How to Hang Christmas Lights on Your Roof

Each year when Christmas time arrives and people begin decorating their homes, inside and outside, many homeowners see the colorful lights on other homes and wish they could hang Christmas lights on the roof of their home. The problem is, they often don't know how to do it. If you'd like to hang lights on your roof at Christmas time, here are 6 steps that will get you through a Christmas light installation project.

Step 1 –  Match Lights with Home Style

The more thought you give to choosing your lighting style, the more satisfied you'll be when you've finished installing them. You'll want to match your home style and size with the color and size of your Christmas lights. You may, for example, want your lights to have a more elegant look if you home is a Victorian style. You may want to hang lights along your roof edge if your home is ranch style, or wind them around columns and porch railing if you have a two-story home.

Step 2 – Look for New Ideas

You will find interesting and colorful ideas for lighting in home magazines, in local neighborhoods, or home furnishing stores. Try to put your own "spin" on decorating schemes you have seen in these other places.

Step 3 – Choose the Right Fasteners

Keep in mind that any fasteners you will use will be exposed to moisture from weather, and that they will support power cords. If your fasteners are made of metal and will conduct electricity, especially if your roof is wet from rain or snow, you will be wise to replace them with those made of plastic, rubber, or other non-metallic materials. Typically, you should be able to find self-sticking fasteners that don't require you to make holes in your roof or house trim.

Step 4 – Install Fasteners and Light String

• Before stringing your lights, install your hangers or fasteners.
• Begin fastening your light strings.
• Where necessary, use plastic tie wraps to hold the light strings to the fasteners.
• Begin at your electric power source and secure the light string at each fastener.
• Install 1 string at a time. This will keep the strings from tangling with each other. 

Step 5 – Check your Finished Work

Once complete, turn the lights on and check to be sure you like the light pattern you've created and all of the lights are working properly.