With Thanksgiving just behind us, it’s time to get into the spirit of the holidays with some fabulous lights and rooftop decorations. But before you climb up to decorate your home for the season, it’s important to take safety into consideration. Because we’re constantly working on one rooftop or another, we’ve got some great safety tips to make sure that your holidays are enjoyable for everyone.
Roof Safety Tips for Holiday Decorating
- Set your ladder firmly. If your ladder isn't stable, it's very easy for a simple shift of your weight to turn into a serious fall. Take the time to make sure that your ladder has a firm base, using boards or blocks to level it if needed.
- Don't decorate in bad weather. High winds, snow or ice can make working on your roof hazardous by causing you to slip or fall off of the roof. When old man winter is blowing a bit too hard, put off decorating for a better day.
- Avoid the power lines. Because it's easy for larger decorations, such as blow-up characters, to be blown into your power lines, make sure that all of your decorations have at least ten feet between the decoration and the power line, even when deflated.
- Watch your power consumption. Though LED holiday lights has made this much less hazardous than incandescent lights in the past, you don't want to risk a fire that will dampen your family's holiday season.
- Be careful that the decorations you're placing on your roof won't damage your shingles. Your shingles form a barrier between the elements and your home's interior, so it's vital that the decorations don't cut or abrade the surface of the shingles.
- Use a safety harness if needed. If you have issues with balance or have a higher pitch on your roof, a safety harness is a great investment and is often a much lower cost than a copay at the emergency room.
- Secure your decorations well to ensure that they won't slide off of the roof, causing potential damage to someone or something in your yard. This can be accomplished in a number of different ways, including tying it off using rope, which has the advantage of not damaging your roof.
- Use the buddy system. Someone should be aware that you're working on your roof and when you should be back down again. In a worst-case scenario, consider activating a man-down feature on your phone so that if you fall, someone is notified.
By taking a few minutes to consider these safety tips when decorating for the holidays, you’ll be able to avoid a potential accident that can dampen your holiday cheer. If you’ve discovered a few issues with your roof during your decorating process, we’re always ready to help you keep your home warm and dry with quality roofing repairs or total roof replacements. Call us today at 404-600-ROOF or fill out our form to schedule a free inspection or free consultation and estimate. We serve the Lawrenceville, GA and surrounding areas, including Cumming and Buford.
