Preparing Your Home for a Roof Replacement Project

June 20, 2021

Roofing contractors typically carry out their own preparations for a roof replacement project. For instance, conducting a thorough inspection of the roofing is crucial to their planning since it provides them with essential information regarding the current condition of the roof. A roof inspection also allows them to find other potential issues that may affect the installation process or the new roof itself. By being able to anticipate such problems, they can prepare the necessary tools and equipment, and make sure that the workers have a good understanding of the job that awaits them.

But apart from these preparations, there are also certain kinds of prep work that homeowners like you can tackle. Typically, the aim of these preparations is to ensure your home and personal belongings are protected while roof work is being done. 


Make Sure Your Home Can Be Easily Accessed

Your roofing crew should be able to access your home easily to avoid holdups and delays. For instance, you should keep at least one side of your driveway clear to give way to the truck that will collect your old roofing materials. All areas of your yard should also be accessible to the workers as this will enable them to clean up after completing their work for the day.


Cover Important Items in Your Attic

Shingles, nails and other roof debris can fall into your attic during the roof removal process. They can also get into your insulation or in any items stored in your attic. To keep them clean and to protect them from damage, make sure to cover these things before the roofers arrive.


Protect Your Home Interior

Vibrations may occur inside your home, particularly on your interior walls, when workers start removing the old roofing materials or perform any work on your roof. That said, you should remove any loose or fragile items on your walls or shelves to prevent these things from getting damaged. If you have ceiling fans, chandeliers or other objects mounted to your ceiling, take them down for the meantime since these things could possibly break or crack when the roofing work begins.


Protect Your Home Exterior

The external parts of your home should be covered as well since these have a greater risk of being damaged during roof replacement. Ensure that your windows, sliding doors and other outdoor equipment, such as heating and cooling units, are adequately protected. Ask your contractor if the workers will be using attachments that would keep their ladders from resting directly on your gutters. Without these attachments, your gutters might suffer from dents and scratches.


Make Sure You’re Ready for Noise, Dust and Debris

Noise, dust and debris are common during any roofing job. But while you cannot completely avoid them, there are ways to minimize their impact on your household. For instance, if you’re working from home, you might want to stay somewhere else during your contractor’s work hours. This way, you won’t have to be bothered by the construction noise, and you can focus on your tasks. You can also opt to stay out of your home during the entire project. Your contractor would surely be happy to work out a convenient way to update you on the progress of their work. If someone in your family has allergies or asthma, make sure to plan where they can stay while work is being done on your residential roofing so that they won’t have to be exposed to dust and debris.


Check Electrical Wiring

Electrical wires may be concealed in your attic or living spaces, and these may create safety hazards during your roof replacement project. For example, workers may unknowingly penetrate a wire’s insulation and trigger a short in the circuit. To avoid such accidents, hire a professional to inspect your home before any work is done on your roof. The person should be able to tell you if there are existing wires that you don’t know about or wiring issues that could cause potential risks.


Prep Your Lawn

While roofers will normally take every precaution to avoid damaging your lawn, it would be best to do some prep work on your landscaping to ensure that trees and grass won’t disrupt or cause inconvenience to the workers. For instance, you should turn off your sprinklers and avoid watering your lawn at least one day before the roofing project starts. It’s also advisable to mow your lawn before roof replacement to make it easier to clean up any debris that could fall on the grass. Prune the surrounding trees as well since overgrown trees can make roof installations more complicated.


Take Note of Rooftop Equipment

If a satellite dish is located on your roof, you should contact your satellite provider and have the company move the satellite dish to the siding of your home. This is to prevent any damage to the device as well as to avoid any obstructions during roof replacement.


Get Quality Underlayment

Roofing underlayment is a crucial part of your roof system. It basically protects your roof and your home from water damage, so it has to be made from quality materials. Consult your contractor regarding the best options for your home.


Notify Your Neighbors

Inform your neighbors about your roofing project a few days or weeks before the job starts. This way, they can do some of their own preparations and ensure their property will be protected against debris or possible damage.


Get a Free Quote Today!

Whether you need a roofer to handle your roof replacement project or an emergency roof repair, Total Roof Services Corp. can help you. We have many years of experience doing many types of roofing jobs, and our team works with efficiency in mind and a keen attention to detail. Rest assured that your project will be completed satisfactorily, and you’ll get value for your money.


Our expertise includes asphalt shingle, tile, metal, modified bitumen and single-ply roofing. We also provide and install roof coatings.

Why Florida Homeowners Shouldn’t Skip on Roofing Ventilation

By Marissa Robinson • August 5, 2023
When homeowners are getting a roof replacement project done, some contractors are a bit surprised when they realize that some homeowners don’t pay much attention to their roof’s ventilation. After all, proper ventilation does offer plenty of benefits to your roof and your home, especially if you live in an area that experiences as much heat as Florida does. As such, it’s highly recommended that you learn the importance of having proper roof ventilation in your home. Here’s why Florida homeowners should never skimp out on roofing ventilation systems.  They Keep Your Home Cool Roof vents are good tools to use if you want to control the temperature around your home. If you live in an area as hot as Florida, they can help you keep your home cool by preventing your attic and the rest of your home from retaining hot air and heating up, making your living space cooler and comfortable in the process. Apart from that, since poorly ventilated homes will force you to crank up your AC unit, having proper roof ventilation can help you keep utility costs down by reducing your reliance on your air conditioner. They Protect Your Roof Apart from keeping your home cool and reducing the costs of your monthly energy bills, proper roofing ventilation can also help you preserve the roof of your Florida home and help it last for a significant amount of time. This is because, with correct ventilation, the excess heat and moisture that becomes trapped in your attic can escape, preventing it from baking the shingles inside out. Planning to improve your roof’s ventilation? Simply turn to Total Roof Services Corp,. the number one pros to approach when it comes to storm damage roof repair and commercial roofing services. Give us a call at (407) 495-4151 to schedule a free consultation today!

5 Reasons Metal Roofs Are Considered Green Roofing Options

By Marissa Robinson • August 5, 2023
When it comes to the topic of residential roofing projects, you’ll be pleased to learn that you have a wide range of choices when it comes to the material. After all, as the homeowner, you’re more than free to choose between materials like asphalt, slate and even concrete tile. However, while each material has its own sets of advantages and disadvantages, and each are considered green roofing options to a certain degree, there is another green roofing material that you shouldn’t forget to consider: metal roofs. Believe it or not, despite the fact that they’re more commonly associated with barns and industrial buildings, metal roofs have been considered a green roofing option by the roofing industry for a while now. But why are these considered green options? 1. Metal Roofs Are Energy-Efficient According to roofing industry pros, metal roofs are considered a green roofing option for one obvious reason: they’re energy-efficient when properly installed in your home. This is because if a metal roof is properly installed in your home, and you choose one that has a light color, your roofing system can reflect solar heat, allowing you to reduce your monthly cooling costs by 10% to 25%. Apart from that, if you live in an area where cooling costs are higher than heating costs, and you decide to coat the metal roof with shiny or granular coatings, you can still maximize the roof’s reflective capabilities and improve your monthly energy savings even further. 2. They Can Be Recycled Even now, whenever homeowners decide to have their old residential roofing systems replaced, they often have their roofing contractor dispose of it in a landfill, adding further to the trash that is already there and further harming the environment in the process. This is where metal roofs become a green roofing option as, when the time comes your metal roof has to be replaced, metal recycling outlets will be more than willing to take your old roof in and repurpose it for different use. This prevents your metal roof from winding up in a landfill and harming the environment even further. 3. They Can Be Installed Over Existing Roofing Systems Apart from being recyclable, metal roofing systems are also considered green roofing options because they can be installed over your existing roofing system so long as your local building codes allow it. Again, this helps you avoid tearing off your old roof and disposing of them in a landfill, helping you protect the environment as a result. However, keep in mind that doing so can cause a whole host of problems, such as trapped moisture, so it’s best that you install a vented metal roof with the aid of a professional roofing company. 4. Metal Roofs Are Impervious to Fire, Rot and Pest Damage Alternatively, the roofing industry also considers metal roofs as green roofing options due to the fire, rot and pest resistance that they have. This means that if you live in an area that’s prone to wildfires, and you have a metal roof, there’s a high chance that your metal roof can stay intact even when the wildfire affects your home. Thanks to its pest and rot resistance, on the other hand, your roof can also last longer before needing a replacement, once again letting you avoid contributing to landfills that can harm the environment. 5. They’re Incredibly Durable and Long Lasting Finally, roof repair and replacement experts also say that the roofing industry considers metal roofs as green roofing options for the sole fact that they’re incredibly durable. Believe it or not, there’s hardly anything that can actually threaten a metal roof that’s properly installed, and, with the proper maintenance, this same durability allows a metal roofing system to last longer compared to your average roofing material. This lets you avoid having to replace your roof immediately, reducing the amount of trash that you contribute to your local landfill. How to Find the Best Metal Roofing Contractor for Your Project Replacing your old roof with a new metal roofing system is a complicated home improvement project that homeowners should never attempt to do on their own. Instead, you should make it a point to find the best metal roofing contractor to get the job done. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways you can accomplish this. For instance, you can always ask for trusted referrals from a friend, neighbor or family member who recently had a metal roof installed. If this isn’t an option, on the other hand, you can always reach out to the metal roof manufacturer or roofing organizations and associations for any suggestions and recommendations. On the other hand, if you want to find a metal roofing contractor on your own, you’re always more than free to look for one on the Internet. If you opt for this option, you can always do a quick Google search or visit websites such as Angie’s List® or the Better Business Bureau to find a contractor that specializes in installing metal roofing systems. Once you’ve picked a few companies, check the reviews of previous clients to see if they have any history of unresolved complaints. After you’ve narrowed down your options even further, you can now meet with your potential contractors to interview them, discuss terms and receive estimates from them. After you’ve received the estimates, pick one that agrees with your budget the most so you can finally have your new metal roofing system installed. Looking for someone who can perform an emergency roof repair project for your home? Look no further than the experts of Total Roof Services Corp. to get the job done. With a decade’s worth of experience in the roofing industry, we are committed to giving homeowners like you only the best when it comes to products and customer service. Give us a call at (407) 495-4151