To get ready for a roof replacement, clear a path for the crew and the debris, protect what's inside and around the house, and plan for noise. In practice that means moving vehicles out of the driveway, moving patio furniture, grills and planters away from the walls, covering stored items in the attic, taking down wall hangings that could shake loose, and deciding where pets and small children will be while the crew works. Then the work follows a predictable order: site protection, tear-off, a deck inspection and any decking replacement, underlayment and flashing, ventilation, shingles, ridge, and cleanup with a magnetic nail sweep before a final walkthrough.
How long all of that takes depends on the size and pitch of the roof, how many layers come off, how much decking turns out to be bad, and the weather. Your contractor should give you a schedule in writing and tell you how they handle rain delays. This guide doesn't give you a number of days, because any honest number depends on your roof. For the bigger picture of planning a replacement, see our roof replacement guide, and for how Cola City runs a job, see our process.
What should I do in the week before the roof replacement?
Most of the preparation is common sense, but it's easier with a list. Work through these once the start date is set.
Paperwork and permissions
- Read the contract once more. Confirm the scope (tear-off, number of layers, underlayment, flashing, ventilation, the named shingle and color), how damaged decking will be priced, the cleanup terms and the payment schedule. Our guide to reading roofing estimates explains each line.
- Confirm the permit. Ask who is pulling it and for the permit number once it's issued. Who issues it depends on where you live; see roof permits in Columbia and the Midlands.
- HOA approval, if you have an HOA. Get the approval in writing before materials are ordered, and make sure the shingle and color on the approval match the contract. Our HOA roof approval guide covers what to submit.
- Tell your insurer if a claim is paying. If the job is part of an insurance claim, make sure the adjuster has finished and you understand what the claim covers before tear-off. See the roof insurance claims guide.
Talk to the contractor about logistics
- Where will the dumpster or trailer go, and how will the driveway be protected? Ask whether they use boards or plywood under the dumpster wheels and supports.
- Where will shingle bundles be delivered: on the driveway, the lawn, or loaded straight onto the roof?
- Which outdoor outlet can the crew use for power, and is there a hose spigot they can reach?
- Will someone from the company be on site, and who do you call with a question during the job?
- What time will the crew arrive and leave each day, and do they work Saturdays?
- What happens if rain is forecast after the old roof is off? Ask how they protect an open roof.
Dumpsters in the street may need a permit
If the dumpster can't go on your property and has to sit in the street or right-of-way, the city may require a separate permit. The City of Cayce, for example, has its own dumpster permit application, and the City of Columbia takes encroachment applications for work within the right-of-way. Ask your contractor whether they handle it.
Neighbors
A courtesy note or a knock on the door goes a long way. Let close neighbors know the start date, that there will be noise from early morning, and that the crew will be careful near the property line. If your houses are close together, ask the crew to protect the neighbor's side too, and move anything of yours that sits against a shared fence.
How do I protect the outside of my house and yard?
- Vehicles. Move cars out of the garage and driveway before the crew arrives, and park them on the street or at a neighbor's. Garage doors may be blocked by the dumpster or materials, and debris can fall near the driveway.
- Patio furniture, grills and planters. Move them away from the house, at least out of the area directly under the roof edge. Cover anything you can't move.
- Landscaping. Shrubs and flower beds right against the house are in the drop zone. Crews usually cover them with tarps, but trim back anything that hangs over walkways the crew will use, and water beds the day before so plants handle the tarps better. Point out any plants you particularly care about.
- Lawn and sprinklers. Turn off irrigation for the duration so the ground isn't soft under ladders and wheelbarrows, and flag sprinkler heads near the house so they don't get stepped on.
- Satellite dishes, solar panels, antennas. Ask how these are handled. A dish may need re-aiming afterward. Solar panels usually have to be removed and reinstalled, often by the solar installer, which needs its own scheduling.
- Gutters. If you are replacing gutters too, decide the order with your contractor. If you are keeping the old ones, ask how they will be protected during tear-off.
How do I protect the inside of my house?
Roof work shakes the house. Hammers or nail guns on the deck send vibration through the rafters and walls, and tear-off can knock dust and old debris loose into the attic.
- Attic. Cover anything stored in the attic with old sheets or plastic, or move it out. Dust, granules and the tips of nails can come through the decking, and some boards may be replaced from above. If you have pull-down stairs, clear a path under them.
- Wall hangings and shelves. Take down pictures, mirrors and shelves on upper-floor walls and walls that connect to the roof, especially in older houses with plaster. Light fixtures and ceiling fans can shake too; take off glass globes if they are loose.
- Valuables and fragile things. Move collectibles and glass off high shelves.
- Vaulted ceilings. In rooms with no attic above them, dust can come straight down through light fixtures. Cover furniture in those rooms.
- Smoke alarms. Dust in the attic or vibration can occasionally set one off. Know how to silence it.
What about pets, kids and working from home?
Expect loud, sustained noise from the time the crew starts until they pack up: banging, scraping, compressors and nail guns. Plan around it.
- Pets. Many dogs and cats are stressed by roofing noise and by strangers walking above them. Consider boarding them, sending them to a friend's, or keeping them in a quiet room on the ground floor with the door shut. Keep them out of the yard: there will be debris, nails and an open gate.
- Kids. Keep children away from the work area, ladders and the dumpster, and out of the yard where things are dropped. Talk to older children about not picking up nails or debris.
- Working from home. Video calls are hard with nail guns overhead. If you can, work elsewhere for the noisiest part of the job.
- Anyone sensitive to noise or dust. An elderly relative, a newborn or someone recovering from illness may be better off elsewhere while the old roof comes off.
What happens during the replacement, step by step?
The order below is the standard sequence for a shingle re-roof. Your contractor may combine some steps, and a metal or low-slope roof differs in the details.
1. Site protection
The crew sets ladders, places tarps over landscaping and against the walls, and positions the dumpster or trailer. Some crews put plywood against windows or doors under the roof edge.
2. Tear-off
The old shingles, underlayment and usually the old flashing come off down to the wooden deck. This is the loudest and messiest part. Debris is dropped into the dumpster, a trailer or onto tarps below.
3. Deck inspection and decking replacement
With the roof open, the crew can see the decking. Soft, rotted or delaminated boards have to be replaced so the new roof has something solid to nail into. This is the one part of the job no one can price exactly in advance, because it's hidden until tear-off.
Get the decking price in writing before work starts
A good contract states the price per sheet of decking (for example, per 4x8 sheet of plywood or OSB) and says the contractor will show you or photograph the damaged boards before replacing them. Then a decking change order is simple arithmetic, not a negotiation with a roof already open. Our roofing estimates guide explains how decking and other change orders are usually written.
4. Underlayment, drip edge and ice barrier where required
Underlayment goes over the whole deck. Under the 2021 International Residential Code, an ice barrier at the eaves is required in areas the local jurisdiction designates as having a history of ice forming along the eaves; South Carolina modifies the code so that drip edge is required only where the shingle manufacturer requires it. Many contracts also call for self-adhered membrane in valleys and around chimneys and walls. Your estimate should say where membrane goes.
5. Flashing
Flashing seals the joints where the roof meets something else: walls, chimneys, skylights, valleys and plumbing vents. New step flashing, chimney flashing, pipe boots and valley metal are installed as the shingles go on. Reusing old flashing is a common shortcut; your contract should say what is replaced.
6. Ventilation
Ridge vents, box vents and intake vents are installed or replaced. This is the time to fix an attic that was poorly ventilated, since vent openings are easy to cut while the deck is exposed. See the roof ventilation guide for why the balance of intake and exhaust matters.
7. Shingles
Starter strip goes along the eaves and rakes, then the shingle courses go up the roof according to the manufacturer's installation instructions, which control nailing, exposure and how valleys are handled. Following those instructions is also what keeps the manufacturer's warranty valid.
8. Ridge
Ridge cap shingles finish the peaks, usually over a ridge vent.
9. Cleanup and magnetic nail sweep
The crew removes debris from gutters, the roof and the ground, takes down tarps and runs a magnetic sweeper over the lawn, driveway and beds to pick up loose nails. Expect a few strays anyway; walk the yard yourself before letting kids or pets out, and check tires for a while after.
10. Final walkthrough
Walk the job with the crew lead or project manager. Look from the ground with them, ask them to show you the flashing details, and check the attic for daylight or new damage. Ask for photos of anything you can't see. If a final permit inspection is required, final payment usually follows it. Then gather the paperwork listed in our new roof aftercare guide.
What should I look for during the final walkthrough?
Final walkthrough checklist
| Check | What good looks like |
|---|---|
| Shingle lines | Straight courses, consistent exposure, no lifted or crooked tabs visible from the ground |
| Flashing | New metal at walls, chimneys and skylights as the contract states; new pipe boots |
| Ridge and vents | Ridge cap continuous; vents installed where the contract says |
| Gutters and downspouts | Clear of granules, nails and debris; not bent by ladders |
| Yard and driveway | Swept; no shingle scraps or packaging left; driveway undamaged where the dumpster sat |
| Landscaping | Beds uncovered; note any crushed plants |
| Attic | No daylight through the deck except at designed vents; no new water stains |
| Paperwork | Final invoice, change orders signed, warranty information, permit status, photos |
Put anything you aren't happy with in writing (an email is fine) the same day, with photos. Most issues found at the walkthrough are small and fixed quickly when they're raised right away.
Payment, change orders and your rights
Two rules protect you around the job. If the contract was signed at your home, the federal Cooling-Off Rule generally gives you until midnight of the third business day to cancel sales of $25 or more. If insurance is paying, S.C. Code §40-59-25 gives you five business days after a written denial of the claim to cancel, and the contractor can't demand payment before then. That section also bars contractors from rebating your deductible.
Don't pay the full price before the work is done. Tie payments to completed stages, get every change order in writing before the extra work happens, and ask for lien releases from the contractor and major suppliers before the final payment. The roofing contractor guide covers payment schedules and liens in more detail.
Common questions homeowners don't think to ask
- Can I stay home? Yes. Most people do. Just expect noise and keep away from the walls under the roof edge.
- Do I need to be there? Not all the time, but be reachable, especially after tear-off when the crew may need a decision on decking.
- What if it rains? Crews don't install shingles on a wet deck. A careful contractor only opens as much roof as they can dry-in the same day and watches the forecast. Ask how they handle it before you sign.
- Will the crew need to come inside? Usually only to check the attic. Agree on it in advance.
- Is there a portable toilet? Ask. Some crews bring one; otherwise agree on what's available.
If you're planning a replacement and want the order of work explained for your particular roof, Cola City Roofing can walk you through it. Contact us or read the blog post on what to expect at a first roofing consultation. For general background on the phases of a project, see our post on the roof installation timeline.