How long roofing projects take in Colorado

The part you see, the crew on the roof, is often the shortest part of the job. A typical asphalt re-roof takes one to two days on site. The weeks around it go to inspections, insurance, contracts, permits, material orders and the crew's schedule.

This page goes deeper than the short "How long it takes" section on how a re-roof works. It separates what the law requires from what your policy says and what is just a rule of thumb. Rules here are as of October 2026.

The whole timeline at a glance

Ranges marked as rules of thumb are general experience, not sourced figures. Ask your contractor and insurer for dates in writing.

Storm to inspection

Colorado's damaging hail season runs from mid-April to mid-September, according to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association. After a big storm, every roofer's phone rings at once. Take a few days to do a ground-level walk-around and photograph what you can see. The after-a-storm checklist covers what to look for.

Then pick a roofer to inspect, rather than taking the one who knocks. Colorado's #NoRoofScams guidance says to let only your adjuster and chosen roofer onto the roof, since foot traffic causes damage too. See roof inspections and hiring a roofer.

The insurance claim and its deadlines

Reporting

No Colorado statute sets a day count for reporting a hail claim. The Division of Insurance (DOI) says to report as soon as possible, and your policy's notice clause controls. Some policies also require a signed proof of loss within 60 days, either after the loss or after the insurer asks, according to United Policyholders. Read yours.

What the insurer must do

Colorado sets these rules for insurers:

• Decide or pay within 60 days. DOI Regulation 5-1-14 (3 CCR 702-5) requires a decision or payment within 60 days after a valid and complete claim is received. The exception is a reasonable dispute, such as missing or conflicting information, open coverage questions, appraisal or litigation. The clock starts when the claim is complete, which can be well after your first call.
• Act promptly and explain. C.R.S. 10-3-1104(1)(h) lists unfair claim practices. These include failing to act reasonably promptly on communications, failing to affirm or deny coverage within a reasonable time after proof of loss and failing to explain a denial or offer. The statute names no fixed number of days.
• No unreasonable delay. Under C.R.S. 10-3-1115, an insurer may not unreasonably delay or deny a covered benefit. A delay is unreasonable if it lacks a reasonable basis. C.R.S. 10-3-1116 lets a policyholder sue for two times the covered benefit plus attorney fees.
• Send your policy. C.R.S. 10-4-110.8(10) requires the insurer to send a copy of your policy, declarations and endorsements within 3 business days of a request, and a certified copy within 30 days.

We found no rule setting a fixed number of days for an insurer to acknowledge a new property claim. If you see one quoted, ask for the citation.

Typical sequence

1. You report and get a claim number.
2. The adjuster inspects, often with your roofer present.
3. The insurer writes an estimate, often in Xactimate.
4. You get the first check: actual cash value minus your deductible. It's often made out to you and your mortgage lender, who must endorse it.
5. Your roofer finds items the estimate missed and sends a supplement. The insurer may re-inspect.
6. Work is done, you send the final invoice and the insurer releases the held-back depreciation.

United Policyholders says settlement can take anywhere from a few months to a few years, depending on disputes. More in insurance and the claim FAQ.

Contracting

Getting three bids, as the Colorado Attorney General recommends, takes a week or two in a normal season, as a rule of thumb. Once you sign, Colorado law gives you 72 hours to cancel for a full deposit refund on residential jobs over $1,000. If your insurer then denies the claim in whole or part, you get another 72 hours after that written notice to cancel, and the contractor must refund within 10 days.

The contract must list the approximate dates of service. If those dates are blank or vague, ask why. Your payments must be held in trust until materials are delivered or most of the work is done.

Permits

Most Colorado jurisdictions require a reroof permit, and the contractor usually pulls it. Turnaround varies widely, and few departments publish a number. Here's what some do say, as of October 2026:

• Jefferson County (unincorporated) takes reroof permit applications online. Inspections can be requested by phone by 5 p.m. the business day before, or online for the same day until 6 a.m. The 2024 codes and updated wildfire rules apply to permits applied for from July 1, 2026.
• Pikes Peak Regional Building Department permits are valid for 180 days, with one free 180-day extension. PPRBD says reroof inspections aren't done same day or next day because of volume.
• Wheat Ridge moved all residential reroof inspections to photo-based virtual inspections on January 1, 2026.
• Lakewood also uses photo inspections uploaded online.

Big storms swamp permit offices. PPRBD issued more than 17,000 reroof permits in 2023, up 179% from 2022. After the May 2017 storm, Wheat Ridge brought in contract inspectors, some from as far as California, to work through its backlog.

Materials and lead times

Common asphalt shingles are usually in distributor stock. Special orders take longer: certain colors, specialty Class 4 lines, tile, standing-seam metal panels and synthetic slate or shake. We couldn't find published Colorado lead times, so ask your contractor to confirm the order date and delivery date in writing.

Shortages happen after big storms. After the July 2016 Colorado Springs hailstorm, the Gazette reported shingle shortages as manufacturers limited sales to wholesale suppliers. More than 34,000 reroof permits were issued in El Paso County that year. See where roofing materials come from and manufacturers.

Installation days

GAF says an asphalt re-roof on an average home can often be completed in one to two days. In its breakdown, tear-off is usually a few hours. Rotted decking adds a few hours to a day. Steep roofs over 8:12 slow crews because of safety equipment, and complex rooflines need more cutting. Fixing ventilation also adds time.

Other materials take longer. Tile, slate and metal are slower to install, need more flashing work and sometimes call for an engineer's check on framing. We couldn't find a manufacturer or NRCA day count for them. Ask your contractor for a schedule. Things that add separate days:

• Solar detach before the roof and reset after, often by a different company. Fort Collins requires its own reinstallation permit.
• Gutter replacement after the roof.
• Skylight replacement, which may need its own permit.
• Deck work, such as a solid deck over the spaced boards left from an old wood-shake roof, which GAF says its shingles shouldn't go over.
• Weather. GAF notes rain or frost can shorten a workday or push work to another day.

See types of roofing services for who does each piece and materials for how each covering goes on.

Inspections during and after

Most places require a final inspection. Some also require a mid-roof inspection:

• Jefferson County: mid-roof when more than 10% but less than 25% of the roof is done, plus a final. Photos aren't accepted.
• Wheat Ridge: mid-roof photos with the underlayment and some shingles on, then final photos. A full re-sheathing means calling the permit desk to change the scope.
• Lakewood: mid-roof only for tile and non-standing-seam metal, final always.
• Arvada: mid-roof for low-slope, tile and special systems, final always.

An inspection can wait days after the crew finishes, especially after storms. The state's #NoRoofScams guidance says not to make the final payment until the roof has been inspected and you're satisfied. Waiting for the final inspection to pass is a sensible way to do that.

Final payment and the depreciation holdback

On a replacement-cost policy, the insurer holds back depreciation until the work is done. You or your contractor send the final invoice to get it released.

The deadline to do that is a policy term. United Policyholders says some policies require repairs within 180 days of the actual cash value payment. Policygenius says about six months is common but it varies. In 2018, Denver7 reported homeowners usually had about a year after filing to finish repairs, with insurers often flexible because of the backlog.

Lawsuit deadlines are separate. Colorado lets homeowners sue within the statutory limitations period even if the policy sets a shorter one.

Seasons and weather

Hail season backlog

Spring and summer hail fills roofers' calendars into fall. After the 2016 Colorado Springs storm, one roofer told the Gazette its backlog had been about four months. If you're hit in June, a fall install date is not unusual.

Cold weather and seal strips

Asphalt shingles have a strip of factory sealant that bonds each course to the one below. It's activated by sun and heat. Until it seals, shingles are more exposed to wind.

• GAF says there's no practical lower temperature limit if precautions are taken, but recommends installing at 40°F or above for easiest handling. It suggests storing bundles above 70°F for 24 hours and hand-sealing if the cold keeps the adhesive from activating. GAF's warranty excludes blow-offs before the sealant activates.
• Owens Corning calls for extra care at or below 40°F. For hand-sealing laminated shingles, it specifies four 1-inch dabs of asphalt roof cement under each shingle.
• GAF's self-adhered leak barriers go on between 40°F and 120°F, with extra steps below 40°F, such as storing rolls warm and back-nailing the top edge.
• ARMA gives no single minimum. It says to wait until frost and ice clear and follow the shingle maker's instructions.

Colorado's strongest winds come in the cold season. NOAA notes most Boulder 70+ mph events fall from November to February. In January 2017 a windstorm damaged some new Colorado Springs roofs that hadn't sealed yet, the Gazette reported. A winter roof isn't a bad roof, but ask how your crew will handle sealing. See Colorado climate.

Common questions

How long does an insurance company have to pay a roof claim in Colorado?

Under Division of Insurance Regulation 5-1-14, insurers must decide or pay within 60 days after receiving a valid and complete claim, unless there's a reasonable dispute. The clock starts only when the claim is complete, not when you first call.

How long do I have to collect recoverable depreciation in Colorado?

For an ordinary hail or wind roof claim, your policy sets the deadline. Some policies say 180 days after the first payment. Colorado's longer statutory windows apply to total losses and declared wildfire disasters. If you'll miss the deadline, ask your insurer in writing for an extension early.

Can a roof be replaced in winter in Colorado?

Yes, with precautions. GAF and Owens Corning both call for extra care at or below 40°F, because the shingle seal strips need sun and warmth to activate. In cold weather, crews may hand-seal shingles and keep bundles warm before installing them.

How long does a roof permit take?

It varies by jurisdiction and season. Many Colorado departments take reroof applications online, and inspections are often scheduled a day ahead. After big storms, waits get longer: the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department says reroof inspections aren't done same day or next day because of volume.

How long does the actual roof installation take?

GAF says an asphalt re-roof on an average home can often be done in one to two days. Steep or complex roofs, rotted decking, ventilation fixes and weather add time. Tile, metal and other materials take longer, and a solar detach and reset adds separate days.