A Guideline to Preparing for a Roof Replacement

Once you have hired a contractor, or you at least have one in mind that you would like to hire, your roofing process can start. Before the first day of work, you have a lot to do! If you aren’t prepared, and you haven’t asked your contractor the right questions, you may delay that new roof of yours. Preparations for this project begin weeks before the actual work starts.

Clear the Yard Around Your Home

The old roof is going to come off in pieces. Those pieces are going to land somewhere around your house on the ground. Clear everything away from around your home and put stuff at least twelve feet away from the house. This includes any bikes, lawnmowers, yard care items, gardening tools, and patio furniture or camp chairs. The whole area needs to be free and clear for the project.

Check with Your Contractor Regarding Permits

Some contractors will get the building permits and include them in their estimate for the job. Others will ask you to get the permits yourself. If your contractor expects you to get the permits, you will have to go to the local city building and find your building ordinance office. There you can apply for and pay for the permits. It varies depending on where you live and how extensive the project will be. 

Forewarn City Ordinance Officers That You Will Be Doing Construction

You would think that after taking out a permit city ordinance officers would know enough not to bother you while your project is under construction. However, government offices don’t always communicate with each other, and you will always have neighbors who complain. For that reason, be sure to inform the city’s ordinance officers that you will be doing roofing construction between specified dates so that any neighbor complaints will be dutifully ignored unless there is an actual violation. 

Give Neighbors Proper Notice

If your home is in close proximity to other houses, be a decent neighbor and report to them that you will be doing construction on your roof. Provide the dates and expected hours that the crew will be working. Some municipalities actually expect you to give public notice in a newspaper or send printed letters to all your neighbors to avoid any hard feelings. While this is only a hard and fast rule if it’s law where you live, it is nice to let your neighbors know that there’s going to be a lot of noise and mess for at least a week. 

Rent Dumpsters

If your contractor doesn’t do cleanup, or will only do cleanup if you provide dumpsters, be sure to schedule and rent those dumpsters in a timely manner. Call the dumpster company a few weeks in advance. Secure a good-sized dumpster for the work dates.

Be sure the dumpster will be big enough for the roofing materials your contractor’s crew will rip off the roof and throw down. Then clear the way to have the dumpster delivered and preferably dropped next to the side of the house to make cleanup easier. A pickup time is necessary to ensure that the full dumpster will be taken off your property. 

Notify Local Police Too

Again, you want your project to be uninterrupted. Disgruntled neighbors may take issue with not being able to get around work trucks or may be frustrated by the noise. Police are often involved in situations like this and it causes them a lot of extra paperwork.

Help them help you by letting them know the week before your roofing project starts that you are replacing your roof. There may be some issues with noise, trucks, or mess. If they know what’s going on with your property and the issue is one that doesn’t need police involvement, they don’t have to check it out or file paperwork either. 

Have a Backup Plan If the Weather Doesn’t Cooperate

The weather can create problems with a roof replacement. Make sure you have a backup plan if the weather doesn’t cooperate. That includes calling everyone involved and changing the start or completion dates. (You don’t have to notify the neighbors as they will know the weather has stalled your plans.)