How to Prepare Your Roof for Installers Coming Tomorrow

The Short Version: Your Prep Checklist

If you only have fifteen minutes, do these things:

• Call or text the contractor to confirm arrival time, crew size, and whether they need power, water, or driveway space.
• Move all vehicles off the driveway and away from the side of the house where the crew will work.
• Clear the driveway of trash bins, toys, bikes, and anything a dumpster or trailer might crush.
• Bring in or tie down hanging plants, wind chimes, bird feeders, flags, and holiday lights.
• Turn off automatic sprinklers and stop watering the lawn for at least a day.
• Photograph your siding, driveway, landscaping, and any existing damage.
• Keep pets indoors and plan where kids will be during the noisiest hours.

Tonight: What to Do Before You Go to Bed

Confirm the Details With Your Contractor

Most problems on roofing day come from mismatched expectations, not from the work itself. A two-minute phone call the night before prevents most of them. Ask:

• What time will the crew arrive, and how many people are coming?
• Where should the dumpster or trailer go?
• Do you need access to my electrical outlet or outdoor water spigot?
• Are you removing the old roof or layering over it?
• Will you need to go into the attic, and where is the access point?
• Are you removing and reinstalling gutters, satellite dishes, or solar panels?
• Who is responsible for the final nail sweep?
• What happens if it rains?

Get the answers in writing if you can — a text message is enough. It creates a record you can refer back to later.

Clear the Driveway and the Work Zone

Roofing crews bring a lot of equipment: ladders, a dumpster or trailer, compressors, nail guns, and sometimes a boom lift or conveyor. A 20-yard dumpster is roughly the length of two cars and needs a clear, level spot that a heavy truck can back into.

Move garbage bins, recycling, basketball hoops, bike racks, garden hoses, and anything sitting on the driveway or along the side of the house. If you have a narrow driveway, tell the contractor tonight so they can plan to park on the street.

Move Every Vehicle

Park your cars on the street, well away from the house and away from where the dumpster will sit. Falling shingles, dropped tools, and stray nails are real risks. If you have a car in the garage, decide whether it can stay there or whether you need it out for the day.

Protect the Ground and Landscaping

Most reputable crews lay tarps around the base of the house before they start tearing off. But you can help:

• Move potted plants, planters, and garden ornaments out of the drop zone.
• Relocate patio furniture, grills, fire pits, and outdoor toys to the garage or far side of the yard.
• Ask the crew to cover your air conditioning condenser unit if it sits under the eaves.
• Mention delicate shrubs or young trees near the house so they can place plywood or tarps over them.
• Turn off automatic sprinklers — wet ground plus nails is a bad combination, and tarps slide on mud.

Take Down Fragile Exterior Items

Anything hanging on or near the roofline is at risk from vibration, ladders, and swinging debris. Remove or secure:

• Hanging plants and baskets
• Wind chimes
• Bird feeders and birdhouses
• Flag poles and mounted flags
• String lights and holiday decorations
• Security cameras mounted high on the wall (ask the contractor before removing these yourself)
• Loose gutter guards or downspout extensions

Photograph Everything

Do this tonight: walk the perimeter and take dated photos of your siding, windows, screens, driveway, fencing, and landscaping. Roofing work occasionally causes collateral damage — a cracked window screen, a dented gutter, a stained driveway. Having before photos makes the conversation with your contractor and your insurer much simpler.

Handle Pets and Kids

Nail guns and air compressors are loud enough to rattle windows. Dogs in particular tend to bark nonstop at crews walking around the house. Plan to keep pets indoors in a room away from the work, and consider a white noise machine or a fan for cover sound.

If you have a dog that gets anxious, a day at a friend's house or a boarding facility is not overkill — it is kinder to the dog and easier on the crew.

The Morning Of: Final Steps

Clear the Interior Path

If the crew needs attic access, the path from your front door (or garage) to the attic hatch should be open and safe. That means:

• Remove shoes, boxes, and clutter from hallways and stairs.
• Lay down drop cloths, old sheets, or cardboard along the route.
• Make sure the attic hatch opens freely and nothing is stacked on top of it.
• Clear a working area around the hatch so someone can stand and climb safely.

Protect the Top Floor

Tearing off a roof sends vibration through the whole structure. Anything hanging on walls on the top floor and in stairwells can shift or fall.

• Take down mirrors, framed pictures, and wall shelves on the top floor.
• Move breakables off shelves and out of cabinets that do not latch.
• Cover furniture and electronics with sheets or plastic drop cloths — dust travels.
• Pull electronics away from the wall slightly so vibration does not knock them over.
• If you have a ceiling fan or light fixture directly under the work area, check it after the crew leaves for loosened mounts.

Attic Preparation

You do not need to empty your attic, but you should clear a safe walking path from the hatch to the areas where the crew needs to work. Roofers often need to inspect the decking from underneath, check for leaks, or access electrical penetrations.

• Move boxes and stored items away from the hatch and away from the underside of the roof deck.
• Do not cover insulation with anything heavy — it needs to stay in place.
• If your attic has no lighting, tell the contractor so they can bring work lights.
• Warn the crew about any exposed wiring, sharp ductwork, or low nails you know about.

Gates, Alarms, and Access

Unlock side gates, disarm exterior alarms, and leave a note on the door with your phone number if you will not be home. If you have a garage code or a lockbox, share it with the contractor in advance — not on a sticky note taped to the door.

Decide now whether the crew can use your bathroom and outdoor water. Most crews will ask, and most homeowners say yes. It is a small courtesy that tends to improve how carefully people treat your property.

What NOT to Do Before Roofers Arrive

• Do not climb onto the roof yourself. Falls from residential roofs are one of the most common serious home injuries, and the surface may already be compromised. See OSHA's fall protection guidance for why this matters even for brief inspections.
• Do not start tearing off shingles or underlayment. You can void your warranty and create a leak path right before rain.
• Do not pressure wash the roof. It creates a slick surface and can force water under shingles.
• Do not apply sealants or coatings. They interfere with the new installation.
• Do not move the contractor's ladders or equipment. Even a small repositioning can be unsafe.
• Do not schedule other home services the same day. Pest control, pool cleaning, internet installation, and landscaping all compete for driveway space and attention.
• Do not plan a party, an open house, or a work-from-home presentation day. The noise is relentless.

Who Handles What: A Quick Division of Labor

Special Situations That Change the Prep

If You Have Solar Panels

This is the single most common last-minute surprise. Many roofing crews are not licensed or insured to disconnect and reconnect solar arrays. If panels need to come off, a separate solar technician usually has to do it — and that technician needs to be scheduled before the roofers arrive, not on the same morning.

If your roofers are coming tomorrow and you have panels that need removal, call the contractor tonight. It is better to delay the roof by a few days than to have a crew standing around waiting.

If You Have a Satellite Dish or Antenna

Dishes are usually mounted to the roof or fascia. Some roofers remove and reinstall them; others ask you to call your provider. Confirm tonight who is handling it, and whether the dish will be re-mounted in the same spot or relocated.

If You Have a Chimney, Skylights, or Dormers

These are the leak-prone areas of any roof, and they often need more than shingles — new flashing, new boots, sometimes a mason or a skylight specialist. Ask whether flashing replacement is included in the quote, or whether it is billed as an extra if they find problems once the old roof is off.

If Your Home Was Built Before 1978

Older homes may have lead-based paint on exterior trim, fascia, or soffits that gets disturbed during tear-off. The EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting program sets lead-safe work practices for this kind of work. Ask your contractor how they handle it. Similarly, some older roofing materials and underlayments may contain asbestos — if your home dates to the mid-1980s or earlier, it is worth asking how they identify and handle suspect materials.

If You Live in an HOA

Check the rules on dumpster placement, permitted work hours, and whether the new shingle color needs architectural approval. A dumpster that sits on a common area or blocks a neighbor's driveway can generate a complaint fast.

If You Work From Home

Roofing is loud in a way that is hard to describe if you have not experienced it — impact, scraping, compressors, and constant footsteps overhead. If you have calls that cannot be moved, plan to work somewhere else for the day, or reschedule them. Noise-cancelling headphones help with the compressor but not with the vibration through your desk.

If You Have a Baby or a Napping Toddler

Nap schedules and roofing schedules do not coexist well. Options: shift nap time to the far side of the house with a white noise machine, take the day somewhere else, or accept that today is a low-sleep day. Do not plan to put a baby down directly under the work area.

Day-Of Logistics Worth Deciding Now

• Parking: Where will the crew park so they are not blocking neighbors or the dumpster truck?
• Power: Which outdoor outlet can they use?
• Water: Which spigot is available, and is it turned on?
• Bathroom: Are you comfortable letting the crew use an indoor bathroom, or should they plan otherwise?
• Weather: What is the rain plan, and will they tarp exposed sections overnight if needed?
• Communication: Who is the crew's point of contact, and how will they reach you?

After the Crew Leaves: A Five-Minute Walkthrough

Do this the same day, while the crew is still on site if possible:

1. Walk the full perimeter and look for nails, shingle scraps, and damaged plants.
2. Run a magnetic sweeper or a strong magnet over the lawn and driveway if the crew did not.
3. Check gutters and downspouts for debris that could cause a clog.
4. Look at window screens, siding, and the AC unit for impact damage.
5. Go into the attic and look for daylight coming through the new roof deck.
6. Check ceilings on the top floor for new stains or drips.
7. Take after photos from the same angles as your before photos.

Report anything you find to the contractor in writing the same day. Issues raised a week later are much harder to resolve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be home when the roofers arrive?

Not necessarily, but someone should be reachable by phone. If you will not be home, leave gates unlocked, provide access instructions in advance, and make sure pets are secured inside or away from the property.

Do I need to empty my attic?

No. You just need a clear, safe path from the access hatch to the areas the crew needs to inspect, and nothing stacked on top of the hatch itself.

How long does a roof replacement take?

A typical asphalt shingle roof on an average single-family home often takes one to three days, but roof size, pitch, number of layers to remove, complexity (dormers, chimneys, valleys), and weather all change that significantly. Ask your contractor for an estimate specific to your home.

What happens if it rains?

Crews usually stop work and tarp any exposed decking. Ask your contractor tonight what their rain plan is and how quickly they can return.

Will my plants be damaged?

Plants directly under the eaves are the most at risk from falling debris and foot traffic. Move what you can, and ask the crew to place plywood or tarps over anything delicate before they start.

Can I stay in the house during the work?

Yes, most homeowners do. Just expect significant noise and some dust, and keep kids and pets away from the work side of the house and away from ladders and equipment.

Should I tip the roofing crew?

Tipping is not expected in most roofing contracts. Providing water or cold drinks on a hot day is a common and appreciated gesture, but it is entirely optional.

The Bottom Line

Preparing for roofers is mostly about removing obstacles and setting expectations. Clear the driveway, move the cars, get fragile things out of the drop zone, protect the top floor, and make sure the crew can reach your attic without tripping over anything.

The one call you should make tonight is to your contractor — confirm the arrival time, the dumpster location, and who is handling solar panels, satellite dishes, and gutters. That single conversation prevents almost every avoidable problem on roofing day.

If you are still comparing quotes or deciding between repair and replacement, explore our related guide on how to evaluate roofing estimates before you commit. And if you have already been through a roof replacement, leave a comment below with the one thing you wish you had done the night before — it helps the next homeowner.