Hydra Total Care recommends that Tulsa homeowners book Christmas light installation before Thanksgiving. Bookings run from September 1 to December 20, and install dates get harder to find as December gets closer, while shorter days and colder roofs slow every install. Seasonal holiday lighting is $4.25 per linear foot, installed from $800, and that price includes take-down and storage.
This is the Tulsa Home Almanac, a weekly note from Hydra Total Care on what Tulsa homes need right now. This week: why the weeks before Thanksgiving are the easiest time to get your roof line lit, and what that looks like in your part of town. Thanksgiving falls on November 26 this year.
What changes after Thanksgiving
After Thanksgiving, more of Tulsa wants lights up at the same time, and the weather and daylight work against every install. Many families want the house lit for the first weekend of December, so the calendar after the holiday is the most crowded part of the season.
In Tulsa, the weeks after Thanksgiving bring the shortest days of the year, colder mornings, and the chance of a winter ice storm. Hydra Total Care schedules roof work for dry weather, because working on a wet, frosty, or icy roof is slower and riskier. Booking before Thanksgiving leaves room in the calendar when the forecast moves an install date.
Oklahoma wind matters too. A gusty day is a poor day to be on a ladder at a second-story gable, and in late fall and winter those days come more often. More open dates means more chances to pick a calm one.
What it looks like in your part of Tulsa
Many Midtown Tulsa homes, especially in Maple Ridge and around Brookside, are tall older houses with steep gables under mature oaks and elms that hang over the roof line. Those roof lines take more ladder work and more planning around branches than a single-story ranch, which is one more reason Hydra Total Care suggests booking them early in the fall. See Christmas lights in Midtown Tulsa and Brookside.
Midtown's big oaks also hold their leaves late. If leaves are still coming down in November, clear the gutters before the lights go up; gutter cleaning starts at $249, or $200 for customers 55 and over. The checklist is in Getting Your Gutters Ready Before Christmas Lights Go Up.
Around Cherry Street, older bungalows with front porches and gables face the street and sit close to the neighbors, so the front roof line is usually the part that matters most. A clean front-only design is a good fit for an early-fall booking.
In South Tulsa, Jenks, and Bixby, many neighborhoods have newer two-story homes with tall peaks and several gables facing the street. Many of those neighborhoods also have HOAs, so check the rules on display dates before you book.
In Broken Arrow and Owasso, many homes sit in large subdivisions where neighbors want their lights up for the same stretch of December. Booking before Thanksgiving sets your date before that stretch. Out in Sand Springs, homes on open lots catch the full Oklahoma wind, so an install on a calm day is worth planning for.
Town guides to Christmas light installation: Broken Arrow, Jenks, Bixby, Owasso, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Glenpool, Catoosa, Midtown Tulsa, Brookside, and South Tulsa.
How seasonal lighting works
With Hydra Total Care's seasonal holiday lighting in Tulsa, you buy and own the lights. Hydra Total Care installs them, takes them down between January 15 and February 15, and stores them until next season, all for $4.25 per linear foot, installed from $800.
The roof line you want lit is measured and quoted before any work begins. The full breakdown of how a linear foot is measured is in How Much Does Christmas Light Installation Cost in Tulsa?, and the season timeline is in When to Book Christmas Light Installation in Tulsa.
Installed early, switched on when you are ready
An install before Thanksgiving does not mean the house has to glow in mid-November. The lights are yours and plug into your outdoor outlets, so you decide the night they go on.
Booking early also means your date is set. On the holiday lights quote page, you leave your name, phone, area, and what you want lit, and Hydra Total Care calls or texts you with a price. Packages are Standard, Tier 2 for larger homes, or Full makeover, which is priced at the walkthrough. A deposit holds your install date.
What to have ready before you book
- Decide which roof lines you want lit: the front only, or every side that faces the street.
- Buy lights made for outdoor use. You own them, and they will sit through Tulsa wind, cold rain, and freezing nights until they come down.
- Know where your outdoor outlets are, so the plan starts from the power you already have.
- Check your HOA rules on display dates, if your neighborhood has an HOA.
- Plan gutter cleaning before install day if your trees still have leaves.
- Have your address and a photo of the front of the house ready for the quote.
If you would rather never book again
Permanent lighting from Hydra Total Care starts at $1,500 (most homes around $2,800, about $12 per foot), has a 5-year warranty, and has a lifespan of about 10 years. Because the LED track stays on the roof line year-round, it has no holiday booking window and can be installed in any season.
If you are deciding between the two, read Seasonal vs. Permanent Holiday Lighting in Tulsa, or see permanent lighting in Tulsa.
Book your install date
Get your price and pick a package on the holiday lights quote page, or call or text (918) 922-9348. Hydra Total Care is open Monday to Friday 7 AM to 7 PM and Saturday 8 AM to 5 PM, and closed Sunday. See Christmas light installation in Tulsa for everything that is included.