Part H · the register

A Kirkwood Corner Lot Gives the Roof Crew Two Street Faces

On a corner lot, the ladder, dumpster and delivery truck may face two streets, so each side needs its own answer before you sign.

On a corner lot, a roof crew does not work from one curb. The house faces one street, but the side yard or rear drive may face a cross street, and the trucks, dumpster and material drop can end up on either side. Before you choose a start date, walk the lot with the roofer and mark which frontage the crew will use for each part of the job. The answer changes the schedule, the neighbors you need to tell, and sometimes the price.

Why a corner lot changes the roof plan

Two frontages mean two sets of neighbors, two sets of parked cars, and possibly two strips of tree lawn where a dumpster or material trailer could sit. Many corner houses in Kirkwood have a side yard that runs along the cross street, and the fence on that side often holds the gate the crew would use to carry shingles to the back. Ask which side the bundles will come in on. Then ask whether that side has enough width for a hand cart without the crew walking through a flower bed or stepping on a sprinkler line.

The roofer should also say where the ladder will go. On a corner house, the ladder often sits against the wall that faces the quieter street, which is usually the cross street. That is a reasonable choice, but it puts the crew and the ladder base on a sidewalk that children and dog walkers may use. Ask how the crew will keep that path clear, and whether a cone or a spotter will be placed at the ladder during the day.

The side yard as a second entrance

Once the side yard becomes a route, it needs checking before anyone carries a bundle through it. Look at the gate latch, the width between the house and the fence, and any steps or low walls the crew must pass. Note whether the side yard has a patio, a grill, a shed or a dog run. Each of those will either need to be cleared or protected, and each should be named in the scope or in the job plan.

Ask each roofer whether the side yard will be used for a magnet sweep, a material staging area, or only as a walking route. Those are different uses, and the answer tells you how much of your side yard will be disturbed. A walking route can be kept clear with a few markers. A staging area means the crew will set down pallets, buckets and tools, and the ground under them will need protection.

Notices on both streets

Neighbors on the cross street will see the tear-off too, even if they are not on your block. Their cars may be parked where a truck needs to turn, and their trash cans may be in the path of the dumpster. Tell them before the work begins. Ask the roofer whether the crew will post a notice on both frontages, and who the neighbors should call if a truck blocks a driveway. The roofer's office number should be on that notice. Keys Roofing's office line is (314) 220-2333, and a homeowner can ask the crew to put that number on any notice that goes out.

Do not assume the crew will tell the cross street neighbors on its own. Some crews only notify the frontage where the truck parks. If you want the cross street covered, put that request in writing before the start date is set.

What belongs in the schedule

A corner lot roof schedule needs more detail than a midblock schedule. It should show each delivery day, the frontage where the material drop will sit, the day the dumpster is set and picked up, and the hours when the crew will run loud equipment. It should also show trash day on each street, because the bins may need to move to a different curb than usual.

1. The delivery day and the frontage where the shingle pallet will land.
2. The dumpster location, with the curb or tree lawn it sits on, and the day it is swapped out.
3. The ladder base location and whether a spotter or cone will be used during the day.
4. The side yard route for bundles and debris, and the gate that will stay open during work hours.
5. The trash day on each street, and whether bins will be moved or left in place.
6. The quiet hours for saw and nailer noise, and whether the schedule changes on the cross street side.

Where a corner lot can add cost

A corner lot does not always cost more, but it can. When material has to travel around the house to the back, the crew spends more time on each trip. Some bids price that extra time as a day rate, some as a trip charge, and some hide it in a general labor line. Ask the bid to say how the crew moves materials to the back of the house, and whether that move is included in the total or listed as a separate charge. If the answer is unclear, ask for a written number before you choose.

A corner lot can also increase the cost of protecting the side yard. Plywood or plastic runners over a lawn, cones and temporary fencing all add to the job. Those items should appear in the bid, not on the final invoice.

Questions to ask each roofer

• Which frontage will the material drop use, and how far is it from the side yard gate?
• Where will the ladder sit, and who watches it during the day?
• Will the cross street neighbors get a notice, and who writes it?
• Is the trip from the front to the back of the house included in your total?
• Which day does the dumpster arrive, and which curb does it use?
• What changes to trash and recycling pickup should I tell the crew about?

Ask each roofer to answer those questions in writing. A corner lot has more moving parts than a midblock house, and a written answer from each bidder makes the bids easier to compare. If one roofer names only the front street and says nothing about the side, ask for the side plan before you sign anything.