What Richmond's wind and wet ground mean for your lights
Richmond is flat, open and close to the water. That means wind off the Strait of Georgia reaches rooflines with nothing to slow it down. Winter storms here bring wind more often than snow, and wind is what pulls loose strands off a house.
So we put extra clips on the exposed side of the roofline. Lights that sag or blow down after the first windstorm are one of the most common complaints we hear, and clip spacing is the fix.
The ground matters too. The water table is high, and flat yards can hold standing water through the wet season. We keep cord connections off the ground so they are not sitting in a puddle.
Light rain does not stop ground-level work. If the roof is slick or the wind is up, we move the roof work to another day. A wet roof is not worth the risk.
Houses, townhouses and condos we hang in Richmond
Richmond has a lot of 1960s to 1980s ranchers and two-storey homes on wide lots. Many have been replaced by large new houses, especially around Steveston and Terra Nova. Those newer homes tend to have long rooflines and several gables, which is a lot of ladder work for one weekend.
If you have a house with lots of peaks and no idea what will look right, we can talk through it with you. We can hang the roofline, gutters, peaks, dormers, railings and pillars. We can add icicle lights, pathway lights, wreaths and garland.
Townhouse complexes are common across the city. In many of them the strata decides what goes on the exterior, so check with your council or property manager before booking. We also work with stratas, low-rise condos and storefronts, if you are booking for a building rather than one home.
How booking and pricing work
You book the install as one job. There is no program and nothing to renew. If you want the lights taken down, add removal in January. If you only want repair or removal on lights someone else hung, you can book that on its own.
If you have bins of lights in the garage, we hang them when they are rated for outdoor use and working. We look them over first and tell you plainly if a strand is not worth hanging again. If you would rather not deal with lights at all, we can supply them.
Price depends on four things:
- The length of your roofline
- The height and pitch of the roof
- How much is lit besides the roof
- Whether you use your own lights or want ours
Most houses take a few hours in one visit. Large or steep houses can take longer. Lights can go up in October or November and stay off until you want them on, and December fills up.
