You’ve gotten your roof estimate, decided to move forward, and signed the contract. Now what?
For homeowners who haven’t replaced a roof before, the time between signing the paperwork and seeing a roofing crew in the driveway can feel a little unclear. There are actually several things happening behind the scenes before installation day arrives.
At Barringer Brothers Roofing, we’ve served homeowners throughout Southern Illinois and the Metro East since 2004, earning 200+ five-star reviews. Our process is designed to keep your roof replacement moving from the initial inspection all the way through the final walkthrough.
Here’s what you can expect after signing a roofing contract and before your new roof is installed.
1. Your Roofing Project Is Officially Moving Forward
Signing the contract is the point where your roof replacement goes from an estimate you’re considering to an actual upcoming project.
Before signing, you should understand what you’re agreeing to. Your roofing contract should clearly outline the work being completed and the important details of the project.
Once everything is approved, your contractor can begin preparing for your installation.
At Barringer Brothers Roofing, this comes after the initial contact, roof inspection and estimate, and your decision to move forward with the project.
2. You’ll Finalize Your Shingle Color
This is one of the more fun parts.
Your roof takes up a significant amount of your home’s exterior, so your shingle color can make a noticeable difference in its overall appearance.
Before materials are ordered, you’ll need to finalize your selection.
Barringer Brothers Roofing installs CertainTeed asphalt shingles, which are available in a variety of colors and styles. When choosing, it can help to consider your siding, brick, stone, shutters, gutters, and other exterior features rather than looking at the roof by itself.
And remember: a small shingle sample and an entire finished roof can look different. Looking at completed homes with similar exterior colors can make the decision easier.
3. Your Installation Gets Scheduled
Once the project details are finalized, your roof replacement can be added to the schedule.
Exactly how quickly installation happens can depend on several factors, including current workload, material availability, the size and complexity of your roof, and weather.
Roofing schedules aren’t quite like scheduling an indoor appointment.
A rainy week can affect multiple projects, and severe weather can change schedules quickly. Your contractor should keep weather conditions in mind rather than beginning work when conditions aren’t appropriate simply to stick to a date.
4. Your Roofing Materials Are Ordered
A roof replacement requires a lot more than shingles.
Once your project details are confirmed, the necessary materials can be ordered for your home. Depending on the roofing system, that can include your shingles, underlayment, starter shingles, hip and ridge materials, flashing components, and other supplies required for installation.
The amount of material needed also depends on your particular roof.
A simple roof and a large home with multiple roof sections, valleys, hips, and other features aren’t going to require the same amount of material.
This is part of the work happening before installation day that homeowners don’t necessarily see.
5. Your Deposit Is Handled
Depending on the terms of your roofing contract, a deposit may be due before materials are delivered and installation begins.
At Barringer Brothers Roofing, the deposit and materials stage is part of the process before the work is completed.
Your contract should explain payment expectations so you know what is due and when.
If anything about the payment schedule is unclear, it’s much better to ask before installation day than to make assumptions.
6. Materials May Arrive Before the Crew
Don’t be surprised if your roofing materials show up before installation begins.
Materials may be delivered ahead of the roofing crew so everything needed for the project is ready when work starts.
Depending on the property and delivery method, materials may be placed in an appropriate location around the home or delivered onto the roof.
Your roofing contractor coordinates these logistics so the crew isn’t showing up on installation morning without the materials necessary to do the job.
7. The Weather Forecast Becomes Pretty Important
Once your roof replacement is getting close, everyone starts watching the weather.
Rain, storms, extreme temperatures, and other conditions can affect roofing work.
That means your scheduled date may occasionally need to change.
It’s understandably frustrating when you’re ready to get the project done, but weather delays aren’t necessarily a bad sign. Your home is temporarily more exposed during portions of a roof replacement, so your contractor has to consider whether conditions are appropriate for the work.
In Southern Illinois, where the forecast can change quickly, some flexibility is simply part of exterior construction.
8. You’ll Need to Prepare Your Property
As installation day approaches, there are a few things you can do to make the process easier.
You may want to:
- Move vehicles away from the house
- Put away fragile outdoor decorations
- Move patio furniture or other belongings when necessary
- Make sure pets are secure
- Let children know crews will be working outside
- Remove or secure fragile wall decorations inside
- Make sure contractors can access the areas of the property they need
Roof replacement involves noise, vibration, falling debris, equipment, and people moving around the exterior of your home.
A little preparation beforehand can make installation day much smoother.
9. You Usually Don’t Need to Move Out
Roof replacement can be loud, but homeowners generally don’t have to leave their homes for the project.
You can typically remain home if you’d like.
However, if you work from home, have young children, have pets that are sensitive to noise, or simply don’t want to listen to roofing work throughout the day, you may prefer to make plans elsewhere.
The important thing is knowing ahead of time that roof replacement is noisy.
You don’t want installation morning to be the first time you realize that.
10. Then Installation Day Arrives
Once the project is scheduled, materials are ready, weather cooperates, and your property is prepared, it’s time for the actual replacement.
The crew will begin removing the existing roofing materials so the roof underneath can be evaluated.
From there, the roof is prepared and the new roofing system is installed.
Sometimes conditions underneath an existing roof aren’t fully visible until tear-off begins. If something unexpected is discovered, your contractor should explain the issue and what needs to happen before moving forward.
What Happens After the Roof Is Installed?
Installation day isn’t necessarily the very last step.
At Barringer Brothers Roofing, our process includes a final walkthrough after the work is completed. This provides another opportunity to review the completed project before the final invoice.
Then you get to enjoy something considerably less exciting—which is hopefully not thinking about your roof very much at all.
That’s kind of the point.
A good roof is supposed to quietly do its job protecting your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
There isn’t one standard timeframe for every project. Scheduling can depend on the contractor’s current workload, weather, material availability, and details of your particular roof.
The exact process can vary by contractor, but your final shingle selection will need to be confirmed before the appropriate materials are ordered for installation.
Roofing is weather-dependent. Rain, storms, extreme temperatures, or delays on projects scheduled before yours can sometimes affect the installation schedule.
They may be. Materials are often coordinated ahead of installation so everything needed is available when the roofing crew begins work.
Yes. Moving vehicles, securing outdoor belongings, preparing pets, and removing fragile wall decorations are a few simple things homeowners can do before installation.
Usually not. Roof replacement is noisy, so some homeowners actually prefer to be elsewhere during the work. Make sure your roofing contractor can reach you if any questions or unexpected issues come up.
Your roofing contractor may need to adjust the schedule. Weather delays can be inconvenient, but the conditions need to be appropriate for roofing work to be completed safely and properly.
Getting Ready for a New Roof?
Signing the contract is only the beginning. There are several steps between approving your roof replacement and seeing the finished shingles on your home.
Barringer Brothers Roofing helps homeowners throughout Southern Illinois and the Metro East through the entire process—from the initial inspection and estimate to installation and the final walkthrough.
Have questions about the roof replacement process or want to get started?
Call Barringer Brothers Roofing at (618) 703-3036 or fill out our online contact form for more information or to request a free estimate.
