Having a new roof put on your property is a pretty big undertaking. It involves quite a bit of planning on the part of the contractor and may inconvenience you for a bit. Here are some probable occurrences that you can expect and what to do about it:

Traffic - If you're getting your roof torn off, there will most likely be a large dumpster, truck, or trailer in which to throw the old roofing. There may possibly be several vehicles parked in front of your house and your neighbors' houses. Most roofing contractors like to have their workers show up at the company's warehouse and then all drive to the job site in only two or three vehicles. However, there are occasion when the roofers will drive their own vehicles to the site. It is recommended that you inform your neighbors of the reroof project and let them know how long it will take and what hours the roofers plan

Noise, Noise, and Noise - During the entire process, you will experience varying levels of noise. The roofers will use tear off tools, shovels, wheelbarrows, brooms, etc., in order to get the substrate clean enough to install a new roof. The noise for the installation will vary according to the type of new roof you're getting. For shingles, wood, or any other type of roof that is mechanically-attached (nailed) to the deck, the noise may obviously be quite loud and possibly annoying. For mopped-on built-up roofs you will hear nailing if a base sheet is attached but afterward the noise will lessen and consist mostly of heavy rooftop equipment and foot traffic of the roofers. For adhered single-ply roofs such as EPDM, PVC, TPO, etc., the noise will be limited even more. There will be no heavy mop carts filled with asphalt or coal tar pitch being dragged around, but there may be carts used to carry materials across the roof. For metal roofs, you may hear some nailing depending on the type of underlayment the contractor uses but afterward you will most likely hear screw guns and drills. If you have somewhere else you can be during the reroof process, then it would be good idea to go there. Also keep in mind that most roofers like to start early and work late. If you have certain hours that you don't want worked, then be sure to let the roofers know.

Broken Pictures, Etc. - There is a possibility for chandeliers, pictures, mirrors, and ceiling fans falling or moving during the project. It is strongly recommended that you ask the roofer if he thinks these items should be taken down while the roof work is being done. If you have expensive mirrors or chandeliers, then it is strongly recommended that these be set gently on the floor until the project is complete. Many roofers will gladly take these items down for you rather than risk having to purchase a new ones.

Debris - There will probably be a lot of debris on the ground. It is not uncommon for the old roofing materials to fall on top of flowers, shrubs, etc. If you have plants that you want protected you need to make an effort to point these out to the contractor or his foreman. It's also good to document that you spoke to him about it and have him sign the document. Make sure the date, roofing company's name, your name and address, job site address if different from yours, and the name of the roofing company's representative are all on the document.

Damaged Landscaping - Roofers have to have access to the roof for their equipment. There's no getting around it. If there is no direct access by use of a driveway, then they'll have to come across the lawn. Most roofers will see this when they come out to look at the job and good roofers will inform the homeowner of methods they intend to use to protect your lawn from damage. Here's where it gets a little tricky. If the roofer knows he has to pay for any damage, then the roof cost will increase. However, the roofer will also take better care of the lawn and try to minimize the damage. On the other hand, if the homeowner informs the roofer that he/she will take care of the lawn damage in order to keep the cost of the roof down, then the roofers will probably not be as careful. The best thing to do is to talk to the roofer about possible damage and request that they keep the damage to a minimum. Most roofing contractors will try their best to help their clients in every way possible.

Broken Sprinkler Heads - It's a good idea for property owners to mark their sprinkler heads with something so that the roofing contractor is aware of them. Even though the contractor will usually pay for damaged sprinklers, it will still inconvenience the owner of the property.