• Pandemic Response

    In an effort to keep our community and our staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic we have implemented the following additional procedures as of November 12th, 2020:

  • One person, One vehicle policy. Until further notice, each employee will drive their own vehicle to and between job sites. The only exception to this is two of our workers who are roommates. Employee vehicle use is reimbursed beyond what is required by law.
  • Curbside pickup at our shop. Our shop is now arranged for curbside pickup and dropoff only for our crews. One crew person picks up the lights, the other meets at the job sites.
  • This is in addition to our previous policies we have been operating under for months:

  • Mandatory masks in all indoor environments
  • Mandatory physical distancing in all environments
  • Reduced shop capacity to a maximum of 3 in our 1260sqf shop, with constant ventilation
  • Staggered crew start times
  • Know that we take this very seriously. All employees are aware of the provincial health guidelines and have signed contracts pledging to adhere to them.

  • Our Cutting Edge Equipment

    Maybe you have seen our work at the Zoo Lights Festival or at The Forks/ River Trail. Perhaps you have even seen us working in your neighborhood or even on your own house? If so, you have most likely asked yourself, “How does Lights Unlimited uphold such an outstanding quality of work season after season, light after painstaking light?” Well, not only do we have some of the most qualified and experienced employees in the business, but some of our credit is due to the equipment we use.

    After years of trial, error, and experimentation, we have found the perfect tools uniquely designed for Christmas light installation.
    Here are some of our secrets…

    Tree Polls

    Spot the Tree Poll being used not on a tree

    Specially designed to set lights on the very top of any variety of tree, Tree Polls help us reach roughly 25 feet into the air! These polls work like Russian nesting dolls, where each extension of the poll can slide out of each other to offer easy collapsibility, storage, and as much reach as possible. The end of the poll features a Y-shaped tip to help guide the light strand from branch-to-branch.
    Since no job is out of the question, where there is a tree that is, in fact, too large for the Tree Polls, we bring out the heavy guns.

    Bucket Truck

    Bucket Truck hanging lights like you’ve never seen before

    Possibly getting mistaken for Manitoba Hydro workers, our Bucket Truck crew is a highly specialized and certified team that soars through the air delicately placing lights on the tallest of trees and most challenging to reach peaks of houses. With safety being paramount, the Bucket Truck crew dawns the highest quality hard-hats and safety harnesses to bring the brightest of lights to your world.

    Clips

    Gutter Clips in Action

    With everything from Gutter clips to soffit clips and permanent installation clips, this secret weapon is what keeps your Christmas lights immovable and steadfast while on your roofline. Being a small Winnipeg based business ourselves, we order our clips by the tens-of-thousands from a local Winnipeg-owned company. Through the most torrential of storms, the specialized clips we use will help keep your lights pointing plum to the ground.

    At Lights Unlimited, we are relentless in our pursuit to find new techniques and tools to produce the highest quality of work imaginable.
    With cutting edge technology at our tool belt and the most skilled laborers in the business, Lights Unlimited will be lighting up your world for a long time to come.

  • The Diverse World of String-Lights

    One of the most massive detriments to a poorly installed Christmas lights display is the misuse of string lights. 

    As one of the most diverse lights on the market, string lights are used for everything from trees, lamp posts, bushes, custom-built lanterns, and sometimes roof lines. 

    While their different applications may make them seem like a fool-proof choice for lighting displays, choosing the proper type of string lights will make or break the display. 

    The most common string lights on the market are C6, G12 and 5mm

    C6

    A strand of C6 Multi-Colored lights

    Perhaps the most common light string style, these bulbs are a smaller take on the classic C9 Christmas lights. The cone-shaped C6 lights lend themselves to any use. Commonly used on foliage, these lights will elevate to unique contours of any tree. Whether it be deciduous, evergreen or a small bush, C6 lights are the go-to for outdoor lighting needs. 

    G12

    A strand of G12 Warm-White lights

    A similar to C6 lights, G12 lights are commonly used for outdoor trees and other foliage. However, these lights are also popular for outdoor event displays due to their globe-shaped bulb that casts a soft and delicate hue. A despite the difference in the bulb shape, often G12 and C6 lights are used interchangeably. 

    5mm

    5mm Warm White lights

    An incredibly popular option for string lights, 5mm lights are a staple to any beautiful lighting display. Commonly used as the go-to style for trunk wraps, these lights are attention grabbers as they wonderfully outline any tree’s complex and unique aspects. One fantastic way to spice up your display would be to utilize the twinkling option available with 5mm lights.

    All of these styles come in a variety of colours of bulb and wire. Whatever choice you make, be assured that we have you covered. There is no limit when you work with Lights Unlimited!

  • Incandescent Vs. LED Lights

    Trying to decide between incandescent and LED light fixtures? Look no further to find the style of lighting best suited for your needs.

    INCANDESCENT

    A tried and true style of lighting, Incandescent bulbs have been around since the 1850s. Incandescents produce light by heating a wire filament until it glows. The wire is surrounded by a clear glass bulb that acts as a vacuum to protect it from oxygen.

    Incandescent lights are commonly used for interior or patio lighting. Due to their aesthetic appearance, incandescents are typically the go-to style of lighting for weddings, coffee shops, and other elegant events. The light produced is a warm, tangerine hue that instantly creates a beautiful atmosphere. Incandescent lights are often the preferred light for wedding and film production because they photograph exceptionally well. Although LED lights continue to gain popularity in that area, incandescent is still the first choice in those fields when sufficient power is available.

    The Downside
    They have the worst energy efficiency on the market, converting only about 5% of their energy into light. The heat these bulbs infamously produce is the cause of the remaining energy to be lost.
    Incandescent bulbs also have an incredibly short life span. Lasting on average for 1,000 hours, they suffer compared to the 20,000- 30,000 hours that LEDs can survive. Though they can be used for Christmas lights, it is not very common due to these factors.

    LED

    An LED, or Light-Emitting Diode, is made from a unique material called a semiconductor. A diode is the simplest type of semiconductor component. When a current passes through the semiconductor, light is emitted.

    There are two types of LEDs:
    Diffused LEDs: The achievement of colour through color-tinted plastic cases.
    Clear LEDs: They have a clear plastic case but emit colored light.

    LEDs uses are for general and special-purpose lighting, where a particular colour is needed. The industry standard for Christmas lights, LEDs are an incredibly popular choice for the Christmas season. LEDs use much less energy than incandescent bulbs because diodes light is much more efficient than filaments. LEDs are chosen 99% of the time for Christmas lights because they rarely burn out and allow larger displays.

    The Downside
    The upfront cost of LEDs is more than incandescent, but that is due to their long lifespan and durability. As LEDs are increasingly becoming the ‘go-to’ style of lighting, the price is ever reducing.

    CONCLUSION

    If you want to light your house for the Christmas season or expect to use the lighting day-after-day, it would be in your best interest to invest in LED lights. Their efficiency will save you money in the long run and will last season after season.
    For a more elegant look, consider Incandescent bulbs. The colour radiated from the bulb is incomparable and ubiquitous with chic events.

  • What type of Christmas lights should you use on your house?

    The best way to get that professional, clean look on your home is to use the right materials. The good news is that the most attractive looking lights are also the most durable and, over the long run, most cost-effective.

    Socket Wire


    At Lights Unlimited, we start with socket wire that is both durable and fully customizable to your home’s unique rooflines. We use SPT-2 wire, which is rated for Canada’s winters, and won’t fail on Christmas Eve when your family is over for dinner!
    If you have ever installed retail lights on your home, you may have experienced hanging all the lights up, only to have a large section of the lights go out inexplicably. This dreadful event won’t happen with Lights Unlimited! We use the same tried and true two-wire socket wire that won’t let you down and keep the lights burning all through the night. With an LED retrofit bulb, it’s practically maintenance proof even in our climate. Our standard socket wire is the classic dark green, but other colors, such as brown and black, can be available upon request.

    Bulbs

    The most exciting aspect of Christmas lights is also the most important. Using the right bulbs is also a must – and we have you covered. We have a host of colors available: Warm White, Cool White, Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Orange, Purple, Pink, and Turquoise. Because we use a retrofit system, it means we build our lights by hand, and you can have any custom pattern you want! It even means that you can change the bulb colors in a future year while keeping your existing custom socket wire and clips. It can be a fun way to change your house display for a reasonable cost down the road.

    Classic C9 LEDs

    Our standard bulb for houses is the C9 LED. This bulb is the classic conical or “pine cone” Christmas bulb shape. It is much brighter than retail-purchased lights as it has 5 LEDs in each bulb, which gives the light a more vibrant appearance. It also means that the lights don’t have that flicker, which many have observed with other LEDs. C9 LEDs use less than one watt and, as such, are very energy efficient. Recent industry innovation and upgrades to C9 SMDs allow them to look the same while using less than 0.6 watts per bulb! Just one more reason to be proud of your Christmas light display.

    Gorgeous G30 Warm White bulbs on display

    The other option for your house is called the G30 bulb. This bulb is for those who want a little extra brightness in their display—shaped like a 1″ sphere that acts as a magnifier for the 5 LEDs inside the bulb. The cost is a little bit more, but these are quite popular due to their clean appearance and classy look. G30 LEDs also come in the same color options as our C9 LEDs.

    Using quality bulbs and socket wire, your Christmas lights will be an excellent investment with a look you will be proud of. By taking proper care by taking lights down for storage for Spring and Summer, these lights are the best option for you and your home.

  • Christmas Lights… on TV!

     

    The first snow of the season reminded me of a snowy day last year when your favorite local Christmas light installers somehow were allowed on TV. The fine people at 92.1 Citi FM saw fit to come out and get some footage of us installing Christmas lights on a home on Deepwater Cove in the Maples area. If you don’t believe the screen shot above (sorry Jets fans, btw) just watch the video below. It’s true…. I’m the guy staying warm in the brown parka and blue hat.

    As far as the nuts and bolts go, we installed C9 pure white LEDs on the full perimeter of the home, plus matching but smaller C6 pure white LEDs on their large deciduous tree in the front. We used white wire to keep the sockets on the house as discrete as possible.  It looks very bright and nice at night and the homeowner was very happy with the installation. If you’re ever interested in something like this you know who to call.

    So anyways, hopefully I sounded like I know what I’m talking about! Lots of fun and thanks again to Mark and the crew at 92.1 Citi.

  • Ideas: Light spheres in a Christmas tree

    Roslyn Lit Evergreen Tree

    This is a 55′ Christmas tree we lit in the Osborne Village neighborhood of Winnipeg. It’s a fantastic look with the uber-bright C9 Retrofit LEDs hung in a custom white/blue pattern.

    We’re very proud of this tree. I began thinking though, if we wanted to make it even better, how would we do it?

     

    Roslyn-Lit-Evergreen-Tree-w-spheres

    Just like you would hang decorations in your indoor Christmas tree, lit decorations such as spheres are certainly an option in your outdoor tree. Same would go for a star (or angel) on top. With a bucket truck things like this are possible.

    What do you think? I really, really want to do one of these. This would be a stunning tree that would find its way on to many Christmas light sightseeing tours.

  • Lights at Barge Fest 2014

    Barge Fest 2014

    What on earth does Lights Unlimited have in common with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, JUNO Award-winning musicians Chic Gamine, and a denim-wearing, bearded men’s choir?

    We were all at Prairie Barge Festival 2014 – as were many of you.

    Barge Fest is a fantastic cultural event held each year in Winnipeg at The Forks with the WSO and many other musicians performing literally on the Assiniboine river by means of a giant floating wooden barge. It’s a great event and I highly recommend checking it out next year.

    If you checked it out this year, you may have noticed our outdoor light spheres setting the mood. We installed 14 light spheres among a cluster of Poplar trees above a public sitting area for the concert, stage right from the performance area. Varying sizes of spheres was best we felt so we chose spheres between 10″ and 24″ in diameter. Warm white lights were used to best fit with the star and moon feel of the natural setting. The final look was very nice and may become a regular feature at The Forks.

    One thing we decided to do a little differently was suspend the spheres from ultra-thin aluminum wire which we string from tree to tree. This was to create the effect of the spheres floating in mid air and not necessarily tied to a tree. This will be an option we keep in mind for future outdoor events or weddings.

    The only change I would make on this one is to add just a few more spheres. Hopefully can do more of these.

A pleasure to deal with, we could not be more pleased

We've been so impressed with the friendly service, attention to detail and professionalism that we've received from Lights Unlimited. They're reliable, offer fair and consistent pricing from year to year and are a pleasure to deal with, we could not be more pleased to have found them and highly recommend their services.

Lisa and Chris Young, East St. Paul

2016-11-12T15:33:58+00:00

Lisa and Chris Young, East St. Paul

We've been so impressed with the friendly service, attention to detail and professionalism that we've received from Lights Unlimited. They're reliable, offer fair and consistent pricing from year to year and are a pleasure to deal with, we could not be more pleased to have found them and highly recommend their services.

Very responsive to questions/concerns

We've had our Christmas lights installed by [Lights Unlimited] for the last 3 years and have been really pleased with their work. They have always provided great customer service, very responsive to questions/concerns and make the entire process super easy. Would highly recommend them!

Claudia B., Winnipeg

2016-11-12T15:37:07+00:00

Claudia B., Winnipeg

We've had our Christmas lights installed by [Lights Unlimited] for the last 3 years and have been really pleased with their work. They have always provided great customer service, very responsive to questions/concerns and make the entire process super easy. Would highly recommend them!

Always punctual, courteous, and organized

Lights Unlimited is great! I would recommend them to anyone who doesn't want the hassle of purchasing and hanging their own Christmas lights! Their staff is always punctual, courteous, and organized. They do an excellent job!

Vickie H., Whyte Ridge

2016-11-12T15:47:18+00:00

Vickie H., Whyte Ridge

Lights Unlimited is great! I would recommend them to anyone who doesn't want the hassle of purchasing and hanging their own Christmas lights! Their staff is always punctual, courteous, and organized. They do an excellent job!

I’ve been a customer of Lights Unlimited since 2012 and every year since

I've been a customer of Lights Unlimited since 2012 and every year since, my house receives many compliments on the Christmas lights. I have been very happy with the service and attention to detail. Mike and Terrell and their crew provide professional service and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.

Debbie S., Charleswood

2016-11-12T15:48:13+00:00

Debbie S., Charleswood

I've been a customer of Lights Unlimited since 2012 and every year since, my house receives many compliments on the Christmas lights. I have been very happy with the service and attention to detail. Mike and Terrell and their crew provide professional service and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.

Outstanding work

Outstanding work guys. The bridge looks great and I am receiving lots of positive feedback.

Paul Jordan, COO
The Forks Renewal Corp.

2016-11-12T15:49:24+00:00

Paul Jordan, COO
The Forks Renewal Corp.

Outstanding work guys. The bridge looks great and I am receiving lots of positive feedback.

Always a pleasure

It is always a pleasure to see the wonderful job you guys do.

Denise S., Headingley, MB

2016-11-12T15:50:14+00:00

Denise S., Headingley, MB

It is always a pleasure to see the wonderful job you guys do.

Creative ideas, enthusiasm and flexibility

Mike and the team at Lights Unlimited are great to work with. They have supported and been a valuable asset to the Barre After Hours event for the part two years. Their creative ideas, enthusiasm and flexibility are always appreciated. The effort they put in comes through in an outstanding final product and their support of local events is commendable.

Devan Graham, Winnipeg

2016-11-12T15:51:11+00:00

Devan Graham, Winnipeg

Mike and the team at Lights Unlimited are great to work with. They have supported and been a valuable asset to the Barre After Hours event for the part two years. Their creative ideas, enthusiasm and flexibility are always appreciated. The effort they put in comes through in an outstanding final product and their support of local events is commendable.

Terrific!

Your team just left. They were terrific! Very nice young men. Very good at what they did and great ambassadors for you and your company.

Bill G., St. James, Winnipeg, MB

2016-11-12T15:51:58+00:00

Bill G., St. James, Winnipeg, MB

Your team just left. They were terrific! Very nice young men. Very good at what they did and great ambassadors for you and your company.

Very courteous and understanding and listen to what you want as a customer

We have had Lights Unlimited put up our Christmas lights for a few years now. We absolutely love their work! We live in an area where the winds are very strong and require the lights to be secured to the trees. They make sure they are secured!
They are very courteous and understanding and listen to what you want as a customer. Every year I look forward to their email telling me it’s time for the lights and every year I tend to add more lights as I love the work they do and of course I love lights!!

We’ve had a lot of compliments on how straight the lights are on the house and how beautiful it all looks. Thank you Mike and Terrell!! You and your crew are fantastic!!

Susi Neault, St. Andrews, MB

2016-11-12T15:52:52+00:00

Susi Neault, St. Andrews, MB

We have had Lights Unlimited put up our Christmas lights for a few years now. We absolutely love their work! We live in an area where the winds are very strong and require the lights to be secured to the trees. They make sure they are secured! They are very courteous and understanding and listen to what you want as a customer. Every year I look forward to their email telling me it’s time for the lights and every year I tend to add more lights as I love the work they do and of course I love lights!! We’ve had a lot of compliments on how straight the lights are on the house and how beautiful it all looks. Thank you Mike and Terrell!! You and your crew are fantastic!!

Lights Unlimited has become a tradition in our household!

Lights Unlimited has become a tradition in our household! Each fall we eagerly anticipate the crew to come put up our lights! Their friendly efficient staff creates a vision of lights second to none. We know spring has arrived when that same great crew comes and takes our lights down!

Jacquie Derewianchuk

2016-11-12T15:54:02+00:00

Jacquie Derewianchuk

Lights Unlimited has become a tradition in our household! Each fall we eagerly anticipate the crew to come put up our lights! Their friendly efficient staff creates a vision of lights second to none. We know spring has arrived when that same great crew comes and takes our lights down!

We love their professionalism and highly recommend them to everyone!!

Lights Unlimited has been our Christmas light specialists for years! 3 different homes in the city, and with each move, they have done an exceptional job. Always very organized with installation and removing the lights each year. We love their professionalism and highly recommend them to everyone!! Cheers!!

Tammy and Mike Keane 

2016-11-12T15:55:10+00:00

Tammy and Mike Keane 

Lights Unlimited has been our Christmas light specialists for years! 3 different homes in the city, and with each move, they have done an exceptional job. Always very organized with installation and removing the lights each year. We love their professionalism and highly recommend them to everyone!! Cheers!!

Just What We Wanted!

Backyard Tree is just what we wanted! :)

Mary-Beth Parrish

2020-10-13T22:19:33+00:00

Mary-Beth Parrish

Backyard Tree is just what we wanted! :)