It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but installing festive lights on a home can be a headache and potentially cause damage to your roof. Avoid the hassle and make holiday decorating more enjoyable with these tips for avoiding roof damage.
- Don't let your shingles jingle. Never hang Christmas lights from your shingles. To properly put up lights, they need to be secured to something (that's why it's so easy to wrap them around trees). The best option when decorating for the holidays when it comes to putting up lights is to use clips that hang from the gutter or eaves. Also, before you climb up to work, untangle the strands and test them to make sure they all light up.
- Don't let 'er rip. We know you don't want to be that house that leaves holiday decorations up until summer, but don't dissemble hastily either by pulling lights off the roof from the cord. This can cause damage to the gutter or potentially your shingle if they were not clipped correctly. To avoid that, take the time to remove each clip individually.
- Avoid the shock. Make sure your holiday decorations, including inflatable items, are away from power lines and plugged into a portable outdoor circuit. In addition, don't overload the breaker, which can be a potential fire risk.
- Bring a buddy. Another person should be on hand to help secure the ladder and carry items.
- Call a pro. If you want elaborate holiday decorations, are not comfortable on a ladder, or have areas that are hard to access, it's best to leave it to a professional to install lights properly without risking damage to the roof—or yourself.
