Best Tools for Christmas Light Installers Working on Steep Roofs

If you install Christmas lights for a living, a steep roofline turns a routine job into a real safety problem. A 4/12 pitch you can walk. A 9/12 or 12/12 with frost on the shingles is a different animal, and every clip you set up there costs you time and nerve.

We install Christmas lights across Kankakee County and Will County, and we clean roofs and gutters the rest of the year, so our crews are on pitched roofs most of the season. These are three pieces of gear that improve footing, stability, and control when the pitch gets steep.

1. GOAT Steep Assist

The GOAT Steep Assist gives you a support point on pitches where standing flat is not realistic. On a steep run it takes the strain off your legs and lets you hold a working position long enough to actually set clips instead of fighting to stay put. It is the piece our guys reach for first when a house has a front gable that is too steep to walk.

Look at the GOAT Steep Assist on Amazon

2. Pitch Hopper

The Pitch Hopper is a roof wedge. You set it on the shingles and it gives you a level platform to stand or kneel on, which changes the whole feel of working a pitched section. It is simple, it is light, and it moves with you as you work down a run. Roofers have used these for years and they carry over to light installs without any learning curve.

Look at the Pitch Hopper on Amazon

3. Cougar Paws Boots

Cougar Paws are roofing boots built with a replaceable pad that grips asphalt shingles. Regular work boots slide on granules, especially in cold weather when the shingles are hard and slick. Better traction at the boot is the cheapest safety upgrade on this list because it helps on every roof you step on, not just the steep ones.

Look at Cougar Paws on Amazon

Who Else This Gear Helps

This is not only a Christmas light list. The same three tools carry over to anyone who spends time on a pitched roof:

• Christmas light installers running clip lines along steep ridges and gables
• Roof cleaning crews working soft wash on shingle roofs
• Pressure washing contractors who get pulled onto a roof for gutter or fascia work
• Gutter cleaning and gutter guard installers
• Solar, satellite, and chimney techs who only go up a few times a year

Safety Comes Before Any Purchase

Gear helps, but the rules still apply. Use a full harness and a properly anchored rope, follow OSHA fall protection requirements for the height you are working at, and read the manufacturer instructions for every tool before you use it. Check the roof for soft decking, ice, and loose granules before you commit weight to it. If the pitch, the weather, or the condition of the roof is past what your setup can handle safely, walk away from that section and quote it differently.

If You Are a Homeowner Reading This

You do not need to buy any of this. Steep roof work in December is the exact job to hand off. Our Christmas light installation service is all inclusive with custom cut commercial LEDs, install, an automatic timer, season long maintenance, and takedown and storage in January. We handle the same roofs the rest of the year for roof cleaning and gutter cleaning, so the ladder work is already part of what we do every week.

You can see our reviews and photos on our Google Business Profile.

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