Before day one
Materials are delivered, often the day before or the morning work starts. A skip or bin arrives. If scaffold is needed, it may go up a day or two early. If you have solar, the electrician disconnects it. See preparing your home for a roof replacement for your side of the preparation.
Day one: set-up and first strip
What happens: the crew installs edge protection or completes the scaffold, sets up a materials hoist if needed, and protects gardens and paths. Then the first section of roof comes off.
What you notice: trucks, early start, lots of noise once stripping begins. Debris goes into the skip.
What to watch for: the crew should open only as much roof as they can close that day.
Strip-out and inspection
What happens: the old covering comes off in sections. On tile roofs, tiles are stacked or sent down chutes. On steel roofs, screws are removed and sheets lifted. On asbestos roofs, this stage is done by the licensed removalist before the roofer starts.
With the roof open, the crew can see battens, rafters, wall plates and the top of ceilings.
What you notice: dust in rooms with downlights or gaps in the ceiling, and daylight visible through manholes.
What to watch for: if they find rotten timber, they should show you, photograph it and price it in writing before replacing it.
Timber repairs
What happens: rotten or damaged rafters, battens, fascia and barge boards are replaced. On older houses, some straightening of rafters may be done so the new roof sits flat.
What you notice: sawing and nail guns.
Battens and sarking
What happens: new battens go on at the spacing the new covering and wind exposure require, or existing battens are re-fixed with screws. Sarking or an anticondensation blanket is laid.
What you notice: the roof starts looking like a roof again. Shiny foil may be visible on steel jobs.
The new covering
What happens: steel sheets are lifted onto the roof, positioned with laps away from the prevailing weather, and screwed down. Or tiles are laid course by course and fixed as required.
What you notice: constant screw-gun noise on steel jobs. Progress is visible from the street.
What to watch for: crews sweeping swarf off steel roofs as they go and at the end of each day.
Flashings, ridges and gutters
What happens: ridge and hip capping, valleys, barge and apron flashings, and flashings around chimneys, vents and skylights go on. Gutters and downpipes are installed or reconnected.
What you notice: the finishing details. This is the most skilled part of the job; good flashings make the roof.
Reinstatement
What happens: solar panels are reinstated, then reconnected by the electrician. Aerials, vents and air-conditioning units are refitted.
Clean-up
What happens: offcuts, screws, swarf and debris are cleared from the roof, gutters, yard and driveway. The skip is removed. Scaffold comes down.
What to watch for: a magnetic sweep for screws around the yard and driveway is a good sign.
Handover
What happens: you walk around with the contractor. Check:
- the roof from the ground with binoculars
- gutters and downpipes in the next rain
- solar and other items working
- ceilings inside
- the yard
Note any defects in writing. You should receive material warranty documents and the contractor's workmanship terms.
How long does it all take?
For a straightforward single-storey house, several working days is common once materials are on site. Two-storey homes, complex roofs, asbestos removal, lots of timber repairs and wet weather all add time. The contractor's quote should give an estimate in working days.
When something seems wrong
- Roof left open overnight. Raise it immediately.
- Extra work without agreement. Ask for a written variation before it goes ahead.
- Unsafe practices. Workers without fall protection, debris thrown near people. Raise it with the contractor.
- Communication stops. Call the contractor's office.
If issues cannot be resolved, NSW Fair Trading provides information on home building disputes.
Living with the work: practical tips
Most households cope fine by planning around the loudest days. Work from a café or the office if you can during strip-out. Keep a clear path from the front door that avoids the skip and ladders. Bring washing in before the crew starts so it does not collect dust. Park on the street the night before deliveries. Let the supervisor know about any regular visitors, such as carers or deliveries, so they are not surprised by a crane or truck in the drive.
Related reading
The roof replacement process covers the paperwork side, and the best time of year for roof replacement helps with scheduling.