How To Hang Outdoor Christmas Lights In Concrete Walls Without Drilling Any Holes

Source: DHgate, Tag: Home Garden

The festive season is here and many people just want to know how to hang Christmas lights on stucco walls. Find out here.

• The Christmas season may add stress to homeowners who may feel the need to drill holes into the concrete stucco walls of their homes just to hang outdoor Christmas lights.
  Luckily, homeowners can find hardware stores that offer fast and safe alternatives, which will not require drilling holes or inflicting any damage into the home. In other words, holiday lights can be hung outdoor without having to drill holes in concrete stucco walls. We can show you how to hang Christmas lights on stucco in this manner.
  It can sometimes be confusing when the holidays are approaching and it is time to hand the holiday lights on the stucco of your home’s exterior. You want the lights to be secured safely without causing any damage to your house, but the stucco’s uneven, rough texture is notorious for making most adhesives or bonding agents like glue ineffective.
  Thankfully, professional Christmas lighting designers have come up with a simple way to secure lights without drilling holes. They have also found a practical solution for removing the lights without inflicting damages to the stucco. Therefore, homeowners need not stress themselves about their home’s stucco exteriors being damaged.

• If you are a homeowner and you would want to hang holiday lights every Christmas, you might want to consider permanent installation. This can also be a better option for homeowners whose stucco finish has been made with EIFS or Exterior Insulation Systems.
  Whether you are a professional lights designer and you are trying to find the best way to hang holiday lights for your client, or you are just a DIY fun who wants to try his skills this holiday season, you can read this write-up to learn how to hang Christmas lights on stucco. Let’s get started!
  Method 1: Hang Christmas Decorations With Permanent Clips
  As we have already stated, lights can be hung on stucco without drilling holes. This can be done using various methods. Attaching the lights with permanent clips is one of the most effective methods to use.
  To hang holiday lights on your home’s stucco using this method, you will need to get all the required tools and equipment first. Here is the list of the things you will require:

  • Construction adhesive

  • Measuring tape

  • Caulk gun

  • Ladder

  • Light clips

• Before you use this method, you should remember that once applied, construction adhesive will be permanent.
  Let’s now get on to the steps to follow.

  • Step 1

• Start by taking the accurate measurement of the distance distances between light bulbs on the string lights of your home. This will help you get the right spacing in which the permanent light hooks or clips will be placed.

  • Step 2

• The second step is to take the ladder and place it safely in the exact place where you want the lights to end. After that, get a caulk gun and start loading the construction adhesive.

  • Step 3

• You now need to climb the ladder up to the area or roof where you want the lights to go. Get a quarter-sized dab of construction adhesive from the caulk gun and add directly to the surface of the stucco.

  • Step 4

• The mounting plastic or permanent clip needs to be pressed at its flat edge into the construction adhesive. The pressing should be done firmly. This process should be repeated for each light clip. The clips should be spaced accordingly. The spacing should match the light bulb spacing done on the light thread. Finally, the light bulbs should be attached to every mounting clip.
  When you have secured the first light, continue doing so around the home, attaching the lights appropriately.

  • Bonus Tip

• For the permanent clip method, determine what type of Christmas lights you want to use. This will help you know what light clips to buy. The right light clips are the ones made for your light types. Also, make sure that every light clip you are buying has a flat surface. For starters, the flat surface is for adhesion.
  The clip spacing can be made easier by creating a simple measuring stick. This is particularly helpful when the installation of the light clips is done on a level roofline. When removing bulb clips from mounting clips, be careful not to break the clip. On even surfaces, you can use mountain strips instead of using individual clips.
  Method 2: Hang Christmas Decorations With Hot Glue
  Hot glue is another method you can use to attach light strings to your home’s stucco without the need to drill holes. This method requires you to have such things as:

  • Ladder

  • Glue gun

  • Outdoor adhesive

  • Extension cord

  • Clips for the outdoor lights

  • Measuring tape

  • Glue sticks

• Follow the following steps to attach lights at your home with hot glue.

  • Step 1

• Confirm if this method can be used on your Stucco. You can do this by tapping lightly on the stucco to determine the presence of Styrofoam backing. Your stucco is likely to have Styrofoam backing if you hear a muffled sound when you tap it. You should avoid using the hot glue method on such a stucco because Styrofoam backing might melt.
  However, if you insist that you want to use hot glue despite your stucco having Styrofoam backing, then you can buy glue, which melts at a very low temperature. You should also ensure that the glue gun you are using has low-temperature settings. Also, avoid using any glue with heavy-duty adhesive properties.
  Also, if you have a painted stucco, don’t use hot glue. Yes, hot glue can attach your holiday lights effectively and in a great way. However, it can cause peeling, especially on the painted surfaces. To avoid such damages, and to achieve desired results, run the lights along with the unpainted areas only.
  If you haven’t found any unpainted location, just use plastic roof clips to hang all or some of the lights.

  • Step 2

• Before you start installing your light strings, start by removing the light bulbs. Doing so will help make it easier for you to attach your light string. This ensures that no bulb is getting glue. After ensuring that the line is securely in place, the next thing to do is to screw in the bulbs easily and quickly. To unscrew the light bulbs, just turn them counterclockwise direction in a gentle manner.

  • Step 3

• Take a small blob of glue and apply it to one side of an unoccupied bulb socket. You should do the same to the opposite side as well from the clip of the socket. Ensure that the socket base doesn’t come into contact with the glue. Otherwise, you will find difficulties when removing it and it can also cause the bulb socket to cut off from its usual cord.
  The glue gun will heat up in a short while and you can then apply the glue. You can wait for about 2 minutes so that the glue gun can heat up. Squeeze the trigger of the glue gun slightly and apply glue.

  • Step 4

• Take your light socket and hold it to your wall for between 3 and 5 seconds. After applying a blob of glue to the first bulb socket, you should press it firmly against the wall until it is securely in place. Let the glue dry and then remove it. It should dry after 4 or 5 seconds. After you have glued it, press it gently on the bulb socket for it to stick to the wall firmly.
  As you continue to attach those light sockets, ensure that you are not skipping any lights. Continue doing so around the home in either a counterclockwise or clockwise direction.

  • Step 6

• Use the heat gun to make the glue softer before removing the light sockets. In case you make any mistake and you realize that the light socket installed should be removed, use your heat gun to heat the glue. You can scrape off the glue when it is soft. You should be warned that this may potentially leave behind glue residue. To avoid this from happening, ensure that you are accurately placing each socket.
  You can keep the light sockets up year-round if you don’t want to go through the process of removing them. However, if you don’t mind removing them, you can do so when the festive season ends.
  You can buy a quality heat gun at a fraction price from an online supplier on DHgate. Of course, heat guns are readily available in many online and local stores. However, to save some money while still getting the same high-quality heat gun for your DIY job such as attaching light sockets on your home’s stucco, buy directly from manufacturers and suppliers listed on DHgate. This is the leading online marketplace in China that conveniently links international buyers with local factories and wholesalers operating in China.
  Method 3: Hang Christmas Decorations With Double-Sided Tape
  Another way to hang Christmas lights on Stucco is by using double-sided tape. For this method, you will need to get the following:

  • Rubbing alcohol

  • Trisodium phosphate (TSP)

  • Microfiber cloth

• Follow the following steps to hang the lights beautifully on Stucco:

  • Step 1

• Identify the exact location on your Home’s stucco where you want to install holiday lights and clean its surface. For most desired results, use rubbing alcohol or TSP (tri-sodium phosphate) to clean that surface. Take a dry, clean microfiber piece of cloth and apply just a small amount of either of the two cleaning agents and thoroughly wipe down that surface.

  • Step 2

• Take the double-sided tape and attach it gently to the lights you want to hang. Take out the back of your double-sided tape and then attach it gently to your first light’s back. To ensure that it is sealed properly, you should press firmly against the first light for about 30 seconds.
  When purchasing the product, make sure that it has the ability to hold much weight. That is what will assure the best possible adhesion.
  Double-sided tape is preferred in windy areas as it holds up better than roof clips.

  • Step 3

• 1. The next step is to start removing the cover that is remaining on the other side of your double-sided tape. After that, press the Christmas lights gently against your home’s stucco wall. For proper seal, firmly hold the light in place for about 30 seconds. Move to the next light and attach the tape to it and press it against the wall.
     Continue working around the home in either counterclockwise or clockwise direction until all your Christmas lights are securely attached to the wall.
     FAQs
     How Do I Hang Christmas Lights On My Home’s Stucco?
     Stucco is typically made of a binder, water, and aggregates. If you have a home with a stucco-coated exterior, you should be happy to learn that you can hang the lights during the holidays without drilling holes. Maybe you already know this but you have no idea how to hang Christmas lights on stucco. Well, just identify the right location and then put the lights by attaching the lights with glue, permanent clips, or double-sided tape.
     What Type of Double-sided Tape Sticks Firmly on Stucco?
     Provided the surface to be used is free of dirt and dust, most tapes can stick effectively on stucco. Therefore, all that needs to be done for the best results is to clean the surface.
     Which Cleaners Is Best For Cleaning The Surface Where I Want To Hang Lights?
     To hang Christmas lights effectively using tape, clean the targeted surface with tri-sodium phosphate or any other strong cleaner like rubbing alcohol.
     What Causes Hot Glue To Come Off Stucco?
     The hot glue can cause cracking or peeling of painted stucco. The glue does come off whenever the paint has chipped off. To successfully attach anything to stucco, use double-sided tape. For outdoor stucco, you can use roof clips that are attached to an eave, a shingle, or a gutter.
     Conclusion
     A home is never ready for the Christmas season unless the decorations and the lights are installed effectively as per the occasion. So, we all must know how to hang Christmas lights on stucco. That’s why we thought it wise to develop this article. We hope it helps you with light installation around your home.