So you’ve just realized that your roof needs replacement.  This is one of the most important jobs when it comes to maintaining your home, but you want to know how long it will take.  With winter quickly approaching, there is no better time than the present to get the job done; unfortunately, it can be very difficult to determine timelines for roof replacement as the job can vary significantly from one house to another.  On average, a roof replacement will take anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks depending on a number of factors.  Let’s take a closer look.

First and foremost, the availability of roofers will impact the amount of time it takes to have your roof replaced.  While I’m certain you’re mostly asking about the timing of construction, the reality is that if you can’t find a roofer, your replacement will be delayed.  Typically, roofers are most busy before the winter season as many homeowners want to be prepared for inclement weather.  Likewise, roofers tend to be busier after winter because many homes and roofs have suffered damage because of said weather.  As such, delays in starting your project will likely be worst around the winter season.

In addition, there are many other factors that will determine how long it will take to replace a roof.  One consideration to make is your roofer and the size of their crew.  While a small crew is not necessarily a problem, they’ll typically work more slowly than a larger crew.  In addition, the experience level of your roofer will come into play.  A roofer with 20 years’ experience in the roofing business has probably developed more efficient skills than a start-up roofer.

Also, have you considered the materials used in your roof?  While standard roofing materials such as asphalt shingles are readily available and almost never out-of-stock, unique or custom materials will take much longer for delivery.  Likewise, certain roof types will also take longer, and complicated roofs with many pitches, peaks, and valleys will almost certainly take longer than a basic roof with one peak or even a flat roof.

Another consideration that will impact the question “how long does it take to replace my roof?” is the extent of damage to your roof.  In many cases, an old roof may not obviously display all signs of damage.  Once your roofer starts to replace the roof, he may discover new or more serious structural flaws that require more time to repair.

Ultimately, your roofing contractor should inspect your roof and give you an estimate of the time it takes for replacement.  As an expert, he is more likely to anticipate all the factors that influence timelines and should therefore be able to give you a reasonable estimate.  In other words, without viewing your roof and having some idea about the type of roof and materials involved, it is nearly impossible to give an accurate estimate of how long it will take for replacement.