Getting a new roof somehow manages to be both exciting and nerve-racking. For a bit of time, your home’s wide open to the elements. Yep, this means keeping an eye on the weather. You really don’t want it raining inside your house.
Along with planning around the weather, finding quality workmanship with roof installations is key to a headache-free process. Sometimes, knowing what to expect is all it takes to turn a nightmare of a project into something that runs smoothly!
You Receive a Package
The day before or even the morning of your scheduled roof replacement, get ready to receive a few packages. Yep, it’s almost like Christmas, watching all of the roofing materials land at your home.
Don’t get too excited and start unwrapping the packages. Leave this for the roofing contractor. They’re probably going to want to take inventory to ensure everything showed up. If possible, try to be around when the delivery arrives.
Your goal is to have the roofing materials left just about anywhere other than your lawn. If you leave the pallets on your lawn, even for a few hours, there’s going to be something else that needs replacing. The weight of the pallets can easily leave you with dead patches on your lawn.
The Contractor Inspects Your Home
Okay, don’t panic and break out your cleaning supplies. Your roofing contractor could care less about what’s going on inside your home. However, your roofing contractor does care about any exterior damage. This is what they’re looking for during the inspection. You know, things like torn screens, dented gutters, and broken light fixtures.
The contractor will make a note of any existing damage and probably take a few pictures. This is something the contractor does to help protect themselves from fraudulent damage claims.
Your Property is Protected from Damage
Replacing a roof is a dirty and messy job. The old shingles or tiles need to go somewhere other than on top of your home. Since you really don’t want shingles flying down haphazardly, talk about a potential danger; the roofers will create a dump area. Don’t worry, it’s probably not going to be on your lawn in the flower garden.
However, it may be a day or so before your driveway is usable. The dumpster is usually set up on the driveway and positioned to catch any roofing debris. While the dumpster isn’t going to do a lot for your property’s curb appeal, it’s still better than picking up shingles from just about every corner of your yard.
The Old Roof Goes
Finally, it’s time to actually start seeing some noticeable work done on your roof. Even though the other steps are necessary, it can seem like nothing’s getting done. Now, you’re watching your old roof come off.
Chances are, your roofing contractor has everyone working in teams. There’s a team removing the roof, and one on the ground is picking up debris. After getting rid of the old roof, your gutters get a good cleaning. No, the roofing contractor isn’t doing you a favor. Cleaning your gutters is necessary to move on to the installation.
Installation Starts
Your home probably looks pretty unfinished without its roof. Don’t worry, this is temporary. Your new roof is ready for installation. The contractor will start replacing or repairing the roof deck. This is the structure holding your roof up.
Sometimes, manufacturers automatically require replacing the decking, even if it’s perfectly fine. If you skip this step, your roof’s manufacturer’s warranty is probably void. This means the roofing materials aren’t covered if something goes wrong.
Before the shingles go on, the drip edge, water shield, roof valleys, and flushing are replaced. This is also when your roofing contractor tends to take a break. Don’t panic; it’s not an extended break. The roof just needs a bit of time to dry before the shingles go on.
Once your shingles are installed, your new roof is finished. All that’s left is getting rid of the debris. Your roofing contractor even takes care of the clean-up, so all that’s left is for you to approve the project.
Taking the Stress Out of Getting a New Roof
Watching your old roof hit the ground can be stressful. Suddenly, you’re scanning the sky for even a glimpse of a rain cloud. However, you can make the process a whole lot less stressful just by working with an experienced California roofing contractor.
From answering your questions about the process to ensuring it goes smoothly, your roofing contractor can help alleviate some of your stress.
