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How to Prepare Your Home for a Roof Replacement

The installation of a new roof is a major project that requires you to prepare your house, family, pets, and neighbors. Here are ten steps you can take.

Your roof is one of the most important parts of your home, so it’s important to treat it with care. When the time comes to replace the roof, you will need to prepare the rest of the house, the surrounding area, and possibly your neighbors.

This might sound scary, but all you really need to do is take a few precautions in order to prevent damage to valuables and other disruptions. A skilled roofing contractor will take care of almost everything for you, but you can help make their job easier. Here are ten things you can do to prepare your home for its new roof.

1. Plan for other accommodations for you, your family, and your pets


Photo by Patrick McConahay on Flickr [Creative Commons]

Your home will be a work zone during the day, so you might want to be elsewhere. Small children and backyard pets, in particular, should not be at home while the roofers are working.

2. Let your neighbors know

Installing a new roof can be disruptive, so it’s probably a good idea to let your neighbors know your plans. They might be interested to know how long to expect work trucks and construction noise in case they want to modify their own schedules. If your houses are particularly close together, they might want to make some preparations of their own.

3. Prune your trees and mow the lawn

Your roofing contractor should let you know if any tree limbs or branches could interfere with the installation or pose a danger to their crew. You might consider pruning a little bit further just to make sure nothing gets in their way. If you’re not able to do this, the roofer may have a connection to a local landscaper that could help.

If you have plants near the house, they could get hit by debris that falls from the roof. You should let the roofers know about any plants that are particularly fragile. Mowing the grass shortly before the job begins can help the roofers find and remove fallen debris.

4. Secure your attic

As the roofers remove the old roof and install the new one, small debris will fall into your attic. You might consider removing anything breakable or valuable and covering everything else with dropcloths.

5. Remove anything hanging from walls and ceilings

The roof installation process will create vibrations throughout your house that can damage anything hanging from the walls or ceilings. You should remove any framed art or photographs, wall decorations, and delicate light fixtures. It’s not likely that they’ll fall, but it’s possible.

6. Clear the area around the house

The area immediately surrounding your house will have falling debris while the roofers are working. The roofers will need to place ladders at various points around the house. You should move any objects near the house, such as grills and outdoor furniture, both to protect them and to make room for the roofers to work.

7. Remove satellite dishes and antennas


Image by Christoph Sixt from Pixabay

Your roofer might be able to remove any satellite dishes or antennas for you. If you prefer to remove them yourself before they begin work, please do so carefully.

You should consult with your satellite or cable provider ahead of time to arrange for reinstallation after the roof is complete. If you have any old antennas on your roof that are no longer in use, your roofer can remove them and dispose of them for you.

8. Keep your driveway clear

Your roofer might need to use your driveway while working. You will also want to keep your car away from the house to protect it from debris.

9. Turn off the sprinkler system


Photo by Hamed Taha on Unsplash

The roofers might need to stack materials on your driveway or lawn. The last thing you want is for everything to get wet when your sprinkler system turns on.

10. Check the available power outlets

The roofing crew may need as many power outlets as you have available. They prefer to use the outside outlets, but they could use outlets in your garage if necessary. You should check all of the available outlets ahead of time to make sure they are working.

Learn more about having your roof replaced

RoofCrafters’ experienced and skilled professionals provide unmatched workmanship and service to homes and businesses in the greater Austin area. Contact us today to schedule your roof inspection.

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