There is so much to love about the holiday season – the music, the food, the family and traditions. But arguably one of the best parts? The decorations, of course!

Unfortunately, all good things can have a dark side, yes, even Rudolf, Santa, and his sleigh.

In this case, that dark side are some of the holiday hazards that come along with affixing anything to your roof in the dead of winter.

Now, we aren’t Grinches at SPC Construction and Roofing, and we fully encourage Christmas lights and holiday decorations, but we want to make sure you do it right, as to not damage yourself or your roof.

So, let’s have a bright, happy and safe holiday season brought to you by the SPC Holiday Roof Guide.

What are the Dos and Don’ts of Holiday Decorating?

Put the Stapler Down – Trust Us

Unsurprisingly, staples can damage your roof or siding, they also do not work well and are connected to a staggering number of accidents every year.

Nothing ruins the holiday season like a trip to the emergency room.

Stay safe and skip the stapler this year.

Instead, try Christmas light clips which do less damage and still can secure all your twinkling lights. Clips can be used again and again too, so you are saving money while saving your roof.

It’s a holiday miracle!

No Nails, Not Even Once

Nails create holes, holes create leaks, need we say more?

If Christmas light clips aren’t heavy duty enough, consider other options for securing your Santa.

Besides, Santa doesn’t need nail injuries either.

Leave it on the Lawn

This might be a hard one for some of us, but if your decorations are too heavy to stay on your roof without nails, then they’re too heavy for your roof in general.

We know that Santa isn’t famous for being light, but if your rendition of the jolly soul has been hitting the cookies a little too hard, then think of that weight, along with heavy snow (we can dream of a white Christmas, can’t we) and that weight might spell disaster for your holidays.

Think of this as a general rule of thumb - if your holiday statues, cutouts or full on sleighs truly require nails to stay put, then they are probably putting too much weight on your roof anyways.

Keep these items on the ground and save your roof from leaks, extra weight and yourself from hauling out the ladder too.

Stay Clear of Santa’s Deer

No, we don’t mean you can’t have Santa’s transportation as a part of your holiday décor, but we do mean that every decoration should have a wide berth around it to stop it from falling and doing damage, or from storms and winds affecting your house negatively.

Don’t have any of your inflatables or decorative objects too close to vents, chimneys, electrical lines, trees or even windows, as a small mishap can turn into a huge problem.

From fires to electrical problems, punctures to broken windows letting the winter chill in, it’s better to have a safe display than a cluttered one.

And remember, sometimes less is more.

Safety is Better Than a Sparkling Christmas

The best gift this holiday season is the time you get to spend with your family, so make sure you’re there for all of it, and not spending time in the ER because something went awry up on the rooftop.

Practice safe ladder usage, always have a spotter and beware of the weather.

Even if you don’t think the weather is that bad, consider how quickly your hands might get weak or slow because of the temperature drops. Many injuries could be avoided if hands were warm and reactions quicker.

To avoid any potential danger, be sure to take frequent breaks to go inside and warm up with a cup of hot chocolate and some Christmas songs.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your winter wonderland doesn’t have to be either.

Have a Happy and Safe Holiday Season from SPC Construction & Roofing

We wish you a happy and safe Christmas and a very happy New Year.

And if your new year brings roof trouble, we hope you’ll call your local experts at SPC Construction and Roofing to help you out with quality, service and care.

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