There’s nothing like a beautifully decorated house for the holidays. That is unless you end up putting a hole through the roof while trying to position the inflatable Santa or dancing Snoopy. All of that holiday cheer will be zapped right out of your mood in the form of a fat repair bill. But don’t worry, you can avoid all of these pitfalls and other potential roof damage problems this Christmas season. You just need to know how to hang Christmas lights without damaging roof elements. From not tearing down gutters to skipping out on puncturing shingles, here are the ins and outs of keeping the festive cheer in your holiday decorations.
So, How To Hang Christmas Lights Without Damaging Roof?
Here are some of the tips and tricks on how to hang Christmas lights without damaging the roof:
Roof Inspection
Ideally, you will have had your roof inspected at some point during the late summer or fall months. This is an excellent time to have your roof looked over for any possible damage. Spotting roof damage early on makes it easier to perform the necessary repairs and have it in tip-top shape for the holidays. After all, if you’re going to be putting additional weight on your roof, even if it is just in the form of lights or a few other decorations, you want to know everywhere you step or place lights is safe. It will also help cut down on your energy bill this season. You’ll be spending more to keep the Christmas lights on, so why not make it up by reducing the loss of energy through a soft roof or missing shingles? It’s not too late to schedule a roof inspection before setting up the holiday lights.
Plan Ahead
A little bit of planning goes a long way. First, you’ll want to clean out the gutters if you haven’t. This will reduce the amount of weight that is hanging from this portion of the roof. Should it snow, the added weight of the snow and possible ice hanging from the Christmas lights will put some strain on the gutters. It should be fine, just as long as you don’t have all the added weight from the dirty gutters as well.
You should also locate your power outlet, take out the extension cords, then begin setting up the Christmas lights from the furthest point and make your way back to the outlet. This way, you will know you have the necessary slack ahead of time and avoid pulling and tugging the lights. Trying to stretch the Christmas lights will only result in added damage to your roof and possibly a shorted-out strand of Christmas lights. It doesn’t take much planning, but this small amount will take you a long way.
Plastic Clips
Try to avoid installing hooks or loops into the shingles or gutters of your roof. Some people will install hooks into their roofs because they plan on hanging lights every year, so why not keep the hooks in place? The problem with installing hooks is you’re puncturing the shingles and metal gutters. The only way you can correct this kind of installation is to replace the punctured area completely. These installed hooks make it easier for moisture to seep into the roof or rust to form on the gutters.
If you’ve ever used a staple gun in the past, avoid doing this. There’s nothing good about staples. The staples put small holes in the roof, and many of these staples will remain after you remove the lights in January. You can even cause further damage to your roof during the removal of your holiday lights, as the staples pull out and may take a chunk of asphalt shingles with them.
Instead, you’ll want to avoid all of these kinds of problems and use plastic clips. There are Christmas light plastic clips made specifically for the installation and hanging of lights. The clips will hold onto the lights and grab onto the roof or gutters. The plastic is light and will not pull on the surface you fix the clips to. Additionally, it’s easy to remove the clips when taking down the lights and, best of all, you won’t damage the roof. This way, you’ll avoid all the potential repairs others might be forced to do when installing hooks.
Walking The Roof
If you have to walk on the roof, you’ll want to put on light shoes, such as sneakers. Opt for sneakers with solid tread, though, so it will give you a bit of extra grip while walking. And while you are walking on the roof, don’t put all of your weight on one leg. Try to walk as lightly as possible. If you feel any soft spots, make a note of these areas and then avoid the spot. You’ll want to have it inspected later on after the holidays are over, but for now, just avoid it altogether.
If you have a metal roof, you will want to walk where the pieces of metal roofing come together. This is a reinforced area of the roof, and it can handle your weight. Do not walk in the area in the middle. If you do, you are far more likely to dent the metal roofing. If you dent the metal roof, there is a good chance you’ll need to have the entire area replaced.
Contact The Pros For Your Roofing Needs
If you haven’t had your roof inspected recently, there’s no time like the present. Of course, you’re probably busy, and you might not have the time to have an inspection performed before the holiday season. If that’s the case, you can still schedule an inspection after the holidays, when the roof is free of decorations and you are looking forward to spring. From roof inspections to repairs and new installations, Charlotte Roofing Specialists are here to help. Whatever your needs, when it comes to roofing, help is just a phone call away. So schedule your in-person inspection or receive the answers to all your roof-related questions today.