The roof is the most important part of the house and it is one of the major repairs that a house has to go through. A roof replacement can be a daunting prospect because it can cost a lot of money and can disrupt your home life while it gets completed. That is why homeowners who need a roof replacement always want to know how long the process will take. That way they know how to prepare for the interruption in their lives and routines.
You have to be careful about the timeline estimate because if the project ends up taking too long, that could be an indication that the roofing contractor is trying to serve too many clients at once. On the other hand, if the project is finished more quickly than you expect, that could be a sign of poor workmanship. So you need to consider the different factors that go into a roof replacement in Indianapolis—or elsewhere—if you want to get an idea of how long it should take.
Factors That Affect The Timeline of a Roof Replacement
There are some factors that are out of the control of the roofing contractor, which can affect the time to completion of the roof replacement project. You and the contractor should take them into account when deciding on a timeline estimate.
The Weather: The changing weather can affect how long a roof replacement takes since the roofers cannot work in inclement weather for safety reasons. There is also the fact that many homeowners desperately need the services of a roofer when it rains heavily and continuously. The demand for the services of a roofing specialist during this time could cause your roof replacement to get prolonged or even postponed.
The Season: The sun and heat of summer or the cold and snow of winter can affect the progression of your roof replacement. The heat can cause some construction materials to melt, while the snow and ice can create obstacles or hazards that need to be removed before the roof replacement can proceed. So choose the right season to replace your roof.
Yard Layout: The placement of trees, gardens, swimming pools, and other outdoor paraphernalia could create obstacles for the contractors. That is because they can make access to the roof, or the transportation of necessary equipment, more difficult. Especially since they need to be more careful to avoid doing any damage to your property.
Roof Layout: The size of the roof is a big determining factor since larger roofs will take longer to replace. The pitch of the roof is another factor since the flatter the roof, the easier it is to access, and the faster the project can go. The presence of things like solar panels or satellite dishes can also affect the speed of the project.
Roofing Material: The type of roofing material used for the new roof has an impact on the replacement timeline. Common materials like asphalt shingles can take a day or two to install. Heavier and more exotic materials like slate, wood shakes, or concrete can take three to nine days to complete.
Replacement or Overlay: In some cases, a new roof can be placed on top of the old roof. This process is faster than installing a brand new roof because there is no need to remove and dispose of the old roof tiles.
Roof Replacement Timeline
The average roof replacement can be done in as little as two days on the low end of estimates, and up to two weeks on the high end. That is provided the contractor does not encounter any unforeseen barriers, delays, or obstacles. It should also be noted that it is generally not a good idea to stay in the house while a roof replacement is going on.
So, when you are planning out the roof replacement schedule, you should also determine where you will stay while the project goes on. As long as the roof replacement goes smoothly, you will have a brand new roof to look forward to when you finally get back home.