Service · Etobicoke
Soffit Lights in Etobicoke
Say "soffit lights" and most people picture potlights cut into the underside of the roof. That's an electrician's job. There's a simpler way to light the same spot.
Plug-in soffit lights are permanent LED lights mounted along the soffit and roof edge, under the overhang, instead of potlights cut into the soffit. They plug into an outdoor outlet, so there's no wiring into the house, and they change colour from an app. In daylight, tucked under the overhang, they're easy to miss.
Below: how they compare with soffit potlights, where they go on a house, how they look by day, and what the install needs.
Potlights vs plug-in
Soffit potlights or plug-in soffit lights: what's the difference?
Both light the underside of your roof edge. How they get there is completely different.
| Question | Soffit potlights | Plug-in soffit lights |
|---|---|---|
| How they go in | Holes cut into the soffit, wired into the house | Mounted along the soffit and roof edge, plugged into an outdoor outlet |
| Who installs them | A licensed electrician | Us |
| Colours | Usually one white | Any colour, from the app |
| What they light | Shine down on the walls and driveway | Light the roof edge itself |
We install the plug-in kind only. If it's potlights you want, hire a licensed electrician. In Ontario, electrical work for hire is for licensed electrical contractors.
Placement
Where do soffit lights go on a house?
Anywhere there's an overhang you can see from the street. On most houses, that's three places.
- Along the eaves. The long, level runs across the front and sides.
- Under the peaks. Both slopes of each gable, tucked under the overhang.
- Over the garage. Often the longest straight run on the front of the house.
Do soffit lights show in the daytime?
Less than you'd think. Tucked under the overhang, they're easy to miss from the street in daylight. Stand under the eaves and look up and you'll see them. Anyone who tells you they're invisible is overselling.
At night it flips. The overhang hides the lights themselves and you see the glow along the roof edge, which is the whole point.
Before the install
What does a soffit light install need?
- An outdoor outlet. For the Permanent Outdoor Lights 2, Govee says to use a covered Class A GFCI outlet. No outlet near where the run starts? A licensed electrician adds one. We don't do electrical work.
- A plan for the length. The Lights 2 can't be cut, so the run is planned around its length. The Pro can, and we cut it to fit. Compare the two.
- A sheltered spot for the power. On the Lights 2, the control box and power adapter are rated IP65, a step below the light strings' IP67. On the Pro, Govee lists the adapter for indoor use.
Want the whole roofline done, not just the soffits? See permanent outdoor lights.
Get a quote
Light the roof edge without the wiring.
Send us a photo of the front of the house and tell us which overhangs you want lit. We'll tell you what the install involves.