Working at Height: Installing a New Roof

Posted on: 3 February 2021

Are you planning a residential roof replacement project? If so, it's essential to know how long it may take to complete the project. This knowledge enables you to make relocation arrangements. Also, it allows you to calculate the estimated billable hours for the roofing crew. With this in mind, here are some key factors determining how long it will take to replace your roof.

Partial vs. total roof replacement

Are you carrying out a partial or total replacement? Various factors may impact this decision. They include:

• The severity of the damage
• The age of your roof
• The need to change existing roof materials

If your roof is extensively damaged, you have to replace it entirely compared to if it has minimal, localised damage. Similarly, if you have an old roof, it's advisable to carry out a total replacement to avoid frequent future repairs. Partial replacements typically take less time as compared to a complete roofing replacement.

Roof size and structure

When undertaking a total roof replacement, the size and structure will impact the project time. However, these factors also depend on the number of workers you have. For example, assuming the number of workers is constant, it will take more days to replace a big roof than a smaller one. However, if you increase the number of workers, you can complete the project within a shorter period.

A complex roof structure may present various challenges that may slow down your workers. For example, roofs with steep slopes present falling hazards, and workers must exercise extra care to avoid injury. Similarly, roofs with intricate designs require a lot of expertise to ensure proper installation. Therefore, the project may take more time as compared to one involving a simple roof design.

Type of roofing materials

Some roofing materials are harder to install than others, and these complexities can extend the project. Common materials such as asphalt shingles are easy to install. Because of their popularity, asphalt shingles are available locally, which eliminates downtime due to material shortage. On the other hand, materials such as tile can be challenging to install. The tiles must be measured, laid in a specified style and inspected for moisture infiltration. 

Metal roofing can also be hard to install, depending on the size of panels and the roof structure. Uncommon roofing materials such as cedar, clay, slate and concrete are also complex to install. For excellent roofing performance, you must hire expert contractors with extensive experience. If there's a shortage of experienced personnel, the project may take longer to complete.

These factors determine how long it may take to complete your roof replacement project. For a more accurate projection, contact a roofing contractor.