One of the first questions we get from homeowners dealing with a roof issue: How long is this going to take? Fair question—especially when there’s water coming in, drywall swelling, or storms in the forecast. But the answer depends on the damage, the type of roof, and how the contractor handles their jobs.
Start with the Inspection
No guesswork. The clock doesn’t start until we see what’s really going on. A proper roof inspection tells us whether you’re dealing with a quick fix—like a lifted shingle or a loose seam—or if there’s a larger problem underneath. On metal roofs, we’re checking for corrosion, lifted fasteners, failed sealant lines, or custom panel damage. We take the time to get it right so we don’t miss something and have to come back later.
Emergency Work vs. Planned Repairs
When it’s leaking now, we move fast. Emergency repairs are often same-day or next-day, depending on the weather and material access. We’ll do what’s needed to get the roof watertight and stop the damage. That might be a patch, a fastener swap, or a sealed seam. From there, we’ll lay out a plan for any deeper repair or full replacement if it’s needed.
On the other hand, scheduled repairs—especially on metal—can take longer. Matching materials, fabricating panels, or working with coatings means more prep. If the job involves a full standing seam section or a custom-finish metal system, expect two to five workdays, depending on the roof size and layout.
What Slows Down a Roof Job?
Weather is the obvious one. No one’s working on a metal roof in lightning or a 30-mph gust. Roof pitch matters too. A steep roof or one with limited access takes longer to work safely. Material choice plays a role—shingles are faster, but standing seam or coated steel panels need more time to install right and seal up.
What Can Be Done Fast
Quick repairs like replacing a rusted fastener, resealing a seam, or patching a small hole usually get done same day. That includes temporary patches to stop water if you’re mid-storm. But if we’re replacing a section, matching a custom color, or swapping out panels installed by another company, you’re looking at multiple days. We’ve got reliable metal fabricators in the region, which helps speed things up.
Who You Hire Matters
The wrong contractor will drag things out. Or worse—get it done fast but wrong. You want a roofing company that works clean, works smart, and doesn’t waste your time or theirs. Our crews know how to install and fix shingle, EPDM, TPO, metal, and hybrid systems. No guesswork, no YouTube learning curve. We’ve done this before, and it shows.
Repairs That Turn into Replacements
Sometimes we get up there thinking it’s a patch job and find a full roof near the end of its life. If your shingles are shot or your metal roof was installed wrong from the beginning, we’ll tell you straight. And we’ll show you photos. If you’re switching from shingles to metal, or upgrading to a reflective or coated system, expect the full install to run anywhere from three to ten working days depending on the build.
Staying in the Loop
We don’t disappear once the contract’s signed. You’ll know the schedule, the crew, the materials, and what’s happening each day. If anything changes, you hear from us first. We take ownership of the work, and that includes communicating clearly so you’re not guessing when your roof will be done.
Need us to take a look at your roof? Call Stern Roofing. We’ll give you the truth about the damage, the cost, and how long it’ll take—no games. Just straight work done right.