Preparing Your Roof for Holiday Lights And Decorations

With the holiday season in full bloom, you may plan to decorate your home with a festive display. Holiday lighting is especially festive, yet it can be risky if you put some of those illuminations on your roof. Below, we review some of the basic safety tips to remember when preparing your roof for holiday lights and decorations.

Safety first

Start by having someone hold the ladder. Place it on a solid surface, not soggy or uneven ground. Make sure the strings on the lights aren’t knotted or tangled. Plug them in to be sure they turn on. Also, check the roof to make sure it doesn't have any issues, such as loose or missing shingles. If necessary, consider having your roof cleaned professionally before you decorate.

Say no to staples

Staples are a no-no for roofs - even though they are a convenient way to hang lights. Instead, use plastic hooks to attach traditional strings of lights to your home exterior. Zip ties are another option that works. Staples leave holes in your roof that allow moisture into your home or under your roof. Moisture can also weaken shingles and cause warping or curling.

Leave bulky or heavy items on the lawn

Santa's sleigh and all eight reindeer plus Rudolph in the front can look cool, but decorations like this are often heavy. Unfortunately, that weight may not be good for your roof. Plus, bringing them up to your roof and dragging them into place can make your roof more vulnerable to damage and moisture. Instead, put decorations like this on your lawn.

Don't walk on your roof

As you hang holiday lighting and other decorations, it can be tempting to simply walk across your roof. It's best to avoid doing this, however, because it's too easy to fall. Also, you could damage your roof by walking across it and placing decorations on it. Instead, work from the edge of your roof or use extension handles to place decorations on your roof if you want them near your chimney or in the middle.

Be careful with your gutters

As you place your decorations onto your roof, watch your gutters. Gutters are delicate, and they must be properly leveled, balanced, and secured in order to drain water properly. Resist the urge to hang lighting from them. Attach lights to the eaves instead. Don't place or lean your ladder against gutters. Damage to your gutters can cause future problems for your home, like ice dams or leaks.

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