A roof replacement is one of the biggest investments you will make as a Florida homeowner, and one of the most common questions we hear is: what does the process actually look like, day by day? Understanding the timeline helps you plan around the disruption, set realistic expectations, and recognize if something is going wrong. Here is a detailed walkthrough of every phase.
Pre-Installation: Permits and Materials (1-2 Weeks Before Day 1)
Before any work begins on your roof, two things must happen: permits must be pulled and materials must be ordered. In Florida, every roof replacement requires a building permit from your local jurisdiction. Your contractor handles the permit application, which includes submitting plans, a product approval list, and proof of contractor licensing and insurance. Permit turnaround times vary by county — Broward County typically processes permits in 3-7 business days, Palm Beach County in 5-10 business days, and Miami-Dade County in 7-14 business days due to additional HVHZ requirements.
Simultaneously, your contractor orders the roofing materials. For architectural shingles, materials are usually available from local distributors within 3-5 business days. Tile roofing — especially specific colors or profiles — can take 1-3 weeks depending on availability. Metal roofing panels are often custom fabricated and may require 2-4 weeks of lead time. Your contractor should order materials as soon as you sign the contract, so material delivery and permit approval happen on parallel timelines.
During this period, your contractor will also schedule a material delivery date and a start date for the crew. You will receive a call or message confirming the start date once both the permit and materials are secured.
**What you should do:** Clear your driveway and the area around your home so the delivery truck can access your property. Remove any vehicles, grills, potted plants, patio furniture, and outdoor decorations from the perimeter of the house. If you have fragile landscaping near the foundation, discuss protection measures with your contractor.
Day 1: Tear-Off and Deck Inspection
Day 1 is the loudest and most disruptive day of the entire project. The crew arrives early — typically between 7:00 and 7:30 AM — and begins setting up. This includes placing tarps over your landscaping, AC unit, and any outdoor features, positioning a dump trailer or dumpster in your driveway for debris, and setting up ladders, roof jacks, and safety equipment.
The tear-off begins once setup is complete. The crew strips every layer of existing roofing material down to the bare wood deck. For a shingle roof, this means removing all shingles, underlayment, flashing, drip edge, vents, and pipe boots. For a tile roof, tear-off includes removing all tiles, battens, underlayment, and accessories. The old materials are shoveled into chutes that direct debris into the dumpster below.
Tear-off is where surprises happen. Once the old roofing is removed, the crew inspects the entire roof deck for damage. They are looking for rotted plywood, delaminated OSB, water-stained or soft decking, damaged rafters or trusses, and any structural issues that were hidden under the old roof. In South Florida, it is common to find some rotted decking — humidity, past leaks, and age take a toll. Any damaged decking is replaced before the new roof system is installed.
Your contractor should walk you through any deck damage they find and explain the cost of replacement before proceeding. Most reputable contractors include a certain amount of deck replacement in their estimate — at Goliath Roofing, we include up to two sheets of plywood in every quote and charge a pre-disclosed per-sheet rate for any additional replacement needed.
On a standard shingle roof, tear-off and deck repair are typically completed by mid-afternoon on Day 1, and the crew begins installing the new underlayment before they leave for the day. The underlayment is a critical water barrier — once it is in place, your home is protected from rain even before the final roofing material is installed.
Day 1-2: New Roof Installation
With a clean, inspected, and repaired deck, the crew begins installing your new roof system. The installation process follows a specific sequence dictated by the Florida Building Code and manufacturer specifications:
Drip edge installation. Metal drip edge is installed along the eaves and rakes to direct water away from the fascia and into the gutters. Florida code requires drip edge on all roof replacements.
Underlayment installation. In South Florida, the Florida Building Code requires a minimum of one layer of ASTM D226 Type II (30-pound) felt or a synthetic underlayment meeting equivalent standards. In HVHZ zones like Miami-Dade County, the requirements are more stringent — a self-adhering modified bitumen underlayment is required on the first three feet from the eave edge, and all underlayment must be mechanically fastened according to the enhanced wind resistance schedule.
Flashing installation. Step flashing at wall-to-roof transitions, valley flashing at all valleys, and counter-flashing at chimneys and other vertical penetrations. Proper flashing is the most critical detail for long-term leak prevention.
Roofing material installation. The crew installs the shingles, tiles, or metal panels according to manufacturer specifications and the Florida Building Code nailing schedule. For shingles, this means following the specific nail pattern and exposure requirements. For tiles, it means proper mechanical attachment and mortar setting. For metal, it means correct panel overlap, clip attachment, and sealant application.
Accessories and penetrations. Pipe boots, ridge vents, turbine vents, solar fan connections, and any other roof penetrations are sealed and flashed individually. Every penetration is a potential leak point, and each one receives careful attention.
For a standard shingle roof, installation is typically completed by end of Day 2. Tile and metal roofs take longer — expect 2-4 additional days depending on roof complexity and size.
Final Day: Cleanup and Walkthrough
The final day of on-site work is dedicated to cleanup, quality control, and your walkthrough. The crew performs a meticulous cleanup of the entire property — this includes raking the yard and landscaping beds for nails and debris, running a magnetic nail sweeper across the driveway, walkways, lawn, and any paved areas, removing all tarps, tools, and equipment, hauling away the dumpster or dump trailer, and power-washing any stained areas of your driveway or walkways.
After cleanup, your project manager walks the entire roof one final time, checking every detail: nail patterns, flashing seals, penetration boots, ridge cap alignment, and overall appearance. Any items that do not meet Goliath's quality standard are addressed before we call the job complete.
Then comes your walkthrough. Your project manager meets you outside and walks you through the completed project from ground level, pointing out key features of your new roof system. You will receive a folder containing your building permit, material warranty information, manufacturer product data sheets, and before-and-after photographs of the project.
Inspection Day: County Final
After the roof is complete, your contractor schedules the final building inspection with the local building department. An inspector from the county visits the property, examines the roof installation against the approved permit plans and the Florida Building Code, and either passes or fails the inspection.
Common items inspectors check include proper underlayment installation and fastening, correct nailing patterns for the roofing material, proper flashing at all penetrations and transitions, drip edge installation, and general code compliance. In HVHZ zones, the inspection is more detailed and includes verification of enhanced wind resistance details.
If the inspection passes — and it should, with a competent contractor — you receive your final inspection approval, which closes the permit. This approval is important for two reasons: it confirms your new roof meets current building code, and many insurance companies require a passed inspection before they will issue or renew your policy.
At Goliath Roofing, we have a 99.6% first-pass inspection rate across all three South Florida counties. We schedule the inspection, meet the inspector on site, and handle any questions or follow-up items so you do not have to.
Post-Job: Warranty Documentation
Within one week of project completion, you should receive complete warranty documentation from your contractor. This includes the manufacturer's material warranty — typically 25-50 years depending on the product — and the contractor's workmanship warranty, which covers installation quality.
At Goliath Roofing, every roof replacement comes with a minimum 10-year workmanship warranty in addition to the manufacturer's material warranty. We also register your material warranty directly with the manufacturer so you do not have to handle the paperwork.
Keep your warranty documents with your homeowner files — you will need them if you file an insurance claim in the future, sell your home, or need warranty service.
What Can Delay Your Roof Replacement
Several factors can push your timeline beyond the standard 3-6 week window:
Rain. Florida weather is unpredictable, especially during the wet season from May through October. A responsible contractor will not begin tear-off when rain is forecasted. Multiple rain days in a row can push your start date by a week or more. There is no safe shortcut — waiting for dry conditions protects your home.
Material shortages. Certain tile profiles, specialty metal colors, and high-demand shingle products can experience supply delays, especially after an active hurricane season when demand across the state spikes. Your contractor should communicate any material lead time issues at the time of contract signing.
Permit delays. Some jurisdictions are slower than others, and volume spikes after storms can extend processing times. Your contractor should track the permit status and keep you informed.
Deck damage. If the tear-off reveals significantly more deck damage than anticipated — rotted plywood across large sections of the roof — the repair work adds time to the project. Severe deck damage can add 1-2 days to the installation timeline.
What You Should Do as the Homeowner
Your role during a roof replacement is minimal but important. Before the project starts, move your vehicles out of the driveway, remove wall decorations and shelves in rooms directly below the roof (vibration from tear-off can knock items off walls), secure any items in your attic that could shift during the work, and let your neighbors know about the project timeline so they can prepare for noise and truck traffic.
During the project, keep children and pets away from the work area, be available by phone in case your project manager needs to discuss deck damage or other unexpected findings, and avoid parking in the driveway until cleanup is complete.
After the project, check your yard, driveway, and garden beds for any stray nails or debris that the magnetic sweeper might have missed. Walk the interior of your home and check ceilings for any signs of disturbance. And keep your warranty folder in a safe, accessible location. Your new roof is an investment that will protect your home for decades — and the installation process, while disruptive for a few days, is well worth the peace of mind.