It’s Christmas season. What does this mean to you? To most of us, this is the season to celebrate and probably get a new Christmas tree as well as Christmas lights. The only issue associated with this period is that some of us damage our property which majorly results due to hanging Christmas lights on the roof using the wrong procedures. So, is there a specific procedure to hang the Christmas lights while protecting yourself from damaging the roof? We will find that out in a bit. Therefore, keep reading as you look forward to learning some tips for hanging Christmas lights without roof damage to avoid calling a maintenance specialist early in the New Year.
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Have you ever been caught up in a situation where you wanted to use the Christmas lights you used in the previous season only to find out that the part of the strand wasn’t working? You probably noted the defect when you were on the rooftop and decided to solve the issue on the top. However, what does this mean for you? It means that you played a role in damaging the roof as a result of exposing the roof to much stress by forcing it to hold your weight. To avoid causing damage to the roof, we recommend that you get the lights out while you are still in the house or workshop and inspect them before getting up the ladder so that you can install the lights fast to avoid spending much time on the rooftop. Some of the things you might want to do before getting to the roof include:
• Untangling the string lights.
• Confirming to ensure that the entire strand is working.
• Acquiring enough strands based on the area you want to fix the lights, and
• Ensuring that you are dealing with outdoor-rated strings.
Once you do that, you can be sure to have solved the defects before getting to the rooftop so that you can avoid putting too much pressure on the roof or roof support.
Use the proper attachments when fixing the lights to the shingles.
Did you know that the highest percentage of the people who damage their roofs while installing Christmas lights do so because of using the wrong clips when fixing the strings? Well, you should come to the terms that if you do not want to damage the roof, you must be ready to source for the proper attachments. In this case, avoid putting holes in the shingles. As a result, do away with nails, staples, or screws. The reason we recommend this is that such holes become water intrusion points which may result in rotting of the deck. Hence, make use of plastic clips which allow you to clip them on the shingles, gutters, or the eaves of your home. Besides protecting the roof from damage, these clips elevate the lights off the shingle which reduces chances of warping or causing damage to the shingle surface.
Walk carefully on the roof
Besides using the proper string lights’ attachments, you will want to walk on the roof carefully. In this case, minimize the number of times you step over the roof. I would recommend that you install the lights when standing on the ladder to avoid causing strain on the rooftop by forcing it to hold your weight. Aside from that, avoid sliding on the shingles or walking over tile roofs, and ensure that the ladder is standing in a safe place as you move around the house. Also, be sure to wear soft shoes and also put in place some pads on the sections of the roof you are walking on to avoid exerting much force on the roof.
Final Thoughts
Asides from keeping the roof safe as you install the Christmas lights, you will also want to ensure that you are safe during the installation. After all, do not forget that lots of accidents occur during roof repairs or installing lights on the roof. Therefore, if you plan to install your lights without professional help, ensure that you do that after notifying a family member. Also, avoid wearing loose clothes that could catch the clips causing you to fall. That way, you can be sure to hang the Christmas lights without damaging the roof or causing harm to yourself.