How to Prepare Your Home for a Roof Replacement

Move cars out of the driveway, clear patio furniture and fragile items from around the house, cover belongings in the attic, take down wall hangings on top-floor walls, and plan for noise with kids and pets. Most average-size roofs are torn off and replaced in one to two days.

The week before

• Confirm the details. Start date, shingle and color, where the dumpster goes, and who to call on the day.
• Get approvals. If you have an HOA, have the approval letter in hand.
• Tell the neighbors. A friendly heads-up about noise and a dumpster goes a long way, especially if driveways are close.
• Trim back branches hanging over the roof if you can, so the crew has room.

Outside the house

• Move cars out of the driveway and garage. IKO notes the dumpster usually goes in the driveway and debris falls during tear-off.
• Move grills, patio furniture, planters, kids' toys and decorations away from the walls.
• Cover delicate plants, koi ponds and pool areas, or ask the crew to tarp them.
• Mark sprinkler heads, septic covers and low-voltage lights so ladders and carts avoid them.
• Make sure there's an outdoor outlet the crew can use, and unlock gates.

Inside the house

• Attic: Tear-off shakes dust and old granules loose. Cover stored items with old sheets or plastic, or move them out.
• Walls: Hammering vibrates the framing. Take down mirrors, framed photos and shelves on top-floor walls, and anything fragile on high shelves.
• Light fixtures: Check that ceiling fixtures and fans are tight.

People and pets

Tear-off is loud. IKO points out that roofers won't need to be inside, but the noise and debris are disruptive, so many families plan a day out for young kids, and pets often do best at a friend's house or daycare. If you work from home, plan calls for a quieter room or a different day.

What to expect on the day

• The crew protects landscaping and the sides of the house, then tears off the old roof down to the deck.
• The deck is inspected. Rotted or soft sheathing is replaced, which is the one thing that can change the scope.
• Underlayment, ice and water protection, flashing, shingles, ridge vent and caps go on.
• IKO notes that a tear-off on an average-size roof can wrap up in a single day, and installation may take one or two days; size, steepness, layers and weather all change that.

After the crew leaves

• Walk the yard and driveway with the crew lead. A magnetic sweep for nails should be part of clean-up.
• Check the attic for light coming through anywhere it shouldn't.
• Keep your contract, warranty paperwork and the shingle details in one place.

All In Roofing walks every homeowner through this before the job starts, and clean-up is part of the work, not an extra. Questions about your project? Call or text 732-584-0700.