How to Prepare
You’ve decided to get a new roof on your home! Congratulations! Getting a new roof means you’ve invested in the safety and comfort of your family and in the integrity of your home. Before having your roof installed, there are some preparations you can make to ensure the process will go smoothly and that you and your family will be minimally inconvenienced. Here are five steps that will help you get properly prepared and make sure your new project is a success.
Step 1: Make Sure Your Roofing Company Has Clear Access
To make the job easier on your roofing contractors and to ensure your outdoor belongings stay safe and clean, it’s important to clear your sidewalks, driveways, and other areas surrounding your home before the roofers arrive. You’ll need to move vehicles out of your driveway, remove children’s toys, patio furniture, grills and other outdoor items. If you have room in the garage, this is the perfect place for them. For those items that can’t be moved, cover them with a sheet of plastic or tarp and make sure they remain in place until the job’s done.
Step 2: Remove Any Valuables from Your Attic
Roofing is a messy job no matter how experienced, professional, and careful your contractors are. Your attic is likely to experience some of the fallout of the project in the form of dust and debris. If you have anything valuable in your attic like irreplaceable heirlooms or expensive pieces of artwork, you should move them elsewhere during the project. For other items that you don’t want to get dirty (or that are too heavy to easily move), cover them with a cloth or tarp while work is being done.
Step 3: Make a Plan for Your Kids and Pets
If you have young children or pets who are disturbed by loud noises, it’s a good idea to make plans for them to stay elsewhere, at least during the tear-off portion of the project. In addition to loud noises, there could be falling debris that could pose a danger to young kids and animals. If you can’t find a place for them to stay during the roofing project, it’s probably best to keep them inside as much as possible.
Step 4: Alert Your Neighbors
The noise and mess of getting a new roof installed isn’t just disturbing to your family — it’s likely to disrupt your neighbors as well. As a courtesy, let them know you’re planning to have a new roof put on and tell them the dates of the project. This will allow them to plan ahead if they want to make plans for their kids or pets or make alternative plans if they had parties or other gatherings on the calendar for the days during construction.
Step 5: Do Some Prep Work
Vibrations and shifts in your home are common during the roof tear-off and installation process. This can easily cause artwork, mirrors, or framed pictures to fall off walls and get damaged. To make sure your belongings stay safe, remove them from the wall and place on the floor until the project is complete. Consider doing the same with light fixtures or glass sconces that are attached to the wall, especially on the upper floor.
In addition to removing or protecting outdoor belongings, you should also mow your grass the day before or the day of the project. With short grass, it’s easier to see bolts, pieces of shingles, or nails and make it less likely you, your family, or your roofing contractors will step on something and hurt themselves. You also need to remove your satellite dish if you have one and cover any flowerbeds or garden areas.
Having a new roof installed shows pride in your home and will increase safety and enjoyment as well as resale value. If you take the proper steps to prepare, your job will go smoothly and your family will be able to enjoy your upgraded home in no time. If you have any questions about how to prepare for your new roof, please reach out to our experts at Hometown Roofing.
