Preparing Your Home for Roof Replacement (Prep Checklist)

Your roofing crew does not know which of your driveway sensors is wireless, where your valuable attic boxes live, or whether your great-aunt's china cabinet sits on the wall directly under the roof peak. Twenty minutes of prep the day before install day prevents most of the avoidable damage.

Here is the prep checklist, organized by where you need to focus.

Outside the house

Move all cars

Move every vehicle OFF your driveway and OFF the street directly in front of your house. Shingle bundles, nails, and debris can fall into the driveway despite tarping. Dumpsters block the driveway. Contractor trucks need staging space.

Park on a side street or at a neighbor's with permission. If you have a garage and it is clear, use it. Do not leave any vehicle under or near the work zone.

Move or cover outdoor furniture

Patio furniture, grills, planters, and kids' toys should be moved at least 15 feet from the house. Items within 15 feet should be covered with tarps. Pay special attention to:

• Glass-top tables (chips from falling debris)
• Fabric cushions (dust and granules are hard to clean)
• Grills (cover the entire unit, not just the lid)
• Pet water bowls and toys
• Garden ornaments and planters

Cover the AC condenser

Most crews do this automatically, but verify it is done. Shingle debris can bend the thin aluminum fins of the condenser coil, reducing AC efficiency by 10% to 20%.

Move potted plants to the far side of the yard

Plants within 10 feet of the house will get stepped on, sprayed with debris, or tipped over. Move them to the backyard or the side of the house opposite the work.

Trim back branches near the roof

If branches hang over the roof, trim them back 2 to 3 feet before the install. The crew needs clearance to work, and branches can scrape the new shingles during install. See our post on roof maintenance checklist for ongoing tree management.

Disable wireless driveway sensors

Wireless sensor posts that announce cars in the driveway will ring constantly as the crew moves in and out. Disable or cover the sensor. Alarm systems with "garage door open" chimes should be muted for the day.

Remove satellite dishes if possible

If you can remove a satellite dish or antenna, do it. Otherwise, discuss with the contractor whether they are reinstalling it and whether your signal will be re-aimed.

Tell the neighbors

Knock on the doors of neighbors within 2 houses on each side and the house across the street. Tell them:

• What day the install starts
• Expected start time and end time
• Your contractor's name and foreman's number
• Your cell number in case of issues

Offer apologies in advance for the noise. Most neighbors appreciate the heads-up.

Inside the house

Remove items from the attic

The hammering vibrates the entire roof deck. Loose items on attic shelves WILL fall. Remove:

• Boxes stacked near the walls or peak
• Fragile items (holiday decorations, glass, china)
• Photo albums and documents
• Anything you would be upset about if it broke

If you cannot remove items, secure them with painter's tape or straps. Attic floors themselves are fine but items on shelves are not.

Take fragile items off top-floor walls

Pictures, mirrors, and shelves on top-floor walls can vibrate loose during install. Remove them or reinforce the hangers. Pay special attention to rooms directly under the roof peak.

Store attic-near antiques safely

If your top floor has china cabinets, glass-front bookcases, or displayed antiques, move the fragile contents or cover the cabinet with a sheet. The vibration is strong enough to rattle items against the glass.

Shut and lock all exterior doors and windows

Dust and small debris work through any opening. Close and lock all exterior doors and windows the evening before.

Shut the attic hatch

Even with an interior vapor barrier, dust enters the house through attic penetrations during tear-off. Close and latch the attic hatch. If you have a pull-down ladder, secure it and put a towel or plastic sheet over the hatch.

Clean out gutters the week before

Clean gutters make inspection and cleanup easier. If the crew is installing drip edge, clean gutters prevent mixing debris with old leaves.

Pets and people

Arrange pet care

Dogs and cats will be stressed by 8 hours of hammering. Options, best to worst:

1. Board them at a kennel or daycare
2. Send them to a friend or family member
3. Keep them in a back room with white noise (fan, TV, or music) and check on them
4. Leave them in the yard (worst, because of nail debris)

Birds are particularly sensitive. Cover cages, or move them to a quiet room.

Plan to be out of the house for tear-off

Tear-off is the loudest phase, typically 7:30 AM to 10 AM. Plan a breakfast run, coffee shop work session, or errand during that window.

Childcare

If you have children under 8 at home, tear-off noise is often too much. Arrange for them to be elsewhere at least for the morning.

Home-based workers

If you work from home, plan to work elsewhere or take a day off. Video calls during tear-off are impossible.

Documents and photos

Photograph every room on the top floor

Before the crew arrives, walk your top floor with a phone camera and photograph:

• Every ceiling (for baseline on cracks)
• Every wall with artwork or shelving
• Top corners of rooms where hairline cracks often appear

If you need to file a claim for interior damage, photos of the pre-install condition are your best evidence.

Photograph the yard and landscaping

Same idea. Walk the perimeter with the phone. Photograph:

• Gardens and planted beds
• Decorative stonework
• Outdoor lighting
• The driveway surface
• Gutter and downspout attachment points

Confirm the contract and insurance certificate

Have a printed copy of the signed contract. Have the certificate of insurance (COI) with your address as additional insured. Keep both in your home for the duration of the job.

Day-of preparation (morning of install)

1. Move cars per plan above
2. Walk the foreman around the house when they arrive
3. Point out any sensitive items (heirlooms, AC, sensors)
4. Exchange cell numbers
5. Confirm finish time
6. Leave for tear-off window

For the full hour-by-hour timeline, see what to expect on the day of your roof install.

Post-install checklist (end of day)

Before you release final payment:

1. Walk the full exterior with the foreman
2. Photograph the finished roof from each slope
3. Verify the yard was magnet-swept
4. Check landscaping and garden beds
5. Confirm downspouts are reattached
6. Confirm satellite dish / solar panels are reinstalled and aimed
7. Walk the attic next morning with a flashlight, check for new light leaks

What the crew does NOT prep

Most crews will NOT:

• Move cars out of the driveway
• Remove satellite dishes
• Cover all outdoor furniture (they cover items near the house, not distant ones)
• Board pets
• Photograph your interior

That is the homeowner's job. Treat this list as your job-site prep brief.

FAQ

Q: Will the crew damage my driveway with the dumpster?
A: Usually no. Good contractors put plywood under the dumpster wheels to protect asphalt. Ask in advance.

Q: What about the grass under the tarps?
A: Grass is usually fine if tarps are removed same-day. A week of tarps can yellow the grass, which recovers in 1 to 3 weeks.

Q: Do I need to be home all day?
A: No. You should be home for the initial walkthrough (7 AM) and the final walkthrough (5 to 6 PM). The middle of the day is fine to be out.