Getting Your House Ready for a Roof Replacement in El Paso
A roof replacement in El Paso looks like work that happens entirely up on the roof. Tear-off, when the old shingles come off, shakes the walls, scatters debris across the yard, and puts a dumpster and equipment where the cars park. Lifetime Roofing of El Paso, in El Paso since 2019, sends its own crews, not subcontractors, to every roof it replaces. This checklist for the week before tear-off draws on that crew's routine and on homeowner advice from GAF, IKO, and Owens Corning.
Clear the attic and take down what hangs on the walls
Preparing the inside comes first, and the attic leads the list because tear-off happens right above it. GAF advises moving valuables stored there or covering them, and laying a drop cloth on the attic floor. IKO says to carry sentimental and fragile items downstairs and to spread tarps or drop sheets over whatever stays.
The walls come next, because hammering shakes the whole house. GAF says the walls vibrate during the work and lists mirrors, art, TVs, and china cabinets to take down or secure. IKO notes that hammering can knock mirrors, pictures, and shelving off a wall, so all of them come down.
Move the cars, plan for pets and children, and protect the yard
Outside, the list covers the driveway, the garage, the pets, and the yard. Cars belong on the street, not in the driveway or the garage. GAF recommends moving them the day before or early that morning, and covering valuables in the garage because garages collect dust and debris. IKO says to keep cars out of the garage altogether, since shingle granules and nails can fall through its roof. The dumpster and the equipment take the driveway.
Pets and children need a plan too. GAF says to keep pets indoors or somewhere arranged ahead, and to consider daycare for noise-sensitive animals. IKO adds that children need care arranged and that the roofers should have a phone number. On a roof replacement in El Paso, the Lifetime crew calls the homeowner if the day runs late.
The yard catches what falls. GAF says to mow the lawn so fallen debris is easier to see and to cover flower beds. It also says to move potted plants and patio furniture and to mark sprinkler heads. GAF and Owens Corning both call the work loud, and Owens Corning suggests telling the neighbors a few days ahead.
Ask the crew lead about the swamp cooler, solar panels, and dish
Anything attached to the roof needs a conversation before the shingles come off. A rooftop swamp cooler sits on a curb whose flashing is a common leak point, according to the swamp cooler guide on Lifetime's site. A crew working there is working near a known weak spot. Ask the crew lead before tear-off day what the crew needs done with the cooler, and write the answer down.
Solar panels and satellite dishes take lead time. GAF advises scheduling their removal and reinstallation in advance, so the service providers can fit it around the roof job. IKO says rooftop accessories come off and go back on, so expect TV interruptions. Put the same question about them to the crew lead, and ask who handles the removal and reinstallation.
Set the date first, since those providers book around it. The free inspection and the written estimate come before that. For help choosing the season, this guide to the best time to replace a roof in El Paso covers it.
What tear-off day looks like for a roof replacement in El Paso
Ruben's stucco house in El Paso's Northeast has a swamp cooler on the roof, and his tear-off shows how the day runs. The night before, the crew lead from Lifetime Roofing of El Paso called with a short list. Take the boxes and the old bike off the attic shelves. Shut off the water to the rooftop swamp cooler. Park both cars on the street, away from the house. He had expected to do none of it. The next morning the old shingles came off in sections, and each section was covered with a tarp before the crew left. A magnet sweep of the driveway and yard picked up nails before dark. By dark the driveway was clear and the open section had its tarp for the night. The attic shelves were empty because he had moved them the day before.
Any open roof at Lifetime Roofing of El Paso is tarped each night. That matters on a job that runs into a second day, which the makers' general range allows. A roof that a storm has already opened is a separate job, and Lifetime can also tarp a storm-damaged roof on its own.
By tear-off day the house needs a clear attic, bare walls, an empty driveway, a phone number left with the crew, and answers from the crew lead about the roof. The permit rules, the written estimate, and the cost each have a guide of their own on Lifetime's site. For the papers to ask any crew for before work starts, this guide to choosing among roofing contractors in El Paso goes through them.
Lifetime Roofing of El Paso is based at 8900 Gateway Blvd E, El Paso, TX 79907. Its crews work in El Paso, Socorro, Horizon City, Canutillo, Anthony, San Elizario, Clint, Fabens, Vinton, and Fort Bliss. Financing is available on full roof replacements, and veterans get a 5% military discount. The phone desk answers around the clock, in English or Spanish, at (915) 353-3934.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a roof replacement in El Paso take?
Short answer. One to two days is the makers' general range. GAF's homeowner page says a typical residential replacement takes 1 to 2 days. IKO calls two days typical, with some jobs finishing in one day and some taking three. Those are the makers' figures, not a Lifetime schedule. For a specific roof, ask the crew lead at Lifetime Roofing of El Paso. Plan the pets, the cars, and the attic around the longer end.
Who will be on my roof during a replacement?
Short answer. Lifetime Roofing of El Paso sends its own crews, not subcontractors. The company carries $1M in general liability and $2M in workers' compensation insurance, and a homeowner should ask any roofer for both papers before work starts. Texas has no state roofing license, so there's no state license to verify. The written estimate, the contract, and the insurance papers are the protection, so ask any roofer for each one in writing before signing.
Will nails be left in my yard after a roof replacement?
Short answer. A magnet sweep for nails is the usual answer, and Lifetime Roofing of El Paso does one after a tear-off. Owens Corning says contractors typically sweep the property this way and that a homeowner can ask for a second sweep. GAF suggests mowing the lawn beforehand, because short grass makes fallen debris easier to see, and covering flower beds and marking sprinkler heads. A homeowner who wants a second pass can raise it with the crew lead before tear-off day.
What paperwork comes with a new roof?
Short answer. Lifetime Roofing of El Paso hands over the warranty paper at the end of the job. Its transferable workmanship warranty covers every installation, though not tarping or inspections, and it can pass to the next owner. The maker's warranty is a separate paper, and the shingles on a Lifetime installation are IKO. The roof warranty guide on the company's site goes into the details. Any roofer should put workmanship coverage in writing before the job starts.
Can Lifetime Roofing of El Paso handle my insurance claim?
Short answer. Partly. Lifetime Roofing of El Paso doesn't negotiate with insurance companies, and its help on a claim is documenting the damage and writing the estimate. The roof inspection and the written estimate are both free, and the estimate reaches the owner within 48 hours of the inspection. The owner may keep it whether or not the company gets the job, so it can go to the insurer or be compared against other roofers' papers.
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(915) 353-3934
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Based at 8900 Gateway Blvd E, El Paso, TX 79907