The holidays are a time for spreading joy and light. For a holiday home with stucco siding, decking the exterior with Christmas lights poses a challenge. Stucco’s delicate plaster surface makes it prone to damage from screws, staples, and nails.
Drilling holes to hang lights can lead to cracks and deterioration. Luckily, with the right adhesive and techniques, you can safely affix lights for seasonal cheer without harming your home’s finish.
You are watching: How To Hang Christmas Lights On Stucco
You want your home to shine bright for the holidays without damaging the stucco. You can safely learn how to hang Christmas lights on stucco with some clever tricks.
In our guide, you can find the best way to hang lights on stucco without causing damage. By the end, you’ll have multiple options for how attaching your Christmas lights on a stucco exterior is easy. (Learn How To Hang Christmas Lights Around Windows)
Mistakes to Avoid When Hanging Christmas Lights on Stucco
Before we get into the proper techniques, let’s review what not to do when hanging Christmas Lights on stucco:
- Don’t use nails, screws, or staples on synthetic stucco. These will puncture your stucco, leaving permanent damage.
- Don’t rely on regular double-sided tape. It won’t adhere well to textured stucco.
- Don’t hang lights from your rain gutters. The weight can pull the gutters loose.
- Don’t run cords across walkways. This creates a tripping hazard.
- Don’t overload outlets. Check the maximum wattage to avoid overheating.
- Don’t hang lights above head height. Use a sturdy ladder to install lights safely.
Avoiding these mistakes will preserve your stucco and protect your safety. Now, let’s look at the right ways to hang lights (Read Christmas Light Bulb Size Chart).
How to Hang Lights on Stucco With Double-Sided Tape
Here’s a quick introduction to how to attach Christmas lights to stucco using tape. A special heavy-duty double-sided tape exists for hanging holiday lights without damaging stucco or cinderblock. Here’s how to use it:
Step 1: Clean the Surface
- Use a stiff brush to remove any dirt or debris from your stucco.
- Wipe the area with rubbing alcohol to remove oils.
Step 2: Attach It To The Back Of Your Lights
- Cut pieces of outdoor-rated double-sided tape, available from local hardware stores.
- Remove and stick the double-sided tape to your Christmas lights. Attach
- Remove the other side of the tape and attach the light against the stucco.
Step 3: Install the Lights Directly to Stucco
- Run the light string to its desired position.
- Firmly press along the entire strand to secure the tape.
- Slowly pull the lights on the exterior to test if the tape offers enough strong adhesive properties.
This temporary solution lets you quickly hang outdoor Christmas lights and also easily remove the lights after the holidays without damaging your stucco.
How to Attach Christmas Lights to Stucco with Glue
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When you hang your lights on your home’s stucco exterior, it could spread holiday cheer. But drilling holes in stucco can cause permanent damage. (Learn How To Hang String Lights In Backyard Without Trees)
With a hot glue gun and patience, you can quickly see how to hang lights without damaging stucco on your home’s exterior here.
Follow these steps to adhere Christmas lights to stucco exterior walls safely:
1. Tap Lightly on Your Stucco to Check for Styrofoam Backing
- Before applying glue, gently tap on various areas of your stucco.
- Listen for a hollow, plastic-like sound. This means you have Styrofoam backing under the plaster.
2. Avoid Using Hot Glue if Your Stucco is Painted
- Hot glue can melt paint on contact. This will permanently mar your stucco’s finish.
- Opt for a cold-application glue like liquid nails if your stucco is painted.
3. Remove the Light Bulbs Before Installing Your Strings
- Carefully remove the bulbsfrom the light strand you want to attach.
- Removing the bulbs provides easier access for gluing and reduces weight.
- Number the dangling sockets with tape so you can replace bulbs correctly later.
4. Apply a Small Bead of Glue to the Side of the First Empty Bulb Socket
- Lift the dangling first socket and place a nickel-sized dollop of glue on its side.
- Avoid getting glue inside the socket where it can obstruct contacts.
5. Press Your Christmas Light Socket Firmly Against the Stucco for 30 Seconds
- Hold the glued light socket to the wall for at least 30 seconds.
- This ensures a solid bond and full contact between the glue and stucco plaster.
6. Continue Attaching the Light Sockets Around Your Home
- After the first socket, repeat steps 4 and 5 to adhere each bulb holder every 8 to 12 inches.
- Work your way around your home in a clockwise direction, pressing each socket firmly before moving to the next.
7. Let the Glue Dry Completely Before Turning on Your Lights
- Give the glue several hours to fully cure and build strength before activating the lights.
- Plugging them in too soon can cause the strand to detach or sag.
8. Soften the Glue with a Heat Gun to Eventually Remove Your Lights
- After the holidays, use a heat gun to gently heat the glue holding each socket.
- This allows you to detach the lights without chipping the plaster.
- Be careful not to overheat and damage your stucco.
With this simple glue method, you can safely start hanging lights on stucco exteriors. Just be cautious with painted surfaces and let the glue cure fully.
Note: Never apply glue to the base of the light socket to stick to stucco, or it could cause problems later if water gets in, such as the paint can blister and peel.
Attaching Your Lights with Plastic Roof Clip Nails
Here’s another simple way how to hang lights on stucco without drilling. Plastic clip nails grip surfaces without damaging them. Here’s how to use them:
Step 1: Use Screw Hooks to Hang the Lights
- Screw plastic clip nails into the stucco at least 1 inch.
- Hang screw-eye hooks or cup hooks from the clip nails.
- Thread the Christmas light strands through the hooks.
Step 2: Use Zip Ties to Attach the Lights
- Press alternate clip nails flat against the stucco, leaving the others raised.
- Use zip ties to attach the lights to the raised clip nails.
- This creates a zigzag shape to securely hold the lights.
The nails won’t damage the stucco-like screws or nails. Remove them easily by twisting the clips off the wall after the holidays. (Learn How Long Do Christmas Trees Last)
Do Outdoor Command Strips Work on Stucco?
Special heavy-duty Command strips are available for outdoor use. But do these work on textured stucco siding? Unfortunately, standard outdoor Command strips don’t adhere well to uneven surfaces like stucco. They can release and cause lights to fall.
However, Command makes a specialty stucco strip with a thicker, more flexible adhesive rated for outdoor use. This provides extra grab for strings of lights on stucco or textured surfaces.
To use:
- Clean and dry a smooth area of stucco, at least 1 foot wide.
- Attach the adhesive strips horizontally along the planned light path.
- Remove the backing paper and press the lights onto the strips.
While costlier, these stucco strips from Command provide a damage-free temporary lighting solution.
How Do You Hang String Lights On Outside Stucco Without Drilling?
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We’ve covered various ways to hang Christmas lights that avoid drilling into stucco siding. Here are a few more tips:
- Use clip-on curtain rod brackets to hold lights. Screw them into the eave or awning framing instead of the stucco.
- Purchase simple hooks to hang lights from stucco. Unlike adhesive hooks, these hooks can be screwed into wood trim boards around windows for the best results when securing lights.
- Drape lights over plants, railings, or other exterior features that don’t have vulnerable stucco.
- Use stucco light clips system for gutters to attach lights around the roof edge.
- Employ magnet hooks or magnetic tape if your stucco contains iron components.
With creativity and the right accessories, you can highlight your stucco home’s architecture for the holidays without damaging the finish.
Final Thoughts
Hanging Christmas lights on stucco siding adds cheer without the fear of damage. You can safely decorate your stucco home for the holidays with the proper techniques, from adhesives to clip nails.
Let your home glow while keeping your walls intact. You can also attach other Christmas tree lights and decorations using any of the above techniques. (Learn How Long Does Stucco Last)
FAQs about Hanging Christmas Lights on Stucco
Is stucco easy to repair?
Damaged stucco makes repair challenging. Holes and cracks require patching, sealing, and paint touch-ups to avoid further deterioration. Avoid stucco repairs by using non-invasive methods for how to hang lights on stucco exteriors.
How much weight can command strips hold?
Outdoor command strips can hold up to 16 pounds on smooth surfaces. Use multi-strip sets for enough lights or heavier items. On textured stucco, capacity is lower, so only hang lightweight lights along exteriors.
Do I need clips for Christmas lights?
Fastening light clips to the stucco provides an extra safeguard for your string lights but isn’t mandatory. With good-quality adhesives or secure attachments to infrastructure, clips are optional. Ensure lights are anchored tightly to the stucco to see if there is any sagging.
What kind of glue works best on stucco?
Acrylic latex caulk adheres well to cement stucco surfaces. Avoid wartime glues—the moisture causes foaming. Be sure to fill any holes after removing glue-on lights.
How do I hang outdoor lights without nails?
Using plastic roof clips, adhesives, stucco hooks, and mounting rope lights using the existing infrastructure without using nails or screws. Get creative with cable ties, magnets, and clips!
How do you decorate textured stucco walls?
For depth, hang 3D elements like wreaths; for flat looks, attach lights or garlands straight to the surface using heavy-duty double-sided tape. Stick to removable decorations—don’t try painting designs on textured stucco.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor