String lights can make a world of difference to your outdoor space. It exudes a certain vibe making your ambiance more relaxing and welcoming. In some houses or condominiums, patio lights are becoming staples as they provide a vintage touch to your apartments, house backyards, or even cafes.
However, with the presence of your stucco wall siding, hanging these fancy lights seem to be challenging. You may initially think of grabbing a box of nails to hammer these on the wall but before you do something that you might regret, let’s read on the ways on how to safely hang outdoor lights on your stucco wall without causing any damage.
You have to properly secure the lights without causing damage to the exterior of your house. Take note that the uneven, coarse texture of stucco makes some adhesives ineffective. To deal with this challenging surface, there are some crafting tools you can use to attach your lights and remove them without damaging your stucco. If your finish is made with EIFS or Exterior Insulation Finishing System, you may even have an option to permanently install tools like light clips if you are planning to hang and remove your lights every now and then.
GLUE GUN METHOD
- Get the glue gun and load the glue stick into it. Plug the glue gun into the nearest power outlet. If the area where you are planning to hang the lights is quite far from where the glue gun is plugged, you may need to use an extension cord.
- Go to the spot where your string lights will end and using a ladder, climb while holding your lights, and a glue gun. Hold the end of the string light with one hand against the wall. Align the nozzle of the glue gun near the light cord and pull the trigger in order to put a glob of glue onto the cord and wall. Be careful not to touch the hot glue.
- Allow the glue to dry and harden by holding and pressing the cord against the wall for about 20 to 30 seconds. Then work on the next spot about 18 inches away from the starting point. Repeat step 2 by adding another glob of hot glue. Keep repeating the process for every 18 inches along with the string lights until you reach the end.
Permanent Clips Method
- Determine the spaces between each light bulb on your string lights by measuring them. This will determine the right spacing for the light clips.
- Put the ladder in the spot where your lights will end. Climb on the ladder while holding the caulk gun loaded with construction adhesive.
- Go to the roofline or spot where the lights will go. Put a quarter-sized dab of adhesive directly on the stucco exterior surface.
- Place the flat edge of the mounting clip into the adhesive. Hold and press it firmly for about a few seconds to ensure that it sticks strongly. Repeat this process on every mounting clip, making sure that the clip spacing equals the bulb spacing on the light string. Once you’re done, it’s time to attach the light bulbs into each mounting clips.