A roof opened in pieces
We do not uncover the whole surface at once. A section is removed in the morning and made watertight before leaving.
The order of these sections is written into a phasing plan, settled before signing. In managing roofing work, this plan carries as much weight as the specifications. It shows the sequence of sections, the days planned for each, the occupants below and the days when a unit will be taken out of service.
The notice to occupants
Give each occupant a written notice before the first day. It contains:
- the schedule and working hours,
- the parts of the building affected,
- the noise and odours to expect,
- what changes in the parking lot,
- the name of the person who answers questions.
When rain pushes back a stage, send a corrected version. A disruption that is announced goes over better than a surprise. Also reread your leases, which may set their own notice requirements.
The racket overhead
Two operations are clearly heard under the roof: removing the old covering and screwing fasteners into the deck. Discuss with us what can be arranged.
- A start time and an end time for noisy tasks.
- Quiet periods when the unit below receives patients, young children or meetings.
- Work in the evening, on Saturday or on Sunday above a business that cannot close.
Before promising a schedule, ask the City of Laval whether it regulates the hours of noisy work.
The air that enters the building
Heated bitumen, a torch flame, some primers, some adhesives: all of these smell strongly. The ventilation often draws its fresh air on the roof, near the workers, and the odour then circulates throughout the building.
The matter is settled with us before the work. Air intakes near the work area can be closed or protected for a time. That decision is made with the HVAC contractor. Smelly tasks can also be scheduled for hours when the building is empty.
What goes up, what comes down
Materials reach the roof by crane or by hoist. Waste comes back down to a container.
The container and the storage area take up parking spaces for the whole job. On crane days, part of the parking lot or the sidewalk is closed. If the crane or the container must encroach on the street or the public sidewalk, first ask the City of Laval whether an authorization is needed. Emergency exits and loading docks must stay clear at all times.
Under the roof edge
Debris can fall from the roof edge. Any entrance located under a work area is protected or closed for the duration of the work, and clear signs direct pedestrians elsewhere.
Inside, tear-off drops dust where the deck is visible from below, and an open section can let water through. Ask the occupants below the day's section to cover or move their merchandise and fragile equipment.
Frequently asked questions
Can a store stay open while the roof is redone?
Often, yes: working in sections and choosing the hours make it possible. Above a sensitive activity, the work can be done outside business hours. That schedule is planned at the quote stage.
Will the air conditioning be shut off?
The air conditioning is shut off for periods. To redo the waterproofing at the base of a unit, it sometimes has to be disconnected or lifted. We set these shutdowns with the HVAC contractor.
My tenant is asking for compensation for the disruption. Are they entitled to it?
It all depends on what the lease provides and on what happened. This is a legal question, to put to a legal adviser. A notice given on time and a well-run job help avoid disputes.