Learn how to begin preparing for your new roof

By SA Roofing. 

Your roof is getting a makeover—here’s how to get ready. 

As the sun sets on the roof that’s sheltered you through countless seasons, the prospect of a brand-new one brings a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Whether you're a seasoned homeowner or new to the neighborhood, preparing for a roofing project can feel overwhelming. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. From initial inspections to final clean-up, understanding the process and knowing what to expect can make all the difference. Explore what you need to know to ensure your roofing project goes smoothly, leaving you with peace of mind — and a roof built to last. 

At Simply Affordable Roofing, our process starts with a visit to your home in order to create a proposal for what the roof needs. As more details become known, or options are selected, it can always change. We commonly get asked, “Does someone need to be present for the initial inspection?” We always recommend that someone can accompany us so that we can ask questions to better understand what the best solution is that we should include in our proposal. For residential, it is common that we will want to look in the attic space to confirm if there are any venting, sheeting or other issues that we need to account for. This also helps us narrow down the specific products that we quote based on an owner's long-term plan for the property. 

After conducting inspections of the grounds, attic and roof, we put together a proposal and email it out promptly (oftentimes we can provide same day proposals). We will then follow up to see what next steps need to be taken and provide material samples to help you decide what is best. 

Pre-job logistics  

Once you have decided to move forward with an agreed upon scope of work and signed your contract, we move into the next part of the process “pre-job logistics,” 

1. We will discuss a rough schedule based on the current backlog of projects. The schedule will get more refined with time as it is difficult to predict how the weather will affect our schedule. 

2. We will place an order to secure materials and confirm availability. 

3. We will secure required permits as needed. 

4. Once we are close to starting your project, we will communicate dates and discuss any logistics such as dumpster placement or parking considerations. For larger projects it is common to hold a pre-job conference to go over all of these details in person, and also discuss any safety related concerns. 

5. It is not uncommon for materials to be pre-delivered to the roof days or weeks in advance. We must make sure that we have materials available as soon as we put people on the roof. 

6. We will send out an invoice for the deposit. 

Preparing the jobsite  

Once your job has been scheduled, we will keep you updated as sometimes the weather calls for changes. As the start date approaches, we begin “preparing the jobsite:” 

1. A portable bathroom / outhouse will be delivered. 

2. We will set up safety for the crew, and for any other hazards such as falling materials or overhead equipment. 

3. If materials are not pre-delivered, they will likely arrive on the first day of construction. In most cases materials are loaded directly to the roof via a conveyor or boom truck with someone receiving and spreading out materials on the roof to distribute the weight. 

4. Usually the day before, or the day of, a dumpster will be delivered, and for houses it is usually placed in the center of the driveway as close to the house as possible. We ask that all cars park elsewhere for these few days to avoid damage and allow residents to come and go as needed. 

5. Before we begin tearing off the old roof, we will make sure to place protection down in the yard, over bushes or other items and ask that breakable items be moved out of harm's way.  

Installing a new roof  

The average house takes two to three days to complete. The first day we tear off either all or a portion of the roof.  

1. This is when we will evaluate the roof deck. We will work with the homeowner if there are any other considerations or deck replacement needed.  

2. The areas we tear off will be dried in with either felt or ice & water shield before leaving the jobsite. This ensures they are watertight even if the shingles are not installed.  

3. Then we begin installing shingles and performing details to tie the whole system together such as pipes and vents. Sometimes we will need to custom fabricate pieces so that they fit your roof perfectly.  

4. New gutters will be installed if this is an option you have selected as an upgrade to your new roof.  

5. Rest assured, ground clean up will be performed daily as needed and then a more thorough cleaning at the end will be done to ensure all debris is gathered. 

Project wrap up 

Once we are done installing your new roof, we conduct our final clean up.  

1. We will run a magnet around the outside of your home and yard to ensure we pick up any nails that might have fallen.  

2. We will clean out the gutters of any debris from the project.  

3. All of the equipment will be called off and the dumpster removed. This may take a few days for everything to be picked up as some vendors can get busy, but we will continue communication until all pieces are removed.  

4. We will then send out the final invoice.  

At this point you will have a new roof and hopefully be a very satisfied customer that leaves us a nice review online so that our business can be seen by others. We also have a referral program if someone you know works with us, we have a little “thank you” gift for you. 

Our small business is built on the trust of our clients and word-of-mouth referrals. It truly makes a huge impact on our business and families. 

Original article source: SA Roofing