Does your dog or cat get scared and anxious when there are loud noises? Does your dog bark incessantly when people walk by your house?
There’s no way around the fact that a roof replacement is a loud project, especially inside your home. Unfortunately, some homeowners are too concerned about the outside to think about how the project will affect their pets on the inside.
The last thing you want is to cause unnecessary stress to your dog or cat that’s part of your family. But what should you do with them during the roof replacement process?
For over 30 years, Bill Ragan Roofing has provided the advice homeowners need to have a painless roof replacement experience. Now, I want to help you determine what to do with pets on the big day.
By the end of this article, you’ll learn the answers to the following questions:
- What should you do with your pets during a roof replacement?
- What else do you need to do to prepare for a roof replacement?
What should you do with your pets during a roof replacement?
I always recommend finding somewhere for your dog or cat to go on the day(s) of your replacement. However, everyone’s pets are different, and there are a few things to consider when making your decision.
The most obvious thing to consider is how your dog or cat handles loud noises. If they’re scared of storms or fireworks, I guarantee they won’t be happy with the noise that comes with a replacement.
It will cause a lot of unnecessary stress, especially for anxious pets. You also need to consider that strangers will be walking around your property throughout the project.
If your dog is aggressive or barks a lot when seeing people near your home, it’s better for everyone if they go to daycare or somewhere else for the day. The same goes for taking your dog out to go to the bathroom.
There will be debris flying around your property and off the roof, especially during the tear-off process. The last thing you want is your beloved dog to get hit by something or eat roofing debris lying on the ground.
Considering all this, it’s better to be safe and find somewhere for your pets to go during your roof replacement.
What else do you need to do to prepare for a roof replacement?
Now you know I recommend getting your pets out of the house when getting your new roof. This keeps them safe and out of a stress-inducing environment, which also helps you have a smooth experience.
But what else can you do to ensure you have the best experience possible during a hectic project? Let’s look at what else you need to do to prepare for the day of your roof replacement.
Decide if you want to stay home during the roof replacement process
Just like you need to consider how your pets handle the noise, you must also consider how you will. That’s why you need to decide if you want to stay home during your roof replacement.
If you work from home, you should find somewhere else to go. I guarantee it’ll be hard to concentrate without noise-canceling headphones, and the noise will be heard during meetings.
However, there’s no problem if you want to stay home. Just be aware of where it’s safe to walk, stay out of the installers’ way, and have an exit strategy if you decide to leave.
Move your vehicles to the street or out of the way
During the roof replacement process, your driveway will have a dump truck/trailer, materials, tools, and other vehicles in it. If you get blocked in, the entire process has to stop to clear everything so you can get through.
That’s why you need to move your vehicle(s) the night before your roof replacement if you plan or need to leave. Even if you’re staying home, I always recommend moving your vehicle(s) just to be prepared with an exit strategy.
Take anything you consider valuable off your walls
During your roof replacement, vibrations go throughout your home. This will be worse during installation and much more severe if you choose the hand-nailing installation method.
That’s why you should take anything valuable, important, or irreplaceable off the walls or shelves before your roof replacement begins. There’s no guarantee anything will be knocked down, but it’s better to be safe with what you consider important or valuable.
This is especially important if you hire a roofing contractor whose contract includes a clause releasing them of liability for damaged property.
Ask your roofing contractor to cover things in your attic
During a roof replacement, your attic will get covered in roofing debris, sawdust, and wood splinters. If you have anything you want to protect up there, you should ask your roofing contractor to cover it.
They’ll either make a tent by attaching plastic to the ceiling or lay tarping/plastic over everything to shield it from falling debris. After your roof replacement is complete, they’ll roll up fallen debris in the plastic or tarp to throw away.
If you don’t have an attic or don’t care what’s up there, this may not apply to you. But if you want it covered, you need to tell your roofing contractor before the project begins.
Inspect your property
A reputable roofing contractor does everything possible to protect your property during a roof replacement, but mistakes happen. If something gets damaged, they should take care of the issue at no charge.
That’s why you should inspect your property and take pictures of areas around the roof line. This gives you a leg to stand on if something gets damaged during the roof replacement process, plus the proof to back it up.
You probably haven’t looked at these areas close enough until now, so you should also take pictures of existing damage (torn window screens, damaged light fixtures, etc). This helps differentiate old damage and new damage if needed.
What actually happens during the roof replacement process?
After reading this article, you’re better prepared for the day of your roof replacement. If you do the things I’ve mentioned, you’ll be set up for a smooth experience.
Remember, mistakes can happen. But as long as you hire a reputable roofing contractor, all mistakes and damages will be taken care of at no cost to you.
Unfortunately, there’s no way around the fact that getting a new roof is chaotic and messy. It’s a big home improvement project that’s alarming if you’ve never been through it.
In fact, many homeowners are unprepared for the chaos when things start flying off the roof. I don’t want you to be one of these homeowners.
That’s why I wrote another article breaking down the replacement process so you know what to expect from the time materials are delivered until the roofers leave your property.
Check out the 8-Step Process to Replace Your Roof to learn what exactly happens during a roof replacement.
