Light Up This Holiday Season
The holiday season brings wonderment and delights, such as neighborhoods full of bright lights and decorations. Before installing your seasonal “improvements” consider some of these precautions.
Limit holiday decorations to the roof’s perimeter, at the eaves and gable ends where the fascia is typically installed. Roofs are designed to repel water and the last thing it needs is to be poked full of nail holes. If you have gutters, purchase special plastic clips to hold holiday lighting in place.
Remember that large surface areas (like on reindeer, snowmen, plastic elves) will act like sails when the wind hits them. Check the included hardware for strong mounts designed for wind stability. Purchase extra hardware, like perforated metal strapping and tire wire, if additional mounting security is needed.
Walls are a better choice for decorating than roofs, since they’re easier to reach and less subject to weather. Choose locations carefully to keep water outside. Avoid placing screws or nails near joints, which could cause splitting and later lead to rotting. Wood siding should not be perforated when hanging lights. Use a staple or other fastener that won’t penetrate the boards. Vinyl siding shouldn’t be used for any attachments. For brick, use steel clips that just snap in place. For heavier ornaments, use plastic expansion fittings set in predrilled holes. Expansion fittings can also be used on stucco siding, but set them in silicone caulk.
Prior to installing any ornaments, group them on the ground, and work out the arrangements before climbing a ladder. Adapt decorating schemes to the house, using posts, window moldings or other trim as safe and accessible fastening points. Nylon cable ties and twist ties are handy for making temporary connections to fences, pipes, or other irregular objects.
Be creative, plan for flexibility and think about convenience. Consider permanently mounting hardware, such as plastic clips or stainless steel screw eyes, to leave in place year round, even after removing the ornaments. This way, fasteners only have to be installed once, instead of yearly.
Ensure your holiday season is full of cheer and wonderment and save yourself hours setting up your holiday lighting, by hiring a professional, such as The Grounds Guys®.
