Roofing in Québec

Full replacements commonly require a building permit or regulatory compliance; small like-for-like repairs usually don't. Rules vary by country and municipality, and a legitimate contractor will know and handle the paperwork — treat 'we don't need a permit' on a full reroof as a flag to double-check.

Policies generally cover sudden storm damage (wind, hail, fallen trees) but not gradual wear and age. Document damage with dated photos immediately, get an independent assessment before signing anything a door-knocking contractor puts in front of you, and check whether your policy pays replacement cost or depreciated value on older roofs.

It scales with roof area, pitch, number of storeys, access, and material. Basic asphalt shingle or concrete tile sits at the bottom of the range; metal, slate and clay cost two to four times more. Tear-off of the old covering, disposal, scaffolding or edge protection, and hidden deck repairs are the lines that move a quote most — make sure all four are priced before comparing.

Yes, over time — moss holds moisture against the surface, lifts tile and shingle edges, and accelerates frost damage. Have it removed by soft washing or manual scraping, never high-pressure washing, which strips granules and forces water under the covering. Zinc or copper strips slow regrowth.

Tear-off and disposal, underlayment spec, flashing replacement (not reuse), ridge and valley details, a unit price for replacing rotten decking discovered mid-job, scaffolding or edge protection, and cleanup with a magnetic nail sweep. A quote missing the deck-repair unit price is the classic setup for large mid-job extras.

A typical asphalt shingle replacement runs CAD $8,000-$25,000 with most homes landing around $12,000-$15,000; metal roofs run $18,000-$50,000. Per-square-foot pricing of $5-$13 installed is typical for asphalt.

It's possible but not ideal — shingle adhesive strips need warmth to seal, and snow slows and endangers crews. Most contractors work April-November; winter work is usually limited to emergency repairs and ice-dam mitigation.