How to Prepare Your Home for Exterior Remodeling Work

Is your home undergoing exterior remodeling work? While this is an exciting time and you have probably spent hours imagining what the end product will look like, you’ll want the contractor doing the work to have easy access to what they need to do the job right and get it done efficiently.

Make their job easier by using these exterior remodeling preparation tips. No matter what type of work you have done, our tips can make the job easier and help your contractor perform more efficiently.

Scheduling Your Remodel

The first thing you want to consider is scheduling. If you have children, you may want to do the project while they are at school to ensure the kids stay out of the construction area and remain safe. If possible, request a time in the fall, winter or spring when school is in session, and they are out of the house.

Contractors cannot do every remodel year-round, though. Painting your home’s exterior, for instance, is a warm-weather project. While Virginia has a moderate climate, it can still snow in the winter, so that may not be the ideal time for an exterior project like roofing or window replacement. Also, talk to the contractor about what time to expect them each morning. Our team at Sunshine Contracting, for example, generally arrives between 7-10 a.m. daily, depending on the project.

How to Prep for Construction

Before you begin any preparations, talk to your contractor about what they want to get done. They may have specific instructions for you about clearing an area, or they may want to oversee the preparation themselves.

Construction requires a great deal of coming and going in your home. You will want to prepare by moving anything valuable or fragile out of the way. Prepare a bathroom the workers can use, and designate it for them only, so you can keep all the debris tracked in from outside to one short pathway.

Discuss permitting with your contractor and agree on who will pursue the permits. Often contractors know the people at the offices that issue permits, so it’s easy for them to secure the necessary paperwork. But some homeowners prefer doing this themselves to remain “in the know” about the process.

Go over change orders as soon as they arise, so you both remain on the same page. Construction is fluid and often demands adjustments, so a change order is nothing to worry about.

How to Prep for a Roof Replacement

If you’re replacing the roof on your home, you can follow these steps to facilitate the roof replacement readiness process:

• Receiving material delivery: The new roofing supplies will get delivered to your home. Clear your driveway to allow for storage.
• Getting rid of the old roof: Most contractors bring a trailer they park in the driveway to throw the old roof into. If you live in a townhome or otherwise lack a driveway, tell the contractor where to park the trailer.
• Shutting down the HVAC: During a roof replacement, turn off your HVAC system to reduce the chance of damaging the part of the system located outside of the house.
• Clearing your walls: Remove anything that is high-value or fragile hanging on your walls so it won’t fall off while contractors work on the roof.

Once the roof gets installed, make sure the contractor walks the property with a nail magnet to rescue stray debris.

How to Prep for a Siding Replacement

When you have new siding installed, take these steps before and during the replacement process:

• Clearing landscaping: Putting on siding may require walking into flowerbeds and other landscaping to remove and then add the siding. Dig up any treasured plants and replant them after the work is done.
• Removing cars from the driveway: Your driveway will store the new siding and a dumpster for the old material. Keep it clear, so contractors can move in and out easily.
• Keeping pets out of the way: Pets are naturally curious, and if they are outside, they will want to investigate what’s going on at “their” house. For their safety and our team’s, it’s best to keep them inside and out of the way of the contractors.

How to Prep for a Window Replacement

Your home may need new windows after years of use. Take these steps to get ready for window replacement:

• Turning off your alarm system: Contact your alarm company and inform them you are getting new windows installed so they can take appropriate steps.
• Clearing around the windows: The contractor will need to access of about 3 feet around the interior window during installation, so remove anything that may be sitting there, such as tables, chairs, plants or more.
• Taking down window treatments: Remove all curtains, shades and blinds from the windows.

If you take these steps before the contractor arrives, your home should be ready for a smooth overhaul. Contact us to discuss your contracting needs today.