what to expect during roof replacement

When you own a home, there will likely come a time when the roof needs to be replaced once the materials start to deteriorate and fall apart. Although roofs are known as durable structures that can last several decades, they eventually need new materials to ensure there’s proper protection on the home. When you’re ready to reroof the building, it’s important to know what to expect from the process to ensure you’re prepared as you work closely with a professional roofer.

Find the Right Roofing Professional

Once your roof develops persistent leaks and fails to hold up well each season, it’s time to find a qualified professional in the local area to install new materials. Look for a certified roofer who is licensed and insured. Reading online reviews can allow you to find a reputable professional that will meet your expectations.

Preparing the Home

Prepping your home is essential before the roofer arrives to ensure the project goes smoothly. After you schedule the project, you’ll need to be flexible about the start and completion date because the roofer will need to work around the weather. It’s important to move any patio furniture away from the building to prevent it from becoming damaged if any roofing materials fall off the house. You can also mow your lawn shorter to make it easier to find any nails or materials that fall into the grass during the project. Canvas drop cloths are also necessary to use to protect different parts of the landscaping during the project.

You’ll also need to move your cars into a garage or out of the driveway to prevent damage. This is also necessary to avoid getting blocked in by the roofer’s truck when they arrive at your home. The driveway will likely be used for parking the garbage bin where all of the old roofing materials are tossed.

If you don’t plan to be home during the roofing project, you can leave your gates unlocked to provide your roofer with access to the property. They should also have access to one of the outside electrical outlets to ensure they can use power for their tools and equipment. Test it ahead of time to confirm that it works.

Communicate With Your Neighbors

Installing a new roof is an extensive and noisy process, which makes it necessary to talk to your neighbors before the roofers arrive. They’re likely to be less inconvenienced by the project if you warn them about the noise and any materials that may be falling off the roof. This can also help them plan to stay indoors to avoid contact with any of the debris if they share a fence with you. The neighbors may also want to cover some of their plants or their yard from some of the falling nails to avoid damage.

Removing the Old Roof

Once your roofer arrives on your property, they’ll start the project by removing the old materials on your home. Some roofers will install new materials directly on top of the old roof, but this depend on the type of new materials you choose to install. As the old materials are torn off, they’ll be picked up off of your lawn and tossed into a dumpster before the roofer hauls them off. As all the old roof is removed, the underlayment, flashing, drip edge, water and ice shield, and asphalt shingles or tiles will be ripped off.

Installing the New Roof

As the new materials are installed, the roofer will start by using a ladder hoist or a machine to lay out the new underlayment. You can expect the roofer to use a lot of safety gear, especially if you have a steep slope on the building. The timeframe and the completion date of the new project depends on how many people are in the crew and if there are any delays or interruptions. There are times when some issues may occur if problems are discovered on the building. Most roofs are installed in less than a week.

The Clean-Up Process

Once the new roof is installed, the roofing crew will spend time cleaning up all the old materials on your property and won’t leave anything behind. They’ll check for any debris or small nails that are hiding in the grass for your safety. After the roof is installed, you can inspect the work before submitting your final payment.

Although it can be intimidating to install a new roof, knowing what to expect can make it a smoother process. You can avoid surprises and look forward to improving the quality of your home.