6 Tips for Hanging Christmas Roof Decorations

Can festive lights damage your roof?

It’s that time of year when people decorate their homes for the festive season. So, we decided to share some tips for hanging Christmas roof decorations. It’s important to take care when you adorn your rooftop and roofline with lights and outdoor ornaments.

One of the most common problems we see is where roof decorations have caused roof tiles to break or crack. Ideally, you’ll want to get your roof checked after you take down any Christmas lights and items. Once the festivities have ended, this is also a good opportunity to get your roof cleaned. Never attempt to walk on your rooftop, always use a professional company experienced in roofing.

How to safely hang Christmas lights on your roof

Below are six tips to help you decorate your roof safely with festive lights and ornaments:

1. 1. What type of roof do you have?

      It’s important to know what material your roof is made from, so you know whether it will be strong enough for lighting. Roof tiles made from clay or slate are tough, but the latter is a heavier material which will add more weight to your roof. So, you will need to bear this in mind if you plan to place heavy structures on your rooftop.

   2. Check the weight of your decorations

      Standard outdoor lights come in a range of shapes and sizes and will usually be suitable for most rooftops. However, too many festive lights could cause stress to your roof. If you plan to add any festive Father Christmas, sleigh or reindeer sculptures, also check individual weights. Decorative structures made from willow are usually lighter than metal frames, depending on the size.

   3. Assess the roofline

      Before you hang up your lights or decorations, check the integrity of your roofline. If any areas are crumbling or corroded, affixing lighting or ornaments might further exacerbate this damage. Make sure your chosen area is strong enough to support your items, and that you can access safely without overstretching.

   4. Choose the right clips

      We always recommend using specially designed roof clips for affixing lighting and decorative items to a roofline. Usually, these are made from plastic, and are also windproof. There are different clips available, depending on the type of roof, and these can be purchased online or from a DIY store. Always find a safe, strong and secure area to clip on your Christmas roof lights.

   5. Never use staples or nails!

      A common mistake is when people affix their decorations to their roof or roofline using nails or staples. This could potentially lead to structural damage and leaks, resulting in problems both inside and outside your home. When small gaps in the roof are left unchecked, they can become major problems later down the line.

   6. Avoid decorating your gutters

      Gutters play a major role in diverting rainfall away from your roof. So, it’s important to avoid affixing anything that could block or damage your guttering. If water starts to pool on your roof, the wooden structure and roof joints can become saturated, leading to wood rot. Damaged gutters can overspill onto areas not designed to withstand pooling water, which could result in leaks within your home.

   Check your roof after Christmas

   Once the festivities are over, carefully remove any roof lighting and decorations, and get your roof checked. When we clean our clients’ roofs, we always check for damage. We also have expertise restoring clay roof ties, if you find some have cracked. As a professional roof cleaning company, we have a proven process that will protect your roof for years to come.

   First, we will move any garden furniture or plant pots safely out of the way. When we inspect your roof, we use specialist equipment, which means we will never walk on your roof tiles. We also do not use high pressure power jets. We will apply a fungicidal wash to your roof to kill any moss, lichen or algae.

   Our team will then gently clean your roof tiles, one area at a time. Afterwards, we will apply two coats of the highly protective RENOTEC® Roof Coat, which comes with a 10-year guarantee. If you would like your roof cleaned in the new year, speak to our team.

   We would like to wish all our customers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!