Before we get into how a contractor determines how long it’ll take to replace your roof, I want to go ahead and tell you how long a roof replacement can take. Remember every roof is different so the timeline for every replacement is going to be different.
In general, the roof of an average residence (3,000 square feet or less) can be replaced in a day. In extreme cases, it could take three to five days. Depending on the weather, complexity, and accessibility of your home it could even take up to three weeks. But unless it’s a large home, a roof can typically be replaced in a day.
A roof replacement can take anywhere from a day to a few days based on a number of factors. By the end of this article, you’ll know how long it’ll take and how a roofing contractor determines the timeline for your roof replacement.
How Quickly Can a Roof Repair Be Completed?
Before we get into how a contractor determines how long it’ll take to replace your roof, I want to go ahead and tell you how long a roof replacement can take. Remember every roof is different so the timeline for every replacement is going to be different.
Most people don’t realize that when it comes to roof repair, often the most time-consuming part of the process isn’t the actual repair – it’s the scheduling! Once a contractor comes to your home, most roof repairs can be completed in just a few hours (keep in mind that if your roof is badly damaged, a roof replacement may be a better option). While the repair itself may be quick, it can often take a few weeks to schedule a contractor.
Time of Year
Fall is often considered the best time to have your roof replaced or repaired – and for good reason. The fall weather is ideal because it’s not sweltering hot, but it’s also not snowing. Contractors can safely work on top of the roof, and once the work is done, the shingles have time to seal before the harsh weather sets in. Other times of the year can be more difficult to schedule because the weather is less predictable – will there be a snow storm? What about rain or a heat wave? One important factor to keep in mind is that the best time of year for roof repair will also be the busiest time of year for contractors. For this reason, spring or summer may be the best time to think about repairs; temperatures are nice and schedules will probably be more open.
Weather
While the time of year is important, it’s also vital to consider the current weather. If you call during an unseasonably warm winter week, it may be easy to schedule a repair, but if you call during a blizzard or in the middle of a rainy week, you may have to wait.
The Complexity of Your Roof
The complexity of a roof is how it’s cut up with the number of facets, angles, hips, valleys, and its pitch. These not only affect how long it’ll take but also the cost of your roof replacement.
Safety precautions the contractor has to take also go into the complexity of a roof. The higher off the ground the installers are, the more precautions they have to take. For their own safety, they have to move slower and more carefully which leads to your roof replacement taking longer.
The more complex the roof, the more time a contractor needs to install a quality roof. A simple roof may take a day while a more complex roof may take 3 days to replace.