Holiday Decorating Tips to Avoid Roof Damage

November 15, 2021 by GLSA Mobley

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In about two months we’re going to begin getting calls from homeowners asking for roof repair estimates. Without fail the vast majority of those calls will be due to damage from holiday decorations. However, there are ways to be festive without harming your metal or asphalt roofing. Here is some advice from the experts.

Never Nail or Screw into Your Roof

No matter what roofing material you have, don’t screw or nail any decorations into the shingles. When you take the decorations down you’ve left a hole in your metal or asphalt roofing. Too many homeowners mistakenly think that the heat of the sun will somehow seal the hole. It doesn’t. Once there is a hole in your asphalt roofing, it’s damaged and needs to be replaced and the damage to the decking may require roof repair as well.

Use Light Clips ONLY on the Gutters

Although many of the light clips say they are safe to attach to your shingles, they’re not. When you slide them onto the shingles you displace the granules. You may even bend or crack the shingles. If you remove them in extreme cold, which we do get in January, you may crack or break the shingles as they become more brittle the colder it gets. Using them on the gutters prevents shingle damage.

Don’t Put Too Much Weight on Your Shingles or Gutters

Your roof is only meant to hold about 15 pounds per square foot. That includes the roof deck, underlayment and shingles. Walking on the roof and installing heavy decorations can lead to significant roof damage. If you have metal roofing, you may dent the roof. Your gutters should never be used to hang anything more than lights.

Do You Need Post-Holiday Roof Repair? We Can Help

If you’re seeing this and it’s too late because you realize you have asphalt roofing damage from one of the common mistakes above, call Mobley Brothers Roofing & Restoration. We’ll get your roof back to protecting your and your family quickly and correctly. We have Better Business Bureau A+ rated offices in both middle and east Tennessee. Call either of our teams at (865) 248-2772 or (615) 645-4500.

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