If you’re installing a new roof on your house, you might be sighing relief. Roofs need replacement every decade or several decades, depending on your roof’s materials, and if you’ve been planning the upgrade for a while, you’re probably happy that you no longer have to worry that the old shingles will leak. But although you are likely glad that you’re finally having a new roof installed, you’re not quite done planning just yet. You also need to make sure that you do some prep work before the roofers come so that the entire project is smooth sailing.

1. Yard Work Before Roof Replacement

According to Royal Roofing, there are a few types of tasks that you should do before the roofers come. First of all, make sure that all branches are trimmed so that they’re not in the way when they’re pulling off the old shingles and installing the new ones. Also, cut the grass the day before. Roof installation is a messy job, and pieces of old shingles, nails, and other materials can get lost in long grass. A quick trim the day before can save you cleanup time later. It’s also safer because stray nails that get lost in the grass are easily caught in the lawnmower’s blades, which can then kick the nails into your leg or an unsuspecting passerby.

2. Give Neighbors a Heads-Up

You need to put a roof on your house, but the construction is likely to be somewhat noisy for your neighbors, especially if houses are close together. Let them know ahead of time if you think it might disturb them. They might be able to rearrange their schedules enough so that they can be most comfortable. It’s especially helpful for you and your neighbors to coordinate in case they were planning a party and would prefer to move it to another time or location to avoid the extra noise.

3. Put a Dropcloth on Attic Items

When workers are pounding on your roof, it’s very likely that dust and other material will fall. You can protect your possessions in the attic by putting drop cloths or tarp over anything that’s not in a box. For instance, if you have an old chair that no longer fits in the living room but you still like, this is the perfect type of item to put under a drop cloth.

4. Remove Pictures and Art

The amount of banging on your roof can cause pictures and artwork to fall off of the walls. That can result in your favorite painting to become damaged. You can avoid this by simply taking down everything that could fall off. Some of the most common types of items that should be taken down include:

• Framed photographs
• Dishware displayed on racks
• Hanging pots and pans
• Shadow boxes
• Artwork
• Anything else that isn’t screwed into the wall

5. Take Care of Pets and Kids

When you plan on having children and pets around when workers are putting on a new roof, you need to make sure that children know where they shouldn’t go, and you need to find an appropriate place for pets that are easily frightened. Workers need children out of the way so that they can do their jobs without having to worry that your children will be hurt. Also, some cats and dogs can get scared of the noise, so if you have animals with nervous dispositions, either make a safe and comforting bed for them in the basement or find another house that they can stay in until the work is done.

All types of home construction require preparation. If you want to know more ways that you can prepare your home before the roof installers come, talk to the contractor doing the job. They will most likely know all about the types of problems that homeowners face whenever they’re putting on a new roof, and they’ll most likely be happy to advise you on how you can prepare.