Before the crew arrives: make a roof-project access plan

Separate delivery day from installation day

A proposal's start date may not tell you when materials, a container or equipment will arrive. Ask for the expected delivery window, where each item will go and who will be present to resolve an unsuitable placement. Request an update if the window changes rather than assuming the household can absorb an unexpected delivery.

Sketch a ground-level plan showing doors, the driveway, gates and the proposed staging area. Review it with the provider. Ask which spaces must be kept clear and for how long. Do not mark a route as safe merely because it is convenient; the provider needs to confirm how occupants can enter and leave while work is underway.

• Expected delivery and crew arrival windows
• Agreed staging location and duration
• Who resolves a delivery placement problem

Identify access needs before they become conflicts

Tell the provider about a route needed for a wheelchair, mobility aid, school departure or regular care visit. Ask whether work can accommodate it and what alternative is proposed if it cannot. Resolve these questions before the household depends on an entrance that the crew expects to close.

Discuss when cars should be moved, whether a garage will remain accessible and where pets will stay. If you plan to work from home, ask about expected disruption and whether you should arrange another location. No general checklist can guarantee a quiet room, unrestricted access or that remaining at home is appropriate for your particular project.

Agree on boundaries and communication

Ask the provider to identify the person who can answer access questions during work. Keep the agreed route and off-limits areas clear to household members and visitors. Do not cross a restricted work area to reach a delivery, inspect progress or talk to someone on the roof; use the agreed communication route.

Ask whether any indoor or attic access is actually needed and how it will be arranged. Share only the information necessary to coordinate that visit. Avoid leaving access codes in a general project document that may be passed between unrelated trades. Our planning tools do not need your address, contact details or entry codes.

Resolve overlapping trades and handover

If solar, gutter, satellite or other equipment work is planned, ask each responsible company how its visit fits the roof schedule. Write down who moves or reconnects equipment and which work is outside the roofing quote. A verbal assumption that someone else will handle it can leave a gap in scope.

The FTC recommends capturing project promises in a written agreement. Use a short access note with dates, locations, responsibilities and unresolved items, and ask the provider to confirm it with the proposal. Before normal access resumes, ask who will clear staging materials and confirm that restricted areas can reopen.

• Household entry and exit arrangement confirmed
• Vehicle, pet and visitor plan shared
• Other-trade responsibilities identified
• Person responsible for reopening access