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By Paul F. P. Pogue
extra reach is often what causes accidents. It’s al ways worth it to take a moment to get a better ladder or safer perch to reach that difficult spot. The buddy system is im portant for grownups, too; you should always have someone stabilizing the ladder while you’re climbing it. For added safety, consider magnetic holi day lights, which simply stick onto any metal sur face. After the holidays, you can remove them easily simply by pulling the lights down. While you’re at it, take care not to overload your electrical system. If you draw too much Outdoor holiday lights can make a power, you can trip your spectacular view. Professional help can circuit breaker or cause make this task much less stressful. risk of fire. Any outdoor Photo courtesy Dreamstime/TNS lights should be plugged into GFCI outlets. You can spot such an outlet by looking for the “test” and “reset” Holiday lighting safety buttons. They’ll shut down the flow of electricity in event If you do it yourself, take it seriously. Accidents while of overload, and add an additional layer of protection. decorating are responsible for about 15,000 emergency room visits each year, and half of those take place due to ©2021 Ask Angi. Visit at angi.com. falls. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Follow the same ladder safety procedures when hanging lights as you would for any other job. It’s often very tempt ing to go a bit higher than is safe or reach a little more, just for long enough to hang one more thing. But that last bit of
Planning for holiday lighting
Once Thanksgiving is past, homeowners’ at tention will turn to deco rating for the winter holi days. You can save a lot of hassle by hiring a profes sional to hang your holiday lights, and the sooner you call to get on their sched ule, the better. A pro will have the experience and training to get the best ef fect out of your lighting, protect it from snow and water exposure, and ef ficiently get the lights up and back down. Somelightingcompanies offer holiday services, and a trusted handyman can also perform this job. This work usually costs about $400, but it can change based on size of your home. A multi story house will cost much more, and steep roofs will raise it even more. In most cases, installers will put up your own lights. If you don’t have lights to supply, you can often buy them from the installer, or rent a set for the season for an additional fee. As always, make sure whoever you hire is bonded and insured. Insurance is particularly crucial for any work that involves ladders. If your pro doesn’t carry insurance, you could be financially liable for any injuries if someone falls or an accident damages your property or your neighbor’s. A ladder that tips over can easily crash into someone else’s house, after all.
SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS REAL ESTATE
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2021
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