Outdoor Christmas Lights

How to hang outdoor Christmas lights

Hanging your Christmas lights – you either love it or hate it. If you’re unprepared it can be a time-consuming and tricky task, and won’t show off your decorations at their best.

We’ll guide you through the best way to hang string lights outside your home, to help make decorating your home a festive and hassle-free experience this Christmas.

Before you Begin

Most outdoor Christmas decorations are powered by mains electricity. You’ll need access to a safe outdoor power supply to plug your lights in, so check that you have a suitable outdoor socket that will protect the electrics against the elements. Measure the distance from the socket to where you want to hang your lights, and check whether the cable on the lights will be long enough. If it isn’t, consider a different location or opt for a weatherproof extension lead that is safe to leave out of doors.

If you don’t have access to an outdoor socket, or have a larger garden, then battery powered lights are ideal. You won’t need to worry about trailing cables, and they offered greater flexibility if you’re going for a more creative display. Don’t forget to stock up on batteries or keep a charger and rechargeable ones to hand.

Be sure to only use lights which are suitable for outdoor use – these will be weatherproof, ensuring safety and that your display will last the festive season.

Before you start work, plug in your lights at ground level to make sure that everything is working correctly. It will be much harder to replace bulbs or fix problems once the lights are hung, so tackle this first. If you’re bringing lights out of storage check the cables – if these look worn or damaged then replace your decorations, as this could be a sign they are unsafe.

Don’t forget that if you’re working at height, on a ladder, to hang your lights, there are a few simple precautions to take. Make sure that you place your ladder on a solid, level piece of ground and ask another adult to hold the ladder still whilst you’re working. Why not team up with a neighbour to help each other decorate your homes? You’ll also want to make sure that you can reach the highest point you’re hanging lights from without standing on the top step of the ladder.

Cold Weather Tips

When freezing weather arrives you can easily pull on an extra layer or blanket to keep out the chill. But to protect your home, the simple precautions below can help to reduce the risk of serious damage to your property.

Cold weather can often be the cause of maintenance problems around the home, which are not only inconvenient but can be very costly to repair. Insulating your exposed water pipes is an easy and inexpensive first step.

Prevent frozen pipes in winter

• Insulate your pipes and the loft water storage tank. Put the insulation foam on top of pipes rather than underneath them
• Turn off any indoor valves on pipes leading to outside taps, then open the outside tap and leave it open to let any water drain out
• Regularly check all the taps in your home during the winter months. If little or no water flows, there may be frozen water in the pipes
• If you are away from home in the winter, set the central heating to come on for a short period each day to prevent pipes from freezing
• Find out where the mains water stopcock is, and ensure it turns off easily. If your pipes do freeze, turn the water off and thaw them out slowly with hot water bottles. Never use a heat gun or blow torch
• Ask someone to check your home if you're away for a while. This should help ensure leaking or burst pipes are spotted early and damage is kept to a minimum (tell them where the stopcock is)

Get ready with a bit of DIY

• Save a supply of drinking water for emergencies
• Repair any dripping taps – if they freeze, they'll block your pipes
• Clear leaves and debris from gutters to reduce the risk of dams that can turn to ice
• Insulate pipes in unheated areas like the garage
• Tidy away or cover garden furniture
• Check the outside lights are all working, or add a light to make access safer
• Keep yourself warm – enjoy a hot meal and drinks, and keep active

Improve your energy efficiency

A good start is to fill any draughty gaps and also keep the heat inside your home. This will help save on your fuel bills too.

• Block draughts from windows, external and internal doors, skirting, loft hatches, and pipes or cables passing through walls
• Draw the curtains at dusk and close internal doors to unheated rooms
• Insulate your loft – a quarter of your heat can be lost through the roof
• Get heating appliances serviced, or your chimneys swept to ensure that the fire burns efficiently
• Radiator reflectors will direct heat into the room and not out through an external wall (ensure the radiators are not covered by curtains or furniture)
• Fit a thermal jacket around the hot water cylinder – at least 75mm thick – and check the thermostat isn't set higher than 60 degrees
• If your radiators have cool spots when the central heating is on, bleed them to improve their efficiency
• Set your heating to 18–21°C to keep your bills low, and to come on earlier and go off later rather than turning the thermostat up.

Wet Weather - Internal Preparation

Once the outside of your home is prepared, follow these simple tips to make sure that your home is protected from the inside out.

1. Don't let the outside in

   Check your roof from the inside to be sure there are no issues. Grab a torch and take a trip to the attic to check for any potential problems.

   Things to look for from the inside, are:

   • Places where the roof is sagging
   • Signs of water damage or leaking
   • Dark spots and trails
   • Outside light showing through the roof

   If you stumble across any of the above, it could be an issue. It's worth contacting a professional for some expert advice.

   Draught proofing

   Prevent rain, wind and dirt coming into your home with our range of rain bars and deflectors. Just attach to the bottom of your door to deflect rain and dirt.

   Also available for the bottom of doors, are brush seals. Sealing against smoke, odours, draughts, dust, insects and light, brush seals are attached to the bottom of doors that experience particularly heavy usage, such as front doors. Brush strip sealing is perfect for solving draught problems, and particularly good for retaining heat in the home and lowering heating bills.

   Insulation

   When the rain starts, it's usually a sign that we're entering into a period of bad weather. Some simple rain can soon become gale force winds and thunder storms. Insulating hot water tanks and pipes will help keep your water hot for that nice long bath after a day battling the elements. It will also protect your pipes if you're unlucky enough to experience extreme weather, such as flooding.

   Check that your heating system is working properly; it's a good idea to get it serviced before wet, windy and cold weather sets in.

   Make sure you know how to turn off the water, gas and electricity. You may need to do this in an emergency, so be prepared. If you live in a flat, your water supply may come from outside your flat, so make sure you know where it is.

Wet Weather - External Preparation

A little rain doesn't need to cause worry, it's a valuable resource to keep your garden in bloom. A lot of rain, however, can cause a lot of worry. Extreme weather conditions can cause serious damage to your home and in turn create unexpected costs and hassle. We're here to help with simple steps that can be taken to avoid problems like these.

Protecting the outside of your home from the elements is the first step in preparing for bad weather. Consider the condition of your roof and gutters to evaluate whether any repairs need to be made, and store away garden furniture and tools.

1. Secure your roof

   Don't wait until water is unexpectedly pouring into your home by way of a leaky roof. Start protecting your home by using some simple observation skills.

   Make sure your roof is in good condition - walk around your home's exterior, inspecting the roof from the ground for signs of damage, sagging, and aging. Take notes of any possible problem areas or areas in need of closer inspection. Check particularly for loose or missing tiles and for any cracks in the chimney. Missing roof tiles means your roof is directly exposed to adverse weather conditions.

   Hire a professional roofing contractor to patch up any gaps you might find.

   Guttering

   Gutters are an essential part of your roofing system. The purpose of the gutter is to collect and funnel away any water that lands on the roof, taking water away from the building's foundations, protecting your exterior surfaces and stopping water from entering the home.

   If water penetrates your home, woodwork can perish, mould will begin to grow, condensation forms and brickwork will erode. Damp patches quickly spread and health problems can become an issue.

   Check the guttering outside your home isn't broken or leaking and clear out any leaves or other debris. This will reduce the risk of blockages during heavy rain, which can cause your guttering to overflow and create all sorts of problems for your home.

   To reduce the risk of blockages there are preventative steps you can take. Tight-fitting wire mesh or plastic caps are available to fit most types of downpipe. They allow water through but trap leaves and dirt.

   Safety first

   Do not use ladders during adverse weather conditions and when you are using a ladder always secure it or have someone holding the ladder at the bottom.

   Top tip

   You might want to consider cutting back any over-hanging trees as the autumn fall of leaves will most likely cause blockages and guttering problems every year.

   If your guttering is broken, or new guttering needs to be installed, we can help with our handy guide to installing guttering.

   Sheds & storage

   Garden equipment and power tools can be seriously damaged by wet weather. To keep your furniture looking its very best for longer, store it in dry conditions and ensure that all pieces are fully dry before putting away.

   If you've already invested in a shed but are concerned about weatherproofing, it's worth checking the condition of felting on the roof. If it looks tired or damaged, consider replacing the felt to help keep garden equipment, tools and other appliances dry.

   We can help you get started with our video guide to felting a shed roof.

   Garden furniture & barbecues

   Garden furniture is often subject to sharp showers and heavy downfalls, which can cause damage over time. Look to apply a waterproofing treatment to wooden garden furniture - which will keep the beautiful look of your wood while also giving it the protection it needs. It will protect your furniture from the liquids outside, in order to avoid splitting, rotting, and warping.

   Barbecue covers

   If your barbecue often sits outside on the patio, rather than tucked away in the shed, consider a waterproof cover. For the best protection, safely store your barbecue, once cool, in a shed or garage to prevent rust occurring.

Fire Safety in the Home

Teach your household these steps to fire safety

• Teach your family all the dangers of fire, and practice your fire escape plan thoroughly
• Fit a smoke alarm on each level of your home. Keep them free from dust, test the alarm regularly and replace batteries once a year
• Be prepared: install an household fire extinguisher in a prominent position, and a fire blanket close to (but not above) the hob
• Unless a fire is very small and can be put out with a domestic fire extinguisher, do not tackle it yourself. Get out, stay out and call 999
• Never leave a hot pan with oil in it unattended. If a pan fire starts, contain it by turning off the heat source then covering the pan with a damp tea towel or fire blanket if you have one. Leave it covered for at least 30 minutes while the heat subsides
• Don't overload electrical sockets. Remember one plug for one socket
• Keep matches, lighters and candles out of sight and reach of children
• Never leave lit candles unattended or where children are alone. Ensure candles are in secure holders on a surface that does not burn and are away from any flammable materials
• Don't plug electric blankets into extension leads or multiway sockets, as this can increase the risk of these being switched on accidentally
• Never dry clothes or materials near a fire
• In the event of a fire, make yourself heard and get everyone out. Try to shut all doors behind you if possible to contain the fire and call the fire brigade

How to prevent common fires in the kitchen

• Do not leave cooking unattended - take pans off the heat
• Switch off the oven or hob when you have finished cooking
• Spark devices are safer than matches or lighters to light gas cookers
• Keep electrical leads, tea towels and cloths away from oven or hob
• Never leave children alone in the kitchen
• Take care when wearing loose clothing if cooking - it can easily catch fire

If your clothes catch fire - Stop, drop and roll

• Don't run
• Lie down and roll around
• Smother flames using a heavy material like a coat or blanket
• Call 999, or ask someone else to, if needed

Easy Summer Plants to get your Summer started

As Summer is officially on the way, we have listed 6 easy plants to get you started this summer. If you want fancy foliage with instant appeal, we can help you see the wood for the trees, helping with handy solutions and quick and easy wins. So even with limited time, you’ll have a garden blooming with beautiful flowers.

For year-round colour and impact, choose evergreen shrubs and conifers, they are ideal for providing the structural backbone of a great garden. Look out for wonderful plants like Photinia Red Robin, Euonymus, Californian Lilac, Hebe Margaret and Golden Choisya Sundance (also known as Mexican Orange Blossom). Look out for multi-coloured or patterned leaves that add more interest than standard green ones.

1) Hebes

Evergreen bushes in diverse shapes, sizes and foliage colours. Beautiful pink, purple and white flowers bloom in mid to late summer and loved by bees and butterflies.

2) Magnolia

Magnolias are the star shrub of spring, bearing gorgeous large blooms before the foliage emerges.

3) Mexican Orange Blossom – Choisya

An evergreen shrub, ideal for hedging or in a border. It bears beautiful, fragrant white flowers from late spring.

4) Euphorbia

Euphorbias are fantastic space fillers, adding structure and interest, they require little maintenance.

5) Californian Lilac – Ceanothus

Californian Lilacs produce an abundance of blue flowers and are perfect in a sunny spot.

6) Photinia Red Robin

Red Robin is a useful evergreen shrub with beautiful bright red shoots. Ideal as hedging or in a large border.

(Source: B&Q)