For a Victorian style house, there may well be no such thing as “over the top". But elegance is a key factor. Strings, strings and more strings of lights around every architectural feature of the house will enhance its stature, making your home the neighborhood beacon of holiday cheer. A ranch-style or single story home calls for lights around the roof line, the fence and along your entrance walkway. Multi-storey homes call for the same basic theory as a Victorian, with less “fluff". String lights along the roof line, around columns, along the porch railing.
If you have a porch light that’s shielded from the elements, you may be able to insert a socket adapter that places a power socket between the fixture and the lamp. Running an extension cord through a hole or a window or door is a fire hazard and a code violation in most places. [4] X Research source NFPA 70, NEC(2017):400. 12. You will need to find an outdoor power outlet or else use battery-powered lights. If you have an exterior outlet somewhere on the house, install your extension cord from the outlet to the roof line keeping the cord as close to the building as possible. Be sure the outlet is protected from rain, snow and sprinklers. It should have a hood that protects it from getting wet even while the lights are plugged in. Under the national electrical code in the USA (and most of Central America), all outdoor receptacles installed after enactment of the 1971 edition were required to be protected with a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). [6] X Research source NFPA 70, NEC(2017):210. 8(A). If the outlet you are using doesn’t have that, you may want to have someone install one now, or you may plug in a portable or cord-mounted GFCI device for temporary use. Local code requirements may be more strict.
If you work alone, use a basket or bucket with a handle to haul your materials up and down. Put a nail or an S hook on the ladder so you can hang your tote bucket. Limit the number of times you go up and down the ladder, but do not lean to reach anything. When you can’t reach the next position, move the ladder. Do one step of the project to its completion before you begin the next phase.
Note! While nails, screws and other metallic fasteners seem an easy answer, they are conductors of electricity, they rust, and they put holes into your structure. There are many products on the market made of rubber or heavy duty plastic designed for hanging electrical cords. Consult the sales staff at a reputable hardware store. Tell them what you will be doing with them. They’re fairly inexpensive and easy to install. Look for fasteners with a moisture resistant, peel-and-stick backing that will hold up to ten pounds.
Be certain that the light string cords are secure in or on the fastener. You don’t want wind, birds, small animals, or Santa to knock them off!
Columns: Combining the light strings with holiday garland (natural or artificial) will enable you to wrap a column (barber pole style) with ease. The additional bulk of a garland will help avoid slippage of the light strings and add a little pizazz, too! If you need a little adhesion, space and hide small pieces of removable tacky clay behind the string garland. Removable tacky clay is available at reputable craft or hardware stores. Porch Railing: Open baluster style: Using the same barber pole technique with garland, loop the light strings over and under the railing. Secure it as needed with removable tacky clay. Porch Railing: Along the top of the porch enclosure (one that is like a ½ wall) use the rubber or plastic, peel and stick fasteners that were used along the roof line. Note: these fasteners may be ineffective on concrete or stucco. Windows: Place around, over and under windows in such a way as to frame the windows. Fences: Use the same techniques as on the porch railings. Trees: There are a variety of solutions for trees. Either use the traditional wrap as you do with indoor trees, or use a net of lights that drape over the top of the tree. You can also use single strands connected to a heavy-duty extension cord with multiple taps, and trace the branches of your trees with white or colored lights. Use plastic-coated twist ties to secure the lighting to the limbs.
