Tree Uplighting vs Permanent Roofline: Which Should You Install First?

We get this question every week: if I can only do one project this year, do I light the trees or the roofline first? The honest answer depends on your home, not your taste.

If you have mature live oaks or post oaks in front (very common in Southlake, Westlake, and parts of Plano), tree uplighting will dominate the curb-appeal payoff. Three uplit oaks at 4000K read from a block away.

If your home has a strong architectural roofline — gables, dormers, a clean two-story facade — start with the permanent roofline. It's the canvas; everything else layers on top.

Budget reality: tree uplighting on three trees runs $1,800–$3,200 with our brass well-lights. A permanent roofline starts at $1,000 (front only on a one-story). So the order is often dictated by what fits the year-one number.

Best of all worlds: design both during the same in-home consultation, install in two phases, and lock today's pricing for phase two if you commit on-site.