It’s Time to Replace Your Roof: How to Keep the Process Hassle-free

Even though you won’t be the one up on top of your roof hammering away, there are still many things you can and should do to contribute to and prepare your property and yourself for the roofing process.

Attics

Quality roofing contractors will want to inspect your attic prior to the installation of a roof. Attic inspections are performed to determine answers to the following questions:

• Are there significant water stains on the bottom of the roof decking that could indicate the extent of necessary replacement?
• Are there any cracked rafters that should be replaced during the roof installation?
• Is mold or mildew present, which could indicate a ventilation problem?
• Are the bathroom vents being exhausted into the attic space, and are they properly connected to a dampered, louvered exhaust vent on the roof deck?
• Is there enough insulation? (A lack of insulation will permit excessive vapor that could lead to mold or mildew.)
• Are there heating or air conditioning units in the attic that would be need to be covered with a tarp during tear off?

Permits

Depending on your neighborhood or town, you may be required to obtain a permit before replacing your roof. If this is the case, and if your contractor agrees to be the one who obtains it, make sure that this is clearly stipulated in the written contract.

What to do with the old roof

When replacing a roof, one of the major decisions you’ll have to make is so obvious you might not have considered it: what will you do with your old roof? Laying the new roof over the old one will save you a little money up front, but it might lead to major problems in the future. If you decide to overlay your existing roof, it’s important to choose a reputable contractor to ensure little to no complications.

By tearing off the existing roof and doing a roof replacement, a contractor will be able to see if there are any problems with the roof deck. This will also expose any moisture or delamination issues that might be occurring in your roof decking.

If you do plan to have the existing roof removed, it’s common practice for the contractor to be responsible for disposing of it. This should be clearly stated in the contract. Some quality contractors have gone green and will dispose of the roofing materials at a recycling center.

Traffic

No matter how considerate your roofing company is, there’s no way of getting around the fact that roofing will disrupt the daily rhythm of your household. The roofing contractor will need a place for at least one truck and, most likely, a dumpster.

If you’re concerned about how this traffic will affect your home and the surrounding area, make sure to address the issue with your contractor before work begins.

Vibration

As you might expect, a group of people laboring on your roof is going to cause some ruckus. Be prepared for the occasional mild vibration to your ceiling and interior walls. It’s a good idea to temporarily take down any wall-hangings, chandeliers, or light fixtures that could be damaged by the disturbance.

Depending on the age of the home and installation techniques used when it was built, the vibration may cause some nail pops in the interior paint.

Garages

If you’re planning on driving somewhere during the roof construction, remove your vehicle from the garage and relocate it away from the construction zone until the last nail has been picked up. As a precautionary step, you may also want to remove any fragile items from the rafters or shelves in the garage.

Landscaping

There will be thousands of pounds of materials and thousands of nails that will be torn off during a roof replacement. The installers must be focused on safety first. Even the most conscientious crews may have an inadvertent shingle or two fall and possibly scratch or damage something on the ground.

Homeowners can assist in this process by removing any portable items around the perimeter of the house to an area away from the installation traffic. If you have landscaping near the house that is particularly delicate, you might want to inform your roofing contractor of it before work begins.

Many contractors will be able to make accommodations if they know ahead of time which areas are of special concern.

Ventilation

Even if you feel like your old roof had an adequate ventilation system, you might need to make improvements to it in order to meet the warranty requirements of your new roofing material. Make sure to ask your contractor about the warranty attached to the new material and whether or not your roof’s current ventilation system meets those requirements.

Noise

The noise levels from the hammers, saws, and nail guns might be amplified in the house. Consideration should be given to relocating pets during the process.

Satellite Dishes

Most roofers try to reinstall the satellite dish back in its original location prior to leaving, but oftentimes the satellite signal will need to be recalibrated by the homeowner or satellite service provider. Anticipate some service interruptions.

Because of a roof’s size and importance, the roofing process is not something you should take lightly. By choosing a Best Pick for your roofing project, you can be sure that they’ve been thoroughly vetted to be among the most skilled and professional in the area.

Find your local Best Pick™ Roofing Company