It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you’re faced with replacing your home’s roof. Learning exactly what to expect from the process, as well as how to prepare your home and family and how live comfortably during construction is your best weapon against the stress that can build during a major renovation. So take a deep breath and try to relax. We’ll walk you through the process of surviving a roof replacement, step by step:preparing for a roof replacement

  1. Understand the specifics: Depending on the size, angle (pitch), and type of roof that’s being installed, you can expect your roof repair to take anywhere from a single day to a couple of days – most roofs are completed in one day. Don’t worry—we’ll give you a more exact estimate when we go over your specific situation. That said, be aware that the roof replacement timeline can be affected by poor weather or by other issues that may crop up during replacement that require separate repair. For example, it’s difficult to determine whether we’ll need to replace damaged wood underneath your roof until we tear off the shingles.
  2. Prepare your home: Roof replacement work can cause vibrations that make objects and wall hangings fall from their perches. Take down any mounted artwork and hanging light fixtures and remove breakable and heavy objects from shelves. Move everything out of the areas immediately below your roof since falling debris can damage these items. Outside your home, relocate any outdoor furniture, equipment, plants, or other items that may at risk of being damaged by falling objects. We’ll also cover potentially affected areas of your landscape with tarps to protect plants and grass. Note: If you have a satellite dish mounted on your roof, this may need to be removed, and we may not be able to reinstall in the exact same place. You’ll need to contact your provider in advance in order to request subsequent realignment of your dish.
  3. Prepare your family: Be aware that during a roof replacement, you won’t have access to certain areas of your yard and home. If you have small children and/or pets, you’ll need to be extra-vigilant during this time to ensure they don’t stray into or near construction zones. The most visible indicator of the “construction zone” is our dumpster used to collect and haul-away the old roof and other debris. We try to minimize disruption by delivering the dumpster the same day as we do the work but it’s possible that the dumpster may be there before and after the work is carried out.
    Also, because the areas immediately below your roof (i.e., your garage and/or attic) may be exposed to construction, they will be largely off limits during the process of roof replacement. One of the biggest factors that may impact your family during a roof replacement is the noise. It can get very loud at times, so you may want to spend time away from your home during construction, if possible. Consider taking the whole family (including your pets, which may become stressed by the racket) on a day hike or to visit friends.

Knowing what to expect from a roof replacement can go a long way toward making the situation more comfortable and manageable for you and your family. Remember to be flexible and ask questions whenever they come up, and know that all that noise means the process of your roof replacement is moving along! Have more questions or need a quote on replacing the roof on your home? Give us a call at 973-927-0963 today. We’ll take the time to alleviate any concerns you may have and ensure you are fully prepared for the roof replacement process.