How Long Does Roof Work Take? A Guide for Farnham Homeowners

Roof Repairs

Small repairs — replacing a few tiles, resealing a flashing, patching a small flat roof area — are almost always completed within a single day, often in a half-day. These jobs don't require scaffolding and can be done from ladder access.

More involved repairs — re-ridging a long section, replacing a lead valley, repointing a chimney — typically take 1–2 days. If scaffolding is required, add a day each for erection and dismantling, though the actual work can still be completed within the scaffold period.

Full Roof Replacement

A standard 3-bed semi in Farnham takes 3–5 working days to re-roof, including stripping the old tiles, inspecting the structure, laying new underlay and battens, and fixing the new tiles. Add 1 day for scaffold erection before work starts and 1 day for dismantling after completion.

Factors that push towards the longer end: complex roof geometry with multiple hips, valleys or dormers; natural slate (slower to lay than interlocking tile); structural repairs discovered during strip-out; cold or wet weather requiring careful sequencing to keep the building weathertight.

A 4-bed detached with a more complex roof typically takes 5–8 working days for the roofing work itself.

Flat Roofing

A standard flat roof on a single-storey extension (up to 20m²) takes 1–2 days for GRP or EPDM. Larger areas or complex shapes take longer. Flat roof work that requires deck repair or structural work underneath takes additional time depending on extent.

Bay top lead replacements: half a day to 1 full day depending on complexity.

Guttering

Gutter cleaning on a standard 3-bed semi: 1–2 hours. Full gutter replacement on the same property: 4–8 hours, often completed in a single day. Full house guttering on a 4-bed detached: typically 1–2 full days.

Chimney Repairs

Chimney repointing: typically 1 day for a standard stack with scaffold access already in place. Lead flashing replacement at a chimney: 1–2 days. Stack rebuild: 2–4 days depending on height and extent.

Moss Removal

Moss treatment on a standard 3-bed semi: half a day to 1 full day including gutter and valley clearance. Larger or more heavily infested roofs take longer.

Weather Dependency

Roofing work is weather-dependent. We don't work on pitched roofs in heavy rain for safety reasons, and some operations (particularly GRP flat roofing and lead work) have temperature requirements. We always build weather contingency into project timelines and will communicate any weather-related delays promptly.

Last reviewed: 19 July 2026