Roof Repair or Replacement?
The signs you need a new roof, and four reasons a replacement beats another patch.
Read more →
Roof Planning Guide
The Best Time Of Year To Replace A Roof In Massachusetts
Once you know the roof is near the end, the next question is when the crew should show up. Here's how each season plays out on a New England house, and why the best replacements are the ones you plan.
First, How Much Time Your Roof Has Left
An asphalt shingle roof in New England usually lasts 20 to 30 years, and the attic, the shade, and the original installation decide where yours lands. Our guide to how long a roof lasts covers what wears one out. Age tells you when to start watching. Curling, bald patches, cracked shingles on several slopes, and leaks that keep coming back tell you it's close, and our guide to the signs you need a new roof goes through them one by one.
When To Replace: Plan It Before It Fails
The best time to replace a roof is in its last few years, while it's still keeping water out. A planned replacement lets you choose the season, the shingle, the color, and how to pay for it. An emergency replacement after a leak in February makes most of those choices for you.
If your roof is somewhere past twenty years and you're not sure how much it has left, a free inspection gives you a timeline. Sometimes the answer is that it has several good years and needs a small repair. Sometimes it's that you should plan for next summer.
The Best Time Of Year To Replace A Roof
In Massachusetts the best window runs from late spring through early fall. The reason is the shingle itself. Asphalt shingles carry a strip of factory sealant, and the sun's warmth bonds each course to the one next to it. In warm weather the roof seals itself within days. In cold weather the strip may not bond until spring, so the crew hand-seals shingles to keep the wind from lifting them in the meantime. Warm shingles are also more flexible, so they bend over ridges and hips without cracking.
Here's how each season plays out.
Spring
Spring is when most people find out they need a roof, because the snow melts and shows what winter did. It's a good time to work once the rain lets up, and a good time to book, because summer and fall fill up early.
Summer
Summer has a lot going for it. Days are long, the weather is steadier, and shingles seal fast. The trade-off is heat: shingles get soft on hot afternoons and scuff when they're walked on, so crews start early and take care where they walk. If you're away for a week in July, it's also a good time to have the work done while you're gone.
Fall
Fall is the most popular season for roofing, and for good reason. Temperatures are comfortable for the crew, the weather is usually dry, and it's warm enough for the shingles to seal before winter. It's also the season people realize they don't want to go through another winter with the old roof, so schedules fill up. If you're aiming for October, call in summer.
Winter
Yes, roofs get replaced in winter, and we do it when a roof can't wait. Days are short, snow and ice cost working days, and shingles need hand-sealing. If your roof is leaking in January, a repair can usually hold it until spring. If it's past repair, a winter replacement beats another month of water in the attic.
Why A Spring Inspection Sets The Schedule
If you take one step toward a well-timed replacement, make it a spring inspection. After a New England winter the damage is fresh and visible: shingles lifted by wind, flashing loosened by freeze and thaw, granules washed into the gutters, and stains in the attic from ice dams. Finding it in April gives you the whole warm season to plan, instead of finding it in November with the snow on its way.
Our inspection is free and covers the shingles, flashing, decking, and attic ventilation. If it finds a small problem, we fix it. If it finds a roof near the end, you get a straight answer and a timeline. Our list of the five problems we find most after winter shows what we're looking for.
How Long Does A Roof Replacement Take?
Plenty of homes are done in a single day. One homeowner put it this way in a Google review:
"His crew replaced our roof in one day. Clean up was great."
Elaine Levine · Google Review
Bigger, steeper, or more complicated roofs take longer, and so do roofs where we find rotted decking under the old shingles. We'll give you a clear timeline with your quote.
Most asphalt roofs in Tewksbury run about $9,000 to $12,000. Our roof quote form takes about a minute, and we come back within 24 hours with next steps or a preliminary number. Financing starts at 0% for 12 months through GreenSky. If you want to compare shingles before you pick a date, our guide to choosing roofing materials covers the options, and our roof replacement page covers how we install them.
Planning a roof for this year or next?
· 80 Google Reviews · 48-hour response on repair calls · Free, no-obligation. We reply within 24 hours.
Roof timing questions we hear every season
How far ahead should I book a roof replacement?
A few months, if you can. Summer and fall fill up early, and fall is the most popular season, so for an October date, call in summer. A free inspection in spring or summer gives you time to pick the shingle, the color, and the financing before the date arrives.
What is the best month to replace a roof in Massachusetts?
Any month from late spring through early fall is a good one. Shingles need warmth to seal to each other, and the long, steady days of summer and early fall make for the smoothest jobs. Fall is the most popular season, so if you want an October date, book in summer.
Can you replace a roof in winter?
Yes. Roofs get replaced in winter when they can't wait. Shorter days and snow slow the work, and the shingles are hand-sealed because they won't bond on their own until warmer weather. If the roof is leaking but still sound, a repair can usually carry it to spring, which is the better time for a full replacement.
How long does a roof replacement take?
Many homes are done in a day. Larger, steeper, or more complicated roofs take longer, and so does a roof where rotted decking has to be replaced once the old shingles are off. You'll get a clear timeline with your quote.