Thanksgiving has come and gone, and now it’s time to get in the Christmas spirit. The first step for many Minnesota homeowners is to hang Christmas lights on their roofs. While these tiny lights help spread the joy of the Holiday season, many homeowners don’t take into account the health of themselves or their roof when putting up their lights every year.
Can Christmas Lights Damage My Roof?
If done properly, hanging Christmas lights will cause no damage to your roof. However, many homeowners don’t actually hang their lights properly and inadvertently damage one of their biggest home investments. It has even been said that more people hang lights on their roof incorrectly than correctly.
The biggest mistake that people tend to make is choosing to nail, staple, or otherwise puncture your roof to hang lights. These types of puncture holes, no matter how small, create the opportunity for water leakage into the structure of your roof or even lead to leaking into the interior of your home. Another mistake some homeowners make is screwing hooks into their gutters. Doing so will cause the water drainage system of your home to work improperly and eventually will be in need of repair.
To prevent any damage to your roof, you first need to be aware of the type of roof you have, which will then determine the type of clips you can use to hang your Christmas lights. Whether it’s a shingle roof, tile roof, metal roof, or anything else, online stores that sell Christmas lights usually have the proper clips for your type of roof to prevent any damage from happening.
Always Be Safe When Hanging Christmas Lights
Hanging lights is great for spreading Holiday cheer, but when doing so, your first and foremost thoughts should be about your safety. Many homeowners don’t realize just how dangerous hanging lights can be, especially if they don’t regularly use a ladder. It’s important to remember that ladders require maintenance and repeated safety checks too. Pulling it out once a year to hang your lights with no inspection will inevitably lead to injury.
Depending on your type of roof and where you want to hang your lights, some homeowners insist on climbing and walking on their roof. If not done properly, this can damage your roof and increase your chances of falling. If you insist on getting onto your roof, remember to wear the correct type of footwear (non-slip shoes), especially if you have a metal or tile roof, as those are more prone to being wet and slippery during the winter. But the safest way to walk on your roof is with a harness. These harnesses are designed to keep you from falling off of your roof and help prevent countless injuries.
Whether it’s with a ladder or climbing onto your roof, it’s always important to have someone with you, watching or helping. Having someone hold the ladder to keep it stabilized is especially important in the winter when the ground is more slippery from ice and snow. When on your roof, having someone watching you at all times will ensure that if an accident does happen, someone will be there to help.
Don’t Hesitate to Contact a Specialist
Even though we can’t hang your lights for you, At All Craftsmen Exteriors, the last thing we want is for you to get hurt, and damaging your roof will only make things worse. Remember to always be cautious during the colder months and practice all safety measures. If you think your roof might be in need of repair, contact us today for a free estimate. Let’s enjoy the Holiday season by keeping you and your home safe!
