Are you making a design plan for this year’s outdoor Christmas lights? The twinkle and glow, and the festive feel they provide adds to the spirit of the season. If you plan to hang Christmas lights from your gutters or secure decorations to your roof, there are a few things to know to do so in a way that doesn’t damage your roof. In this blog post, we’re discussing tips for hanging Christmas lights without damaging your roof.
Hanging Christmas Lights Without Damaging your Roof
Christmas Light Hanging Prep
Holiday lights can be so fun and festive hanging on the outside of your house! But, there are a few things to think about before throwing up the ladder and hanging them on the first spot you can reach.
- Length of Lights. Do you have a long enough light strand to span the distance you need? Will the Christmas lights be wrapped around your entire home or the front of your home only? Measure by walking or using a tape measure to get an estimate of how many light strands you will need in total.
- Working Lights. Test your lights, of course, to make sure you have enough working lights available to hang. If not, grab a few more boxes from the store before they run out and you can’t finish your beautiful display.
- Make Sure They’re Outdoor. Make sure the lights are appropriate for outdoor applications.
- Personal Safety. Make sure the location you place your ladder is safe to prop it on both the ground and up near the roofline. Also, only hang lights when the weather is dry to avoid slipping. Consider having an assistant help hold the ladder steady and hand you light strands or clips.
- Location. Decide where the best area is to attach hooks or clips around your roofline that is easy to reach but won’t damage the roof itself.
Hanging Christmas Lights on your House
If you have an eave area from your roof or an overhang with soffits, fascia, or trim, this can be the best option to hang the holiday lights from your roof without damaging it. The goal is to get a solid installation that won’t fall down halfway through the holiday season, that also looks nice. At the same time, avoiding damaging any portion of your house or roofing is very important.
Avoid walking on your roof during the holiday light installation as much as possible. Staying on the ladder when you are up near the roof and moving slowly from one side of your home to another, will make the job proceed safely and successfully without needing to climb on the roof itself. Attaching clips or hooks to your gutter, as we mentioned above, will provide an easy method of hanging. Consider hanging them from the back of the fascia if you have the ability to and if it will still allow the lights to be visible from the street.
Do not pound holes, nails, clips, or hooks above this trim or fascia location. Make sure to avoid putting holes or damaging the roofing shingles, flashing, or soffit areas, too. Carefully hanging the light clips properly should keep your roof in good shape and not cause a leak problem in the future.
Holiday Accessories on your Roof
We can’t say we recommend attaching, hanging, or installing holiday lights or decorations to anything above the fascia area of your roof. It can be very unsafe to climb up on your roof carrying large holiday ornaments, inflatables, or strings of lights. We also think it’s important to avoid adhering or attaching brackets anywhere on your roofing system other than the fascia areas. It will not be a fun holiday if the decorations cause a leak during your celebrations.
Holiday Roof Safety
If you’re feeling uneasy about hanging lights at that height or near your roof, you can always hire a professional holiday light installer. Just make sure you confirm their insurance and that they know about proper hanging procedures to keep your roof in good shape.
You can also skip holiday lights on your roofline and hang your holiday lights in the trees and shrubs around your house instead. Porches are a nice area to decorate and can be a safer option if you are concerned about being up on a ladder around your home. Whichever you decide, be safe, take good care of your roof, and have a wonderful holiday season.
Your Local Austin, TX Roofing Professionals
We strive to bring you the best in roofing for the Austin, Texas area. We deliver decades of roofing experience, training, and knowledge in this area’s needs. We are a prominent roofing company in residential roof repair and roof replacement. We will not ask for a deposit on labor or materials as a dependable way to stand out from the competition while bringing you the best product and service in Austin.
When we inspect, install, or repair your roof, we want to provide you with the best options for your roof design, components, and ventilation. We are Master Elite Contractors bringing you the latest in roofing technology, and a member of our local area Better Business Bureau, so you know we take pride in our work and our community.
Contact us by phone or email to schedule your FREE roofing inspection and quote today.
