A roof project is messy. Tearing off the old field releases years of dust, debris, and aged material. Setting the new field requires staging, cutting, and bins. None of it should leave permanent marks on the property below.
The honest answer is that minor surface marks are sometimes unavoidable. The dishonest answer is that any damage to landscaping, pool deck, or hardscape is unavoidable. We work to the honest answer.
The protection plan
Before tear-off begins, we install:
- Plywood walkways over any paver or stone surface that will be traversed
- Tarp drops beneath every eave, secured to the wall and extending the width of the eave
- Pool covers or temporary screens over any open water feature
- Plant wrapping for prominent landscape specimens within 12 feet of the work
- Drive protection if material delivery requires heavy trucks over a soft drive
The plan is written and shared with the owner before the project starts. If the owner has specific concerns (a recently planted hedge, a koi pond, a sentimental olive tree), those are itemized.
During tear-off
Tear-off is the dirtiest phase. Old underlayment dust, broken tile fragments, and accumulated debris all come off in volume.
- All debris goes into a dumpster, not onto the ground. The dumpster is positioned to minimize the distance to the eave; tarps connect the eave to the dumpster mouth.
- Power-broom cleanup is done at end of each work day.
- Vacuum sweep is done at the end of each phase.
During installation
Installation is cleaner but generates cutting waste — slivers of tile, metal, underlayment.
- Cutting stations are set on plywood, off the ground.
- Bins are emptied to the dumpster daily.
- Magnetic sweep is run twice a day during metal work.
At completion
A final walk with the owner before invoicing:
- Power-wash any visible discoloration on hardscape
- Inspect every plant within the work zone for damage
- Verify no fasteners or fragments remain in lawn or beds
- Repair any minor surface marks on hardscape (acid-etching, pressure cleaning)
What we will not pass off
A scratched paver, a broken irrigation head, a cracked window — these happen on every project, occasionally. They are not acceptable losses. They are line items in the closeout: repaired or replaced by us, at our cost, before final invoice.
If you have ever had a contractor close a project with damage they refused to address — there is a reason that is industry-typical and we have built around it.
A note on extreme cases
Two situations require extra planning:
Mature canopy directly over the roof. If pruning is required, it is the owner's choice of arborist. We coordinate but do not perform tree work.
Outdoor furniture, sculpture, or art within the fall zone. Move it or accept the documented risk. We will document if asked.
What the protection plan adds to project cost
About 2-3% of the total. It is on the line item; not buried in overhead. Most clients see it as the small cost it is.
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