Quick timelines (by roof type & size)
Assuming a standard single-storey home (≈150–220 m² roof area), safe access and no structural repairs:
Colorbond® / metal roof
- Small (≤150 m²): 1–3 days
- Medium (150–220 m²): 2–4 days
- Large (220–320 m²): 3–5 days
Fast to lay in long sheets; delays usually come from weather or complex flashing details.
Concrete tile roof
- Small: 2–4 days
- Medium: 3–5 days
- Large: 4–6 days
Tile handling and re-pointing add time, especially with steep pitches.
Terracotta tile roof
- Small: 3–5 days
- Medium: 4–6 days
- Large: 5–7+ days
Tiles are more fragile; careful handling and extra detailing extends the schedule.
Multi-storey homes, very steep pitches, complex dormers/valleys, skylights, or carpentry repairs can add 1–3+ days.
What affects installation time?
- Roof size & complexity — more area, more hips/valleys and penetrations = more time.
- Pitch & access — steeper roofs and tight sites slow material handling and safety setup.
- Material choice — long-run metal is quicker to lay; tile work needs more handling and ridge pointing.
- Structural repairs — replacing battens, rafters, sarking or insulation adds 1–2+ days.
- Weather — high wind or rain pauses works for safety and waterproofing.
- Approvals & lead times — some projects need council approvals, heritage checks or custom flashings.
Typical day-by-day schedule
Before site start (off-site)
Quote, scope, colour selections, ordering and safety planning. Allow 3–10 days depending on material lead times and any approvals.
Day 1 — Access & protection
- Safety rails or scaffolding set up (sometimes half-day install, half-day tear-off starts)
- Protect gardens/drive and set waste skips
- Begin strip-off of old roof materials (stageable by section for wet weather risk)
Day 2 — Substrate prep
- Finish tear-off if needed
- Replace damaged battens/timbers; install sarking/blanket as specified
- Flashings and penetrations prepped
Days 2–4 — New roof install
- Metal/Colorbond®: sheet install, valleys & flashings, cappings
- Tile: lay tiles, cut-ins, ridge re-bedding/re-pointing
- Progress waterproofing maintained at close of each day
Final day — Detailing & clean-up
- Final cappings, sealants, fixings check
- Site clean, magnet sweep for nails/screws
- Scaffold/rail removal (sometimes next business day)
- Handover & warranty docs
Sample schedules
- Small Colorbond® re-roof: Rails AM → tear-off PM (Day 1) → sheets/flashings (Day 2) → finish & clean (Day 3).
- Medium concrete tile re-roof: Rails + tear-off (Day 1) → repairs/sarking (Day 2) → tiling (Days 3–4) → ridges & clean (Day 5).
- Large terracotta with complex valleys: Expect 5–7+ days including careful ridge work and detailing.
How to keep your roof install on schedule
- Choose in-stock colours/profiles to avoid custom lead times.
- Approve your quote and colour selection quickly so ordering can start.
- Clear driveway and access for skips and material drops.
- Confirm electrical/solar details (shut-down if needed) before the start date.
- Allow for weather flexibility — a movable start window reduces delays.
Need an accurate timeline for your home? Request a fast quote or call 03 4152 7766.
FAQs
Can I stay in the house during a roof replacement?
Usually yes. Expect noise during working hours. We maintain weatherproofing at the end of each day so the home remains dry.
What if it rains?
Work pauses during unsafe weather. The crew stages the roof in sections and secures temporary protection to keep your home watertight.
Do you remove all the old materials?
Yes — old roofing, battens (if replaced) and debris are removed from site. We perform a final clean including a magnetic sweep for fixings.
How far in advance should I book?
2–4 weeks is typical to lock in materials and scaffolding. If you have a leak, we can provide temporary repairs while you wait.