Outdoor Preparation Checklist
The day before your roof replacement, take 30–45 minutes to handle the outdoor prep. This protects your property, speeds up the crew's work, and reduces the chance of anything getting damaged during the job.
- Clear the driveway completely. Materials are typically delivered the morning of the job or the afternoon before — bundles of shingles weigh hundreds of pounds and need staging space. The dumpster also needs a clear spot. Move every vehicle off the driveway and keep the street in front of your house clear if possible.
- Move patio furniture, grills, and potted plants. Anything within 10–15 feet of the house exterior should be moved or covered. Debris and granules fall straight down from the roof edge, and a cast iron grill or an outdoor table sitting in that zone can get dinged. Move it; it takes ten minutes.
- Relocate basketball hoops, trampolines, and play equipment. If it is near the roofline and you can move it, move it. Crews are careful, but a falling shingle bundle sliding toward the edge does not care what is below it.
- Trim overhanging tree branches if possible. Branches that overhang the roofline are a minor hazard for crew movement and can snag materials. If you have been meaning to trim them, before your roof replacement is the right time.
- Cover your AC unit with a heavy tarp or piece of plywood. Shingle granules and debris will land in the condenser fins. Granules in an AC unit are not catastrophic but they degrade performance over time. A quick cover-up prevents it entirely. Remove the cover as soon as work is done that day — do not leave it on overnight if temperatures are warm.
- Let your neighbors know. A heads-up to adjacent neighbors — especially those with small children or dogs who spend time in yards near yours — is a neighborly gesture and prevents surprises when the crew arrives at 7am.
Indoor Preparation Checklist
The most commonly missed prep step is inside the house. Roof replacement generates sustained vibration throughout the structure — not dangerous, but enough to shake things off walls and shelves if you are not prepared.
- Remove wall art and mirrors throughout the house. This is the single most important indoor prep step that homeowners overlook. Pneumatic nail guns and the general activity of a roofing crew create consistent vibration. Framed art, mirrors, and shelving items that are hanging rather than sitting will move. Take them down or lean them away from the wall. This applies to all exterior walls especially, but interior walls are not immune.
- In the attic, lay drop cloths over stored items. Small amounts of dust and debris sift through even the best-maintained attic deck during a tear-off. If you have items stored in your attic — boxes, holiday decorations, equipment — cover them with drop cloths or old sheets. It takes ten minutes and prevents everything from getting coated in shingle dust.
- Cover vehicles inside an attached garage. Even with the garage door closed, vibration can shake dust loose from ceiling joists. If you have a nice car in the garage, throw a car cover or old blanket over it.
- Remove items from knee walls and attic shelving. Any shelving unit mounted to an attic or knee wall should be cleared. The vibration that shakes wall art downstairs can topple unsecured items on attic shelving more dramatically.
People and Pets
A residential roof replacement with a full crew is genuinely loud — sustained pneumatic nail gun noise, debris impact, and crew communication for 8–10 hours. Planning around this makes the day significantly more comfortable.
- Arrange for young children to be elsewhere if possible. Not because there is any safety concern — crews work entirely on the roof — but because 8+ hours of construction noise is hard on small kids. A day at grandparents' or a friend's house makes everyone's day better.
- Pets need a plan. Dogs especially react to the activity and noise on the roof. Keep dogs inside and away from exterior walls where possible, or arrange boarding or a day at a friend's house. Workers will be at ground level collecting debris throughout the day, and gates left open are a risk. Keep all gates closed and latched from the start of the job.
- If you work from home, plan for disruption. Video calls will be audible to whoever is on the other end. If you have important calls on installation day, book a coffee shop or a conference room somewhere else for those hours.
Questions to Confirm Before Installation Day
A day or two before the job starts, confirm these details with your roofing contractor so there are no surprises on installation day:
- When will materials be delivered? Shingle bundles are typically delivered the morning of or the afternoon before. Knowing the timing lets you have the driveway clear at the right time.
- Where will the dumpster go? Confirm the exact placement so it does not end up blocking your mailbox, sitting on landscaping, or obstructing a neighbor's access.
- What time does the crew start? SMI crews typically begin around 7–7:30am. Knowing the start time helps you have everything prepped before they arrive.
- What happens if weather hits mid-job? SMI covers exposed decking with synthetic underlayment immediately — it is fully waterproof, so if weather forces a stop mid-installation, your home is protected. Confirm your contractor's weather protocol before the job starts.
- When is the final walkthrough? You should do a walkthrough with the crew leader or project manager at the end of the job. This is when you inspect the finished roof, confirm cleanup is complete, and receive your warranty documentation. Know who to ask for and when to expect it.
Questions? SMI is reachable at (501) 464-5139 throughout your project. Read our day-by-day breakdown of what actually happens during a roof replacement to know what to expect at each stage. Ready to schedule? Book your free inspection online.