Are you planning to make your home the talk of the neighborhood this Halloween? Maybe you want to transform your family home into a graveyard or haunted mansion. Chances are you’ll want to include your roof in your decorating rather than just sticking to your lawn, porch, and driveway. In fact, using the roof can really take your project to the next level and make your home a hit with both adults and children.
However, you’ll need to approach the job carefully. It’s not uncommon for people to suffer injuries while decorating their roofs either for Halloween or Christmas. With the right precautions, you can add lights and props without damaging your roof or hurting yourself. Here’s what you need to do.
Make Sure the Roof Is Safe
Before you place anything on the roof, you need to make sure it is strong enough to support the decor. It is an excellent idea to have a roofer in Greenville, SC inspect the roof and confirm that it is in good shape. Areas with discolored shingles or missing shingles are likely to have a weak substructure and walking on them can be extremely dangerous. If you have loose shingles, missing shingles, or other damage, you’ll need to have it repaired before you can start your decorating. Otherwise, you’ll be risking an accident.
Work With At Least One Other Person
Never try to decorate your roof on your own. You should always have at least one other person who acts as a spotter. They can stand on the ground and hold the ladder, look out for dangers, and provide additional support. In the unfortunate event that something goes wrong, the individual will also be able to assist you or call for help.
Make Sure You Have the Appropriate Ladder
In your excitement to decorate your home, you may want to grab whatever ladder you have and get started. However, this isn’t a good idea. You need to make sure your ladder is sturdy and of the right height. It should extend at least three feet beyond the roofline. Also, be sure not to place the ladder at a part of your roof which is damaged since the roof may not hold your weight when you get to the top.
Inspect Lights and Cords
First, ensure your equipment is intended for outdoor use. Indoor decorations and lights may not be able to withstand the elements if you place them outside. Once you’ve confirmed that you have the right items. make sure your lights, electrical decorations, and electrical cords are working and in good condition. Frayed wires can catch fire and cause serious damage to your roof.
Protect the Plugs from Water Damage
The last thing you want is for your lights to stop working as soon as it rains. Avoid hanging lights along the edge of your gutters or in the valleys of your roof. These are areas which will be exposed to lots of water if it rains. If you have to plug one cord into another, wrap the area where they meet with electrical tape to prevent water from getting to either side.
Get Help If You Need It
You shouldn’t go on your roof to decorate for Halloween if you don’t think you can manage it yourself, especially if you have a two-story house. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t have a home that’s spooky and eye-catching. You can hire professional decorators to take care of your roof even if you handle the areas that are closer to the ground. You can be sure that the professionals will have the tools and equipment necessary to do the job safely. By outsourcing at least some of the work, you’ll keep yourself and your family safe.
Contact Greenville Roofing Today for An Inspection
If you really want to have some fun with your Halloween decorations this year, you may want to include your roof. However, you need to make sure your roof is safe for you to walk on and that it can withstand those witches, goblins, or ghouls you want to erect. If there’s visible damage to your roof or you’re hearing noises or feeling drafts, it’s likely that there’s damage that needs to be addressed. Noises suggest that there you may have pests in your attic and drafts indicate that air may be leaking through your roof. To be on the safe side, contact our Greenville roofing experts to schedule an inspection and make sure your roof is in excellent shape.