Journal · 10 articles

Comparisons

Permanent vs seasonal, DIY vs pro, RGB vs RGBWW, kits vs commercial-grade.

The Thraxel demo hard case with four RGBWW strips lit during a driveway consult

Comparisons · 6 min

Amazon Light Kits vs Commercial-Grade Permanent Lighting

Marketplace light kits cost less up front. Commercial-grade systems add a true 2700K warm-white diode, IP67 housing, 16-gauge wire and a 3-year parts warranty.

Home with traditional warm-white C9 Christmas lights on the roofline

Comparisons · 6 min

C9 Bulbs vs Permanent Pixels for the Holidays

C9 bulbs give a glass glow for one season and come down January 4. Permanent RGBWW pixels stay up year-round with a true 2700K warm white. The honest split.

Thraxel crew installing C9 Christmas lighting along a rooftop

Comparisons · 6 min

DIY vs Professional Christmas Lights in Western PA

DIY Christmas lights cost a weekend and a ladder. A pro install adds a render mock-up, insured crews, 24 to 48 hour repairs and takedown starting January 4.

Residential permanent roofline install at night by Thraxel

Comparisons · 6 min

Handyman vs Lighting Installer: What Actually Changes

A handyman can hang strands. A lighting installer brings a render, certified crews, insurance, a written warranty and service response. When each is the right hire.

Two-story home with warm-white Christmas roofline lighting installed by Thraxel

Comparisons · 6 min

LED vs Incandescent Christmas Lights: An Honest Comparison

LED Christmas lights run cooler, last longer and use a fraction of the power of incandescent. Incandescent still wins on one thing: the glow. Full trade-off inside.

Blue house at night with roofline and peaks traced in Thraxel permanent lighting

Comparisons · 6 min

Local Lighting Installer vs National Franchise: Honest Take

Franchises bring systems and scale. A local shop brings the owner to your driveway. Thraxel is three brothers in Kittanning, and Tyson runs every quote himself.

Home and landscaping lit at night with Thraxel exterior lighting

Comparisons · 6 min

Permanent Roofline vs Landscape Lighting: Which First?

Roofline lighting runs holiday scenes. Landscape lighting lights the paths, trees and patios you use nightly. Here is how we sequence the two on one app.

Snow-covered home with warm-white Christmas roofline lighting installed by Thraxel

Comparisons · 6 min

Permanent vs Seasonal Christmas Lights in Western PA

Permanent RGBWW lighting stays up year-round and runs about $52.80 a year in power. Seasonal lights get hung, serviced and stored each winter. Here is how to choose.

White two-story home with warm-white permanent roofline lighting in color-matched track

Comparisons · 6 min

Track-Mounted vs Clip-Mounted Roofline Lights in PA

Clips hang lights from shingles or gutters for a season. Color-matched aluminum track on the fascia holds pixels for years. Which survives a Western PA winter.

Night shot of a home with Thraxel permanent lighting controlled from the app

Comparisons · 6 min

Wi-Fi vs Bluetooth Control for Exterior Lighting

Wi-Fi control works from anywhere and ties into Alexa, Google Home, HomeKit and Control4. Bluetooth needs no internet, which is why campers and RVs use it.