Identify authority and property boundaries
- Who can request inspection and approve work
- Which roof sections are common or unit responsibility
- Association, owner, manager, tenant, and lender requirements
- Required bid, meeting, notice, and voting process
- Insurance responsibilities without assuming coverage
- Who holds records and receives warranties
Create one building and leak record
Map buildings, entrances, units, roof sections, systems, prior replacements, leaks, repairs, and interior effects. A shared spreadsheet or drawing prevents the same location from being described differently across calls and proposals.
Separate active leaks needing prompt attention from capital planning so temporary and permanent work remain clear.
Resident and site planning
- Parking, entrances, deliveries, containers, and emergency access
- Noise, vibration, pets, children, remote work, and sensitive occupants
- Daily weather protection and end-of-day cleanup
- Balconies, patios, landscaping, vehicles, and personal property
- Interior access for leak verification
- Written notices, point of contact, and complaint process
Compare proposals on one scope
Require the same roof-area list, system specification, deck allowance, flashing scope, ventilation assumptions, protection, phasing, cleanup, changes, schedule, and warranty format. One lower total may simply omit buildings or details included elsewhere.
Establish authority before anything else
On a condominium the decisive question is whether the covering is common property, because it determines who contracts, who pays, whether the whole building is done at once, and whether a special assessment or reserve draw is required. Read the declaration before the first estimate.
| Structure | Who typically authorises | What to confirm first |
|---|---|---|
| Single-owner rental building | The owner | Whether a manager has spending authority and to what limit |
| Condominium association | The association, per its documents | Whether the roof is common property, and the reserve position |
| Townhome with individual roofs | Varies by declaration | Whether the whole building must be done together |
| Managed portfolio | Owner, executed by the manager | Approval thresholds and required number of bids |
| Mixed-use building | Owner, with commercial tenant implications | Lease terms on access, noise and business interruption |
Occupied buildings need the disruption in the scope
Parking is the item most often forgotten and the one that generates the most complaints. On a dense building, displacing tenant parking for several days is a real imposition — much easier handled with notice than without.
- Written notice period to occupants, and who issues it
- Working hours, and any restriction for shift workers or home offices
- Parking displacement for dumpster, materials and crew
- Entrance and walkway protection during tear-off
- How belongings on balconies and decks are protected
- A named contact for occupant questions during the work
Published August 13, 2026 and last reviewed August 16, 2026 by Greater Burlington Roofing. General roofing information; an on-site inspection is required for property-specific recommendations.