How Long Does the Average Roof Replacement Take?

Ignore the advertisements you see touting one-day roof replacements. That’s far from an accurate figure. Most roof replacements take between one and two weeks. Putting on a new roof takes about two days on average. Many factors can delay a roof installation, ranging from weather to roof pitch and slope. Read on to learn the average timeline for each style of roof and what could delay your roofing project.

Caveats for Roof Installation

Every roofer probably wants to provide clients with a hard and fast number of days their roofing project will require, but that doesn’t happen. Why? Many factors stand in the way of naming a single number. Every roofing job differs. Let’s consider the factors that affect roof installation timelines. 

• Weather – Inclement weather, especially any type of precipitation, delays the roofing process. Roofers cannot install a roof in extreme heat or cold.
• Home size – Larger homes take more time for tear-off and roofing. Add a day to the project for every 2,500 square feet of the home.
• Roofing crew size – A crew of six can roof much faster than a crew of two. One roofer out sick can slow down the installation.
• Roof pitch – Steep roofs take longer to roof and require added safety measures. Flat roofs, conversely, offer the quickest tear-off and replacement.
• Roofing type – Because most homes use asphalt roofs, they go on the fastest. Metal roofs take the longest to install.
• Roof complexity – A flat roof offers an easy installation with little danger and no slopes, valleys, or layers. Homes with more than one wing or dormer take longer to roof.
• Roofing crew experience level – A roofing team with many years of experience, like Scartelli Roofing and Exteriors, can roof a home faster than an inexperienced crew.

On average, it takes about two to three days to replace an asphalt shingle roof on a 2,500- to 3,000-square-foot home with an average roof pitch and few or no valleys, slopes, or layers. Installing an asphalt roof on a new home takes one to two days. Most U.S. homes – about 85% – feature an asphalt roof.

If your roof replacement uses wood shakes or features a flat roof, expect the replacement of the roof to require two to three days. Replacing or upgrading an asphalt roof to a roof of clay or concrete tiles takes between five and nine days. Replacing a metal roof requires about one week. All of those estimates use ideal conditions.

Average Timeline of an Asphalt Roof Replacement

Let’s explore the typical three-day process of replacing an asphalt shingle roof on a 2,500 to 3,000-square-foot home.

Day One

The roofing crew begins site preparation by securing the home and roofing materials. They also install dumpsters. The roofers tear off the old roof materials, filling the dumpsters.

Following this, the foreman or lead roofer inspects the roof decking and interior roof framing. If the lead roofer finds damage to the roof decking, the work crew repairs it before proceeding. This damage repair can add a day to the roofing process or require only a few hours on the job’s first day.

Day Two

Roofers begin installing materials on the repaired decking. On an average-sized home, installing the new roofing materials takes one day.

Day Three

The foreman or lead roofer inspects the finished roof and interior roof framing. If it passes inspection, the roofer presents the new roof to the homeowner. If it fails inspection, the roofing crew repairs the issue before the final walk-through with the homeowner.

Contact Us Today to Schedule Your Roofing Project

Don’t trust your home to just anyone. Choose an experienced roofer with many happy clients in Pennsylvania. Call Scartelli Roofing and Exteriors today to schedule your roofing replacement project.

We believe that your home should reflect your unique style. Don’t settle for an ordinary living space – redesign your home to suit your vision. Scartelli Remodeling and Roofing, a trusted general contractor in Bethlehem, PA, has helped the state’s homeowners renovate and upgrade their homes since 2014. We focus on home remodeling and roofing, and we handle everything from bathroom upgrades to basement finishing. We serve the Lehigh Valley area. Let us help you upgrade your home!