The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year. It’s a time of festivities and celebration. For many homeowners, it also the time to bust out their holiday spirit and start decorating.
Decorating is part of the fun during this season. Seeing a whole neighborhood illuminate with colorful ornaments and bright lights can be uplifting, not just to its residents but to everyone who passes by. Unfortunately, holiday decorations can also be a source of headaches for homeowners and potentially cause damage your roof.
Don’t let a few mistakes take away your holiday cheer. This festive season, make sure you take several precautions to create a holiday display without wreaking havoc on your roof.
Preplan your Decorations
Planning ahead will be a huge help when hanging holiday decorations on your roof. Make a rough sketch for your roof plans and where you want to place your decorations or turn your lights.
For the lights, homeowners often outline their homes’ front area and follow the roofline and gables. However, you can jazz it up to a high impact display. Proper planning will ensure that your lights and decorations are up and twinkling away without any damage to your roof.
Avoid going on the roof if possible
As much as possible, avoid going on the roof altogether. It is not ideal to add too much pressure to your roof. Every step you take will cause the loss of your shingles’ protective surface. The less time spent walking on the roof, the longer your roof will last.
Also, getting up on your roof can risk your safety. There is the chance that you could fall through if your roof is old or in bad shape. However, if you can’t resist placing decorations in areas that require going on the roof, make sure to take safety precautions. This includes wearing appropriate footwear and avoiding parts of the roof with a steep pitch.
You could also use a ladder to get your decorations in place instead of getting up on your roof. This will reduce the time you have to spend on the roof, lessening the risk for roof damage and injury. While it is less dangerous than venturing up to the rooftop, it would still be in your best interest to use safety measures when using a ladder.
A wobbly ladder is one of the common causes of an accident during the holidays. When installing any display on your roof, make sure to find a helper that will assist you from the ground. They can hold the ladder, hand over things, untangle lights or any task that can help reduce the manual labor and dangers of putting up those decorations.
Test Your Lights Before Hanging Them
Before climbing a roof, check all your holiday lights on the ground to see if they all work. Avoid making the mistake of hanging all your lights, only to find some of them don’t work. Watch out for burned out bulbs or frayed wires that can lead to a potential fire hazard.
Broken lights and bare wires can pose a danger than just keeping your lights from working. They can pose the risk of a fire starting when the electricity is turned on. If you find a strand that doesn’t work, the best option is to just throw it out and get a new strand. Don’t forget to check both the labels on the lights and the extension cords you’ll be using to make sure they are safe to use outdoors.
Don’t Use Staples or Nails.
Securing hanged rooftop decorations are essential to avoid having them carried away in high winds and leave unnecessary damage to your roof. However, securing your decorations can also cause damage if you’re using nails, screws, or staples. These will puncture your holiday lights’ wires, which can cause them to malfunction or shock the person who is installing them.
These fasteners can also leave holes in the roof or siding. Even the smallest holes can cause moisture problems that can allow moisture to seep in and damage your roof, leading to an eventual roof or siding replacement. Additionally, using nails or staples can also wear down the roof’s insulating coating.
The best option for hanging your decorations without damaging your roof is stringing them through plastic clips attached to your shingles, gutters, and eaves. Plastic clips can help you secure your hanging decorations with ease. It’s easy to install and remove, affordable and can be found at any hardware store.
Just be mindful, especially when you’re taking down your decorations to prevent unnecessary stress on your roof.
As long as you follow these guidelines and don’t go overboard, you can keep your roof safe and sound while still make decorating more enjoyable during the holidays. However, on the off chance that you did make a mistake that endangered your roof, don’t panic. Roofing professionals like the ones from Fahey Roofing Contractors are available to help.
Fahey Roofing Contractors has the experienced and skilled contractors you need to help you with any necessary roof repairs and roof replacement. We serve various areas in West Virginia and Ohio. If you have more questions, visit our website today or contact us at (304) 826-1323 for West Virginia and (740) 523-0380 for Ohio to learn more.