GETTING A NEW ROOF OR ROOF REPAIR DURING COVID-19

Posted on: 12/01/2021

Can you get a new roof or roof repair during COVID-19? In most cases, the answer is yes – although it depends on where you live because the coronavirus restrictions and orders vary by state and may even vary at the county level.

COVID-19 and the resulting social restrictions have closed some industries and changed the way others operate. Roofing falls within the construction category and therefore is considered an essential business. Roofs are critical to keeping residential and commercial buildings weathertight and safe, including single-family homes.

To best serve their customers, roofing contractors have transitioned to digital or online technology to manage the upfront aspects of roof installation and repair.

Find out more about how you can get a new roof or roof repair during the coronavirus pandemic while following social distancing rules and local, state, and federal guidelines.

Why You Shouldn’t Delay Roof Repair or Replacement

Your roof plays a critical role in helping to protect your home from the elements. If you need a new roof or roof repair, it is important to get that work done as soon as possible to help prevent other issues or severe damage to your home, such as:

• Persistent leaks
• Water damage, either seen or unseen
• Mold

Ask your roofing contractor about their financing options and safety protocols, including how they are disinfecting tools, vehicles, work attire, and other equipment.

While individual roofing contractors are likely to have their own protocol, in general, contractors should be following safety measures outlined by the following governmental organizations:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• World Health Organization
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Safety measures may vary depending on the roofing contractor you choose, but they could include all or some of the following recommendations:

• Compliance with Recommendations from Health and Safety Organizations: Both the CDC and WHO have recommended people stay home from work if they’re not feeling well, and the contractor you hire should be abiding by these recommendations as well.
• Social Distancing: The CDC recommends keeping a minimum distance of six feet between yourself and another person when out in public or while working on the job. And for roofing repairs or replacements, nearly all the work is done outside of your home, so you don’t have to worry about running into a crew member while work is being completed. If interior access is needed to inspect the attic ventilation or the roof deck, you can draw up guidelines with your roofing contractor to avoid the roofers coming into contact with household members.
• Digital transactions: Paying for your roofing contractor’s services using digital transactions and receipts minimizes person-to-person contact during estimates, roofing work, and other inspections.

7 Steps to Hire a Roofing Contractor Without Meeting In-Person

The entire process of hiring a contractor, getting an estimate for a roof repair or replacement, and even picking out roofing shingles can all be done online and over the telephone. Here’s how you can find, hire, and work with a roofing contractor remotely:

1. Research roofing contractors online. Independent roofing contractors in the Owens Corning Roofing Contractor Network (OCCN) with the “No-Contact Service” badge on their listing indicates that they can work with you remotely for some or all services.
2. Contact a roofing contractor online via email, chat, or text or call to schedule a virtual appointment.
3. During your appointment, ask questions about estimates, costs, and the repair or replacement process. You can always ask for additional info via email, text, phone, or video chat sessions. Use this checklist to help guide your decision-making process on which roofing contractor to hire.
4. To provide an estimate, a roofer needs to know the dimensions of your roof. Roofing contractors can use satellite technology to take your roof measurements so there is no need for anyone to come out to your home.
5. If necessary, you can provide your roofing contractor with photos or videos of roof damage or areas that need repair via email, chat, or text. Please only take pictures or videos from the ground or a convenient window. For the safety of the homeowner, a direct roof inspection is never recommended.
6. Once the contractor has everything they need to provide an estimate, they can email or text it to you to review from the comfort of your own home.
7. Finally, all paperwork, project scheduling, and payment can be completed easily and securely through electronic platforms.

How to Pick Roofing Shingles Online

When it comes time to select new shingles for your roof, you can do so from the comfort of your home.

On the Owens Corning Roofing website, for example, you can easily:

• Research various roofing products, such as architectural shingles and synthetic underlayment
• Browse different roofing shingle styles and colors
• Discover exterior design inspiration

Use Online Visualizations Tools Like DesignEyeQ®

If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to selecting shingle colors and types, you can use visualization tools, such as DesignEyeQ® from Owens Corning Roofing.

Start by uploading a photo of your house or select a house that looks like yours from our library of photos.

Next, you can start choosing shingle types and colors, and the visualizer shows you how that design might look on your house. Use the tool to change the front door, window and house trim, garage door, and windows to match your home’s color scheme so you can coordinate color choices properly.

Get Roof Shingle Samples by Mail

Once you’ve narrowed down your choice, you can request free printed color samples. Each sample is 12 x 24-inches, so you can get a true picture of the color and definition of your shingles. Select up to five samples per order and only pay for shipping and handling. 

Once you’ve made your final choices, you can share and discuss them remotely with your roofing contractor. Choosing roofing shingles can be both exciting and satisfying when you use convenient visualizer tools and printed samples from Owens Corning.

Drive by Homes in Your Area

You can ask your contractor for a list of houses they have recently reroofed in the same or similar shingle colors that you’re interested in so you can drive by and see what the roof shingles look like on a real home. Before leaving your home, however, be sure to check your local guidelines concerning stay-at-home orders as this may or may not be permitted in your area.

Choosing a Roofing System

Build Your Roof™

You can pick all the layers of your roofing system using our Build Your Roof™ digital tool, from synthetic underlayment to shingles and type of ventilation. If you prefer to go through this process with a contractor, you can ask your contractor to set up a phone or video call and then go through the Build Your Roof™ experience together. 

Installing or Repairing the Roof

When it comes time to start roofing work, contractors may not need to come into your home at all. Once all the plans and estimates are in place, the roof repair or replacement can be completed outside, and you shouldn’t have to interact with anyone. Should any of the roofers need access to the attic, they can give you advanced notice, so you can clear a pathway and keep all family members out of the way.

You can ask your contractor to call or text you when they arrive onsite and maybe give them a smile and a wave from the window. Any questions or conversations that need to happen during the work can be done safely by phone or text.

These measures can help ensure that you and your family, along with your roofing contractor and their crew stay healthy and safe during this time.

Original article: https://www.owenscorning.com/en-us/roofing/tools/getting-a-new-roof-or-roof-repair-during-covid-19