It can be tricky to hang Christmas lights on a stucco exterior. You need to safely secure the lights without damaging the finish on your house, and the rough, uneven texture of stucco makes most adhesives ineffective. But there's good news: professional lighting designers have found a simple solution for securing lights to this challenging surface, so you don't have to miss out on decorating for the holiday season. Using a common crafting tool — a hot glue gun — you can secure Christmas lights and remove them without damaging the stucco.
This method works on any traditional (masonry) stucco surface, but it is not suitable for synthetic stucco — Exterior Insulation Finishing Systems, or EIFS. The heat from the hot glue can melt the Styrofoam backing of the material and cause the stucco to flake off. If you have EIFS stucco, see the tips below for ways to hang lights on non-stucco surfaces.
Video of the Day
Video of the Day
Need to hang outdoor Christmas lights on stucco? Here's an easy hack to get your holiday decorating started.
How to Hang Christmas Lights Using Hot Glue
Things You'll Need
1. Get the Lights and Glue Gun Ready
Plug the lights into an outlet and check to make sure they are working properly before you hang them on your home's exterior. (Also be sure your lights are rated for outdoor use.) Load a glue stick into the glue gun. Plug the hot glue gun into an extension cord. Plug the extension cord into the nearest outlet, according to where you plan to hang your lights. Wait a few minutes to let the glue gun fully heat up.
2. Add a Spot of Glue on the House
Place the ladder in the location where your string lights will end, and climb the ladder with your lights and glue gun. Hold the end of the string lights against the wall with one hand. Place the nozzle of the glue gun close to the light cord, being careful not to touch it. Pull the trigger, directing a glob of glue onto the cord and wall.
Warning
Do not attempt to glue lights to painted surfaces, as the paint will blister and peel away.
3. Allow the Glue to Cool and Repeat
Hold the light string against the wall for about 20 to 30 seconds, allowing the hot glue to cool and harden. Move to the next securing location, about 18 inches away from the first one. Add another spot of glue as you did in Step 2. Repeat the process every 18 inches along the string lights until you reach the end.
Tip
To remove the hot-glued lights, hold the tip of an empty glue gun against the hardened glue until it softens, and then gently pull the cord out of the glue. This also makes it easier to pull the glue from the stucco surface, which you can do with your fingers — just make sure the glue isn't too hot!
Hanging Lights on a House With EIFS Stucco
If your house has EIFS stucco (synthetic stucco), which can be damaged by heat, resist the temptation to permanently glue holiday light clips to the stucco surface. Permanently glued clips are exposed to weather and sunlight year-round, and the plastic will degrade quickly — much faster than the glue will, especially if you use something heavy-duty like construction adhesive.
A much safer solution is to hang lights from any non-stucco surface — along the roof or gutters, on window and door trim, and along fascia boards or under-eave soffits (if they are wood, vinyl, or aluminum). To hang lights from the roof edge or gutters, use all-purpose holiday light clips. These versatile clips easily secure to roof shingles, gutters, roof trim, and other thin materials. Some also can clip onto metal handrails or railing balusters (spindles).
