The Dos and Don'ts of Hanging Christmas Lights

By Dan Bergstein on November 23rd, 2018

It seems every year holiday light displays become more and more extreme. Clark Griswold’s light display in Christmas Vacation was once over-the-top funny, but now you’ve probably seen real homes in your neighborhood with even more lights and decorations. However, adding lights to your roof, siding and windows can damage your home, leaving behind nasty staple scars and holes. It’s time to decorate smart.

Safety First, Second, Third

The joy of holiday lights won’t mean much if you hurt yourself. Remember to read all included instructions for your decorations, make sure your electrical connections are clean and dry, and never overload an outlet. Don’t use indoor extension cords outside and don’t string multiple extension cords together, according to the Central Alabama Electric Cooperative. Ladder safety is also crucial so work with a partner and follow the National Safety Council’s advice, “No matter what kind of ladder you’re using, place the base on a firm, solid surface and avoid slippery, wet or soft surfaces. If you must put the ladder on a soft surface, place a board under the ladder’s feet.”

Staples are for Paper, Not Your Home

Using a staple gun to attach holiday lights is an action that will get you on the naughty list. “Using nails, screws, staples or other penetrating fasteners to secure decorations to your roof is definitely not a good idea,” said Alex Pecora, residential product manager for CertainTeed Roofing. “Any penetration through your roofing materials can lead to damaging leaks.”

Not only will staples damage your home, you could also damage the lights. One staple misfire can ruin an entire strand of lights. So, the first rule for safe decorating: Put down the staple gun.

There are a variety of plastic clips available that can safely hold your lights to any surface. These clips and hooks can be just as easy to install as staples and won’t leave your home in January looking like it was just attacked by a swarm of woodpeckers.

Roofs and Gutters

Outlining your home with holiday lights makes for a beautiful look, but it can be tricky to keep those lights on your gutters and roofs. Despite your frustration, you do NOT need staples, glue or nails. The All-In-One clip is a simple plastic clip perfect for lining your asphalt roof and gutters with lights. Not only will these clips save your roof, but they allow for more creative control over the display. Now you can place the lights exactly where you want them. The clips also work with the popular icicle lights. And in January, the clips can be easily removed without tugging on stapled wires that could potentially rip off your gutters or shingles. 
The All-In-One clip is a simple plastic clip perfect for lining your asphalt roof and gutters with lights.

Siding

No one wants to permanently puncture their siding. Vinyl siding clips can be used to help string up lights across the side of your house without nails or glue. The clips are simply installed under the siding — just slide them in and you’re ready to decorate. After the holidays, lift them right off and your siding will be damage-free.
Vinyl siding clips can be used to help string up lights across the side of your house.

Trees

While a few staples won’t kill a big, sturdy tree, removing them can be a hassle no one wants to deal with on a cold January weekend. And simply draping the lights over branches can leave your display looking messy. Tree clips make hanging lights on your trees and bushes easier. You’ll have more control over how the lights look and your trees will appreciate your kindness.
Tree clips make hanging lights on your trees and bushes easier.

High-Tech Holidays: New Ways to Decorate

One of the latest innovations in holiday lights is magnet lighting. They look like traditional holiday lights but the magnetic backing of each light can be stuck to metal. No nails, no clips, just the power of magnets. And to remove a strand of lights, simply pull. (But like all magnetics, they will only stick to iron and steel, and not aluminum.)

And the days of putting on your coat and boots and reaching under the bushes to unplug the lights every night and plug them back in again the next day are over thanks to your smartphone. Touch screen and smartphone light controls like the Vantage Equinox make controlling your electronics easy, and those who want more control over their holiday lights can use Lumenplay string lights which are programmable via your phone or tablet, making it fast and simple to create multi-colored light shows from just about anywhere!

There are more and more options for hanging holiday lights on your home that won’t ruin your roofing or siding. Remember to work safely, follow all instructions and never, ever use a nail gun.