How long a new roof takes, day by day
Most domestic re-roofs are shorter than people expect, but the calendar time is longer than the working time because of access and weather.
Day zero: scaffold
Access goes up before we start and is handed over tagged. This is usually a separate day and often a separate contractor.
Strip and inspect
The covering comes off a slope at a time so the roof is never fully open longer than necessary. This is the point where hidden timber problems appear and get priced.
Timber, underlay and battens
Defective rafters and battens are replaced, then breathable underlay and new treated battens go on. The roof is weathertight at this stage even before the covering returns.
Covering, ridge and details
Tiles or slates are laid, ridge and hips fitted, verges finished, and flashings renewed at chimneys, abutments and valleys.
Weather and clean-up
Wind stops work more often than rain, because open roofs and loose materials are the safety issue. We finish with a full clear-down, magnet sweep for nails, and a handover walk-round with photographs.
FAQs
We only open what we can close, and we sheet up overnight and in bad weather. The house stays protected.
No. A re-roof is disruptive in noise terms but the house stays habitable.
Yes, and that's normally how we sequence it.
Related reading
More on process & paperwork and the jobs that usually come with it.
- What should a roofing quote include?Process & paperwork
- Roof warranties and aftercare: what's actually coveredProcess & paperwork
- Party walls, shared roofs and semi-detached housesProcess & paperwork
- Chimney flashing repair: stop the most common roof leak
Looking for something specific? See our roofing services, cost guides, common roof problems or the areas we cover.
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