How long does a roof replacement take?

The spread between a Westhills roof and a Fairfield roof is the whole story. Westhills and Royal Bay homes built in the 2010s have simple, code-vented roofs with plywood decking, few penetrations and driveway access; a crew of five can strip and re-shingle one before dinner on day two. Fairfield's 1900s–1930s homes have the region's most complex rooflines, multiple gables and dormers, original brick chimneys to re-flash and, under the shingles, plank sheathing with gaps that often has to be overlaid or replaced.

Disposal is a hidden clock too. Tear-off from the core goes to Hartland landfill in Saanich, and a bin swap on a busy day can stall the crew. Street-parked bins in James Bay and Fernwood need the neighbours warned; a bin that cannot get close on a Highlands acreage means shingles are carried, which adds time and shows up as an access factor in our pricing model.

Roof area sets the baseline, but complexity sets the duration. Every valley, dormer, wall intersection, chimney and skylight is hand-flashed, and steep pitch slows everything because the crew works on anchors and staging. Material matters next: laminate asphalt goes down fastest, metal shingle and standing seam need precise layout and cutting, cedar is fitted piece by piece, and torch-on is a separate trade with its own day.

Then come the things nobody can see from the ground. Rotten sheathing is the most common, and it is why a quote should carry a decking allowance so a discovery on day one becomes a line item, not a stoppage.

You can stay home. Expect hammering and vibration from about 8 a.m., dust in the attic, and pictures that may shift on interior walls. Move cars off the driveway, cover anything precious in the attic, keep pets inside and tell close neighbours the dates. Crews normally need power and access to the yard on all sides; fragile landscaping should be pointed out before the bin arrives.

In the wet season the working time is the same but spread over more days, because crews open only what they can dry-in before rain. Synthetic underlayment can sit exposed for weeks, so a half-finished roof under tarps is normal, not a problem.

A written quote should make the schedule as clear as the price.

• Expected working days and the start window
• Weather-hold policy and who decides
• Decking allowance per sheet so surprises do not stall the job
• Bin location, disposal included, and site cleanup with a magnet sweep
• Who is on site each day and who your contact is
• When the final walkthrough happens and what triggers final payment