As the festive season draws near, you may look forward to seeing your house all bedecked in Christmas lights. Just make sure you decorate safely to protect yourself and your property. The tips below explain how to hang Christmas lights on your roof safely and efficiently.
Keep an eye out for any roof issues you might spot while putting on your Christmas lights. Call us at Sundown Exteriors at (309) 275-6801 to get any roofing problems resolved before the holidays. We provide first-class roofing services in Bloomington, Normal, Lincoln, Pontiac, and nearby areas.
Supplies You’ll Need to Properly Hang Christmas Lights on Your Home
Before you start Christmas decorating, make sure you have all the necessary supplies. To put up Christmas lights around your home’s exterior, you’ll need:
- A sturdy ladder
- A hanging pole
- Christmas light clips (including gutter and shingle clips) and hooks
- A light tester
- A reliable outdoor extension cord
- Your favorite Christmas lights
Tips for How to Hang Christmas Lights on Your Roof
Follow these tips for safe, satisfying, and cost-effective seasonal decorating:
Test the lights. Inspect light strings for missing or broken bulbs and faulty wires. Discard any strings with hazardous exposed wires. Test your lights to make sure they’re working—you don’t want to discover problems after all the trouble of putting them up!
Position your lights. Make sure your extension cord reaches the point where you plan to hang your first string.
Steady your ladder. Extension ladders may be dangerous if you place them on an uneven surface. Position your ladder carefully and ask someone to hold it if necessary. Use a hanging pole for hard-to-reach corners.
Use plastic clips. Clips are the best and safest way to attach Christmas lights to your roof without using nails or a staple gun. Place your clips evenly and close enough to make sure the light strings hang in straight lines.
Set an outdoor timer to turn your Christmas lights on or off at your preferred times. This will help make sure you don’t forget to turn off the lights so you can save energy during the holiday season. It’s best to use energy-efficient LED lights for maximum savings.
Protect Your Roof While Decorating for Christmas
Few things are more aggravating than damaging your roof as you’re putting up your Christmas lights. To protect your roof, make sure to:
- Avoid stapling, nailing, screwing, or anything else that may damage your shingles as you attach lights. Even tiny holes can let moisture in and compromise your roof’s integrity.
- Try to stay off your roof. Every time you walk over your roof, you risk breaking or damaging shingles. It’s best if you can attach all your decorations while you stand on a ladder or use a hanging pole. If you must walk on your roof, do so carefully and wear non-abrasive shoes.
- Keep an eye out for roof issues. While you’re hanging lights, take the opportunity to notice and address hidden roof problems. Do you see damaged shingles, accumulated debris, or cracked flashing as you peek over the roof’s edge? Order a roof inspection and schedule repairs before winter starts.
Removing Christmas Lights
At some point, the holiday season will be over and you’ll need to remove your Christmas lights. Safe removal and efficient storage will keep your festive lights in excellent condition for the next year.
Remove Christmas lights the same way you hung them: cautiously and methodically. If you need to step onto a ladder, make sure it’s well-balanced. Have someone else steady it if necessary. Be careful as you detach lights from clips, one at a time, and avoid pulling on strings.
Roll up strings, pack up your lights in padded and marked boxes, and store them in a dry, safe place until the festive season rolls around again next year!
Outstanding Roofing Services in Central Illinois
It’s easy enough to learn how to hang Christmas lights on your roof. For all your other roofing needs in Central Illinois, contact our team at Sundown Exteriors. Our licensed and insured contractors can handle all types of roof installation, repair, and replacement projects in Bloomington, Lincoln, Pontiac, Normal, and the surrounding cities.
Call us at (309) 275-6801 or fill out our online form for a project estimate.