It’s officially time to decorate your home for the holidays! But before you start hanging up your lights and decorations, here are some safety tips to follow to protect yourself and your shingle roof!
#1: Have the right safety equipment and tools.
If you don’t have the right ladder, physical coordination, or know-how to correctly use the ladder or tools, then you’re better off hiring a professional to help you. Also, even if you have the right stuff, you should still work with someone else for safety reasons. This helper can hold the ladder to make sure that it stays balanced while you hang up your lights.
#2. Check your lights to see if they are safe.
Before you hang up any electrical lights, check their wiring for any frays. If anything is damaged, don’t try to repair it. Throw it away and buy new lights. By only using lights in good conditions, you can prevent any fire hazards. This is also a good time to replace missing bulbs to make your displays look their best.
#3. Don’t use staples or nails to attach lights.
Though this may seem like a convenient choice than buying shingle tabs or all-in one clips, it’s worth it to invest in the right equipment to mount your lights. (And here’s some great news… shingle tabs are extremely affordable: just $10 for a 100 count set!)
Even small holes from staples can cause damage to your shingles over time. Punctures from nails and staples can also lead to expensive leaks and shorten the life of your shingles, so it’s best to avoid this method altogether.
#4. Use plastic attachments instead.
Plastic is less likely to damage your roof than metal, so when choosing tabs or clips, use this material. Shingle tabs can be conveniently placed under your gutters and kept on all year long to make light installation easy next year. All in one clips have to be removed, but they don’t involve puncturing any holes in your roof and they are reusable as well.
#5. Try not to walk on your roof, if possible.
Though having Santa and his reindeer on your roof looks festive, walking on your shingle roof to get him there can cause problems over time. Shingles are sensitive to damage from any pressure from your weight. If you must walk on your roof, step in the center of the shingles and not where they are overlapping each other. Also, use shoes with good traction if you must go on your roof.
Roof Inspections and Repairs In Northern Virginia
Make sure that your home is properly protected from the damaging natural effects by maintaining your roof this fall.
Whether you’re looking for better form or function, or simply feel that a new roof is in order, trust Noble Roofing, the preferred choice for roof replacement in Centreville VA and surrounding cities. Give us call at (703) 404-0505 to speak with our roofing experts. You can also request a free estimate through our convenient online request form today.
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