It’s finally December, and you know what that means — Christmas is just around the corner. This is the perfect chance to spend some quality time with your family and enjoy the festive decorations all around you.
However, the most joyous holiday of them all may require some extensive preparations. It’s not all about buying Christmas presents for your kids and family. No — Christmas preparations are also about decorating your house and having a touch of that holiday spirit on every surface.
If you’re a touch competitive and want to have the most decorated house in the neighborhood, hanging Christmas lights and decorations is a multiple-step process.
Not to mention that you always have to be extra careful while doing so. Not only can Christmas lights be the downfall for your roof, but you can also get injured easily in the process.
Safety First
When hanging Christmas lights, the first thing to think about is safety. That goes both for you and for your roof. Christmas is a beautiful time, but let’s not forget that it could be wet, windy, and all-around not ideal even when you have both of your feet on the ground.
Therefore, safety precautions are a must. Hanging the Christmas lights on your house usually requires a large ladder. Make sure it’s secured before you climb up there. You can secure the ladder with rope or even bungee cords if you have some handy. However, you also have to make sure the ladder legs are standing on level-ground.
The best course of action is to have a helper at all times. Hanging Christmas lights is not a one-person job!
Prepare everything
Like any task, this one demands some preparation ahead. Therefore, make sure you make a solid plan while you’re still on the ground. Plan where each string of Christmas lights will go.
Furthermore, make sure you test the lights before you hang them. You don’t want to go through all the trouble of attaching the lights only to be sorely disappointed once you climb back down.
Not to mention, plugging the Christmas lights in is usually a huge revelation. Imagine the sad faces on little ones if the lights malfunction!
Protect your Roof
Christmas lights can wreak havoc on your roofing system. Here are some things to avoid this holiday season:
Stepping on shingles and tiles
Avoid walking on your roof as much as possible. This is not only dangerous in the winter, but it can also damage your roof. One loose tile is all it takes for you to end up on the ground like Humpty Dumpty.
What’s more, tiles can easily break under your feet. Therefore, the best course of action is to avoid any cracked tiles. You should also avoid stepping on the troughs of the roof, as that can lead to breakage as well.
Step away from nails and hammers
You may think the easiest way to hang Christmas lights is with a few nails and your trusty hammer. However, will your roofing be able to endure that treatment? Probably not.
After a few nail holes, you’ll quickly realize that you’ve created a way in for that dreaded moisture and dampness. To avoid a potential disaster, stick to plastic clips.
All-purpose light clips work great on all surfaces. Therefore, you can attach them to your roof, gutters, shutters, and even on the sides of your home. What’s more, they are cheap and reusable.
Plastic clips on shutters, gutters, and shingles
If you buy regular plastic clips, make sure they are safe to use on all roofing parts. Some plastic clips aren’t ideal for gutter decorations. Therefore, always keep that in mind, or switch to different decoration tactics if you’ve already bought some. Plastic clips are also easy to remove.
Keep away from the chimney
Usually, the chimney is pretty far from the gutters. Therefore, it requires a bit of a walk. It’s best to leave it without any Christmas lights to protect the roofing system. However, if you have your heart set on decorating Santa’s entrance as well — do it carefully.
Plastic blow-up decorations do not mix well with chimneys. Therefore, place them far away so that they don’t melt. Furthermore, you should also be careful when placing twinkly lights around it, especially if you have a functioning fireplace.
Finding a way around it
Let’s be realistic. The best way to protect your roof is to avoid decorating it. Lawn Christmas decorations look lovely, and they’ll save you the hassle of climbing up on the roof and dangling 10 feet off the ground.
A few parting words
Christmas time is a time for relaxation. Follow our guidelines and don’t fret as you’ll keep both yourself and your roof safe and sound this Christmas season.
However, remember one thing — don’t go too overboard. Over-decorating and overloading your roofing and gutters with Christmas lights might bring you more headaches than joy!
