How Long Does a Roof Replacement Take? The Short Answer
For a standard semi-detached house with an 85 m² concrete tile roof, a roof replacement typically takes 3 to 6 working days on site. That's one of the more common UK re-roofing projects, so it works as a useful benchmark for everything else.
Other roof types sit either side of it:
- Flat roofs under 40 m² (EPDM or GRP): 2 to 4 days
- Natural slate on a larger property: up to 10 working days
- Simple semi-detached roof with no chimney or valley: a very experienced crew of 5+ may complete a straightforward re-tile in 1 to 2 days, although that's uncommon
Those figures cover the roofing work alone. Where scaffolding is needed, erection and dismantling normally add another 1 to 2 days either side, so count that separately when you're working out the full project timeline.
And then there's Edinburgh weather. Rain and high winds can stop work on a pitched roof altogether. Add roughly another quarter to a third onto the working-day estimate to cover it. A 5-day roof replacement therefore needs around 7 calendar days in the diary, and a winter re-roof can stretch further.
Roof Replacement by Property Type: Terraced vs Semi-Detached vs Detached
Property size is one of the biggest factors in how long a roof replacement takes.
These ranges assume a crew of 3 to 4 roofers, which is normal for domestic re-roofing at this scale. A 2-person team will take noticeably longer. When you're comparing roof replacement quotes, ask how many people will actually be on the roof, because the answer makes the proposed timeline much easier to judge.
Roof Complexity Matters as Much as Size
A simple gable roof with no valleys or chimney stacks is among the quickest to replace. Add hips, valleys, dormers and chimney details and the timeline grows with them.
Each additional hip or valley can add several hours. Dormers and chimney stacks can add a full day each, depending on the cutting, flashing and finishing work involved. A detached house with two dormers, a valley and a chimney could sit at the upper end of the 10-day range even if the total roof area is fairly modest.
Access on Terraced Properties
Terraced properties can create a delay before the roofing work even starts. Traditional scaffolding may need to cross or affect a neighbouring frontage, and coordinating that with the neighbour can add another 1 to 2 weeks of lead time.
On Edinburgh tenements, terraces and tightly packed streets, access can matter as much as roof size when you're estimating a replacement timeline.
That's also where Altitude works a bit differently. We own our cherry picker and use rope access where it's suitable, so some roofs can be reached without waiting for traditional scaffold at all. It won't suit every building, but where it does, it can take a fair chunk of waiting out of the programme.
Flat Roof vs Pitched Roof Replacement: Timeline Comparison
Flat roof replacement is generally quicker than a pitched roof at the same domestic scale.
EPDM, a rubber membrane, and GRP are two of the most commonly specified flat roof systems for UK homes. If the existing insulation needs upgrading with new insulation board to meet current Building Regulations, allow roughly another day. A Building Control inspection may also be needed at insulation stage, which can add around half a day of waiting.
Pitched roofs take longer because there are more stages to get through. Once the old covering's stripped, the roof needs membrane, then battens, then tiles or slates laid course by course. Ridge work and flashing details come last.
How Long Does a Slate Roof Replacement Take?
A semi-detached house re-roofed in natural slate typically takes 5 to 9 working days.
Slate takes longer because each slate is fixed individually. A skilled roofer might lay around 100 to 150 natural slates per day on a standard pitched roof. Concrete tiles go on considerably faster, with an experienced crew covering several square metres per hour per roofer.
Natural slate also uses double-lap coverage, so more material is handled across the roof and more individual fixing work is needed. Ridge details and finishing take longer too.
Reclaimed Slate Adds More Time
If reclaimed slate's being used to match an existing Edinburgh streetscape or satisfy a conservation requirement, allow at least another half day in many cases. The slates have to be sorted before laying, and cracked, damaged or delaminated pieces get rejected.
The sorting takes time, and on the right property that's part of getting the finish right.
Manufactured Slate Alternatives
Manufacturers including Marley and Wienerberger, formerly Sandtoft, make manufactured slate alternatives that look like natural stone and go on faster.
Manufactured slate is usually quicker to lay than natural slate and may take a day or two off the roof replacement timeline on the same property.
The Roof Replacement Process: What Happens Day by Day
For an 85 m² concrete tile roof on a semi-detached house, a typical replacement runs something like this.
Day 0: Scaffold erected and roofing materials delivered. Half a day to a full day.
Day 1: Existing tiles, battens, lead flashings and ridge materials are stripped. Waste goes into the skip and off site.
Day 2, morning: The roof structure is inspected, rafters and purlins included. Rotten or soft sections are replaced with suitable C16 or C24 graded structural timber.
Day 2, afternoon to Day 3: Breathable roofing membrane and new battens go on.
Day 3 to 5: New tiles are laid from the eaves upwards, each course fixed to meet current wind-uplift requirements.
Day 5 to 6: Final details: ridge caps, hip caps and lead flashings around chimneys and abutments. BS 5534 requires ridge and hip tiles to be mechanically fixed, whether they're installed using a dry-fix system or bedded in mortar.
Factors that make a roof replacement take longer
Rotten rafters or purlins. Structural repairs can add 1 to 3 days, depending on how much deterioration turns up once the covering comes off. C16 or C24 graded timber is commonly used for replacement structural sections.
Weather. Rain or wind above safe working limits stops pitched roof work entirely. Adhesive-bonded EPDM systems also have minimum installation temperatures, often around 5°C depending on the manufacturer's specification.
Asbestos. If asbestos-containing material turns up, the programme can change significantly. Depending on the material, its condition and the type of work required, a licensed asbestos contractor may be needed under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. Licensed asbestos work normally needs to be notified to the relevant enforcing authority at least 14 days before work starts. Straightforward non-licensed removal can still add 2 to 5 days.
Roof lights. Replacing a Velux or similar roof window like for like typically adds around half a day per unit, including the flashing kit.
Winter working. Shorter daylight in December and January cuts productive roofing time, so the same replacement often takes longer in winter than it would in summer.
Complex geometry. Hips, valleys, dormers, chimney stacks and awkward junctions all mean more measuring and cutting, and a lot more lead work. A relatively small roof can still be a slow job.
Can You Live in Your House During Roof Replacement?
Yes. Most homeowners stay in the property while the roof's being replaced, and there's normally no reason to move out for re-roofing work.
A good roofing team works in controlled sections so large areas of roof deck aren't left open overnight or ahead of forecast rain. Ask your contractor how they handle that before the job starts. If the weather turns before a section can be permanently covered, temporary tarpaulins or rapid-cover roofing felt keep the property weatherproof.
That said, nobody would describe a roof replacement as quiet.
Check the permitted construction hours set by your local council, because restrictions on noisy work may apply. Stripping day is the loudest part of the job: old tiles, slates, battens and other roof materials are coming off directly above the living space.
Practical Steps Before Work Starts
- Clear the loft. Dust and small debris can fall into the loft while the old covering's stripped. Move stored belongings out or cover them properly first.
- Protect rooms below. Cover furniture and belongings in top-floor rooms with dust sheets. Take down pictures, mirrors and anything else hanging on a wall, because vibration during stripping can loosen them.
- Think about pets. Dogs and cats can find prolonged roofing noise stressful. If yours is sensitive, arranging somewhere else for the stripping phase may save everyone some grief.
Whether you stay home throughout is personal preference. Plenty of people do. Others decide that strip day is a very good day to be somewhere else.
Emergency roof replacement: how long does it take?
Temporary weatherproofing with tarpaulin or emergency roofing felt can usually be installed within 24 to 48 hours in normal conditions.
A full emergency re-roof may take 3 to 7 days or more to mobilise after instruction, depending on material availability, safe access and whether scaffolding is required.
The first priority is stopping further water ingress safely. The permanent roof replacement follows once access, materials and the full extent of the damage are clear.
Insurance-Funded Replacements Take Longer
If you're claiming through your buildings insurance, the insurer may want a Loss Adjuster to inspect the damage before permanent repair or replacement work is authorised.
Ask the insurer whether they use an approved contractor panel and what evidence they need before work begins. Getting that answer at the start prevents most of the avoidable delays.
Get a Written Timeline for Your Edinburgh Roof
Every Edinburgh roof is different, which is why a national average only gets you so far. An 85 m² concrete tile roof, a New Town slate roof and a tenement with shared access can all run to very different programmes even when the roof area looks similar on paper.
At Altitude Roofing, we'll carry out a free photographic roof survey and give you a fixed-price written quote with a realistic timeline for the roof in front of us. You'll know what the work involves, how long we expect it to take and what could affect the programme before you commit.
Book a free photographic roof survey. We cover Edinburgh and the Lothians, including conservation areas.