The holiday season is in full swing for many! Families are putting up and decorating their trees and holiday lights are being strung along the outside of houses. As you watch your neighbors’ lights and wish to make your house festive as well, keep these tips in mind to make sure that the process is smooth! As a local roofing company in Maplewood, JTR Roofing has some advice for homeowners looking to install holiday lights on their roof!
1. Test your lights
Before you get up on your roof, untangle and test out the lights you plan on installing. Struggling with untangling lights or troubleshooting why the strands that worked last year suddenly won’t turn on becomes more of a hazard when up on the roof. By testing them, you can remain safely on the ground until you are sure the lights work – plus you can limit trips up and down from the roof!
2. Use the buddy system
Never work on your roof alone. Make sure that you have someone else with you to hold the ladder and feed you lights that you intend to string up along your roof. Working alone can be dangerous – your ladder could fall or worse, leaving you stranded with no one to help. Planning ahead and having a helper makes the process much easier and safer.
3. Don’t damage your roof
While trying to determine how to attach your lights, you may be tempted to put tiny holes in your roof. Avoid this at all costs. Intentionally causing damage to your roof can void any warranties you may have and can also lead to further damage throughout the harsh Minnesotan winter.
Instead, be sure to have clips or hooks that will allow you to hang your lights from your gutters without damaging the exterior of your home!
4. Have the right tools available
Stringing up lights may sound like a great spur of the moment activity to some, but if you don’t have the right tools available it is best to wait until you are sure you are fully prepared. At minimum, you will need a ladder tall enough to easily reach your roof, an extension cord rated for outside use, untangled lights, good shoes with plenty of traction and clips or hooks to attach the lights. Depending on the weather you may also need warm outerwear and gloves to make sure you are safe and comfortable on your roof.
5. Plan ahead for removal
When installing lights, remember that taking them down is just as much of a commitment. Tearing them down quickly can cause damage to your roof, lights and gutter. Instead, when taking lights down after the holidays, it is best to get back up on your ladder and carefully remove them – while keeping all the same tips from installing them initially in mind.
While you are installing your holiday lights, keep an eye out for any damage to your roof. If you notice anything that seems off or accidentally cause damage while installing your lights – call the trusted roofing company serving Maplewood and the surrounding Twin Cities area. Call JTR Roofing today at 651-777-7394 or contact us!
