When it comes to decorating for the holidays, nothing beats inflatable decorations. Their bright colors and fun shapes can be great conversation starters or add a cheery atmosphere to any home or garden.
However, when setting up your inflatables outdoors and on rooftops (the most prized location), safety must be taken into account to ensure that the decorations stay put without compromising their integrity. Whether you’re using a few small figures or an entire yard of inflatables, here are some tips on how to secure inflatable decorations on roof.
In this article, we’ll look at tips from experienced professionals about securely installing outdoor inflatable decorations safely without damaging them—or worse! Read on for all our helpful insight – with these practical strategies, you’ll get your house looking festive and secure in no time!
What Will You Need?
The first step is to gather the necessary materials. Here’s a list of what you’ll need:
- Strong rope or cord
- Heavy duty clips and ties
- Bleach (to clean the surfaces)
- Screws and anchors
Once you’ve gathered the materials, it’s time to begin the installation process.
10 Easy Steps on How to Secure Inflatable Decorations on Roof
Step 1. Secure the Base of Your Inflatable:
You’ll need to ensure your inflatable decoration’s base is securely secured to the roof. Using strong rope, cords, or heavy-duty clips and ties, loop around both parts and draw the top side down tautly. This will prevent it from shifting in strong winds or storms.
Step 2. Clean Surfaces Before Attaching:
To ensure a secure bond between surfaces, you should always clean them first with bleach or a special cleaner designed for outdoor use before attaching anything to them. This will remove any dirt, grime, and debris preventing a good bond from forming. If necessary, you can also use light sandpaper on rougher surfaces.
Step 3. Secure the Inflatable to the Roof:
Once the surfaces are clean, use screws or anchors to securely attach the base of your inflatable decoration to the roof. Be sure to leave some slack so that it can move with strong winds without ripping apart. Alternatively, you can use heavy-duty clips or ties to wrap around both parts.
Step 4. Anchor All Points of Contact:
Use more rope or cords to secure all contact points between your inflatable decoration and its base. You should also anchor these firmly into place with heavy-duty ties or clips for extra stability and security in case of high winds or storms. It will also help keep the inflatable from shifting in its place.
Step 5. Check for Loose Connections:
Once the base is secured to the roof and all points of contact have been firmly in place, check for loose connections between your inflatable decoration and its base. If any are found, tighten them up or re-anchor them to secure them. Otherwise, the inflatable decoration will be prone to shifting in strong winds.
Step 6. Remove Air Leaks:
Check for air leaks in the inflation tube and fan unit at the bottom of your decoration. If you find any, patch them up with tape or a special sealant designed for outdoor use. You should also check the seams along the sides and top of your inflatable decoration to ensure they are properly sealed.
Step 7. Securely Attach Inflation Tube:
Once all air leaks have been resolved, securely attach the inflation tube to the base of your inflatable decoration. Ensure it is properly secured and tightly fitted so that no air can escape during operation. Don’t forget to insert the deflation plug before inflating your decoration!
Step 8. Add Weights:
To ensure stability, add weights or sandbags around the base of your inflatable decoration if needed for extra security in windy conditions. Just make sure it’s heavy enough to hold down against strong gusts but light enough to lift off when you want to remove it. Remember that if the inflatable isn’t evenly weighted, it could cause damage to the seams.
Step 9. Turn on the Fan Unit:
Now it’s time to turn on your fan unit and inflate your decoration! Keep a close eye on how quickly it inflates, as this will indicate how much air is escaping. You should also check for any air leaks and take care of them if necessary.
Step 10. Monitor Inflation:
Finally, monitor your inflatable decoration’s inflation regularly to ensure it stays secure and in place. If you notice that it’s starting to move around or looks like it’s losing air, adjust the rope or cords as needed. Remember, safety is the most important thing!
Following these steps, you can be confident that your inflatable decorations will stay secure on your roof during even the strongest storms! Happy decorating!
5 Additional Tips and Tricks
- Use a harness or strap system to help keep the inflatable secure. You can purchase straps and ropes from your local hardware store and specialized inflatable roof anchors that you can attach to your roof.
- Use enough straps or ropes to evenly and securely distribute the inflatable across the roof. Aim to have at least two straps per side, with one anchoring point per strap.
- If using an inflatable roof anchor, make sure you use air resistant tape on all areas of contact between the anchor and shingles/tiles to prevent wear and tear from wind gusts over time.
- When attaching straps or ropes to metal surfaces, always use a rust-preventative coating like WD40 to prevent rust from forming over time and damaging your decorations.
- Take extra precautions if you live in an area that receives a lot of rain, as this can cause the inflatable to become heavier and more susceptible to wind damage. Ensure the straps and ropes are appropriately tightened and secured before leaving your roof decorations up for long periods.
By taking these extra precautionary steps, you will have peace of mind knowing that your inflatable decorations are securely fastened onto your roof! Have fun celebrating with your beloved inflatables!
5 Things You Should Avoid
- Avoid using nails or screws to secure your inflatables. These can damage the shingles on your roof, weakening it over time and exposing you to the elements.
- Don’t use tape of any kind directly onto your roof – this will cause wear and tear over time due to wind gusts making contact with the decorations.
- Never try to attach two straps together to create one long enough for your roof decoration. This may not hold up strong enough against wind gusts and make it more likely for your decorations to come loose during a storm.
- Don’t leave an inflated decoration outdoors overnight without taking extra precautions, such as anchoring it securely down with additional ropes and straps if necessary.
- Avoid using inflatables on roofs with a steep pitch or at high wind speeds, as this can increase the chances of them coming loose and possibly causing damage to your roof or property.
By being aware of these potential pitfalls, you can keep your decorations safely secured on your roof while enjoying all the festivities! Have a great time celebrating with family and friends!
How Do You Anchor Down an Inflatable?
- Start using a harness or strap system to secure the inflatable. You can purchase straps and ropes from your local hardware store and specialized inflatable roof anchors.
- Make sure you use enough straps or ropes to evenly and securely distribute the inflatable across the roof. Aim to have at least two straps per side, with one anchoring point per strap.
- When attaching straps or ropes to metal surfaces, use a rust-preventative coating like WD40 to prevent rust from forming over time and damaging your decorations.
- If using an inflatable roof anchor, use air-resistant tape on all areas of contact between the anchor and shingles/tiles to prevent wear and tear from wind gusts over time.
- Be sure to tighten the straps or ropes until they’re snug but not too tight, as this can strain your decorations unnecessarily.
By taking these extra steps to anchor down your inflatable decorations, you can keep them securely fastened onto your roof for all the festivities!
Conclusion
Securing inflatable decorations to the roof is a relatively easy and safe process, with seemingly countless options available for do-it-yourselfers.
If you have the necessary tools, supplies, and knowledge of safety precautions that you require before attempting any project on a roof’s surface, it should be a very straightforward installation.
As noted earlier in this blog post, we suggest using heavy duty roofing nails or cable ties to ensure your inflatable decorations stay secure throughout outdoor use.
Furthermore, while the hardware recommended earlier is adequate for fastening your objects to many surfaces, if applicable, research the surface type before installing nails or tie-downs as some faces may not provide the appropriate grip required when dealing with heavier objects.
Hopefully, the article on how to secure inflatable decorations on roof has helped provide you with the information needed to ensure your holiday decorations are safe and secure!