that also offers RGBW technology with a 90+ CRI rating — meaning Gemstone matches Celebright on color quality. The meaningful differences show up elsewhere.

Connection Points: This is the biggest difference. Gemstone uses single-bulb strings, meaning every single bulb is its own connection point — 99 connections per 100 bulbs. Celebright uses multi-bulb strings with only 10-15 connections per 100 bulbs. Every connection point is a potential entry point for moisture. In Chicago's freeze-thaw cycles, fewer connections means dramatically lower risk of system failure over time.

Remote Access: Gemstone control is largely local — no full cloud-based remote access from outside the home network. Celebright provides full remote control from anywhere in the world via the cloud app.

Waterproofing: Gemstone is rated IP67 (temporary immersion). Celebright is IP68 (continuous submersion). The bigger Gemstone story is the connection-point count above — but IP68 still gives Celebright a meaningful edge for Chicago's prolonged moisture exposure.

Bulb Style: Gemstone uses a 30mm flush-mount puck. Celebright uses a 20mm frosted bulb, which produces a softer wash and a smaller daytime footprint along your roofline.

Celebright vs EverLights

EverLights is another permanent lighting option but uses RGB-only technology without a dedicated warm white LED — meaning no true 2700K white for everyday architectural use. Celebright's RGBW system, 90+ CRI, IP68 waterproofing, 12 track profiles, 100+ enamel-coated color finishes, and full smart home ecosystem provide a more complete and durable solution for Chicago-area homeowners.

Why Chicago Homeowners Choose Accu-Bright

Beyond the Celebright product itself, choosing Accu-Bright means choosing a local company with deep roots in the community.

35 years of home service trust — Accu-Bright is a division of Accu-Dry Waterproofing, serving Chicagoland since 1990
200+ Google reviews at 5 stars — Our parent company's track record speaks for itself
A+ BBB rating — Accredited and trusted
10,000+ completed home service jobs — We know how to take care of homes
Our team handles every project personally — No franchise call centers, no subcontractors you've never met
Free estimates — On-site or remote. No obligation. Looking is free.

Ready to Compare in Person?

The best way to see the difference is to see it on your own home. Call (630) 663-4598 or request a free estimate. Our team will walk you through the options, show you track color samples, and help you design a system that fits your home and budget.

Accu-Bright Lighting — One System. Every Season.

A division of Accu-Dry Waterproofing | Westmont, IL

(630) 663-4598 | info@accu-brightlighting.com