Most homes in North Texas get a new roof in one to three days. A small, simple roof can be done in one long day. A big roof, a steep one, or a switch to metal takes longer. Here is what to expect.
What happens, step by step
- Set-up. The crew arrives early, lays tarps over plants and the yard, and parks a dump trailer close to the house.
- Tear-off. The old shingles come off, down to the wood. A good crew only tears off what it can cover again the same day.
- Wood check. With the roof bare, the crew looks at the decking, the wood sheets under the shingles. Soft or rotted pieces get replaced.
- Underlayment and edges. A water-shedding sheet goes over the wood. Metal drip edge goes along the edges.
- The new roof. Shingles or metal go on, along with new flashing, pipe boots and vents.
- Clean-up. The crew hauls off the old roof and sweeps the yard and driveway with a magnet for nails.
- Final walk. Someone checks the work with you and shows you photos.
What can make it take longer
- Size and shape. More squares, more valleys and more corners mean more hours.
- Steepness. A steep roof needs more safety gear and slower work.
- More than one layer. Two layers of old shingles mean twice the tear-off.
- Bad wood. A lot of soft decking adds time once the roof is open.
- Weather. Rain stops the work. The roof is sealed before the crew leaves each day.
- Metal. Metal roofs and stone-coated steel take more cutting and fitting than shingles.
The wait before the job can be longer than the job. After a big hail storm, crews across the Metroplex book up for weeks. Asking early, before storm season, gets you a sooner start date.
How to get your house ready
- Move cars out of the garage and driveway the night before.
- Take pictures and mirrors off the walls. The hammering shakes the house.
- Cover things in the attic, or move them. Dust and small bits can fall through.
- Keep kids and pets inside or away. Nails and loose pieces fall during tear-off.
- Tell your neighbors. The noise starts early.
Do you need to be home?
Not the whole time. But be reachable by phone. If the crew finds bad wood or something they did not expect, they will want to show you a photo and get your OK before they go on.
What to do next
See what a roof replacement with Legacy Roofing includes. We are based in Crowley and give you a written price that lists what you are paying for. Our post on what a new roof costs explains what sets the price.
