Are you determined to have the best Christmas lights on your block? If so, here are a few quick tips on how to hang up Christmas lights on your roof and gutters.
Take a good look at the house and determine where you want them to run. Then its time to measure. You want to measure to figure out how many strands you’ll need and how close you are to the power source. This is an important step, because you don’t want to get the lights hung up and then not have a way to plug them in.
Hanging Lights on the Roof and Gutters
You will need light clips to mount your lights. You can get these at any home improvement store like Lowe’s or Home Depot. The type of lights you have will determine how many you can string together. LEDs can connect up to 25 strands, whereas incandescent lights may only be able to connect 3 to 6. Believe it or not, white lights are not all the same color. LED lights typically have a blueish tint, whereas incandescent bulbs are slightly orange. Hang them side-by-side and they will look mismatched. There are tons of different light types and colors; just make sure to group the same light-type together.
Now that the prep is done, it’s time to test your lights. Do this on the ground, since the last place you want to find out your lights aren’t working is on top of a ladder in the cold.
Go ahead and attach the light clips at this point and make sure the lights are all running in the same direction. Now you need to work from the ground up:
Hanging Lights on Bushes , Trees and Windows
Bushes: Try using net lights. They are like a blanket of lights. Simply lay them on the bushes and you’re done.
Trees: When hanging lights in a tree, try using a hanging pole. They’re also great for hard to reach areas or if you just don’t want to climb a ladder.
Windows, Doors & Railings: Deck clips easily roll onto railings to hold lights securely without damage. Step back as you go and make sure everything is shaping up the way you want it. Attach lights to the gutter by using an all-purpose light clip. They can connect to the strand or directly to the bulb. This would be a perfect place for those icicle lights!
Now that the lights are up, plug them into an outdoor timer to save energy. Some even have light sensors that automatically turn on at dusk.
Done! Now it’s time to flip the switch and light up your neighborhood.