How To Prepare Your Home For A Residential Re Roofing

​​​​​​Keeping your roof in good condition is one of the most important ways to protect your home and family. Over time, however, even the best-built roofs can begin to show signs of wear and damage. Recognizing the early warning signs that you may need residential re-roofing is key to preventing costly repairs and maintaining the safety of your home.

In this article, we’ll help you identify the obvious and not-so obvious signs that it’s time for a roof upgrade, and show you how to prepare both the inside and outside of your home for a smooth, stress-free re-roofing project.

Signs My Home Needs Re-roofing?

There are several signs that your home may need a new roof – some of these include:​​​​​​

• Visible leaks or water damage in your attic or ceiling
• Missing, cracked tile,​​​​​​ curled shingles
• Shingle granules in gutters (looks like sand or black grit)
• Dark streaks or moss growth
• Sagging roofline or dips in the roof structure
• Age of the roof (typically 20 years for asphalt shingles, 25 for tile)
• Rising energy bills (can indicate poor insulation or ventilation issues)
• Flashing damage around chimneys, vents, or skylights
• Frequent roof repairs or patch jobs

How to Prepare the Interior of Your Home for Residential Re-Roofing

Taking care of the inside of your home before the re roofing project begins mostly involves preparing for the vibrations caused by hammering, and protecting against falling dust and debris:

• Clear and cover your attic: Place painters drop sheets or tarps down to avoid debris from falling into your home. If you use your attic as storage space, it’s important to make sure you remove any items as they may be susceptible to falling debris and/or dust.
• Remove valuable items from the walls: Since there will be a lot of vibration on the roof, items hanging on your walls have the potential to fall off. Make sure you take them down and store them in a safe place to avoid damage, if your home has multiple floors, pay attention to the higher ones, as they will experience the most vibration.
• Protect your windows: Falling roof material can also damage your windows, cover them with wooden boards or other protective measures to ensure they stay safe.​​​​​​

While it is important to protect the inside of your home, it is also crucial to prepare the outside appropriately.

How to Prepare the Exterior of Your Home for Residential Re-Roofing

Properly preparing the outside of your home helps ensure a smooth and efficient residential re-roofing process. Much of this preparation involves giving the roofing crew clear access and protecting outdoor items such as landscaping and furniture.

Here are a few key steps to take before work begins:

• Clear your patio and outdoor areas: Roofing specialists will need access to your home from all sides. Move patio furniture, grills, planters, and other outdoor items to a safe location. This not only ensures the crew has adequate space to work but also helps prevent accidents or damage to your belongings.
• Unlock all gates: To allow easy access to your property and easy movement of materials and equipment, make sure all gates around your property are unlcoked.
• Mow your lawn: Short grass makes locating and removing roofing debris and nails easier after the project is complete.
• Check outside power sources: The roofing crew may need access to power tools throughout the day. If you have an exterior outlet, test it beforehand to ensure it’s functional. If not, plan to provide access to an indoor outlet through a window or door.
• Mark fragile or valuable landscaping: Use bright colored tape or markers to flag delicate plants, garden features, or irrigation components. This helps the roofing team avoid damaging anything that’s not easily visible.

Additional Considerations

Preparing your property goes beyond the physical space—it also means taking steps to keep loved ones and neighbors safe and informed:​​​​​​

• Children
  Let your kids know about the roofing work and the need to stay clear of the construction area. For younger children, consider arranging for them to stay with a relative or trusted friend during the noisiest and most disruptive days.
• Pets
  Keep pets indoors to prevent injury from nails, debris, or loud noises. If this isn’t possible, consider a pet daycare or having them stay temporarily with someone who can accommodate them.
• Neighbors
  Give your neighbors a heads-up about the work, especially if their property is close to yours. While crews aim to be respectful, some noise and minor debris may be unavoidable.