HOLIDAY DECORATING ROOF SAFETY TIPS

Christmas time is here, and in an effort to not leave you feeling like Clark Griswold, we’ve compiled a list of tips to keep you, your family, and those pesky neighbors safe this season. Oh, and your roof, too! As roofing experts, we’ve seen the damage improper decorating practices can leave. If you’re curious about how you can prevent damage, we’ve got the answers.

PREPARATION IS KEY

Preparation can save us from many sticky situations in life. For example, staying on top of annual roof inspections might minimize the damage from a severe summer storm. Similarly, planning your shopping list beforehand could ensure you don’t end up at Thanksgiving dinner without the cranberries. With a bit of preparation, we can kick some of life’s more avoidable challenges to the curb.

Before you begin hanging your Christmas lights, inspect your roof and make sure you have the right equipment to do the job safely.

• Inspect Your Roof First: Check for loose shingles, weak spots, or existing damage that could worsen underfoot. If you find a spot of concern, contact us before you begin.

• Choose the Right Day: Avoid decorating in wet, icy, or windy conditions that could make the roof slippery or dangerous. That should be easy to plan for in Minnesota, right? *Wink, Wink*

• Plan Your Layout: Decide where lights and decorations will go to minimize time spent on the roof. Take out a pen and paper and get to work. Make sure to include your wife in that conversation, or you might end up doing it all over again.

• Check and Untaggle Lights: This will save you time and effort; plus, untangling lights while on a ladder is not recommended. Remember our buddy Clark?

PROTECT YOURSELF

Before we discuss how you can protect your roof, let’s discuss how you can protect yourself. We want to make sure your family’s Christmas is magical, and you being there in one piece is a huge part of that! Follow these simple steps below, or perhaps watch Christmas Vacation to see what NOT to do.

• Wear Slip-Resistant Shoes: Proper footwear prevents slipping, especially on frosty or damp shingles. No, your Crocs with the adventure strap will not work.

• Use a Safety Harness: Secure yourself to a sturdy anchor point for extra safety while moving around. Bungee cords are not an option here.

• Work During Daylight: Better visibility reduces the risk of accidents. With an average of 9 hours and 3 minutes of daylight per day between now and the winter solstice, you better get to work.

• Don’t Overreach: Move the ladder or reposition yourself rather than stretching too far. See the 4-to-1 Rule below.

Speaking of ladders, knowing the basics of ladder safety is of the utmost importance when decorating for the holidays.

You should be using a ladder that is stable enough to withstand your weight and the ground it is on. We also recommend following the 4-to-1 Rule, which means you position the ladder so it extends one foot out for every four feet of height. If you don’t have a ladder that matches those requirements, it’s time to add one to your Christmas list. Hopefully, you’ve been nice this year!

PROTECT YOUR ROOF

Once you feel confident about your personal safety plan, you should consider your roof safety plan. As contractors, it’s our responsibility to tell you that walking on your roof is not recommended. That said, we know it is sometimes unavoidable. When possible, use your ladder for hard-to-reach areas or invest in a telescoping pole to hang lights.

• Mind Your Shingles: If you must walk on the roof, make sure you’re always stepping on two shingle peaks (the highest point of the shingle). Placing your weight on the middle or the edge will most likely break the shingle.

• Use Plastic Clips, Not Nails: Plastic light clips attach to gutters or shingles without causing damage. Put down the staple gun, Clark!

• Distribute Weight Evenly: Avoid placing all your weight in one spot to prevent shingle damage or roof sagging. And not just your weight, the weight of your decorations. If you’re trying to put Santa and all his reindeer on your roof, make sure they are spaced out.

If you’re looking for more roof protection tips, check them out here.

DECORATING ALTERNATIVES

Perhaps this is the year you finally convince your family that simple is better. No more climbing up the ladder and spending hours on a precious Saturday only to increase your electrical bill by hundreds of dollars for the next two months. And simple doesn’t always mean boring. You can really make an impression by only using your lower exterior and yard.

Decorate Lower Areas: Focus on fences, bushes, or lower rooflines to reduce the need for climbing.

Invest In Permanent Lights: Christmas lights have come a long way in recent years. Purchasing permanent lights could mean this is the last year you have to step up on that ladder!

Hire Out: Did you know that there are companies who will put up lights for you? It might be time to leave this to the experts, Russ.

Buy All The Inflatables: Decorate your yard with Frosty, Rudolph, and all of their friends. I mean, we think this giant Santa makes quite the impression. You just might be the talk of the town!

In today’s consumer world, the average cost families spend on Christmas decorations is $480. That’s enough for a 20-foot-tall inflatable Grinch, a 9-foot-tall Santa, and a 3.5-foot Minion from Home Depot.

Ultimately, no matter what you decide to do, our team at CoMitted 365 only wants you to do so safely. Take your time, plan ahead, and ask for help when needed. If you follow our tips, your home is sure to be a beaut.

If you notice damage to your roof or siding at any point in your decorating process, don’t delay getting them serviced by a team of professionals. Call us at CoMitted 365. We’d love to inspect and repair your roof, keeping everyone inside safe and cozy for the season and the New Year ahead!

With that, we’ll leave you to get to it. We hope your holiday season is filled with love, laughter, and no meowing boxes under the tree!

Happy holidays from all of us at CoMitted 365!