It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and that means it’s time to start decorating! If you want your home to look festive, but you don’t know where to start, here are three tips for hanging Christmas lights that will make the process a little bit easier.
Plan ahead
Time is at a premium during the holidays. To make sure you don’t waste it with several trips to the hardware store, make a plan for your outdoor Christmas decorations first. Begin by taking a look at your home from the sidewalk or street and figuring out where you want to position your lights. Do you want to highlight architectural features like eaves, windows, and doors? Are you going to wind lights through trees and bushes, or around objects such as fences, mailbox posts, and railings? Keep in mind that you can always cut yourself a break and buy net lights, which form a mesh-like blanket that’s easy to drape over your shrubs, or icicle lights that are pre-strung like a curtain.
You’re also going to need to measure the distances along the spots where you’re planning to string your lights, so you can get a sense of how many strands you’ll need. Source: ThePioneerWoman
Ensure proper installation
Without the right tools, hanging Christmas lights can cause minor damage that leads to leaks and extensive damage over time. If you hang Christmas lights on your roof, it’s essential to avoid puncturing your asphalt shingles, tin surfaces, or other protective roof coverings.
While it seems harmless, even small holes from nails or staples can cause damage to your roof. These holes allow water to seep beneath your roof’s protective surface. When temperatures drop and the water freezes, the ice expands and creates more damage to your shingles and the roofing materials beneath. Holes in your gutters will cause water to leak where it shouldn’t, and holes in your fascia boards can cause them to rot. Always use plastic clips designed to hang Christmas lights so you can avoid damage. They come in a variety of styles to give you the ability to attach lights in several ways. Source: Neighbor
Take safety precautions
Now let’s talk about safety. If you don’t have a ladder, but you want to put lights on your roof, it’s crucial that you don’t try to pull a Spider-Man and climb a trellis or tree to access your roof. We can’t emphasize this enough: safety first. Never attempt to string lights outside your home via an open window or standing on a balcony. Don’t try to build makeshift ladders. The truth is, the only safe way to access a roof is by using a ladder—and practicing ladder safety—or using a lift. So if you don’t have either of those things, and you can’t reach areas of your roof with the aforementioned light-hanging pole, it’s best to avoid roof lights altogether this holiday season. Source: Angi
Need professionals with the right tools to help you make the process faster and safer? Call us!
Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
168 W 71st Ave, Vancouver, BC V5X 4S7
(604) 360-2114
