How to Prepare For Roof Repair or Installation

Installing or repairing your roof can seem like a long process. You have to do your research and find a contractor. Then it can take a month or more for them to get you scheduled and complete all the preliminary insurance work.  It can feel like getting your new roof will take forever. But once all of the paperwork is finished, it really only takes about one or two days of real construction to get your new roof in place. With all of that lead time before the big day, it’s a good opportunity to do some prep work of your own so that things run as smoothly as possible. Here are some tips to help you prepare for a roof repair or installation.

Inside Your Home

Your roof is the barrier that keeps your home safe from the outside elements. When a contractor comes in to replace it, it’s going to shake things up.  While it may only take one or two days to completely replace your roof, during that time, your home is a full, active construction site. That means that there’s going to be a lot of noise and a lot of equipment rattling your house. 

Before the roofers arrive, it’s a good idea to spend a day getting your home prepared for what’s about to happen.  You should go around your house and identify anything that’s at risk of being broken or knocked over by the vibrations of the construction. Take everything off the walls, especially any artwork or pictures, so that they don’t fall. Your TVs should be fine, as long as they are mounted into the studs of the house. Anchor or remove anything else that you are worried could topple over. Then on the day of construction, you won’t have to worry about losing anything on the inside of your home.

Outside Your Home

After you’re done making sure everything in your home is safe, the next step is to go around the outside of your house and make sure you take down or move anything that is hanging from the walls or roof, and that nothing is close to the house. The roofers are going to be working fast and hard to make sure your roof is installed and in perfect condition.  But, to do that, they’re going to have to tear the old one off. Ladders will be going up, equipment will be hoisted, and the old construction will be ripped up and thrown off the roof. 

To make that process as easy and safe as possible, you should spend time before the roofers arrive making sure that anything that could be in the way is removed. House plants that may be hanging from the overhang or walls should be taken down. Any decorative yard pieces or toys, bikes, exercise equipment - anything that could get in the way or be broken by falling debris needs to be moved to a safe spot, so you can enjoy it again after the roof is installed.

The Key to Keeping Your Property Safe

Taking the time to prepare your home in the days before your roofers arrive can make the process go faster and run smoother. That’s always important. But once you’ve taken your pictures off the walls and moved your kids' bikes from around the perimeter of the house, what can you do about the rest? How can you protect your landscaping? How will you deal with clean-up? Yes, there are things you can do to prepare for the big construction day, but the reality is, most of what’s about to happen is out of your hands. Someone is about to come and rip the top off of your home. And, once they start, you’ve got to see it through.

That’s why the number one thing you can do to keep your property safe and prepare for your roof installation happens weeks before the roofers arrive.  

The key to having a good experience is doing your research and finding a great contractor. You want someone who knows how to protect your home while they are working on it. Your house will be an active construction site, but a good contractor has organization systems in place to make sure that the process is always one of organized chaos.  They should have the team working to clean as they go, reducing debris and potential damage.  They should have a plan to protect your landscaping, such as covering it with decking to keep it safe.  When you work with a good contractor, they’ll make sure you’re ready before they arrive, and you’ll be able to relax, knowing that everything is taken care of.

At Parish Roofing Solutions, we make sure that we’re prepared. We’ll explain the process to you and help you identify anything that can help you prepare for the big day.  We take pride in partnering with our clients to ensure everything runs smoothly for you and your family. Reach out today for a free estimate and we’ll make sure you’re prepared for your new roof!