Roofers near you

Ask a roofer which of these jobs make up most of their work. A crew that replaces shingle roofs all summer may not be the right choice for a leaking flat roof on a triplex, and the reverse is just as true.

The right material depends on the slope of the roof, the style of the house, the weight the structure can carry and how long you plan to stay. Whatever goes on top, the layers underneath do much of the work in a Canadian winter.

In Quebec, anyone who does renovation work for you, roofing included, must hold a licence from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) with the subclasses that cover the job. You can look up a roofer in the RBQ's online licence registry and check that the company name matches the one on your contract. Hiring a licensed contractor also gives you access to a financial guarantee if a dispute arises.

Elsewhere in Canada, the rules for roofing contractors vary by province and municipality. Permits are handled locally: many cities require one for a full replacement, structural repairs or a change of material, while small repairs often need none. Check with your municipality before work starts, and make sure the contract says who is responsible for the permit.

A new roof usually comes with two separate warranties. The manufacturer covers defects in the materials, often on the condition that the whole system is installed to its instructions, sometimes with matching underlayment, vents and accessories. The roofer covers the workmanship, which is where most early problems come from: poorly fastened shingles, missing flashing or badly sealed vents.

Read both before signing. Check what can void them, such as inadequate attic ventilation or a later repair by someone else, whether they transfer to a new owner, and how to make a claim. Keep the contract, the invoice and the warranty papers together with photos of the finished roof.

Roofers are busiest from late spring to fall, when the weather is dry and mild enough for shingles to seal and membranes to bond. Booking an inspection early in spring, once the snow is gone, lets you catch damage left by winter and plan a replacement before the rush.

Repairs and emergency work are possible in winter, but the work is slower and weather-dependent, and some materials can't be installed properly in the cold. If you know your roof is near the end of its life, don't wait for the first leak in January to call.