It is almost time to get your holiday decorations ready for your home. Those lights and decorations can dazzle your neighborhood. However, if you want to have a shimmering home for the holidays, you need to get up on the roof. In some cases, decorating for the holidays is an accident waiting to happen. You need to ensure that your decorations are safely installed for the season. Take a few minutes to read these helpful holiday decorating tips for your roof.
Prepare Your Roof and Decor
You might want to dive in and start placing items on your home and roof. However, it is vital to take some time to make a few preparations. Make sure that there is no debris on the surface of the roof. All of the gutters must have leaves and other debris removed from them. If you allow the dry leaves to remain, it could become a fire hazard if the lights happen to malfunction. Along with that, the roof should be dry. A slippery roof can be a walking hazard for you.
Another item to check is your lights. It can be frustrating to find out that those lights don’t work after you have climbed the ladder. Take time to plug in the lights so that you can check for damage or burned bulbs. Before you climb the ladder, make any necessary repairs from the ground.
Find a Buddy
Unfortunately, accidents are always a risk when you need to install holiday decor on the roof. In some cases, that holiday cheer can lead to deadly results. You want to be smart and find a buddy to help install lights or wreaths. With that, you can minimize your risk of injury. Plus, it is just easier to place these decorations in the right spots on your home with some help. A buddy can help with handing you the lights while holding a ladder.
You also want to decorate on a nice day. If it is windy, freezing, or raining, that is not a good time to head up to the roof. You could slip and fall. Along with that, never install decorations in the dark. Wait until you can see clearly in the daytime.
Dress Appropriately
When walking on the roof, you want to have the right type of clothes and shoes to prevent an accident. Make sure you are not wearing anything that can catch on shingles or other parts of the roof. You always want to have gloves on your hands to prevent injuries. Remember, there could be sharp corners on your roof. Finally, non-slip shoes and work boots are essential so that you can maintain traction on the roof.
Practice Fire Safety
Since outdoor lights can heat up, you will want to protect your home from a fire. Make sure to use electrical cords that are designated for outdoor use. You also want to leave space around those big spotlights. With that, air can flow between the lights to prevent them from heating up and catching fire.
You never want to overload those electrical outlets by plugging too many items into them. Never nail or staple through the electrical cords. Check all of those cords before you use them for holiday decor.
In some communities, your local fire department can provide you with fire safety tips. Some even offer fire education courses so that you keep your home and roof safe from issues.
Don’t Damage the Roof
You might want to go all out for your holiday decorations. However, you don’t want to damage your roof in the process. You should never hang lights directly from eaves or gutters. Today, there are special clips made to hang your lights safely. You don’t want to staple or nail to the actual shingles. You might think that a small hole is no big deal, but even minor damage can allow water to seep into your home.
It is also essential to take care when hauling those decorations to the top of your roof. Any banging or scraping can create big problems. Lastly, you want to make sure that all of the decorations are tied down. Any loose items can slide down and cause more damage to your roof and home.
Utilize Electrical Safety
You might think that you know everything about electrical safety, but you cannot be too careful when it comes to your roof. When you are placing those holiday decorations on the roof, take a few minutes to stay safe. You never want to climb up to the roof with a metal ladder. Metal is a conductor for electrical currents. You should use a wooden or fiberglass ladder. In addition to that, make sure that your installation tools are rated to handle electrical work.
You also want to use decorations that are rated for the outdoors. All of the items should have a UL rating. Heavy-duty outdoor extension cords are the perfect way to connect all of the decor. In addition to that, plug your lights and other decorations into GFCI outlets.
Hire Expert Help
If you want to have a beautifully decorated home but don’t want to deal with the hassles, you should consider hiring a company that handles these services. These professionals can help make your home look cheery and bright. You want to find someone who is licensed and insured. With some help, you can make your home look festive, and you don’t have to worry about damage to your roof.
Get Holiday Help from Us!
Holiday decorating can be dangerous to you and damaging to your roof. Before you decorate, you want to make sure your roof can handle all of those decorations.
At RGB Construction, we can provide an inspection for your home. Our team can make suggestions so you can keep the holiday spirit without causing damage to your roof. We offer a variety of residential roofing services. If you want to schedule a consultation, take a few minutes to contact us. For all of your roofing projects, make sure to give us a call at 856-264-9093.
