Holiday Roof Decorating Guide
If you plan on decorating your home this holiday season, make sure to do so safely! Keeping your family and your roof safe is more important than winning the neighborhood decorating contest. Especially since some decorations can cause irreparable damage to your roof, and the cost to replace a roof in Georgia averages between $8,000 - $20,000. Avoid ending up on the naughty list by causing roof damage when decorating this winter by making sure to avoid these decoration disasters.
Follow our list (yes, we checked it twice) to make sure your home decorations are festive and safe:
Lights
Christmas lights are a staple decoration for the holiday season. However, you do NOT want to use staples on your roof for any reason. They may seem like a quick, efficient way to secure lights to your roof, but the tiny holes they create in your shingles can lead to big problems. The same goes for nails, avoid using any material that punctures your roof.
Chances are when you use staples to decorate, you aren't just using one or two. You’re using hundreds each year. Even the smallest punctures can allow water to penetrate your roof and significantly reduce your roof’s lifespan. Instead of using staples and nails, try using plastic clips to secure decorations! Clips are also a great option for those with stucco or metal roofs.
Inflatables
Inflatables are classic decorations for any holiday, but Christmas calls for Santa and his reindeer. Even though all the stories tell you that Santa slides down the chimney, you’re inflatables should never cover or enter your chimney. Not only does this put your chimney out of commission, if you forget “Santa” is up there and light your fireplace, even the smallest ember can set Santa aflame. If you must have Saint Nick on your roof, opt for a fake chimney for Santa to hang out of!
Some people recommend using heavy items to anchor inflatables and prevent them from flying away, but these can be cumbersome and dangerous to haul up a ladder. These heavy items can damage shingles and add unnecessary weight to your roof. Tying your inflatables down is a safer alternative, but homeowners should never tie them to vents, gutters, or other roof protrusions. Inflatables may be tempting to display on your roof, but your lawn is a much safer place to anchor your decorations and show your holiday spirit.
Light & Heavy Decorations
There is a wide variety of decorations to arrange atop your home, but putting too much weight on your roof, especially the center, can cause sagging. In order to secure decorations, some people use sandbags which can add too much weight to your roof. On the other hand, lightweight decorations can easily be blown off your roof and take parts of your roof with it as it disappears into the night. When in doubt, keep the decorations on the ground.
Worried the damage is already done?
If you got an early start on decorating for the holidays and didn’t see these tips in order to minimize damage, or suspect you may have damaged your roof in years past, our team at Elite Roofing and Restoration can help with that! Give us a call to get started with a complimentary roof inspection to assess the condition of your roof and schedule any repairs before the cold temperatures set in.
Elite Roofing and Restoration is your source for quality roof repair and replacement.
In addition to roof replacements and repairs, both commercial and residential, we offer a considerable list of additional home repair services to assist you with any general construction needs you may have.
Contact us today to schedule your no-hassle, complimentary roof inspection today.
