Is it time for a roof replacement? Are you wondering how long it’ll actually take to replace your roof?
A roof replacement is a big home improvement project. Not only that but there will be strangers on your property and vehicles in your driveway.
That’s why one of the first questions homeowners ask once they sign a contract is, “How long will it take to replace my roof?” While there is an easy answer, the real answer is a bit more complicated.
At Bill Ragan Roofing, we’ve replaced thousands of roofs over our 35-plus years in the roofing industry. So, now I want to use all this experience to break down how long it takes to replace a roof.
In this article, you’ll learn:
Most roofs can be replaced in a day on the average home if the weather cooperates and there’s not much complexity. If you have a larger home, a roof replacement could take two to three days.
On roofs with a lot of complexity and with a premium material, replacing a roof could even take five days to a few weeks. Every roof is different, which is why the timeline varies so much.
However, a roof on the average residence with architectural asphalt shingles can typically be replaced in a day.
As I just said, every roof is different. These differences (no matter how big or small) determine how long it’ll take to replace your roof.
Let’s look at how size, complexity, weather, and more ultimately determine how long your roof replacement will take.
The most obvious thing that determines how long it’ll take to replace your roof is the square footage. The more square footage of roofing area (usually measured in squares), the longer it takes to replace.
However, your roof’s square footage isn’t the same as your home’s because of the pitch (steepness) and complexity. The steeper and more complex a roof is, the more total roof area there usually is (more on this next).
Pitch is the steepness (angle) of a roof, which can go from flat to almost completely vertical. As you know, it affects a roof’s square footage.
However, a roof with a steeper pitch takes longer to replace because installers must take safety precautions (harnesses and tying off). This slows down production because they can’t move around or access the materials easily.
So, the steeper the pitch, the more it affects how long your roof replacement will take.
A roof’s complexity is how it’s cut up with the number of facets, penetrations, angles, hips, valleys, its pitch (steepness), and how high off the ground it is. On top of increasing square footage, complex roofs take longer to replace because they require more attention to detail and there’s more to work around.
Simply put, it takes more time to do things correctly on a complex roof. And if your home has multiple stories combined with a steep pitch(es) also means moving slower and more carefully.
Roof accessibility is the ability to access your roof at a specific point. This access point is crucial for tearing off your old roof, throwing the torn-off materials into a dump truck or tarp, and getting the new materials on your roof for installation.
If your roof doesn’t have easy access, it will add to the time it takes to complete the replacement. Anything around the roof affects accessibility, but the main things are landscaping below the roof line, fencing around the property, no paved surface near the access point, and neighboring houses are too close.
The roofing material being installed has a huge impact on how long it takes to replace your roof. Asphalt shingles have the easiest installation, mainly because they usually come on 3 foot mats.
However, premium roofing materials like metal, cedar shakes, and synthetic shingles require more specialized installation. Materials like synthetic shingles and cedar shakes are even installed one at a time, which really adds to the time it takes to complete the job.
The weather always affects roofing work, especially how long it’ll take to replace your roof. If it rains on the scheduled day of your roof replacement, it’ll be pushed back until it’s dry enough to work on.
If there's a pop up shower on the radar or it actually rains during the job, they’ll tarp your roof to protect your home and pick up where they left off when it’s dry enough to safely work. High temperatures and humidity also usually mean a crew moves slower as the day goes on and more water breaks.
Just like the seasons bring changes in weather and temperatures, the time of year has a big impact on how long it takes to replace your roof. Roofers can work longer and get more done as the days grow longer once we spring forward after winter.
That's why March really starts ramping the year up for roofing companies. However, the opposite happens during the winter months when the sun sets sooner and production has to stop much earlier.
After reading this article, you know how long it takes to replace your roof and the things that determine the timeline. As long as you hire a reputable roofing contractor, you’ll be given a timeline from the beginning.
However, things can happen that push back the timeline. Even if this happens, your roof replacement should go smoothly as long as there’s open communication.
But how are you supposed to know what a smooth roof replacement looks like? More importantly, what should you expect when roofers show up to your home?
The last thing you want is for the big day to arrive without knowing what to prepare for or expect. That’s why I wrote another article breaking down the entire roof replacement process.
Check out the 8-Step Process to Replace Your Roof to learn what happens when getting a new roof, from dropping off materials to cleaning up.