Preparing for Roof Replacement Tips

Replacing your roof can be a big and challenging job, no doubt. A complete roof replacement involves tearing down all of the material on your roof down to the deck, before re-shingling everything. This is opposed to a simple re-roofing, where new roof shingles are placed above already existing ones.  This is a practice that used to be common, but is not currently recommended by any shingle manufacturers.

Needless to say, a re-roofing requires some serious preparations on the part of the homeowner. Before you start with any roofing work, it’s important to know what will be required of you and your home in advance to make sure that your roof replacement goes as smoothly as possible. In this article, we’re going to give you a step-by-step guide on how to prepare for your brand new roof installation.

How to Prepare Your Yard

First, you’ll need to clear your outdoor space of anything that might get in the way of the roofers. Keep in mind that they’re doing a big job, so you want to give them all the space they need if you want your re-roofing to get done quickly. This means moving any cars you have parked outside and any larger pieces of outdoor furniture, like lounge chairs, barbeques -- anything you think might get in the way of ladders or scaffolding. 

You should also consider that during any large construction job, there will be a build-up of dust and an accumulation of some kind of debris. Move anything which you don’t want to become dirty or damaged. Don’t forget to ask the team in charge of your roof installation if you have any doubts as to how you can best prepare the space and where your possessions should best be placed.

How to Prepare Your Home

Aside from preparing the outside of your home, it’s equally important to prepare the inside. Contractors will need power outlets and relatively unbridled access to the roof area. Additionally, we recommend covering any possessions that you have in your attic and taking down any decorations that you have hanging on your walls. 

Your project is going to involve sawing, hammering roof shingles, and moving debris or other large objects. The resulting vibrations can cause things to shake and fall. In an ideal situation, this won’t happen, but it is always a possibility -- so be conscious that any intensive work on your house and especially on your roof can break any unsecured items inside of your house. 

How to Prepare Your Children and Pets

As is the case with any major building works, be sure that your pets and your children are steered clear of the construction area. Depending on their age, your children may be more or less bothered by the work being carried out, so use your good judgement as a parent and decide whether or not you think they should be present during the re-roofing. The same goes with your family pets -- if you don’t have space in your house or garden for your dog or cat where you can keep them decently far away from the noise and mess, a temporary holiday for them may be in order. 

Depending on the size of your roof, the weather, and the complexity of the job, the duration of your re-roofing may range from a single day to an entire week. In most cases, experts can have a roof replaced in a single day if the conditions are right. If it’s the case that you need to take your pets and children away from the house for a whole day, try to organise this in advance.

Get a Brand New Roof Today

If you're planning on getting your roof replaced and want the work completed in an efficient and timely manner, then why not work with real professionals? Central Exteriors is among the most trusted roofing specialists in the Maryland and Washington DC areas. We’ve been operating since 1956 and in that time we’ve developed a portfolio consisting of every kind of job -- big, small, residential and commercial. 

You name it; we’ve seen it. To get your brand new roof, call us now on (301) 881-2424 or use the contact form on our website to get a free quote.