How to mount LEDs directly to shingles?

[ryebred]

I have a bunch of C6 LEDs from CDI that I need to mount to my composition shingle roof. I have done a search and found a bunch of clips that people are using for the same purpose but these clips are more designed to follow the outline of the roof along the gutters. I have a roof that slopes forward toward the street and I want to attach LED's directly to it. The other issue is that the LED's are brightest when looking at them directly from the top. This means that I would like all of the LED's to be horizontally mounted so their brightest part faces the street.

Since the C6's are like mini lights with a strawberry cover on them, I was originally looking at a mini light adhesive clip but Peter Brenner, who sells the clips, does not think the glue would be strong enough to hold them on a composition shingle roof. I could buy stronger glue I suppose but then I want to be able to remove them when I take all of the lights down. Shingle clips might work though I haven't found any that fit mini lights. All that I have seen are for C7, C9 type bulbs.

Does anyone have an recommendation on the lowest impact method to mount C6 LED's horizontally on a composition shingle roof?

[Bruce Wallick]

I haven't done this yet, but am considering using the plastic "chicken wire" screen you can find at HD or Lowes. There are different grid sizes available and the C6 should ziptie right to it. You would still need to attach the grid to the roof, but this method should reduce the number of attachment points.

Good decorating,
Bruce

[Greg]

I've done this before using the black spring type paper clips with no damage

[ryebred]

Greg wrote:

I've done this before using the black spring type paper clips with no damage

By black spring paper clip do you mean like the kind below?

It has been a while since I have been on my roof. I will have to look to see if the shingles lift at all. With composition shingles, they might be glued or tarred down on top of the adjacent shingle. If so then this probably wouldn't work. Then again the shingle clips would not work either if I ever found one for mini's.


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[Greg]

thats it!

Mine were sealed down but there were some areas that I was able to get a clip under without damaging any shingles

[ryebred]

I mounted 21 strings of 70 count C6 LED's to my roof using these clips and they worked great. My first couple strings I used a bunch of clips and then realized I would run out before I got all the lights secured. Not wanting to make another trip to the store for more clips I used less on subsequent strings and even doubled up colors on one clip. Our first big storm of the season hits tonight so we will see how everything hods up but they are nice and tight with those clips and no damage to the composition shingles at all. Thanks for the tip.

[EddyA]

I love this forum...I had the exact same question, did a quick search of the forums, and this was the first string of messages I pulled up...question answered. How much do these clips cost, and wheres the cheapest place to buy them. Also, I have pretty steep roofs on my house. Any tips on how to keep from breaking my neck? Some of these inclines look like there is no way of not sliding. It's a new house, and I havn't been on the roof yet. Thanks for the clip tip!!

Eddy

[ryebred]

EddyA wrote:

How much do these clips cost, and wheres the cheapest place to buy them.

I bought a pack of 50 clips for $6 at Office Mart. Any office supply store will have them. I used the medium size which works well because then I can put three strings at a time into the same clip. If you had only one string per clip then the small size would probably work as well depending on how thick your shingles are. You can get a box of 100 small ones for around $6 at the Office Supply stores.

[jpbaily1]

Like the clips, I use them at work almost every day & had not considered this as an option for lights!



Love this place!