One of the most common questions we hear from homeowners is “how long will it take to replace a roof?”
In this guide, we’ll cover the main factors that go into determining a roof replacement timeline.
Average Time to Replace a Roof
In most cases, it takes only one day to replace a 3,000 square foot roof. Larger homes or more difficult materials can take three to five days, and in extreme cases, it can take up to two or three weeks.
If it takes any longer than that to replace a roof, you can expect that water damage or other factors were causing unforeseen setbacks. Weather can also determine how long it takes a roof to be replaced. If it’s an especially windy day or it starts to rain, your roofing team may be slightly delayed or need to spend operations for the day.
Accessibility and Complexity of Your Roof
As with anything, the more difficult your roof is to access, and the more complex the material or design, the longer it will take to re-roof your home. Consider a small 1,500-2,000 square foot one-story home. A home like that could be easily roofed in just a few hours or half a day. But, take the same size home and make it three stories with landscaping or steep hills all around it, and your roofing company will struggle to get materials up and down from the roof. Not to mention the challenges of cleaning up a roof like that.
Challenges with the Weather and Time of Year
Two factors that are entirely out of your control as a homeowner and out of the control of your roofing company are the weather and the average temperature or daylight during any given time of the year. Weather can play a huge role in the amount of time it takes to get your roof replaced. A rainy day will stop your roof replacement altogether, and an icy or snowy day will likely do the same. Keeping everyone safe on the job is one of the most important roles for your roofing company.
When it comes to the time of the year and temperature, you’ll be looking at a job taking longer more than anything. During certain times of the year, such as winter, the average temperature is much colder, making things slightly more dangerous. Your roofers might move a little slower to stay safe. You should also expect the same during some of the warmest days of the year. Roofers risk dehydration and heat stroke on hot days if they aren’t careful.
Time of the year will also change the amount of daylight that roofers have to work in. Late winter days can provide no more than eight or nine hours of sunlight, depending on where you’re located. As a homeowner, consider some of these variables before you choose to get your roof replaced in any given season.
What Goes Into a Roof Replacement Process?
Not that we’ve covered all of that, what does it take to ensure your roof is properly replaced? A few different factors will likely come into play depending on the material that your roof is made of. We’ll talk about asphalt roofing shingles for today’s purposes as they’re the most common roofing material in the United States and are often considered the standard in the roofing industry.
Given perfect conditions, homeowners can expect their asphalt roof to last anywhere from 15-30 years, depending on the specific shingles they choose to install. Higher-grade, more expensive shingles will often last longer while lower-grade and more inexpensive shingles will need to be replaced sooner. Nonetheless, both high and low-grade shingles will take roughly the same amount of time to install.
Clearing the Old Materials
First, all of the old roofing materials will need to be torn up and cleaned off of the roof. These materials consist of the shingles themselves, tar paper, and some other simple elements. There actually aren’t too many materials used for the roofing process.
As the materials are scraped off of the wood sheeting that makes up the foundation of your roof, your roofers will check for water damage and ensure that your roof’s foundation is healthy.
Fresh Install
When the roof is bare, it’s ready for new materials. Fresh vapor barriers or tar paper will be rolled out, new edging, flashing, and sometimes vents will be added, and finally, new shingles will be nailed onto your roof. The process is quick and easy. Given good weather and that your home is pretty easily accessible, you should have everything done and taken care of in a day.
Finishing Touches
Finishing touches on the roof could be the installation of new gutters, making sure everything is properly attached, and your roofing company looking over the job in general. This is a pretty straightforward and easy process.
Clean Up
Last but definitely not least is clean-up. Getting your home, yard, and landscaping back to normal is of the utmost importance, especially after a roof replacement. Your roofing company should provide a dumpster where all of the scraps and old roof will be disposed of. Before you hire a roofing company, ask them what they do for clean up. Are they going to ensure all of the nails and scraps are picked up? Do they offer any quality assurance guarantees? Ensuring that the job is properly cleaned should be of utmost importance.
FREE Professional Roof Inspection
Are you looking for a roofing company to replace your roof? Red Canyon Roofing is Colorado’s premier roofing company specializing in roof repair, replacement, and inspections. Contact us today for your free inspection!
