Putting a Roof Over Your Head: What You Should Do to Prepare for a Roof Replacement
If you live in a home long enough, the odds of needing a roof replacement become surprisingly high. Getting your roof replaced is something that needs to be done by professionals, of course, but you will play an important role in preparing your home for this process. Below are just a few of the steps you need to take in order to get your home ready.
Research Roofing Replacement
Perhaps the most important thing you’re going to do before getting your roofing replacement done is some homework. Educate yourself about what you should really be paying to get the job done, how long it should take, and what a roof replacement ought to look like. The more you know, the easier it is going to communicate with your roofer and spot any problems that might occur during the roofing replacement process.
Empty Out the Attic
Since all the work on your roof is going to cause some significant vibrations, it shouldn’t be too surprising to find out that there is a risk of dust and even wood falling into your attic during the replacement process. If you’re storing anything valuable in the attic, move it to another area of the house or to a storage unit. It’s a good idea to at least cover it with a drop cloth if you’re not able to completely remove it from the area.
Take Down Your Pictures
It’s also a good idea to make sure that you take down any breakable pictures or wall-hangings from your walls before the roofers get started. While modern roofers are very careful about minimizing noise and vibration as best they can, you may still find that your walls are shaking while they’re working. If you’re afraid of anything getting broken, it’s wise to make sure that breakables are packed away until this job gets done.
Clean Up the Yard
Finally, do your roofers a bit of a favor by cleaning up your yard before they start working. Unfortunately, your roofers are going to lose plenty of nails and shingles as they work, which means they’re going to have to find everything they’ve dropped before they can go home. If you can make sure that your grass is properly trimmed and that there’s no clutter in your yard, you’ll make it easier on the worker who has to do all the clean-up work.
Preparing your home for a new roof is really a matter of taking some very common-sense steps. Clear your attic of valuables, take the pictures off your walls, and make sure that your yard isn’t too overgrown before the project starts. If you can combine that with some basic knowledge about the project, you’ll have a much more pleasant experience with your roofing replacement project.