Staying Home vs Staying Elsewhere: A Quick Comparison
|
Factor |
Staying at Home |
Staying Elsewhere |
|
Cost |
No extra accommodation cost |
Added expense for the project duration |
|
Noise |
Significant during tile removal and sheet fixing |
Avoided entirely |
|
Access to your home |
Full access, minus roof cavity work areas |
None during the works |
|
Best suited to |
Straightforward re-roofs, most single-storey homes |
Complex jobs, asbestos removal, young children, home offices needing quiet |
|
Key Takeaway: For most straightforward re-roofs, staying home is completely workable. It’s worth planning ahead if your job involves asbestos removal, young children or a home office that needs to stay quiet. |
What Is It Actually Like Living at Home During a Roof Replacement?
Roof replacement is noisy, physical work: tile or sheet removal, nail gun use, and material deliveries all happen directly above your ceiling. Most households find the first day or two, when the old roof is being stripped, the noisiest part of the job. Once the new sheeting goes on, noise typically settles into a steadier, more predictable rhythm.
- Noise: Expect loud periods during tile or material removal and sheet fixing, generally during standard daytime working hours.
- Dust and debris: Your roofing team will sheet and protect gutters, garden beds and outdoor areas, but some dust settling is normal during a re-roof.
- Vehicle and equipment access: Expect a work vehicle, ladders or scaffolding, and a waste bin or skip on-site for the duration.
- Power and water: These generally stay connected throughout, although brief interruptions may occasionally be needed for specific work.
- Roof cavity access: Avoid entering the roof cavity yourself while work is underway, for safety reasons.
When Might You Want to Stay Elsewhere?
Staying home is the norm, but there are situations where arranging alternative accommodation even just for part of the project is worth considering:
- Asbestos removal: if your home was built before 1990 and asbestos is identified, licensed removal procedures may require the property to be vacated for that specific stage.
- Young children, shift workers or noise-sensitive household members: daytime noise over several days can be disruptive if someone needs to sleep or work from home during the process.
- Complex or multi-storey roofs: larger or more complicated jobs generally mean a longer noisy period.
- Home offices requiring quiet calls or meetings: Schedule these around the noisiest days if working from home is essential.
|
Key Takeaway: If asbestos removal is required, this is a legal and safety matter, not a preference. Your roofer will advise if and when the property needs to be vacated for that stage. |
Day-by-Day: What to Expect During a Typical Re-Roof
For a standard 3–4 bedroom Sydney home, most re-roofs take 2–4 days from start to finish. A typical project looks something like this:
- Day 1 – Removal: Old roofing material is stripped back to the frame. This is generally the loudest and dustiest day.
- Day 2 – Frame check and prep: Timber frame inspection, with repairs if required, followed by sarking and insulation installation.
- Day 3 – Sheeting: new roofing material is fixed in place, with steady but generally more predictable noise.
- Day 4 – Finishing: Flashings, gutters and downpipes are completed, followed by the final inspection and site clean-up.
Larger or more complex roofs, or jobs involving asbestos removal, can extend beyond a week. Your roofer will confirm the expected timeline as part of your quote.
Tips for Living at Home During Your Roof Replacement
- Plan noise-sensitive tasks (calls, study, naps) around the removal and sheeting days if possible.
- Move vehicles clear of the work area and driveway access for deliveries and waste removal.
- Keep pets indoors or securely contained, as the noise, activity and open ladders around the work area can be unsettling and unsafe for animals.
- Cover or move sensitive outdoor furniture, plants and equipment near the work zone.
- Ask your roofer for a rough daily schedule so you know what to expect each day.
