How long does it take to reroof a semi-detached house?

For a standard semi-detached house with a straightforward pitched roof, most re-roofing jobs are completed in three to five working days. A small, simple roof in good weather may be quicker; a larger or more complex roof will take longer.

The key is that a reputable roofer will give you a realistic timescale in writing before starting, and keep you updated as the job progresses, rather than leaving you guessing.

Roof size and shape: more area and more valleys, hips and dormers all add time. A plain, rectangular roof goes up far faster than one with lots of angles.

Pitch and access: a steep roof, or one that is awkward to reach with scaffolding, slows the work for safety reasons.

The materials: natural slate, clay and concrete tiles all handle slightly differently, and heavier materials take more care to lift and lay.

The weather: roofing is weather-dependent work. Heavy rain or high winds can stop work on safety grounds, which is why we always build a little flexibility into the plan.

What is underneath: if stripping the old roof reveals rotten timbers or battens that need replacing, that adds time, but it is far better to fix it properly while the roof is open.

Day one usually involves setting up scaffolding and stripping the old covering. The next stage is laying new breathable felt and battens, then loading and fixing the new tiles or slates.

Finishing work follows: ridges, verges, flashing around chimneys, and any new guttering. Finally the site is cleared, scaffolding is removed and everything is swept down, which is a point our customers mention again and again in their reviews.