If hanging Christmas lights around the garage door is on your holiday to do list, make sure to do it right. Decorating shouldn't be a once-a-year activity that does permanent damage to your home or your body.

When it comes to hanging holiday lights around your garage door, use clips and hooks specifically designed for the task. Avoid using metal fasteners like staples or nails if you are attaching lights directly to the trim; the metal can damage the wiring and create a fire or electrocution hazard. Instead, clip the plastic fasteners to the light string and attach the plastic fasteners to your trim. This way the clips can remain throughout the year, and lights are more easy to hang in the holidays to come. 

For the vertical runs, find the trim clips that wrap around the light string and hold it into place (this is particularly important for our Sioux City and Yankton breezes and blizzards). Aim for a clip every 12 inches or so. Some homeowners choose to nail the clips for stability; others use a removable adhesive.

If you are continuing to light up your house with lights around your roof and gutter lines, there are other items that can help make this process easier. Roof and gutter clips can be pressed directly onto the home's exterior; they typically have a hook at the bottom that grabs the light string. Please be very careful when working on high and precarious locations!

Additional safety tips on how to hang Christmas lights around your garage door:

• Don't do it alone. Having an additional person hold and untangle the lights will make the installation go more smoothly and safely.
• Clip only the cord. Make sure to place the cord in the clip, making sure there's no chance the insulation or bulbs could be damaged.
• Rule of three. Electricians (and most of the instructions on Christmas light boxes) recommend connecting no more than three strings of lights end-to-end.

Note: Don't try to attach nail-in hooks to the garage door panels. Not only will it cause permanent the panel, it won't hold the lights very well. If you do damage a panel while hanging lights, look for a company that repairs single panels. 

Use holiday decorating as a great excuse to inspect your garage door.

Don't feel comfortable doing it yourself? We can help: