A new roof improves curb appeal, increases home value and keeps your living space protected from the elements. Learn about average roof replacement costs to set your budget.
How Long Does It Take to Replace a Roof?
Life’s full of surprises—but your roof replacement timeline doesn’t have to be
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Your roofing project timeline depends on roof size, complexity, material type, accessibility, and weather, with most standard asphalt roofs taking one to three days.
Roof material directly impacts your replacement schedule: asphalt takes one to three days, while metal roofs need seven to 14 days and tile roofs require six to 12 days.
Planning your roof replacement around favorable weather protects your home, as rain, snow, or extreme temperatures will pause work and extend the timeline.
Hiring a local roofing professional keeps your project on schedule by handling permits, managing safety equipment on steep roofs, and completing installations efficiently.
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Your roof shields your house from the elements, so replacing it when necessary is crucial. You may assume replacing your roof will be a drawn-out process, but it doesn’t need to take too long—it could take as little as one day. But the specific timeline of a roof replacement depends on unique circumstances.
Let's dive into the various factors that could impact your roof replacement timeline, so you can plan ahead and put your mind at ease.
How Long It Takes to Replace a Roof
The process for replacing your roof will depend on the specific roofing service you use and your contractor. Generally, replacing a roof will be a similar process for every home. You'll likely have an initial meeting with your contractor, who will take measurements and inspect areas of your home and roof.
You may have another meeting to finalize the roof design and specific roof materials. Finally, you'll wrap up a contract. After you've both looked it over and agreed, you'll sign it, and the project will begin. Depending on your roofing material, it takes between one and 12 days to replace a roof. Standard asphalt roofs usually only take one to three days to replace.
Factors That Impact a Roof Replacement Timeline
Several factors will influence the timeline of your roof replacement.
1. Roof Size and Complexity
A common rule of thumb is that the larger your home, the longer it takes to replace its roof. However, this may not always prove true, particularly if you have a roof with an extensive surface area. It can take as little as a day with small homes, while larger homes often take several days.
The complexity of your roof’s design also contributes to the installation timeline. Features like chimneys and skylights, multiple stories, and particularly steep pitches all add to the complexity of a roof installation project.
2. Roof Material
You can choose from a few different roofing materials. The type you pick will impact how long it takes to replace your roof.
The most common roofing materials are asphalt, wood, slate, concrete, metal, and tile. Here's how long it generally takes to replace roofing based on materials:
| Roof Material | Number of Days to Install |
|---|---|
| Asphalt | 1–3 |
| Wood | 2–8 |
| Slate | 6–7 |
| Concrete | 8–9 |
| Metal | 7–14 |
| Tile | 6–12 |
3. Replacement Method
Your roof replacement timeline will also depend on which method your contractor uses. Two common methods are tear off and overlay. The roofing materials typically influence which way is best.
Tear-off method involves—you guessed it—tearing off and replacing the damaged areas on your roof.
Overlaying is when your contractor installs new shingles directly on top of damaged areas. This method of roof replacement costs less and is quicker than the tear-off method. The downside of the overlay process is that it may cover up problems instead of fixing them. It could also void your manufacturer warranty.
4. Roof Accessibility
Roof accessibility—which is the ability of a contractor to access your roof—will be a significant factor in how long it takes to replace your roof. For instance, if you have lots of landscaping, bushes, or fences around your house, your roof is harder to access than a house without it. Additionally, it may be harder to access your roof if you live on a street with densely packed houses.
“Pitch and height also greatly impact how long the roof project can take,” says Ami Feller, owner of Roofer Chicks in New Braunfels, TX. “On steep roofs, the workers will need to use special safety equipment and will generally work slower in order to be safe. Also, carpentry can add time to a roof project. If there’s a lot of rotted decking, fascia, or siding, these repairs will require additional time and money.”
5. Weather
You should plan a roof replacement project around the weather—avoid doing it when you expect rain, snow, or extremely hot or cold temperatures. Your contractor will likely push back the project if the day arrives and it's, for instance, hailing. Rain will also pause the job. Homes with shingle roofs are particularly susceptible to extreme weather.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro to Install a Roof
Photo: LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/ Adobe Stock
Going the DIY route can save you money on labor fees. However, doing it yourself will impact your timeline because it's unlikely the average homeowner can complete the installation as quickly and efficiently as a professional roofer.
But more importantly, replacing a roof yourself poses a risk for serious injury since you could slip and fall while working on the roof or climbing a ladder. The project gets riskier if you're handling heavy equipment. That's why it's better to hire a professional roofer. to do the job for you. A roofer will also know how to navigate the permitting requirements for a roof project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Roofing services reviews from real Angi homeowners in Columbus, OH
4.3★ avg. • 120 total reviews
- Chance R.
D1 Roofing delivers outstanding service from beginning to end, backed by a strong warranty and expert teams. I highly recommend them for their excellence in meeting and surpassing expectations with unmatched communication. Choosing D1 Roofing was flawless decision
Division 1 Roofing LLC - Jeremy P.
This place took $25,000 for a flat roof job with a five-year warranty and never returned to fix the leaks that were caused by their work. These people are not professionals and should not be doing this type of work. They incorrectly changed the pitch of the roof, and caused more damage than...
- David B.
The technician was very professional and friendly. He answered all my questions and was very thorough. He left the fireplace area very clean . He inspected from the roof and advised me as to other work that might need to be done. There was no pressure there. I was very satisfied with the...
Supreme brick & chimney - Kevin S.
I am really impressed with their timeliness and turnaround. Mitchell came out, and we decided to move forward with their pricing. Our roof was on within a week, and we could not be happier with their team! Amazing company, great prices and honest, dependable craftsmanship. I highly recommend...
Window Depot USA of Central Ohio - Rob B.
Manuel Calvillo is the best option in the area for roofing and you won't be disappointed.
- Julie K.
They damaged multiple items on my property, including a marble slab used as a table top, tried to hide it, and refused to pay or replace. Arrived day one without a ladder to access roof & delayed a day. Left a mess in back yard; didn't wear face masks; no show by owner to property to see damages
Grants Tree Service - Marcia L.
I've hired Gary/Cherokee Roofing for two different homes, work quality, responsiveness, and completion have been great both times. And the prices quoted were very competitive. I would definitely hire again.
- Paul F.
Lyle did a great job removing asbestos shingles from our front porch roof. They worked together with our roofer to make sure that the new roof was able to be installed on the same day that Lyle removed the asbestos shingles.
Lyle Environmental - Paul F.
Bradley Builders did a good job replacing the roof on our front porch. They color-matched the existing shingles on the rest of the house and installed a metal ridge roll since we live in a historical neighborhood. They did the job while we were out of town. When we got back, everything was...
Bradley Builders, Inc. - Madison B.
I would absolutely recommend this business. They offer a variety of services, including: painting, roofing, and refinishing wood flooring. I hired them to refinish the original hardwood flooring in my home built in 1874. The job was quite challenging, as the floors were extremely aged and...
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