‘Tis the Season- Protect Your Roof When Decorating This Christmas

For every homeowner, Christmas is a season to enjoy meals and create memories with loved ones. It is also a time to participate in competitive and enjoyable house decoration activities. When the Christmas spirit consumes you, the safety of your roof is perhaps the last thing you want to consider. However, your jolly season can turn into a disaster with a damaged roof or an unfortunate accident. While your decorations are essential to light up your house during Christmas, they are not worth the cost of fixing a broken roof or an unwarranted medical emergency. Here are a few precautions you should keep in mind before decorating this Christmas.

Safety Precautions to Protect Your Roof During Christmas

·         Suspend decorative Christmas lights using plastic clips attached to the gutters and shingles instead of using nails. Making holes in your shingles will allow moisture to penetrate your roof system, leading to rot.

·         Use lightweight decorations to avoid overloading your roof. Go for roof-friendly inflatable decorations and tie them down to plastic clips. Some inflatable decorations come with weights that you can place on your roof to keep them in place. However, if you cannot secure inflatable decorations, especially during a storm, do not attach them.

·         Have a plan and test your Christmas lights before hanging them up. After all, it would be quite unfortunate for you to spend hours on decorations that do not work. Checking your decorations will also ensure that you remove those that are potential fire hazards.

Safety Precautions for Every Homeowner During Christmas

·         Hang Christmas decorations using a steady ladder to avoid sliding from your roof in case it is wet, snowy or windy. Before going up the ladder, ensure that all legs are stable on the ground level. You should also secure your ladder with a rope for added safety.

·         Have someone to assist you instead of attempting to decorate by yourself.

Christmas Decoration Don’ts

·         Avoid walking on your roof this festive season. Do not step on any shingles that look damaged. A broken roof tile could send you tumbling to the ground and cause damage to your roof.

·         Do not use your nails and hammer. Go for reusable plastic clips that work well on all surfaces. You can attach them to your roof, gutters and on the sides of your house. Make sure that your plastic clips are expert-recommended to avoid damaging your roof.

·         Do not place plastic decorations or lights near your chimney, especially if it is functional. The last thing you need is melted plastic or exploding bulbs on your rooftop.

·         Do not hang large objects from your gutters because they cannot withstand the weight. An ordinary strand of lights is enough for your gutter system to prevent damage.

·         Avoid using staples because they will damage your shingles and siding. Staples have to be redone every year, unlike reusable plastic clips.

·         Do not place heavy items on the rooftop because they might damage your shingles. Save your statues and figurines for the lawn.

·         Do not place objects on steep slopes to prevent them from falling off. You want a roof sloping at less than 45 degrees to protect the Christmas decorations.

·         Do not place inflatable decorations near chimneys, electrical lines, trees, and vents. Chimney and electrical wires may lead to burning; tree branches may puncture the decorations and your decorations may block your vents.

·         Do not secure your inflatable decorations to shingles, especially if they penetrate your roof. If you cannot attach your embellishments to clips or wind them around your gutters, avoid them altogether.

·         Do not hastily rip down your decorations because it might damage your shingles and gutters. Instead of pulling, remove them one by one and ask for assistance to avoid working hastily.

·         Do not burden your electrical circuits with Christmas decorations to avoid power outage or a fire.

Christmas Decoration Do’s

·         Use a ladder to access your roof instead of on climbing up.

·         Hoist the decorations up with a rope instead of attempting to carry them along as you climb the ladder.

·         Dress appropriately and wear slip-resistant shoes when climbing the ladder to prevent accidents.

·         Inspect your roof before attaching decorations. Look for broken tiles and shingles, loose gutters and debris that may cause further roof damage.

·         Have an appropriate helper to help you hoist the decorations and watch over you.

·         Check if all light decorations are functioning correctly and putting up fire hazards.

·         Ask for professional help with your Christmas decorations if you are unsure of the procedures. A professional will also protect your roof.

Christmas is a time to be jolly and have fun with your decorations. However, it should not be at the expense of your roof or you. By exercising the precautions above, you will protect yourself and your roof from damage this festive season.