With Christmas less then a month away and guests making their way from out of town, you might be on of the many folks who are hanging last minute Christmas lights this year. Hanging outdoor lights can feel like such a chore but you want to make sure you do so safely without injuring yourself or damaging your roof. As a professional Calgary roofing company, safety is our top priority. Here are a few tips to help you get those lovely lights up and on your roof as quickly and as easily as possible.
Check the Bulbs
Before you get up on a ladder or up on your roof, do yourself a favour and do a little grunt work from the safety of the ground. For one, you want to make sure your lights are actually working. We all know the frustration of one dull bulb ruining it for the rest of the strand. Thankfully, holiday light technology has been evolving over the years and many brands will remain lit even as a bulb burns out. Nevertheless, take an extra minute or two to plug in your lights before you head up on your roof and as always, make sure your twinkling strands are untangled before you start hanging them. While these tips may go without saying, it’s still vital to remember the importance of safety when you’re trying to hang last minute Christmas lights!
An Aerial View
Here are some essential tips you need to know when you are hanging up and last minute Christmas lights:
- Never hang up lights alone. Make sure there is someone else around to hold the ladder and help in case of an emergency. If your ladder isn’t as sturdy as it used to be, ask a neighbour to borrow theirs. Make sure you set your ladder somewhere firm that’s free of debris like rocks, which can make your climb unbalanced. Plus, never try and move your ladder while you are still on it. This just isn’t a good idea anywhere, especially if you’re in a hurry to get those Christmas lights up at the last minute!
- Avoid securing your lights to your actual roof, gutters, or shingles. Unnecessarily putting nails or staples into your roof can cause excess damage over time and is not the recommended method for hanging Christmas lights. It’s safer to put nails or staples in the wooden eaves around your roof, but never the shingles or gutters.
- Invest in some plastic clips you can purchase at any hardware store for the purpose of hanging lights. There are many different types of clips including all-in-one clips, eave clips and even clips for hanging lights to the peak of your roof. A little research can go along way. Stop by your local hardware store and ask an associate what kinds of lighting clips they offer.
Un-Decking the Halls
Christmas can come and go like a flash and you’ll want to do what you can to avoid the post-holiday blues. After the celebrating and fun is over, it’s time to take the lights back down. Whether you leave your lights up til March or take them down January 2nd, it’s important to never pull the lights down with force. Pulling them down can damage both your lights and your roof and you definitely want to avoid the latter! To avoid unnecessary damage, grab your trusty ladder and once again secure it with firm-footing. Gently removing the lights and/or clips will help prevent damage to your roof. Make sure the lights are untangled and carefully wrap them up to be stored in an out of the way location where they won’t be damaged before next year’s festivities begin.
Have you already put up your lights this year? Don’t forget to follow safety guidelines and make sure your lights are appropriately secured to your home for maximum holiday enjoyment! For more updates be sure to follow us on 
Our experienced and professional roofing team is ready to help you with all your roofing needs! For the best Calgary roofing company, West Quality Roofing & Exteriors has you covered.
