String Lights
String Light Installation in Orange County
Café and bistro string lights hung the permanent way — stainless catenary cable, powder-coated steel poles set in concrete, dimmable LED on its own switched circuit. No sagging strands, no extension cords, no re-hanging every spring.
Why hire it out
The difference between hung and installed
A weekend string light job usually fails in the same three places: the bulb wire carries the weight, the anchors pull out of stucco, and everything plugs into one outdoor outlet. We engineer around all three.
Cable, not bulb wire, carries the load
Every span runs on stainless aircraft cable with turnbuckles and strain relief. The bulb strand clips underneath purely for looks, so the lights stay tight and level through Santa Ana wind season instead of drooping into the patio table.
- Stainless catenary cable with tensioning turnbuckles
- Strain relief at every termination
- Level, symmetrical swags laid out to the space
Poles and anchors that belong there
Where there's nothing to attach to, we set powder-coated steel poles in concrete footings sized for the span. Where we attach to the house, hardware lands in structural framing and gets flashed and sealed — not toggled into bare stucco.
- Steel poles set in buried concrete footings
- Structural, sealed attachments on stucco and fascia
- Arborist-safe, non-girdling tree attachments
Hard-wired, dimmable, automated
String lights get a dedicated switched circuit instead of a plug and a timer, then join the same control as your landscape lighting — dusk-to-dinner at full output, dimmed late, off automatically.
- Dedicated switched circuit, no visible cords
- Dimmable shatter-resistant LED bulbs
- Astronomical timer or app scenes shared with your landscape lights
Where they work
Spaces we light with string
String light is soft, high, ambient light. It defines an outdoor room overhead while your landscape lighting handles depth at ground level — the two are designed together.
Patios & courtyards
Open-air grid or parallel runs that give a paved area a ceiling and a defined edge.
Pergolas & patio covers
Runs concealed along beams and rafters so the structure reads lit rather than strung.
Pool & spa decks
Warm overhead light that plays off the water, kept to code for clearance and low-voltage rules.
Outdoor dining & kitchens
Dimmable light at the right height to eat under without glare in anyone's eyes.
Driveways & motor courts
Long pole-to-pole spans engineered for distance and vehicle clearance.
Events & entertaining areas
Permanent installs that make a rental setup unnecessary for every gathering.
Process
From consultation to switch-on
Four steps, usually a single install day.
- 01
Design consultation
We walk the space after dark, measure spans and mark where poles or anchors need to land.
- 02
Fixed quote
One price covering poles, footings, cable, bulbs, electrical and cleanup.
- 03
Install day
Footings, cable tensioning, strand hanging and circuit work by our own licensed crew.
- 04
Tune & hand-off
Dimmer levels and timer scenes set with you, plus a warranty on labor and hardware.
FAQ
String light questions we get asked
How much does professional string light installation cost?
Most Orange County backyards land between roughly $1,200 and $4,500 depending on span length, how many poles or footings are needed, and whether a dedicated switched circuit has to be run. We quote a fixed price after the on-site design consultation — no hourly surprises.
How do you hang string lights without damaging stucco or trees?
We anchor into structural framing behind stucco with sealed, flashed hardware, or avoid the house entirely using powder-coated steel poles set in concrete footings. Trees are never screwed into — we use non-girdling arborist-safe attachments that allow for growth.
Will the strands sag or come down in Santa Ana winds?
Yes, if they're hung on the bulb wire alone. We carry the load on stainless aircraft cable with turnbuckles and strain relief, so the bulb strand hangs decoratively while the cable takes the tension. That's what keeps a run tight through wind season.
Are the lights dimmable and can they be automated?
We install dimmable, shatter-resistant LED bulbs on a switched or smart-controlled circuit, so string lights can run on the same astronomical timer or app scene as your landscape lighting — on at dusk, dimmed at 10pm, off at midnight.
Do you install string lights over pools, pergolas and driveways?
Yes. Pool and spa areas follow low-voltage and clearance rules, pergolas and patio covers get concealed runs along the beams, and driveway or courtyard spans use poles sized for the distance. Everything is permitted-code compliant and installed by a licensed, insured crew.
How long does the installation take?
Most residential jobs are one day. Installs with multiple concrete pole footings need a second short visit after the concrete cures, typically 48 hours later.
Pairing string lights with a full system? See our landscape lighting design or check the cities we serve.
Keep exploring
Related services
Landscape Lighting Design
Ground-level depth — path, uplighting and architectural fixtures designed alongside your string light spans.
Outdoor Audio & Video
Add speakers and screens on the same trench, conduit and control app as your lights.
Lighting Maintenance
Bulb swaps, cable re-tensioning and timer resets so the installation keeps looking new.
Free Design Consultation
Get your string lights designed on site
We'll measure the space after dark, show you where the spans should land and quote it in one visit. Free, no obligation.