Decorating Disasters
The holiday season – and all the decorations and merriment that goes along with it – really is an amazing and beautiful time of the year. Homes all around the city are lit up with multitudes of twinkling lights that, for some homes, fill virtually every nook and cranny – all in the hopes of making the successful transformation to ‘winter wonderland’.
Now, with all of that said…there are some decorating ‘no no’s’ that we see pretty much year in and year out, many of which can cause damage (sometimes quite serious) to your roof. So, read on to find out what some of the most common ‘damage causing’ decorating mistakes that we see AND how to NOT continue (or start) making them!
Buddy Time
This may sound silly BUT…if you’re putting up decorations, have a buddy help you. That way you’ll always have someone there to steady and secure your ladder, help you carry things to and fro, and – on the off chance that something bad happens – be there to help in case of emergency. Also – if you’re hanging lights, make sure that you’ve completely untangled them prior to even thinking about stepping on a ladder.
Shock to the System
Make sure that all your decorations (inflatables, etc) are AWAY from power lines. Also, you’ll want to have them plugged in to a portable, outdoor circuit; however, you’ll need to ensure that you don’t over load the breaker because a fire could result.
Not the Shingles!
When you’re hanging Christmas lights, NEVER hang them from/off of your shingles – instead, use clips that are designed to hold lights and that hang from your gutters or eaves. By doing this, you’ll ensure that you’re not putting any unnecessary holes in any portion of your roof, which can allow moisture in and promote leaks and rot.
Take it Slow
Once the holidays have passed and you’re ready to take all the decorations down, make sure to do it gently. That means no hasty disassembling or ‘ripping’ lights from the roof by yanking on the cord, which can cause damage to your gutters (and shingles). Instead, take the time to remove each of the clips and put things away properly.
Go Pro
Have you ever thought, ‘gee, I really wish I could have someone else do this for me?’ Well, guess what – you can! Believe it or not, but there are actually professionals who specialize in hanging holiday lights and decor. Granted, this costs money and, therefore, may not be for everyone BUT…if you’re not comfortable up on a ladder and feel like splurging a bit, it’s well worth the cost.
Hopefully the above tips can help you navigate the sometimes murky waters of holiday decorating. However, if you’ve maybe made a few of them in the past and your roof has suffered some damage as a result, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. Golden Rule Contractors, located in Lincoln, Nebraska, is your local roofing experts and would be more than happy to help you with the repairs you need.
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