Are you looking to replace your home’s roof? If so, you surely have at least some questions regarding things like what type of materials are the best option and how long the work might take since there may be some disruption to your life due to the noise of the roofers nailing the shingles down. In this article, we’ll examine the average time it takes to replace a roof and the factors that can influence this timeframe.
Average Timespan for a Roof Installation
Many people are surprised to learn that most residential roof replacements take no more than two to three days. In fact, some jobs can be completed in just a single day, including the time it takes to tear off the old roofing materials and then install the new ones.
In some cases, the roofers won’t even need to tear off the old materials, as it’s possible to install new shingles directly on top of existing ones. However, this usually isn’t recommended since you normally want to replace the underlayment and flashing as well. If not, there’s an increased chance that the roof will leak.
There are also times that it could take up to a full week or more to replace a roof. This is especially the case with much larger houses or when using certain types of roofing materials.
Factors That Impact How Long a Roof Replacement Takes
One of the main factors that affect how long a roof replacement will likely take is the size and design of the roof. If you have a smaller home with a basic gable or hip roof that isn’t too steeply sloped, the job will usually take a day or two at the very most. If you have a more complex roof with multiple different slopes, valleys and levels, the work will obviously take a bit longer.
The steepness of the roof slope also makes a fairly significant difference. Steeper slopes are more challenging to work on, resulting in the work proceeding more slowly. The roofers also have to take additional safety precautions when working on a steep slope, which further slows things down.
Accessibility plays a role as well, especially during the initial part of the job where the roofers are tearing the old materials off. Roofing companies will usually bring in a large roll-off dumpster to dispose of the old materials. Ideally, they’ll be able to use your driveway and back the dumpster right up to your house. That way, they can just toss the materials straight into the dumpster. If this isn’t possible, they’ll have to toss everything off the roof to the ground and then gather it up and carry it to the dumpster. In this case, they may also need to take extra precautions to make sure bushes, garden beds and anything else next to the house aren’t damaged.
The condition of the underlying parts of the roof and the type of roofing materials you’re using also play an important role. If the existing roof is leaking, there’s a good chance that at least some of the wood sheets that make up the roof deck are damaged and will need to be replaced as well. Having to replace some or all of the deck not only adds more time to the job, but it also makes it quite a bit more expensive. That’s part of the reason why regular roof inspections are important, as they allow you to catch any issues before they cause extensive damage.
Asphalt and composite shingles are generally the easiest to install and take the least amount of time. Metal roofing, especially standing-seam metal roofing, is a bit more time-consuming to install and may take anywhere from two to seven days. Slate and clay roof tiles are the most difficult to install and thus take the most time. This is especially true with clay tiles since the roofers have to take extra care to make sure they don’t break any tiles when walking on the roof.
If you need an honest, reliable residential or commercial roofing contractor in the Lenexa, KS area, look to HT Roofing & Construction. We specialize in roof replacement and repairs, and we also offer professional gutter, window, siding and exterior painting services. We offer free estimates and honest, upfront pricing on all of our roofing services and will work to ensure your needs are properly met. To get a quote or learn about your roof installation options, contact HT Roofing & Construction today.
