Planning your new roof
Charting your path to a worry-free new roof
Your New Roof: Before, During and After
Getting a new roof can be easy when you know where to start. Follow these tips for making the experience a great one.
Before
Follow a Plan for Your New Roof
- Choose a contractor who is experienced, reputable and established in your community
- It’s a good idea to talk to your contractor about future home improvement projects, since they may impact the way your contractor does their job. For example, adding insulation in the attic after the roof replacement could interfere with the attic ventilation system, resulting in moisture problems.
- Your roofing contractor will visit before the project begins. Treat it like a doctor’s appointment—ask all your questions so you have a complete understanding of the process in your home. Unanswered questions could lead to a very wrong assumption.
- Select your roofing shingle by considering its style, durability, cost and the climate where you live.
- Get a few quotes before making a decision and ask questions to understand the costs.
- Know your budget - a new roof can be expensive, and knowing your budget or financing options can help you choose the right roofer and products.
- As a courtesy, let neighbors know when your new roof will be installed.
What Goes Into a Roof? See everything that goes into the roof over your head. Spoiler alert: It's a lot more than shingles. The GAF Lifetime Roofing System. Durable protection. Lasting beauty.
During
7 Tips to Protect Your Home During Roof Installation
- Clear patio furniture, grills and toys from your yard and sidewalks to protect them from falling debris.
- Move your cars out of the driveway and encourage visitors to park on the street.
- Re-locate valuable property or heirlooms from the attic — if they’re too big, consider tarping them.
- Remove mirrors and hanging frames from the walls of your top floor rooms, and secure shelves.
- Consider activities away from home during the day or two of roofing installation — roofing is loud work!
- The extra noise and disruption may disturb your pets. If possible, find another place for them to hang out during the installation.
- Cover your landscaping and flower beds with plastic or tarp.
After
Complete the Roofing Process
- Request a one-on-one discussion with your contractor - walk your home’s perimeter and get a full description of their work.
- Verify that your roofer used a magnetic sweeper to pick up loose nails. If you see any as you walk the perimeter, ask them to rake and re-sweep the yard.
- Check landscaping, gutters, patios and the driveway for other debris—your contractor can help with clean up here, too.
- From your yard, use binoculars to make a visual check of your new roof, then ask any questions — remember, you’re the expert on your home!
- Protect your new investment now and into the future by getting these documents in writing:
- A building permit
- A written work contract and proof that your roofing project will be covered under the contractor's insurance policy.
- A copy of your manufacturer warranty — be sure to review it before you have any future work done (even an inspection).
- If you have a satellite receiver on the roof, you may need to contact the provider for an appointment once the roof project is complete so they can recalibrate the dish. You may even want to contact them in advance to schedule, should there be long wait times.
Why choose GAF roofing for my home?
High-quality roofing systems, factory-certified independent roofers* and strong warranties for your peace of mind.
*Contractors enrolled in GAF certification programs are not employees or agents of GAF, and GAF does not control or otherwise supervise these independent businesses. Contractors may receive benefits, such as loyalty rewards points and discounts on marketing tools from GAF for participating in the program.
Find a GAF Factory-Certified Contractor
At GAF, we train and test thousands of the best roofers in the country and make sure they're appropriately licensed and insured so they can offer our best warranties.