After you’ve decked the halls with boughs of holly, it’s time to string up the lights for some roof decorating. Part of the magic of the holiday season is the bright and colorful twinkle of a house trimmed with lights. Follow these tips to create a magical, safe, and secure holiday light display.
Check Your Equipment
First, insure that all of your roof decorating equipment is rated for outdoor use. Both the lights and any extension cords should be suitable to withstand the elements. Using indoor lights on your roof can create potentially dangerous and damaging situations.
Does Everything Work?
The last thing you want is to spend hours installing your roof decorations only to find that they won’t light up. Make sure all of your displays work properly. Do all the light bulbs work? Do the programming boxes function correctly? If any of your components move, do all the parts move like they are supposed to move? Are all of the fuses intact? Are your outdoor outlets protected and functional? A few minutes of diligence at this point will save you hours of frustration later.
Make a Roof Decorating Plan
Before you put a foot on a ladder, know exactly what you’re going to put where. Take the time to measure distances so that you know how far your light strings will stretch. Which strings will extend from which junction? Where will the cords go? How will you secure everything?
Be Safe as You Climb
Most injuries associated with roof decorating occur when ladders tip or when people slip. Each time you place the ladder, double check the footing. Work with a buddy who can secure the ladder as you climb and install the decorations.
Stay on the Ladder
You might be tempted to extend your roof decorating higher up on your home, which would mean a trip up onto the roof. As we here at Vanguard advised in this blog, you should avoid going onto your roof. Any walking on the roof can damage the shingles. Stick with what you can reach from a ladder.
Inspect While You’re There
As long as you’re on the ladder, you should do a quick visual inspection of your roof. Why not kill two birds with one stone?
Leave Your Roof Intact
While using staples to secure your roof decorating will certainly make the lights more secure, you will also be damaging your home. Even tiny holes from the staples can compromise the integrity of the shingles and the trim and can allow an entry point for water. Over time, even a small amount of water in a small hole can ruin wood. Instead, install a reusable clip system that will keep your decorations in place without damaging your roof.
Have a Happy Holiday Season
From all of here at Vanguard, have a safe and happy holiday season!