Roof Replacement near you

A crew should never leave the roof open overnight. If the weather turns during the job, exposed sections are covered before anyone goes home.

Most replacements on sloped roofs stay with asphalt shingles, which most crews know well and which are easy to repair. Metal is worth considering if you plan to stay a long time, want snow to slide off a steep roof or live where wind and hail are frequent, but it needs snow guards over doors and paths and a roofer experienced with its details.

Heavier materials such as slate or concrete and clay tile need confirmation that the framing can carry the added weight on top of the snow load your region's building code expects. Flat and low-slope roofs need a membrane system rather than shingles. Colour matters too: lighter roofs stay cooler in summer, while winter performance depends mostly on the attic's insulation, air sealing and ventilation.

Lifespan depends far more on conditions than on the label. The terms of a manufacturer's warranty describe what the maker will cover, not how long a roof will actually last on your house. Sun exposure, slope, the colour of the covering, repeated freeze–thaw cycles and, above all, the attic below all play a part.

A hot, poorly ventilated attic ages shingles from underneath, and moisture carried in by air leaks can rot the deck long before the surface looks worn. Good ventilation and air sealing, clear gutters and prompt repairs after storms are what let a roof reach the upper end of its expected life. Ask your roofer what they typically see for your chosen material in your region, and why.

Many municipalities require a permit to replace a roof, especially when the material changes, the structure is altered or the house is in a heritage district. The rules differ from one city to the next, so check with yours before signing. In Quebec, the contractor must also hold an RBQ licence with the subclass that covers roofing.

Provincial building codes, most of them based on the National Building Code of Canada, set requirements a new roof should meet, including eave protection on most shingle roofs to guard against water backing up from ice dams. For attic ventilation, the National Building Code calls for an unobstructed vent area of at least 1/300 of the insulated ceiling area, split between the lower and upper parts of the roof space, and more on low-slope roofs; Natural Resources Canada uses the same 1 to 300 ratio for peaked roofs with accessible attics. Ask your roofer to explain how the new roof meets these requirements.

Installing new shingles over an existing layer may be allowed in some situations, depending on local rules and the manufacturer's instructions, but it hides the deck, adds weight and leaves no real chance to install eave membranes and new flashing properly. Any soft sheathing, rot or hidden leak damage stays trapped under the new roof.

A full tear-off lets the roofer see and fix the deck, bring ventilation and eave protection up to current requirements and start the new warranty on a clean base. It takes longer and produces more waste, but it's usually the sounder choice for a roof that has to stand up to ice, heavy snow and freeze–thaw for years to come.