It’s that time of year again! Time to break out the eggnog, put up the tree, and get your list to Santa Clause, because Christmas is just around the corner. One essential part of the holiday season, of course, is decorating. However, when you start making your home look like a winter wonderland this year, it’s important to do it in a way that will not harm your property or yourself. That’s why Divine Roofing, Inc. is here with some holiday safety tips. In this blog, we’re going to be talking about hanging lights on your roof. Keep reading for what you need to know, courtesy of our experienced residential roofing team.
How to Safely Hang Holiday Lights on Your Roof
- Check the Weather: It should go without saying, but you should never hang Christmas lights on your roof when the weather conditions are poor. Excessive snow will obviously obstruct your vision, but even extreme cold can prevent you from doing the job safely. Try to find a time to hang your lights when the winter weather has not yet intensified, and if there’s any ice on your roof or your driveway that could make things slippery, wait until it has been salted or thawed.
- Be Careful With Your Ladder: As a general rule of thumb when hanging lights or anytime you are climbing on your roof, for that matter, you should always have a spotter holding the ladder down below. You should also avoid using ladders that are old and rickety. Try climbing a few steps first before you go all the way up, just to make sure the ladder can support your weight. And if your ladder is not tall enough to get the job done, just get a new one. The last thing you want to do is stand on your ladder in an unsafe way and end up ruining the start of the holiday season with a trip to the hospital.
- Select the Right Lights: Your Christmas lights should always be modern LED bulbs—not outdated incandescent ones. Not only do these use less energy, meaning lower utility bills for you, they also won’t overheat, posing a fire risk to your roof and larger property. The good news is that when hanging lights on the exterior of your home, it is easy to find ones that are properly marked for this specific use and that have an approved safety rating. You should also avoid using any bulbs that are cracked or damaged, and don’t hang decorations near lamps, plant life, or anything that seems remotely flammable. And remember, no matter how good you think your old holiday lights are, the nostalgia factor is not worth a house fire.
- Don’t Use Nails, Staples, Or Anything Else That is Sharp: Modern roof lights come with clips to protect your safety and ensure the structural integrity of your roof. The truth is that putting lights in with nails or staples is extremely bad for shingles(or any other roofing material for that matter,) and the longer you leave these sharp objects in, the likelier it is that parts of your roof will start to crack or even break off. Not to mention the fact that nailing in a wire wrong could cause an electrical fire. Bottom line: for the sake of your fingers, and your shingles, make sure to keep anything sharp away from your roof lights.
- Avoid Standing on Your Roof: We understand there may be times when it is necessary to stand on your roof, but these occasions are extremely rare, and are a particularly bad idea during the winter, when your structure may be extra slippery. If you absolutely have to get onto your roof to hang your lights, try to crawl rather than stand fully upright, and make sure to wear protective gloves, safety goggles, and long pants and sleeves to avoid scratching up your roof or your person. Our experienced roofers at Divine Roofing. Inc. have been trained to stand on a roof properly, and are familiar with all the many kinds of Colorado Springs weather. That’s why nine times out of ten, when you absolutely need someone to get on your roof, you should call a professional. After all, you might want Santa coming down the chimney, but you don’t want to accidentally end up caving in your roof!
For more holiday lighting tips and tricks, call Divine Roofing, Inc. now at (719) 497-1005. You can also schedule service by filling out our contact form online.