One of the most common questions roofing contractors receive from both residential and commercial customers alike is, “how long does it take to replace a roof?” Everyone wants a straight answer since a roof replacement is often seen as a stressful experience, but unfortunately, it depends.
The time it takes to replace your existing roof will hinge on a couple of contributing factors, including:
- Roofing materials
- Project size
- Contractor experience
- Time of year
- Roof style
While there is no solid reply a roofing contractor can give when asked, “how long does it take to replace a roof?”— there are several reliable ways to develop an accurate timeline of the renovation process and put homeowners’ minds at ease.
What Determines the Duration of a Roof Replacement Project? 🤔
Are you worried about how long it might take to replace a roof? It’s no surprise that most homeowners don’t want to live with loud noises and messy construction any longer than necessary. Although there’s no way to determine the exact time it’ll take to replace a roof, there are a few simple ways to estimate just how long your project will go.
To get a better idea of timing, you need to consider several factors, which we’ll discuss in-depth below.
Project Size
The most important factor for determining how long a roof will take to replace is size. As you might expect, the larger your home, the longer it’ll take to re-roof the entire structure. Homes come in so many different shapes and sizes, so ask your roofing contractor about their past projects to get a better idea of how fast they can finish your home’s roof.
Materials Used
Roofing material also comes into play when creating a timeline for your project. Heavy materials like concrete tile are hard to work with and require more in-depth installation procedures to do the work properly. Other roofs with asphalt shingles or metal paneling are much easier to install, so you’re in luck if those are materials you like!
Pitch of the Roof
Your roof’s pitch is another essential piece of the puzzle when it comes to timing. It might only take a few hours to replace a patch of old shingles on shallow pitch roofs, while steep pitch roofs require more time and care to finish the job correctly. That’s because the steep roof surface is more challenging for workers to navigate compared to a shallow or flat roof surface.
DIY vs. Professional Roof Replacements
Are you one of those homeowners who can’t help but try their hand at a DIY home improvement project? Although it’s easy to repair a few shingles on your own, you don’t want to delve into an entire roof replacement without help from the pros.
Do your research to find a premier roofing contractor in your area with the proper training, tools, and experience to replace your roof far faster than if you’d done it yourself.
Number of Roofers Working
Of course, the more people involved in your roof replacement, the shorter it’ll take to be complete. With more hands on deck, you can expect an experienced team to replace your roof in one or two days, not a week.
Accessibility of the Roof
Many homeowners invest in beautiful landscaping or high-powered AC for their home’s interior, but these things can lengthen the timeline of your roof replacement, too. That’s because workers will have to take special care to avoid any flower beds, plants, or outdoor equipment around your house.
Ensure your roofers have easy access at various points so they can maintain a steady pace during the roofing project.
Time of Year
Another one of the most important factors for shortening the roof replacement process is picking out the best time to replace your roof. Winter and spring can be questionable because there’s often ice, snow, or at least rain to cause delays.
The majority of homeowners opt to schedule a roof replacement during summer or early fall, so storms, wind, and other harsh weather conditions don’t get in the way.
Current Roof Condition
Even though they’re designed for daily exposure to the elements, there will inevitably come a time when you need to replace your old roof. If your current roofing quality is not too bad, you might be off the hook with a semi-speedy roof replacement. However, homeowners with severe roof damage should expect it to take much longer to replace a roof.
Weathering signs and other indicators of structural damage include:
- Leaks and water damage
- Loose or curling shingles where edges turn upward
- Mold, mildew, or moss growth
- Roofing discoloration
- Excessive shingle granule loss
- Cracks, gaps, and holes
- Missing shingles
- Consistent ice dam formation
Roof Style
Different roofing styles will require more or less work to be replaced. While wonderfully complex roofs look beautiful, they can be a pain to replace. On the other end of the spectrum, completing a flat roof replacement is far easier because this style requires little maneuvering.
Does your home’s roof have a lot of dips, turrets, skylights, or other unique features for roofers to get around? If so, this can slow down your roof replacement since safety is paramount to roofing professionals.
Average Install Times (By Material) ⏰
As we already mentioned, the roofing material you choose to install will make all the difference in the duration of your roof replacement. Some styles like asphalt shingles or architectural sheet metal roofing might only take a few days, while slate or cedar shakes could be closer to a whole work week.
Are you one of those homeowners wondering, “how long does it take to replace a roof?” Below, we’ve broken down the average roof install time for different roofing materials so you’re mentally prepared next time you need a roof replacement.
- Asphalt shingles: 1 to 2 days
- Cedar shakes: 3 to 4 days
- Metal roofing: 1 to 3 days
- Corrugated steel sheets: 3 to 4 days
- Natural slate: 5 to 7 days
- Synthetic slate: 3 to 5 days
- Clay tile: 3 to 4 days
- Concrete tile: 7 to 8 days
- Flat roof: 2 to 3 days
Tips to Speed Up the Replacement Process 🏎🏃🏻♂️🏇🏻💨
With so many Americans working from home these days, the last thing anyone wants is for a roofing project to drag on any longer than it has to. Between the banging of hammers, the buzzing of power tools, and workers constantly traipsing across yards and patios, it’s easy to see how the roof replacement process can drive some people crazy.
Although there’s no simple way to get your roof replacement finished any faster than average, you can always try implementing a few of these helpful tips to speed up the process and put your mind at ease:
- Preparation is key! Get your home’s roof and the surrounding property prepared for a roof replacement so workers can easily access each area and provide a quick installation. This could mean clearing out your gutters, getting things like lawn furniture, planters, air conditioning units, and other bulky items out of the way, and sweeping bulk debris away from your home’s perimeter.
- Timing is everything. Soggy, wet weather or snow and ice during the winter months can throw a wrench into any home improvement project, especially a roof replacement. Time it out to have your roof replaced during late spring, summer, or early fall to avoid any weather delays during the process. However, be aware that the summer months are the busy season for not just Colorado road construction but roofing companies too, so you might still get scheduled a couple of weeks out and have to wait for the work to be done.
- Materials matter. Not all roofing materials are made equal, and styles such as tile or natural slate can take almost double the time to install compared to asphalt shingles and cedar shakes. Make a conscious choice to install a material that doesn’t require as much manual labor for a faster roof replacement process.
- DI-Why? Many handy homeowners are inclined to DIY it and take on roof repairs themselves, but an entire replacement is nothing to tackle alone, and attempting it can have you asking yourself, “DI-why did I ever do this?” Even the most knowledgeable homeowners tend to make mistakes on a project so intense and sizable. Instead of risking anything going wrong, leave the heavy lifting to roofing specialists to ensure installation is fast, smooth, and snag-free.
- Pick a Pro. To avoid the headache associated with DIY roofing projects, we recommend picking out a reputable and experienced roofing crew that is guaranteed to get the job done right the first time. The best roofers will be ready to get to work fast with the correct ladders and high-performance power tools already on hand. This way, you won’t have to spend even more time (and money) making additional repairs down the line due to sloppy handiwork or an improper installation.
Hire a Fast (and High-Quality) Roofing Company 👷🏻
All of the things discussed above (and even other factors) can contribute to the definite time frame of your roof replacement. Although these many factors contribute to the duration of your project, you can always put your trust in seasoned roofing professionals to speed things along while still receiving high-quality work that lasts.
With a company like Tectum Roofing at your side, both residential and commercial roof replacements don’t have to be a long, painful experience. We take pride in providing fast, efficient, and long-lasting roofing systems in any style for homes and buildings of all sizes.
Are you ready to replace your roof with help from a lightning-fast team of experts? Talk to the specialists at Tectum today to schedule a free roof inspection and see how quickly we can replace your roof the right way.