Dads and Holiday Cheermeisters, rejoice! Your time has come!
The holidays are in full swing, and that means decorating the house from inside to out. From wreaths and garland to lights and inflatables, nothing says “Happy Holidays” like a house decorated and lit like Times Square a la Clark Griswold.
BUT — before you get on your roof to decorate, keep the following roof decorating tips in mind so you don’t turn what you hoped to be holiday cheers into holiday jeers.
Safety First, Always, Forever
As excited as you may be to get on your roof and give your house the yearly glow-up, remember that there are a lot of things that can go wrong. Even the simple mistakes can lead to you coming off the roof by the grace of gravity. Check things like:
- Electrical Connections: make sure all your connections are clean and dry.
- Extension Cords: use cords that are rated for outdoor use only. Don’t string extension cords together, and be sure to plug them into GFCI-rated outlets only.
- Ladder Safety: Take a peek at this from the National Safety Council, and:
- Make sure your ladder and working space are clear of any power lines.
- Maintain 3 points-of-contact on the ladder at all times
- Stay near the middle as much as possible
- Make sure the surface your ladder is set upon is level and stable
Pick A Nice, Clear Day
We shouldn’t have to say it, but we are. Don’t plan on decorating the roof and exterior of your home when bad weather is rolling in – you know…the whole water and electricity thing from 4th grade science class?
The same goes for nighttime. Don’t risk your roof or your life by thinking you can knock all your decorating out before it gets dark. Better visibility during the daylight hours will lower your chance of accidents.
Decoration Preparation
After you’ve picked a great day to decorate, before you even think about climbing a ladder onto your roof, do yourself a favor and get all your decorations out and open. Untangle your strings of lights and plug them in to check for faulty bulbs. (If any aren’t working, now might be a good time to upgrade that string of lights with energy-efficient, longer-lasting LED Christmas lights!)
Oh, and before you spend the time setting them up, make sure your inflatables actually, you know, inflate.
If you’ve got some wreaths to hang on the upstairs windows, make sure you have more than enough suction cups and hooks, in case you pull a few wonky ones while on the roof. Nobody wants to come off the roof before the decorating is done. Nobody!
Check the Roof Before Decorating
If you can see the majority of your roof from the ground, then this will be super easy for you. Look for anything that may be on your roof that will cause you to slip, including: moss or lichen, branches, leaves, pine needles, or other debris.
For those of you in colder climates, you’re going to want to take an additional step once on your roof — carefully check for ice!
Use the Right Tools
We cringe every time we see Clark Griswold break out the staple gun to drive seemingly hundreds of nails into his shingles to secure his strings of Christmas lights. Staples, nails, even and whatever kinds of glue are NOT your friend for these types of situations!
Instead, consider plastic clips, like these. They’ll perfectly clip onto your soffit, gutters, or facia board and give you more control over where and how you display your lights. They’re also easy to remove when the time comes, so do yourself a favor and get some before you can’t!
Speaking of Tools…
As we’ve hinted at previously, you’re going to want to use the right tools at the right time, so you may want to consider wearing a toolbelt that can hold all the things you may need to affix your decorations to the roof. It’ll save you from making unnecessary trips up and down the ladder, thus limiting your chances of getting hurt.
Dress For Success
Whatever the climate is where you live, there is some garb that is universally “required” when getting on your roof. You’re going to want to make sure you’re equipped things like work gloves, non-slip shoes, or shoes with a good, rubber sole with plenty of tread.
Oh, and the toolbelt thing from before!
Is Your Roof Ready For Holiday Decorations?
However dedicated you are to having the best decorations on the block, one thing’s for certain: if you find signs of degradation or damage on your roof, you’re going to want to get it inspected and repaired or replaced before the next winter storm comes through.
Luckily, the experts at Buildpro have you covered this holiday season. We’re partnered with some of the best manufactures in the industry, and have the warranties to protect your investment for holiday seasons to come.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation inspection and estimate. We hope you and yours have a safe and healthy holiday season!