How Long Does it Take to Replace a Roof?

Ever wonder exactly how much time you’ve been putting into your roofing jobs? As much as you'd want to finish multiple jobs within a day, sometimes it’s just not feasible. So knowing how long a job typically takes can help you budget your time more effectively.

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But as it turns out, it’s not exactly that simple. The time needed to complete a project varies from property to property, and there are many factors and unforeseen events that influence the length of time you'd spend on a roofing job. 

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Regardless, here are some pointers for determining a timeline for your roofing jobs so that you can prepare in advance and put your customers at ease. Basically, we’re helping you answer, "How long does a roofing job take?" while also letting you in on how Roofr can help you.

What factors influence the time it takes to do a roofing job?

First and foremost, it's essential to account for the type of roofing project you are undertaking—are you replacing a roof, building a new roof, or performing roof repairs? The kind of work you'll be doing will determine how long it takes to finish the project. 

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Depending on the task, there are also some crucial factors that affect how long the project will take, including some of the following.

For roof replacement

When considering how to answer “How long does roofing take?”, the following are some important factors that influence the timeline of a roof replacement. 

Roof accessibility 

Roof accessibility refers to how quickly you can access your client's roof. This significantly impacts how long it will take to finish the roofing project. 

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For instance, accessing a roof becomes more difficult in a home with extensive landscaping, plants, or fences compared to one without these things. Additionally, if a homeowner lives in a small community, it can be more difficult to access their roof.

Roof materials

The type of roofing material you select also determines how long a roofing job can take. Here are some common types of roofing materials and how long they typically take to be installed:

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• Wood shakes: Depending on the roof size, you should plan on having a new roof installed in 3 to 4 days, weather permitting.
• Flat roof: A flat roof replacement should take 2 to 3 days.
• Synthetic slate: Slate made of synthetic materials may often be installed in 3 to 5 days.
• Concrete tile: Usually takes 8 to 9 days.
• Steel sheets: Usually takes 3 to 4 days.
• Asphalt shingles: This is the most popular roofing material and only needs 1 to 2 days to be replaced.
• Natural slate: A complete replacement takes about 6 to 7 days.

Home size

The average size of a single-family house in America is around 2,200 square feet. A home’s size can affect roof replacement, with smaller homes being able to be built in as little as one day, compared to more significant buildings. However, larger houses with roofs that tend to have a vast surface area might be finished sooner. 

Replacement method

The approach you use will also affect how long the roofing project takes. Depending on the roofing material, you may choose to use the tear-off or the overlay.

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To tear off a roof means removing the damaged sections and replacing them, but to overlay implies placing new shingles on top of the existing ones. Compared to the tear-off, the overlay is a faster procedure.

Weather 

Being a roofer can be hard because your job can be affected by external factors, including weather. Avoid starting a roof replacement project when it's forecasted to rain, snow, or be extremely hot or cold. Plan your project instead based on the weather. 

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Inform your client and stop if you expect rain or hail. Homes with shingle roofs are particularly vulnerable to damage from extreme weather.

For roof installation 

When it comes to answering the question “How long does a roofing job take?”, you’ll also need to take into consideration factors for roof installation. Roof installation refers to setting up and placing a new roof for your client. The project's duration can depend on the following.

The size of the roof

A small, residential property with a roof that is mildly pitched might be able to have its roof replaced in a single day. Naturally, this assumes no weather-related issues arise and that items are delivered before your team arrives.

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Your team must remove the old roof, check the sub-roofing for damage, and install the new shingles. Additionally, if the sub-roofing is damaged, additional work, materials, and time will be required to complete the project. 

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Therefore, even if a home's roof can be replaced in a single day, be aware that problems can occur and cause the quantity of work to be done to increase.

The physical conditions of the roof

The steep pitches and tremendous heights of traditional architecture (such as Cape Cods and A-frames) can make installations a little more challenging. You should anticipate the job to take longer if the roof is steep and higher up. 

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It's important to note that if the client's home has a steep, tall roof, you should prepare for the installation to take two days to a week, because you’d want to also prioritize the safety of your workers and ensure that your client receives quality work. This is not only because you’ll need more materials and equipment to maintain worker safety, but because workers will have to move slowly to remain safe.

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Additionally, installing a new roof will require more time the older the top is. Older roofs require more time because customers frequently believe their roofs are in excellent condition until a clear issue arises.

For roof repair

Another aspect to the question, “How long does a roofing job take?” is roof repairs. Repairing a roof is pretty straightforward, and involves people who only request fixes, such as someone who wants to stop a leak and isn't seeking a replacement. 

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Using the leak as an example, your main goal would be to remedy the issue as soon as possible. Your repair specialist must arrive with the proper materials and equipment required to stop the leak, and will likely need to request access to the attic to determine the problem up top, or get as close to the roof as possible to observe where the leak pierces the ceiling. After all, water can occasionally go quite the distance before dripping at a focal point. 

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Usually, a task like this takes a few hours to do. If it's something straightforward and obvious, it may only take half an hour. But if it's a little more complicated, it might take two to four hours, or even half a day. Rarely will a single leak service call last longer than an hour though.

Streamline your processes with Roofr

So, how long does it take to do a roofing job? As it turns out, a lot of factors can impact the answer to this question. Nevertheless, enlisting the help of technological solutions can help speed up the time it takes to do a roofing job.

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Rather than spending time on overhead and administrative duties, consider automating your processes to streamline the less than fun parts of the job.

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By assisting you in generating quotes from a predefined price list, as well as calculating materials automatically from measuring reports for your clients, services like Roofr can help you cut down on time and move more smoothly between clients.

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Decrease the time you spend on a project and increase the efficiency of your roofing business. Register with Roofr today!

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