Roofing Checklist

Roofing involves a roofing crew, roofing materials, roof debris, and—very often—an onsite dumpster. It’s messy work, but the more you cover, clean, and protect, the more seamless the outcome will be.

For Your Home’s Exterior

Here are some actionable steps to take as a homeowner:

Protect outdoor lighting, water features, yard art, bird houses, etc. from falling roof debris that could damage delicate items.
Move patio furniture, barbecue grills, and children’s toys away from the roof perimeter.
Take down flags, wind chimes, and other exterior home decorations.
Mow the lawn. This increases visibility of roofing debris that falls in your yard and makes for a more thorough cleanup from roofers.
Mark sprinkler heads with orange tape or flags so that roofers don’t trip over them or damage your sprinkler system. Visibility benefits everyone!
Take photos of your driveway and exterior in case of damage by roofing work or the dumpster.
Cover flower beds and landscaping to keep roofing debris out and move potted plants. Mark especially delicate or expensive landscaping and notify roofers to take extra care around these areas.
Move cars, bikes, etc. from inside the garage if the dumpster or roofing materials will block access to items you’ll need.
Walk the perimeter of your home with your contractor. Make them aware of any exterior areas that may be more delicate than others.

For Your Home’s Interior

While your roofers are working hard, walls vibrate, and loud noises occur. Preventative measures keep everyone comfortable:

Temporarily move and/or cover valuable items stored in the attic.
Put a drop cloth on the attic floor for a quick dust clean up. You can expect dust and debris to shake down onto the attic floor.
Secure TVs, mirrors, China cabinets, artwork, and other valuables attached to walls.
Plan aheadfor loud noises:
If you work from home, consider alternative arrangements – or put some earphones on.
Prepare to soothe pets and make daycare arrangements if your pet is sensitive to noise.
Prepare kids for disruptive and loud noises—it might be a good time for the kids to visit friends or family.
If staying offsite, be sure you remain in easy contact with the roofer in case of questions.
Cover and protect valuables (cars, storage, etc.) in the garage. The lack of insulation in most garages increases the amount of dust and debris that falls in the garage during the roofing project.

The Day Before (or Early Morning Of)

Roofers start early, so be ready before they come. Take these final steps the night before if you’re a late riser:

Move your cars to the street for easy worker access.
Keep all pets indoors. Or, if necessary, move pets and/or family to a pre-arranged location.

Unlock or arrange for access to gates or other obstacles to the home’s perimeter.

After the Project

Once the roofing project is complete and contractor cleanup has occurred, make sure you’re satisfied with the job and submit an online review for the roofing contractor.

Final Inspections

Visually inspect your lawn, landscaping, gutters, and patios. Ensure all debris has been removed.
Inspect your driveway for debris.
Do a final walk-through with the contractor to finalize the job.
Contact the providers about reinstallation of satellite dishes or solar panels, if applicable.

Roofing Checklist

For Your Home’s Exterior

Here are some actionable steps to take as a homeowner:

For Your Home’s Interior

The Day Before (or Early Morning Of)

After the Project

Final Inspections

Working Hours

Phone

Email

Location