This holiday season, don’t make the shingle jingle. Whether you begin decorating in early November or sit tight until after Thanksgiving, know how to securely hang the Christmas lights on the roof. Here are some tips for hanging lights and displaying your Christmas spirit.
You aren’t a reindeer—no hooves on the roof!
You can extend the lifetime of the roof by restricting the time spent on it. It’s wise to stay off your rooftop and place lights from the ladder when installing lights on your roof. Because walking on it can be dangerous, hiring an expert to install lights in areas where you must walk is recommended.
If you must walk on your roof, do so gently and in soft shoes such as sneakers. You should avoid treading on the shingles in the daytime when your roof is in direct sun.
Hang the lights with care—use only plastic clips.
Directly stapling or nailing lights to the shingles is a surefire way to cause damage. If your shingles have been punctured, they are no longer waterproof, and even the tiniest of holes could indeed allow water to enter your home’s envelope. Nails destroy shingles and can penetrate the attic space, allowing water to access drywall and insulation! It can cause significant damage before you can even realize there’s a problem.
Plastic clips are by far the most effective and cost-effective alternative to staples and nails for hanging directly on eaves, gutters, and shingles without causing roof damage.
Use eaves to hang lights without damaging your roof.
The most fundamental point to remember is not to poke any small hole inside the shingles. They’re incredibly delicate, and you can end up causing severe damage to the roof only to make your home look festive.
As well, don’t walk on or move shingles. If you must walk on them, try to do so in the middle rather than on the shingles’ overlap. It reduces the risk of shingle roofing being damaged if you move them with your feet. Hanging the lights or even other Christmas decorations from a roof’s eaves is the best option.
Roof weight capacity: 1 Santa. Keep all other decorations lightweight!
Although your roof appears to be sturdy, avoid overloading it with multiple decorations and displays. They may be too bulky for the top to support. Arrange the different bits evenly around it. Excessive weight on the roof puts strain on the roof shingles, supports, and other constructions.
Determine if lights should be attached to shingles or gutters.
When installing lights on your roof, you must decide if to put them on shingles or the gutters. It’s excellent not to connect anything more to the gutter system simultaneously as you hang the lights. If you intend to work with other decorations, such as the inflatable Santa Claus, make sure there’s enough space between them for air circulation. You need to attach one light strand at a time to your shingles if you’re hanging lights.
Takeaway
Putting up holiday lights on the house could be a difficult task. With these pointers in mind, you can rest assured that the roof will not be negatively affected, and then you’ll have a pleasant experience. If you’re unsure, don’t. It isn’t worth the risk. Remember, there are professionals to help you with your roof repairs whenever you require the services!