How Long Does RoofSmart Repair & Replace Take

Are you feeling lost at the lack of guidance and explanation about how long your roof repair or replacement project will take?

At RoofSmart, we repair and replace hundreds of roofs per year, so we have been asked plenty of times how long this process will take. We believe everyone should have access to clear, honest answers to all their roofing questions.

This article is designed to give you the information you need to understand how long each step of the process is and the factors that might increase the amount of time it takes to complete the roof repair or replacement. We will explain our process in this article, so keep in mind that other roofing companies may do things differently than what we outline here. By the end of this article, you’ll know:

• The various steps in the roofing process:
  • Step 1- Setting up the roof inspection: How long does it take?
  • Step 2- Getting on RoofSmart’s schedule
  • Step 3- What happens during roof repair or replacement
  • Step 4- What happens after the roof is done

• How long each step typically takes
• The factors that can potentially increase how long it takes us to complete the roof

The average timeline for a roofing project

A standard-sized roof in the Seattle area is around 2,000 to 3,000 square feet. On average, the total lifecycle timeline for completing an entire roof replacement for a roof of that size is about 3 to 4 weeks. However, every home is different and every homeowner has different needs and priorities when it comes to their roof, so this timeline can vary, which will be further explored later on.

Step 1: Setting up a roof inspection: How long does it take?

The process begins when a customer calls us to set up an appointment for a roof inspection. Typically, an estimator (or as we like to call them, a Meticulous Roofing Nerd) will be out to the customer’s house in about 1 week after that initial call. If there is an emergency–for example, if a roof is leaking badly–we will prioritize that inspection and get someone out there as quickly as possible.

How long does the average roof inspection take?

The inspection process will usually take about 1 hour. During the inspection, your Nerd will look in the attic and the roof to ensure that we are aware of any issues (i.e. improper ventilation, mold, damage to structural elements of the roof) so that you can have a complete picture of what should be addressed.

Depending on how many issues with the roof are found during the inspection, your Nerd might be able to give a proposal at that same appointment. A fairly straightforward repair or replacement that only needs to address a minimal amount of issues (or none) aside from the repair or replacement itself means the estimator can provide a proposal at the end of the appointment. But if a roof has more things that need to be addressed, then that will likely require your Meticulous Roofing Nerd to return at a later date, which will be set up with you before the end of the inspection.

The timeline to prepare the proposal also varies a bit. This usually ranges from 30 minutes to 1 hour. The amount of time that it takes depends on how many issues were found during the inspection.

This is a dialogue. While going through pricing and options, we like to make sure that we are meeting your requirements and expectations, so we will make adjustments as needed while we go through it, which can increase the time it takes.

Once you’ve reviewed your options, including the pros and cons of each, with your own personal Meticulous Roofing Nerd we want to be sure we’ve really met your expectations. It’s important to get feedback that we’ve either “Nailed it” or we missed the mark. We want to know. Please tell us! We thrive on that feedback because it helps us serve you better.

If a customer just wants to hear some number estimates, then that does not count as an official proposal. But, typically an official proposal can be given at the inspection. It will count as an official proposal if a physical paper copy or a PDF is provided for you.

Step 2: Getting on RoofSmart’s schedule

During most of the year, after agreeing to the proposal by signing the contract with us you can expect work to begin on your roof after 1 to 2 weeks. But, keep in mind that summer is an incredibly busy time for us, so during that time it could be 2 to 3 months before one of our crews can get started on your roof.

Step 3: What happens during roof repair or replacement?

How long will a roof repair take on average?

Typically, a roof repair project can be completed in 1 day. This can entail fixing vulnerable spots like:

• Valleys
• Pipe boots
• Chimneys
• Skylights
• Any other areas that may be damaged, worn, or leaking.

There is always the possibility that during the repair we might discover something else that needs to be addressed or encounter some other kind of delay that could stretch the repair beyond just one day. If this is the case, you will be called and the roofing crew will make note of it on the door hanger that they use to leave updates for you at the end of each day.

Typically what happens in scenarios like this is that rotten wood is discovered under the repair site. Or, we might discover that there are leaks in other parts of the roof aside from the repair site. The amount of time that this newly discovered issue will add to the repair depends on the issue itself. It could be a quick fix that only adds a day, or it could add several days. We do our best to find these issues before the repair or replacement process starts, but the reality is that some things, such as rotting wood, cannot always be seen until the roof is taken off.

Though the section below outlining these factors is specific to roof replacement, it is still relevant to repairs, so be sure to check it out.

How long will a roof replacement project take on average?

For a simple project, the average residential roof replacement in the Seattle area takes about 3 days. The old shingles are removed, the new roof goes on, and then after the roof is done one of the members of our leadership team will do a final walk-through inspection of the roof with you.

However, every roof and every job is different, so it is important to keep in mind that there are factors both in and out of our control that may increase the time it takes to complete the replacement.

What factors will increase the roof replacement timeline?

• Size and layout of roof: Obviously, a roof bigger than the average of 2,000 to 3,000 square feet is going to take more time to work on. Another thing to consider is if the roof has many different sections, add-ons, a deck, or anything else that varies from a basic, standard roof because this could increase the time from 3 days to 1 to 2 weeks or more. Usually, a big increase of two or more weeks only happens for highly specialized projects.
• Shingle type: The average of the 3 days listed above is based on the use of a typical asphalt composite shingle. However, metal roofs take about twice as long to put on as an asphalt composite shingle, so metal shingles will take 5 to 7 days to put on. Synthetic shingles and other specialty products take a little longer to put on and would probably increase the average timeline by 2 to 3 days (so, about 5 or 6 days in total).
• Repairing other related issues found during the inspection process (or when the roof is torn off): During the inspection, we may find issues with the roof that need to be repaired during the replacement process. Simple repairs might only add a day to the process, but others could add several days. This number can vary widely because it depends on the scale of the repair.
• Time of year: Summertime is our busiest season, so it will take longer to get on the schedule. During less busy seasons, it will only take 1 or 2 weeks, but once things start picking up in the summer it can take a couple of months to get on the schedule. So, if you want to replace your roof in the summer, it is best to reach out to us as soon as possible!

• Weather: Now, you’re probably wondering how we deal with the rain. While it is true that it can hold us up a bit, it’s not as bad as you might think. The roof must be dry for the old shingles to be taken off and for the new protective water-repellent layer to be put down. This prevents leaking on the roof that will lead to damage, mold, or other issues down the line.

In the winter months, there might be a delay of 1 to 2 weeks due to the weather to wait for a non-rainy day to tear off the roof. After that, we are good to go and can continue the roofing process in the rain. If the weather is consistently bad, we can build a tarp system around the roof and work underneath it.

If there’s snow on the roof, it is not safe for our crew to be up there and the project will be delayed until the snow is gone. However, we can take steps to mitigate the impact of snow if we know it’s coming. For example, we can put down tarps so that the snow can easily be removed and we can continue roofing.

Step 4: What happens after the roof is done

After the repair or replacement is completed, one of our managers will do a final walk-through with you to ensure that everything meets their standards and ours. This usually happens on the last day of the job, so it is included in the 1 day for a repair or 3 days for a replacement. Within the next day or two after the final inspection, the customer will provide a final payment and will be registered for the warranty. And that’s it!

How do I get started with RoofSmart?

There is no longer any need to feel lost about how long your roof repair or replacement will take because now you know what needs to happen, how long it will take, and even what factors may add to the length of the project.

You’ve now had the opportunity to consider what needs to be done to your roof and how the factors that increase the timeline might apply to you, giving you an idea of how long the roofing process will take according to your specific needs. You’re also aware of what steps we at RoofSmart will take to address your needs and how long it will take for us to do so.

Now that you’ve learned about the timeline of the roofing process you’re ready to get started with RoofSmart. The next step is simple: give us a call at (206) 487-4877 or fill out this short form to contact us if you have further questions or if you’d like to schedule an inspection. We look forward to hearing from you!