hanging christmas lights on roof

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Hang Christmas Lights on Roof

Autumn is when homeowners begin thinking about how they’ll be decorating this Christmas. And winter lights adds so much to the excitement we all feel around the biggest holiday of the year. Here’s a tip: If you want to up your holiday lighting game this year, read this super-easy, step-by-step guide on how to hang Christmas lights on roof.

rnative Text outdoor lighting service - christmas lights cincinnati
Many of our Cincinnati clients have high rooflines that are tough (and dangerous) to work with. They also tend to prefer lighting that’s more elegant. We design the lighting, put up the lighting, maintain and fix any issues, then remove and store them.

Table of Contents

Choosing the Right Lights

Christmas lights for the roof come in a wide array of sizes, colors, designs, and energy usage. The look that you want for your home will guide your light choice. Here are 7 different types of Christmas lights you should consider.

Christmas lights on roof and exterior
Christmas lights on roof and exterior of home, including property elements like bushes and light posts, are all possible with the right choices and safety measures.

Incandescent vs. LEDs

The standard for decades was, of course, incandescent lights, simply because LED lights (also called LED lamps) did not exist for the majority of the electric light era. Incandescent lights give off a desirable, soft glow, and are generally brighter than LEDs. However, Incandescent lights heat up and use more energy.

Because of the higher energy usage, these types of lights should be limited to six or so strands per outlet. Having a whole house display, including Christmas lights on the roof, plugged into a single outlet will certainly heat up the plug and the wiring feeding it. It’s a dangerous situation that could possibly lead to a fire.

LED lights, on the other hand, require less energy and do not heat up as incandescent lights do. Therefore, you can have as many as 25 strands plugged into one outlet! If you want an impressive display with a lot of lights, LED is the way to go.

The downside to LEDs is that the specific hue that the light gives off can differ from one manufacturer to another. Some appear more blue, for example. For that reason, it’s a good idea to buy your lights from the same company and at the same time.

Mini Lights

Mini lights are the most popular style of Christmas lights. While they are primarily used on Christmas trees, these lights are very versatile and can be used in several ways. But if you want Christmas lights on your roof, they may not be the best choice. Minis tend to give off a subtle light and, from a distance, they may not shine as brightly as you want.

Large Bulbs

While mini lights might appear subtle, large bulbs do not. They harken back to an earlier era, adding a feeling of nostalgia to your lighting. Large bulbs for Christmas come in a variety of shapes and colors, and you can count on each and every bulb being seen clearly from the street. Just keep in mind that because of their larger size, these bulbs will use more energy.

Icicle Lights

While icicle lights won’t work on top of the roof, this style of lighting is extremely attractive for rooflines or along the gutter. The descending, twisted lines of lights mimic the look of icicles and snow hanging off a roof. They’re a great choice for the edge of a roof or a gutter. They’re also a great choice for people living in warmer winter climates who long for a Cincinnati-like winter.

Rope Lights

These lights are highly versatile. They’re perfect for identifying a straight line, such as the edges of a roof or gutter system. You can also wind them around accessory items around your property…such as porch columns or light posts.

Raindrop Lights

If you’re looking for something different, then raindrop lights might be for you. Each one looks like an individual icicle. But when seen together, they give off the appearance of falling rain. They look good hanging off gutters, below windows, or from trees. They’re perfect for unique areas that need that little something extra.

Programmable LEDs

If you’re want lights that will give off a certain hue, then consider programmable LEDs. With some brands, you can select from 16 million colors. That’s a lot of customization. These types of lights are great if you’re trying to match the color in some other decoration or even the exact color of your home. They can approximate a wide range of cold to warm hues.

Choosing the Right Clips

Clips are how you will mount your Christmas lights on roof. Just like the many different styles of lights, there are different types of clips.

hang Christmas lights on roof with clips
Make sure you buy Christmas or holiday light hangers (or clips) that are easy to use but sturdy for your roof or roofline.

Gutter Clips

For mounting lights to the gutter, you will want to use a gutter clip. These are molded plastic clips designed to snap onto the face of the gutter. Because they are plastic, they won’t leave a mark or scratch.

Shingle Clips

On roof edges that don’t have a gutter, you can use a plastic clip designed to mount to the drip edge of a shingle. But keep this in mind because it’s an important caution: take care not to lift the shingle. You don’t want to break the seal between them.

Roof Ridge Clips

If your lighting plan calls for lights across the peak of your roof, then you’ll need roof ridge clips. These come in the shape of an inverted “U” with a light holder at the closed end. The arms of the “U” then straddle the roof ridge, locking into the edge of a shingle and holding the light in place.

Be Warned

This point can’t be stressed enough: Use some type of plastic clip designed for hanging lights. Avoid stapling or nailing your lights into shingles. Puncturing them in any way can cause leaks. Also, drilling holes into gutters or fascia boards can cause damage to your home, as well.

Preparing for the Job

There’s an old saying that comes in handy in situations like this: “Plan the work and work the plan.” Understanding how your lights will be powered is the first step. Identify the power sources and be sure you know the distance from them to your roof.

test outdoor christmas lights on roof with a digital multimeter
A digital multimeter is an inexpensive, easy, and fast way to test your outdoor Christmas lights before you put them up. It can save a great deal of time and frustration.

Measure

It’s also a good idea to measure the areas where you want to hang lights. Then be sure you have enough lights to cover those distances.

Design Your Lighting

Having an idea of what you want to do is always helpful. On a piece of paper, sketch a layout of your home and jot down where you want to use certain colors or certain types of lights. This will help you focus your ideas and give you a clear understanding of how you will use lighting you already own and what type of lighting you will need to purchase.

Test Your Lights

We all remember the moment from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation when Clark Griswold tried to show his Christmas lights off to his family, only to be frustrated when they refused to work. It’s easy to avoid this type of aggravation. Just test your lights before you hang them.

When checking your lights, look at the wiring first to make sure there are no exposed wires or missing bulbs. If the string looks alright, plug it in to see if it works. If it lights, then it’s ready to hang. If it does not light, you will need to track the burned-out bulb and replace it. The other option, of course, is to purchase a replacement string.

Or better yet, use a digital multimeter. They’re inexpensive and can be bought for as little as $9. And they’ll save you a lot of time. Don’t know how? Simple, just follow these instructions.

How to Hang Christmas Lights on Roof

Now that the preparation work is done, it’s time to hang the lights!

outdoor-lighting-professionals-hanging-Christmas-lights-Cincinnati
Now that our outdoor ground lighting crew is finishing, we’re ready to move on to the exterior of the house and adding Christmas lights on the roof.

Use Your Ladder…Safely

Safety first! Be sure to position your ladder on firm, flat, level surfaces. Have a second person with you who can help hold the lights as you hang them. When you’re on the ladder, be sure not to lean too far to either side. This can shift your center of gravity and cause the ladder to move. Instead, come down and reposition the ladder.  

Attach the Clips

The first clip should always go at the corner of your first run, closest to the plug. As you add each clip, be sure to space them as your manufacturer recommends. If you can’t find that information, 12 inches is always a good distance. Attach your clips for an entire run before adding lights.

Mount the Christmas Lights on Roof

Be sure your first strand of lights can easily plug into the outlet before you attach it to the clips. Then, begin attaching your first string, moving your ladder as needed. When attaching the lights to the clips, be sure your lights are all facing the same direction or oriented in a similar fashion.

If you are using a metal ladder on metal gutters, get an entire string up before plugging the lights in, then come down and before plugging them in. If there is an exposed wire you didn’t see earlier, the electricity could run along the gutter to the ladder and cause a shock.

Once you’ve tested the first strand, unplug it and continue the process for each strand that follows. Before you know it, your house will be completely lit and ready for the holidays!

Final Thoughts

No matter what type of lights you choose or the design you go with, if you are the person hanging Christmas lights this year, be sure to follow the proper precautions.

But if you’re looking to take your Christmas lights to the next level, consider the expertise, creativity and technical know-how of a professional. In addition, the liability for any safety issues or damages will be on that business.

Need More Help?

Need an expert to safely, and without damage, hang and remove your lights this Christmas? Just contact American Landscapes here for a free, no-obligation estimate. Or call us at (513) 947-8727.

You can also learn more about our lawn care applications and treatments, landscaping, and outdoor lighting services by reading our blog. In addition to fertilizer and weed control, we provide mosquito control, lawn aeration, lawn seeding, and much more.

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