Should I Stay Home During a Roof Replacement?

One major home improvement is undergoing a full roof replacement. Aside from taking a lot of time to plan and schedule, the actual roof replacement can take anywhere between a day to weeks. The time it takes to get your roof replaced varies greatly, depending on the roof materials, type of replacement, size of the roof, and a number of other factors.

After choosing the best contractor for the job and planning everything, you’ll have an estimate of the amount of time the whole project will take. Give or take a day or two, most schedules should give you an accurate basis. Right now, you probably already know how long the contractors will be working on your roof. If not, our experts at Semper West Roofing can give you a detailed timeline that would factor in the style and materials you want for your home.

To Stay or to Leave?

The next dilemma that homeowners face after the plans have been set is whether or not to stay in their homes during the process. Because most roofing projects don’t require a complete teardown of the roof deck, your home will still be habitable. However, you and your family might not enjoy waking up to the sound of footsteps on your roof, or the loud noise coming from our equipment while our team is at work. You can schedule specific work hours to fit within your office hours. That way there won’t be any noise when you are actually at home. However, that option could prolong the process and might cost you a bit more on the labor costs.

You definitely don’t have to leave your home but staying at a friend’s house or at a fancy hotel for a nice family get-away may sound enticing when compared to living below a construction crew for days, even weeks, at a time. Here are a few things you’ll need to consider before deciding to stay or leave your home.

Work Hours

The team will usually work on your home during regular hours when you and your family are off to work or school. For replacements that span just a few days, they are likely to finish before the weekend if you start on a Monday. Because you probably won’t be home most of the time the renovation is going on, it won’t be as much of a bother as you’d think. However, you will need to clarify with the team when they are scheduled to start each day and when they should finish.

To meet deadlines, they might work into the late afternoon when you are just getting home from a long day at work to relax, only to find yourself listening to the sound of your new shingles being hammered on your roof instead of that new episode you wanted to finally watch.

Home Activities

People who work at home or spend most of their time at home might not be able to do daily tasks while the renovation is going on. Depending on how big your space is and how sounds travel through your home, you might not be able to do much work with the team doing their work right above you. In this case, staying with a friend or relative could be a better option for you.

Kid Safety

If you have kids, you need to set the rules and make sure that they understand what is going on in your home. For families with little kids, it can be hazardous to keep them in the house while a roofing project takes place. While the team is careful, there is a high chance of debris falling from the roof.

Pet Stress

Pets can get stressed during home renovation projects that involve construction. Roofing replacement causes a lot of noise and with the added presence of strangers on your property, your pets are likely to become a little agitated. Keeping them at home during this process will require you to put them in a secure area.

Secure Your Landscape and Outdoor Furniture

With the first step of roofing involving tearing off your old roof, any outdoor furniture, flowerbeds, or landscaping could be damaged in the process. The team is sure to prepare some tarps and other protective covers to preserve your property and prevent damage but there may be some things that you should take into the house. With more furniture in your home, it might become difficult to maneuver through for your day-to-day activities.

When you decide to get your roof replaced, these are just a few things to keep in mind when deciding what you will be doing when you have an entire team working on your home. Having a talk with your roofing contractor could also give you a better picture of how it would be when they start. That way, you can better prepare yourself before deciding on your next steps.