A roof replacement happens over your head, but most of the preparation happens on the ground. Moving cars, clearing the yard, taking a few things off the walls and making a plan for pets and kids will make the work easier for everyone. This checklist covers what you can do before, during and after. For what the crew does on the roof, how long it takes and how weather is handled, see our roof replacement page.
How do I prepare my house for a roof replacement?
Clear the driveway, move cars and outdoor items away from the walls, take down fragile things hanging on walls, and cover anything stored in the attic. Plan where pets and children will be, and ask your roofer about access, power and water before the day.
The table below puts the checklist in order. None of it involves a ladder or the roof.
| When | What to do | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| A few days before | Ask your roofer where materials and debris will go, and whether the crew needs an outdoor outlet, a hose or a restroom | No surprises on the morning of the job |
| A few days before | Tell your neighbors, and check any HOA rules on work hours or parking | Expect noise and extra trucks on the street |
| The day before | Mow the lawn short and turn off the sprinkler system for the work days | Nails and scraps are easier to find in short, dry grass |
| The day before | Move patio furniture, grills, potted plants and toys away from the house | Old roofing comes down along the walls |
| The day before | Ask your roofer if shrubs and flower beds along the walls will be covered | Debris can land in beds next to the house |
| The night before | Move cars out of the garage and driveway, and unlock gates or text your roofer the codes | The crew needs a clear path around the house |
| The night before | Take down framed pictures, mirrors and shelf items on top-floor walls | Hammering and nail guns shake walls and ceilings |
| The morning of | Settle pets and kids indoors in a quiet room, or away from home | Keeps them clear of the work zone and falling debris |
| After the job | Walk the yard and driveway, and check ceilings after the next rain | Catches a stray nail or a problem early |
What we ask the night before
From our own jobs: the night before, we ask homeowners to:
- Move cars out of the garage and driveway
- Unlock gates or text us the codes
- Take pictures and mirrors off the walls, since tear-off shakes the whole house
- Keep pets inside or at a sitter
- Move patio furniture and planters away from the house
- Turn off the sprinklers
Should I stay home during roof replacement?
You do not have to, but plan for noise if you do. Tear-off and nailing are loud, and the whole house can feel it. If you work from home, have a napping baby or a pet that hates noise, a day out is easier. Stay reachable by phone either way.
Being reachable matters more than being home. The crew may have a question about a gate, a power outlet or something they find once the old roof is off. Give your roofer the best number for the day and keep your phone on.
Do roofers need to come inside your home during a roof replacement?
Usually not for the roofing itself, since the work happens outside and on top of the house. Some jobs need a look in the attic, and a crew may ask to use an outdoor outlet or a hose. Ask your roofer ahead of time what access they need.
If something inside does need a look, agree on which door the crew uses and keep pets away from it. Close interior doors to rooms you would rather keep private.
How do roofers go to the bathroom?
It depends on the company and the job. Some crews bring a portable toilet to the site, and some plan around nearby businesses. Ask your roofer before the job starts, so you know whether anyone will need to use your bathroom and can plan for it.
Where should I park, and what should I move outside?
Park on the street, and keep cars out of the garage and driveway. Materials may be delivered there, and old roofing comes down along the walls. Move patio furniture, grills, planters, bikes and toys well away from the house, and ask your roofer where materials and debris will go.
If something cannot be moved, like a swing set or a hot tub, tell your roofer ahead of time so it can be planned around.
If you park on the street and take pets or kids along on errands, the National Weather Service warns that it is never safe to leave a toddler or a pet locked in a car, even in winter, and that hyperthermia can happen even on a mild day in the 70s. See the NWS page on children, pets and vehicles.
Should I take pictures off the walls?
Yes, for anything fragile on top-floor walls and high shelves. Hammering and nail guns on the roof send vibration through the framing, so framed pictures, mirrors and items on shelves can shift or fall. Take them down the night before and put them back after the crew leaves.
If a light fixture or ceiling fan already feels loose, tell your roofer before the job and have an electrician check it rather than taking it down yourself. You do not need to empty rooms, just take down wall and shelf items that could fall and break.
A little preparation on the ground makes replacement day go more smoothly, and knowing what your roof needs comes first. If your replacement is still in the planning stage, start with a free estimate from Cedar Crest Roofing’s roof replacement team. Share your address and rough timing, and we will be in touch about your free estimate.
What should I do with my pets?
Keep them indoors in a quiet room away from the work, or take them elsewhere for the day. Noise, strangers and falling debris can frighten pets, and loose nails in the yard are a risk to paws. Never leave a pet in a parked car.
If your dog normally uses the yard, walk it on a leash out front until the yard has been swept and you have walked it yourself.
Does debris get inside the house?
The attic is where it is most likely. Once the old roofing is off, dust and small bits can fall through gaps in the roof deck. If you store things in the attic, cover them with old sheets or move them out before the job, and plan to dust afterward.
If you have finished space directly under the roof, such as a bonus room with a sloped ceiling, ask your roofer whether anything there should be covered too.
What should I check when the job is finished?
Walk the yard, driveway and flower beds for nails or scraps, and look at the roof from the ground for anything out of place. Keep your contract and warranty papers together. After the next rain, check ceilings for new stains, and call your roofer if you find one.
Our residential roofing work includes magnetic nail sweeps and full cleanup after the job, and every installation carries our 5-year written workmanship warranty that transfers if you sell. Even so, a slow walk of your own yard is worth it before kids and pets go back out. If a ceiling stain ever shows up, our roof leak repair page explains what it can mean.
Where your city requires a permit for roof work, we pull it and schedule the city inspection. In Dallas, for example, the city notes that the contractor posts permits on site, so you may see one at the house during the job. The details are on the City of Dallas single-family resident information page. If your home is in an HOA, our post on HOA approval for a new roof in Texas covers what to check before the work is scheduled.
Sources checked October 31, 2026: National Weather Service, “Children, Pets and Vehicles”, and City of Dallas, “Single Family Resident Information”.
Getting ready for a new roof
Before you plan replacement day, it helps to know what your roof needs. A free estimate for your roof replacement is a good first step before you clear the driveway. Ask for yours, and we will contact you about it.