Illuminating the exterior of one’s home during the festive season is a tradition many cherish. By focusing on the garage door, a significant aspect of curb appeal, homeowners can amplify their seasonal decorations, casting a warm and inviting glow. The Jim Beam team knows a thing about garage doors, so here are our tips for hanging Christmas lights around your garage door!
Please Be Careful During Winter!
The winter season in Fort Collins often presents cold temperatures, snow, and ice. When hanging your holiday decorations, please be careful whilst doing so. Assume that if the temperatures are freezing or close to it, the ground may be icy. When in doubt always a hire professional service. Although Jim Beam’s Garage Doors does not install Christmas lights, we can give you a beautiful new garage to hang the lights on! Call us today for a fast and free estimate on new garage door installation!
Choosing the Right Lights
The two most common types of string lights are LED and incandescent bulbs. Incandescent bulbs are becoming significantly less popular due to their short life span and proneness to blowing out.
LED or Light Emitting Diodes are the best option when it comes to decorating your garage and home. LED lights consume less electricity and can last for 8-10 years depending on usage. You can also find many LED light strings that incorporate Bluetooth and programmable technology. Many LED light strings feature downloadable phone apps to give homeowners full customization.
Powering Your Lights
Before stringing all of your lights, make sure that a power supply is within distance of the string. Generally speaking, you should try to avoid using large strings of extension cords to power your lights, as they can present a fire hazard or tripping risk. Most modern garages have several power supplies built into them, but if your Fort Collins home is on the older side, make sure you know where your lights are going to get their juice from!
You can also utilize solar-powered lights, battery-powered lights/outlets, or an outlet adapter for light sockets. If you are going to use extension cords to power your lights, make sure to use outdoor, heavy-duty extension cords. Consider also taping down the cord if it runs through areas that see frequent foot traffic.
When it comes to working with electricity, it’s always best to show healthy respect and exercise caution. Make sure you are not creating such an epic display that it overloads your outlets. Remember, daisy chaining and overloading outlets is a quick way to start an electrical fire.
Hanging the Lights
Make sure to avoid placing the lights in a way that could cause damage to the lights or your garage. You should take into account the various moving parts of your garage door. If they move, or have something move across them, like tracks, you should avoid hanging anything off of them. Trust us, you do not want to hang your lights and then hit the garage door opener only to have everything get ripped down!
The right clips and hangers ensure that the lights are not only secure but also aligned perfectly. When affixing these to a garage door, it’s crucial to choose non-invasive methods to avoid inflicting damage or impairing its function. Adhesive-backed clips, for instance, can be an excellent choice for many door materials.
Before embarking on the hanging process, conceptualizing a design can prevent haphazard appearances. Symmetry plays a vital role; evenly spaced lights often yield the most visually pleasing results. Also, consider any architectural features around the garage door as potential focal points to highlight. You can learn more about architectural compatibility in our article, What Makes a Garage Door Architecturally Compatible with Your Home?
We Hope This Helps!
We hope these tips for hanging Christmas lights around your garage door helps you get your home ready for the holiday season! With careful planning, safety, and light choice, you can have a light display that catches eyes and adds to the holiday magic!
If you don’t know already, Jim Beam’s Garage Doors is one of the top-rated garage door installers and garage door repair services in the Northern Colorado area. With over 148+ reviews on Google and an average rating of 4.9 stars and top-rated status on HomeAdvisor, you can trust Jim Beam’s to do the job right the first time. Get a fast and free estimate on your garage repair, garage maintenance, or garage door installation today by contacting us!
LED lights are the best option due to their long lifespan, lower electricity consumption, and availability in customizable options through Bluetooth and programmable technology.
Ensure a power supply is close enough to avoid extensive use of extension cords, which can be a fire hazard or tripping risk. Consider using solar-powered, battery-powered options, or an outlet adapter for light sockets. If extension cords are necessary, opt for outdoor, heavy-duty ones and secure them properly.
Be mindful of cold temperatures, snow, and ice, which can make surfaces slippery. It’s recommended to hire professional services for installation if conditions are hazardous.
Avoid attaching lights to moving parts of the garage door or its tracks. Use non-invasive clips and hangers, like adhesive-backed clips, to prevent damage to the door and ensure the lights are secure and well-aligned.
Planning a design helps avoid a haphazard look, ensuring symmetry and aesthetic appeal. Consider the architectural features around your garage door and use them as focal points in your lighting design.
No, you should avoid hanging lights on any moving parts or tracks of the garage door to prevent damage or malfunction when the door is operated.
If your garage lacks sufficient power outlets, explore alternative power sources like solar or battery-powered lights, or safely use outdoor-rated extension cords, ensuring they are not overloaded.
No, always use outdoor, heavy-duty extension cords for Christmas lights outside to ensure safety and prevent potential hazards.
Avoid daisy-chaining and overloading outlets by carefully planning your display and consulting electrical safety guidelines to maintain a safe and enjoyable holiday decoration.
