Homeowner Tips
What a Roof Replacement Week Actually Looks Like
From contract to final inspection: what happens each day, what you need to do to prepare, and how long the whole thing really takes.
By Taylor Smith · · 6 min read
Most residential roofs here are a one- to two-day install. The full process runs one to three weeks.
Before the crew arrives
Contract and scope signed, permit pulled, materials delivered a day ahead. Delivery day is the loudest surprise for most homeowners — a loaded boom truck sets bundles directly on the slopes.
Prepare the house
- Move vehicles out of the driveway and away from the eaves.
- Take pictures off walls; tear-off vibration knocks frames crooked.
- Cover items in the garage and attic — debris falls through the deck.
- Plan for the dog. It is loud all day.
Day one: tear-off and dry-in
Old material comes off down to the deck. Rotten sheathing is replaced and billed at the per-sheet rate in your contract. Underlayment, ice-and-water at valleys and penetrations, and drip edge go on the same day — the house is never left open overnight.
Day two: install and detail
Starter course, field shingles, flashing, vents, ridge caps. The details take as long as the field.
Cleanup and final walk
Magnet sweep of the yard and drive, gutters cleared of nails and granules. Walk the property with the foreman before final payment and note anything you want addressed.
Then paperwork
Final invoice, warranty registration, and — on an insurance job — the completion documents that release your recoverable depreciation.
