Getting a new roof or roof repair during Covid-19

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 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:

The Department of Health
World Health Organization
Health and Safety Authority

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 Department of Health 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 WHO recommends keeping a minimum distance of 2 meters (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.

Believe it or not, the entire process of hiring a contractor, getting an estimate for a roof repair or replacement can all be done online and over the telephone, preventing you from ever having to leave your home.

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.

Read more at www.owenscorning.com/en-us/roofing/tools/getting-a-new-roof-or-roof-repair-during-covid-19