How to Prepare for Your Steel Roof
Your roof is your first line of defence against the elements. It protects you from rain, snow, wind, and sun and keeps the comfort of your home. Your roof also helps maintain a comfortable interior temperature of your home by insulating it from extreme temperatures outside.
That being said, your roof is one of the most important investments you can make, which is why getting a new roof installed can be an exciting process. However, because it’s also one of the biggest investments you can make, you’ll want to make sure that you’re fully prepared for a smooth installation. The following is a brief guide on how to prepare for your steel roofing installation.
Interior Preparation for a New Steel Roof
Keep in mind that just because the roof work is being done outside of your home doesn’t mean it can’t affect the inside. As such, use the following tips to make sure your interior is prepared for the installation of new steel roofing:
- Cover Items in the Attic: If you have items stored in your attic, make sure to cover them with plastic sheeting. This will protect them from any dust and debris that may be generated during the installation of your new roof. There are going to be people walking up and down your roof, ripping off old roofing material, or installing new metal roofing. As a result, this will likely knock loose dirt and dust into your attic.
- Remove Wall Decor: If you have any pictures or wall decorations hanging up on your walls throughout your home, it’s best to remove them prior to the installation of your new roof. The vibration caused by the installation can cause these items to fall and break. This is especially true for any wall decor on your second floor right below the roof; however, it’s better to be safe than sorry and simply remove everything from your walls during the installation process.
- Protect the Garage: If you have a garage attached to your home, make sure that it is also prepared for the installation of the new roof. This includes covering any items stored in the garage with tarps or plastic sheeting. As we mentioned before, there may be debris generated as a result of the installation process, so it’s best to make sure anything stored in your garage is covered up.
- Arrange for Child and Pet Care: Roof installation is going to be a noisy process. After all, workers will be hammering, sawing, and drilling throughout the duration of the installation. As such, it’s best to arrange for your children and pets to be taken care of elsewhere while your new roof is being installed. That way, they won’t be disturbed by all the noise.
Exterior Preparation for a Steel Roof
Once the interior of your home is prepared, you’ll want to move on to the exterior of your home. The following are a few things you’ll want to do to prepare your home’s exterior to ensure a safe and efficient steel roofing installation:
- Relocate Vehicles: If you have vehicles parked near your home, make sure to move them away so that the workers can easily access the roof. They will need to carry a lot of materials onto your roof, which means that they will need access to your driveway. Additionally, debris may fall from your roof (especially if they’re tearing off your old roof), and you don’t want any of your vehicles to get damaged because they’re too close.
- Move Patio Furniture, Grills, and Landscape Lighting: In addition to relocating your vehicles, you’ll also want to move any patio furniture, grills, or landscape lighting away from the home. This is so that they don’t get damaged during installation or become a hazard for the workers. Keep in mind that debris may fall from your roof while the work is being done, and these items can easily be damaged or knocked over.
- Remove Satellite Antennas: If you have satellite dishes or antennas on your roof, make sure to get them removed before the installation begins. Contractors need a clear area to install your new roof and will be unable to do so with the existing antennas in place.
- Secure and Protect Windows: Make sure to secure and protect your windows prior to the installation of a new roof. As mentioned before, debris may fall from your roof during installation, so you don’t want any of it getting inside your home through the windows.
- Talk to Your Neighbours: Letting your neighbours know ahead of time that you’re getting a new roof installed is always a good idea. Even if they have all their windows closed, the sound of a new roof being installed on your home can still be quite loud. As such, it’s always courteous to let them know that you’ll be having some work done on your home so that they can plan accordingly.
- Cut Your Grass: Make sure to cut your grass prior to the installation of a new roof. Doing so will make it easier for workers to clean the area around your home following installation. After all, all kinds of debris, including old nails and roofing material, can fall from the roof during installation. If your grass is long, this debris may not be found and can be a safety hazard in the future.
- Mark Electrical Outlets: If you have any electrical outlets on the exterior of your home, it’s best to mark them with brightly coloured tape. This will let the roofers know that there is an electrical outlet in the area in case they need to use it to power their tools.
We Install Your Steel Roof with Minimal Disruption
At Ironclad Roofing, we understand that installing new steel roofing can be disruptive for homeowners. That’s why we strive to make the process as smooth and efficient as possible. We use the latest tools and technologies to ensure that your roof installation is done quickly with minimal disruption to your home and family.
Originally published at https://www.ironcladroofs.com on June 5, 2023.
