What To Expect During Your Roof Installation

Needing to replace or repair your roof consistently ranks as the most stressful renovation project for homeowners using Modernize. However, once you have chosen a trusted roofing contractor and budgeted for the cost of a roof replacement, you’ve reached the final step in the process: It’s now time for the roof installation to begin. Though you’ve left behind the stress of wondering just how bad the damage to your roof is, what it will cost, or how to file a claim with your insurance, wondering what it will be like to live through a roof renovation and making plans for it can feel equally as stressful. What should you expect? In this installment of our series on how to manage your roof renovation project (which begins with spotting signs of the damage in the first place), we guide you through what a roof installation will entail and how you can prepare.

The Roof Installation Process, Step By Step

In general, roof installation and activation follows this process:

Inspection and Planning

• Timeframe: 1–3 Weeks
  • To determine the scope of your roof installation, your roofing contractor will do an inspection of your current roof. After an inspection, your contractor will be able to provide a quote and scope of work.

Permitting

• Timeframe: 2–4 Weeks
  • Depending on where you live, your contractor will need to secure permits to complete a roof installation. Your contractor will manage the permitting process, but this will impact your project’s time frame.

Installation

• Timeframe: 1–7 Days
  • After receiving approval, your roofing contractor can begin work. This includes ordering your materials and finalizing planning. Depending on the size of your roof, installation can take up to a week. Read our guide to roof installation for more on what a roofing project may include. The good news? You can almost certainly stay in your home while it happens, though be prepared for noise.

Disposal

• Timeframe: 1 Day
  • Your roof replacement will likely entail the disposal of your current shingles. The installation will also create debris, like packaging and old fasteners. Your contractor should handle ordering dumpsters and scheduling haul away for all items.

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Factors That Impact Roof Installation

No matter how well prepared you and your contractor are for roof installation, construction may uncover unforeseeable problems or delays. These can add additional costs or extend your project’s timeline. Some common unexpected roof installation obstacles include:

Bringing Your Roof Up To Code

• Your roof may have originally been built to meet decades-old building codes that will no longer apply to new construction. Making necessary repairs may add to the length of your roof installation.

Pests and Mold

• Especially in humid areas of the country, mold and termite damage may be found during a roof replacement. Whether it’s insects or decay, these problems will need to be addressed before new shingles can be installed.
  

Poor Roof Design Causing Water Traps

• Water traps are a common issue that homeowners are often unaware of until a roof replacement takes place. Water traps are areas that are prone to leaks due to runoff areas that direct too much water to one place. Water traps also lead to faster wear on your shingles and other materials like siding or brick. If your contractor uncovers this issue, you can expect to add time to mitigate the problem.

Understanding Contractor Roof Warranties

Now that your new roof is being installed, you can look toward the future: what does your contractor roof warranty cover?

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How to Prepare Your Home For Installation Day

Like any home renovation, there are ways you can prepare your home for installation day. Tips include:

• Cut your grass short before roof installation begins. Shorter grass will make it easier for your roofers to use a magnetic nail finder to recover any nails or staples that go astray during a roof replacement.
• Cover items in your attic with a tarp or plastic sheeting. Small gaps in your decking can allow shingles, nails and other debris to fall onto your insulation or valuables stored in your attic.
• Move plants and lawn furniture far away from your home. This also applies to vehicles parked in your driveway. Relocating valuable items will minimize the chance of them being damaged while your roofing team hauls debris over the side of your roof.