Given the size and complexity of a roof replacement, it may come as no surprise that it will be loud and messy. There’s also the chance that the work will cause inadvertent damage to your home exterior and landscaping–something that you’ll want to avoid as much as possible. For this reason, you should take a proactive approach about keeping your property safe and intact during the roof replacement.
Roof Replacement!
Of course, the task of protecting your home exterior and landscaping is not yours to shoulder alone. Your choice of a roofing contractor should also have measures in place to ensure this. Make sure that both contracting parties are on the same page about keeping mess to a minimum–and preventing damage–to your property. Atrium Roofing, the area’s premier residential and commercial roofing company in the area, shares some handy tips.
- Secure the items usually placed near your home. These include any outdoor furniture, grills, gardening tools and potted plants. Store them at the shed temporarily to stop them from being affected by roofing debris or stray nails. If you don’t have the additional storage space, you can cover them with tarps or plywood. Any motor vehicles on the driveway should be parked on the other side of the street. Doing so not only keeps them from being damaged but also clears your driveway, which may be used by your contractor as a staging area for the new roofing materials.
- Drape tarps over the landscaping. Plants, shrubbery, flower gardens, and grassy areas directly below the roof should be draped with tarps to keep them unharmed. More vulnerable plantings can be protected by placing tarps over lengths of lumber that are carefully angled or leaning against your home’s exterior walls.
- Mow the lawn. Prior to installation day, take the time to cut the grass around your home to the minimum height. This way, it won’t hide any stray roofing nails or debris that might fall from the work area during the installation process. You should also turn off the automatic sprinklers. Wet grass and driveways don’t make for a clean and damage-free work site.
- Focus on areas that may need special attention. These refer to things in your property that, compared to patio furniture, will be a bit harder to move. Whether you have a pool, hot tub, dedicated play area for kids, a mini orchard, or vegetable garden, you’ll need to make sure they’ll remain intact during and after the roof replacement. Talk to your roofing contractor about how these areas will be protected. Additional tarps may be used to cover them as necessary. Not only that–wind forecasts for installation day must be considered, as well. A pool that has seemed a safe distance away might be compromised if debris from the roof gets blown its way.
- Trim any tree branches close to your roof. It’s best that your contractor has better and easier access to your roof. So cut back those tree branches way before the actual roof replacement begins. This will also protect your newly installed roofing system from possible impact damage.
- Trash bin placement is important. Make sure its location is close enough to the work area. This allows for a smoother ‘flow’ that will come in handy once the old materials are removed from the roof. The driveway is usually a good spot for the trash bin. But make sure to confirm with your roofing contractor that they’ll be placing it overprotective sheets of plywood. This way, your driveway won’t sustain any dents or scrapes.
Hiring the Right Roofer for Your Project
Finding the right contractor to handle your roofing needs can be simple once you know what to do and look for. Almost every service provider in any industry is now online, so you have the option to look for one there. Simply typing “reliable roofers near me” on the search bar will already get you a staggering list of prospective contractors. You may also ask for referrals from family and friends. Whose input and opinion may prove more reliable and accurate than the online reviews you’ve read.
Once you have a few good names on your list, the next step is narrowing them down. Here are some of the essentials to consider when hiring a contractor for your roof replacement:
- Visit their website. You can usually tell whether a roofing company is making an effort to be helpful and transparent to possible clients just by their website. Is their page well-designed? Do they regularly update the website with new content? Make sure to look for basic yet important information, such as contact details, leadership team, services and products offered, licensing number, and client testimonials. The more you know about a prospective roofer, the better.
- Check for the necessary credentials. Licensing, bond, and insurance are basic things every residential and commercial roofing company should have. Still, it’s best not to assume that all contractors you come across will have them. You should always ask them for proof of these qualifications. Atrium Roofing, for example, will be more than happy to show you our credentials should you decide to choose us for your project. We are fully licensed, bonded, and insured, with workers’ compensation and liability coverage, for your greater protection.
- Ask about their experience. You’ll want to hire someone who has the training and expertise to deliver smooth and efficient roof replacement work. This helps eliminate the potential for errors and callbacks that will add further to your overall project costs. Atrium Roofing has decades of combined industry experience, ensuring exceptional workmanship that leaves no room for mistakes. We have already completed thousands of residential roof replacement projects since we opened our doors, all done perfectly right the first time.
- Take a look at the brands they represent. The quality of the roofing material is crucial in a roof replacement. Make sure your choice of roofing contractor carries products from trusted industry names. Atrium Roofing, for example, is a GAF® Certified Weather Stopper™ Roofing Company, a CertainTeed® Master Shingle Applicator™, and an Owens Corning® Platinum Preferred Contractor. This means access to a wide selection of complete asphalt shingle roofing systems. Not only will you benefit from their unrivaled beauty and lasting weather performance, but from the solid warranty coverage included with them, as well.
- Read customer feedback. Don’t forget to ask for a list of references so you can talk to their previous clients about their experience with one contractor. You can also augment this by checking out the customer reviews and scores they’ve received in prominent industry organizations. Atrium Roofing sets a fine example by being an Accredited Business with the Better Business Bureau® and maintaining an A+ Rating with them.
Schedule Your Roof Evaluation Now
When you look up “premier roofers near me” online, you’ll find Atrium Roofing at the top of the search results–and with good reason! We have always been committed to delivering complete client satisfaction through superior roofing workmanship–something that Texas homeowners and property managers have come to expect. Call us today at (210) 807-6767 or fill out this contact form to schedule your roof evaluation. We proudly serve the areas in and around San Antonio and Austin, TX.