7 Tips for Roof-Friendly Holiday Decorating
Although your roof can indeed be damaged by holiday décor, there are plenty of ways you can transform your home while keeping your home in great shape.
Don’t overlook these safety tips so you can enjoy a hassle-free decorating experience.
1. Use Roof Clips
Instead of using damaging nails or staples to secure your holiday lights, use light clips instead.
These lightweight plastic fasteners can be attached to your gutters, siding, and roof edges safely. You can usually find all-in-one light clips that hold every size of lights, and they make variations for all types of materials, including shingle, metal, tile, and flat roofing.
If you can’t find outdoor lights with roof clips already attached, fasten the hooks to your light strands while on the ground (not on the ladder) to ensure your safety.
2. Find Secure Fastening Points
Rather than attaching your holiday lights to your shingles or tiles, it’s crucial to find weight-bearing locations to secure your décor.
Ideally, if your roof has an overhang with soffits, fascia, and trim, this is the best place to hang lights without touching your roof at all. As a second option, you can fasten the lights on your gutters. This way, you’ll be able to enjoy an attractive look for the holidays—all while protecting your roof from damage.
3. Install Short Strands
Long strands of lights may be easier to decorate with—however, they can be difficult to install while standing on a ladder, and they are always frustrating to replace if they burn out during the holiday season.
Consider purchasing shorter strands of lights so you can install them in manageable sections at a time. Before you climb up the ladder, make sure your lights are appropriate for outdoor application, and of course, check that each strand works correctly.
4. Stay Off the Roof
Even though it may be tempting to cover every inch of your home with holiday lights and festive décor—resist the urge to climb on your roof.
As we mentioned earlier, stepping on your roof can be extremely dangerous for your safety and your roof’s well-being. You may damage shingles or break tiles that will require repair or replacement.
Instead, focus on decorating areas of your home you can reach easily with a ladder or decorate other areas around your yard, like shrubs, trees, and your front porch.
5. Find a Decorating Partner
One of the best ways to ensure your safety and the security of your roof is to find a trusted adult, like a spouse or neighbor, to decorate your home with you.
Your helper can hold the ladder securely for you while you fasten decorations, and they can also hand light stands to you while you stand on the ladder.
This extra person will prevent you from climbing up and down the ladder and minimize your likelihood of needing to grab onto your roof for support.
6. Use Ladder Safety
Choosing a partner to help you decorate your home is crucial for staying safe while using a ladder.
However, it’s also essential to choose a secure ladder that’s tall enough to get to the hard-to-reach places of your home. Plus, never lean your ladder against your gutters—it can cause them to break off, bringing you and the ladder down, too.
7. Keep Decorations on the Ground
As we mentioned earlier, heavy decorations and inflatables shouldn’t be placed on your roof since they can crack, break, or damage your roofing materials.
Instead, find other creative places that allow you to set up these decorations safely to add holiday cheer to the neighborhood. For example, you can fasten festive inflatables on your front porch, in your yard, or around your driveway.
Roofing Questions? Let Us Help.
While you’re decorating your roof, you may notice some missing shingles, cracked tiles, or general roof maintenance needs.
It’s important to take care of these concerns immediately to avoid long-term deterioration and moisture damage to your roofing system.
Learn more about residential roofing services with RENCO Roofing, and give yourself the gift of a safe, secure roof this holiday season!
