Halloween is the season of chills, thrills and spooky fun, and the outside of your house can join the party too. We are a family owned roofing and exteriors company in the North Hills, and every October we see Pittsburgh neighborhoods go all out with lights, bats and the occasional giant spider. Here are some creative roof and eave decor ideas, plus a few simple safety tips so your decorations come down in November without leaving any damage behind. If a decoration ever does loosen a shingle, our residential roof repair team can take a look.
Spooky Decor Ideas for Your Roofline
1. Eerie Eave Lights
Why keep the fun on the ground when your eaves make a perfect frame? String orange and purple lights along the roofline for an eye catching glow. Pair them with a few hanging bats or ghosts to finish the look.
2. Haunted Attic Window
For a quieter, more mysterious vibe, turn an attic or dormer window into a haunted lookout. Faux cobwebs, a cutout silhouette taped inside the glass and a battery lantern glowing behind it will have trick or treaters looking twice.
3. Giant Spider Webs
A huge web stretched from the eaves to a porch post or tree is sure to get a scream. Add an oversized spider and a few LED eyes for extra spookiness. Keep the web anchored below the roof edge so nothing has to sit on the shingles.
4. Bat Invasion
Hang a swarm of bat cutouts from the eaves at different angles to create the look of a mid flight invasion. Lightweight plastic or cardstock bats work best because they will not pull on the gutters.
5. Glowing Gargoyles
A pair of gargoyles beside the front steps or on the porch roof edge gives your home a Gothic feel. Place LED candles near them for an unsettling glow. Keep heavy statues on the ground or the porch floor rather than up on the roof.
6. Creepy Chimney
If you have a chimney, a giant eye peering over the top or a witch flying toward it makes a great focal point. Use a projector or a well secured lightweight cutout so nobody has to climb onto the roof to set it up.
7. Moonlit Roof
Project a moon and drifting clouds onto your roof with an outdoor projector from the yard. It is elegant, eerie and the easiest idea on this list because nothing touches the roof at all.
Safe Decorating Tips for Roofs and Gutters
A fun October should not turn into a roof or gutter repair in November. A few simple rules keep everyone safe:
- Never staple or nail into shingles. Every hole is a spot where water can get in. Use plastic gutter hooks or shingle tabs that slide on and off.
- Stay off ladders when the roof or ground is wet. Pittsburgh Octobers bring plenty of rain and early frost. Wait for a dry, calm day, and have someone hold the ladder.
- Do not walk on the roof to decorate. Most roof decor can be hung from the eaves while standing on a ladder, or projected from the yard.
- Keep gutters clear. Do not stuff decorations, cobweb material or cords inside the gutter trough where they can block fallen leaves and water.
- Do not hang heavy items from gutters. Gutters are built to carry water, not inflatables or statues.
- Use outdoor rated lights and cords and plug them into a covered outdoor outlet.
Cleanup After Halloween
Once the candy is gone, take everything down on a dry day before the first snow. Pull out any clips or hooks, sweep stray cobweb material out of the gutters and look over the roofline for a lifted shingle or a bent gutter section. Catching small problems in the fall is much easier than finding them during a winter storm.
We love seeing our neighbors celebrate, and we hope these ideas help your house become the talk of the street. If you would like to learn more about our family business, visit our about page. If you spot any roof or gutter damage after the season, contact us for a free written estimate. Have a spooky and safe Halloween!
