Roofing in Pierrefonds: Repair and Replacement

Roofs you find in Pierrefonds

Pierrefonds has houses with sloped roofs, often covered with asphalt shingles. You also see flat roofs, for example on apartment buildings and stores.

The City publishes two separate procedures for these two roof types. A roof with a slope under 2:12 is treated as a flat or low-slope roof. From 2:12 up, it is a sloped roof. As everywhere for roofing in Montreal, the borough sets the details, and Pierrefonds-Roxboro has its own.

What can be repaired without a permit

For a sloped roof, the City's procedure names two cases with no permit in the borough:

• maintaining or repairing the roof, for example changing a few shingles
• changing asphalt shingle roofing for other asphalt shingle roofing

The second point is less common. In Pierrefonds, redoing an entire asphalt shingle roof with asphalt shingles needs no permit.

For flat roofs, the wording is less clear. The flat roof procedure exempts anyone who wants to "maintain or repair a sloped roof" or change asphalt or asphalt shingle roofing "with an identical material". The words "sloped roof" appear as is. The page does not say clearly whether a flat roof repaired or redone like for like is exempt. Have your case confirmed by the permit counter.

When a permit becomes necessary

The City puts the rule in one sentence. If you change the material, you must apply for a permit.

For a sloped roof, a permit is required to renovate or replace the roofing with a material different from the one in place. Going from asphalt shingles to sheet metal is one example.

For a flat or low-slope roof, a permit is required to renovate or replace the roofing of a roof made of materials other than asphalt.

If we propose a product different from the one in place, ask the permit counter before signing.

The review fee the City publishes is $9.80 per $1,000 of work, with a minimum that depends on the type of building. The details are on the pages below.

What the City's page leaves out

For Pierrefonds-Roxboro, the procedures consulted say nothing about work that touches the insulation or structure of the roof. They also do not say where repair ends and replacement begins when a large section is redone.

If a repair uncovers rotten decking or insulation to replace, ask the permit counter whether an application is required. Do not assume the page's silence means permission.

Extra fees may also apply if the building or its area has heritage value or is subject to special architectural standards. The page does not say which buildings are affected. The counter can confirm it.

The permit counter

The Pierrefonds-Roxboro permit counter is at 13665, boulevard de Pierrefonds. The pages consulted give no opening hours and do not say whether you need an appointment. Check before you go.

You can also apply online. The City's service lets you group several renovation jobs, roofing included, into one application. You need an account on the City's website, and payment is by credit card.

Before you ask for a quote

You can prepare for our visit without taking any risk. Look at the roof from the ground or a window. Photograph what you see, such as missing shingles, curled shingles or ceiling stains.

Do not climb onto the roof or up a ladder. In the attic, look from the hatch with a flashlight, without going in.

If water damage is involved, call your insurer as well. Only your insurer can say what your policy covers.

You can ask us for a quote for a roof in Pierrefonds. Any contractor's licence can be checked with the Régie du bâtiment du Québec, whose register is public.

Four topics specific to Pierrefonds

Flat roof in Pierrefonds. The borough requires light-coloured or reflective roofing with a solar reflectance index of at least 66, or a green roof. That page covers the accepted materials and the parts of the roof that are exempt.

Shingle roof in Pierrefonds. That page explains like-for-like replacement, switching to another material and the list of materials the borough bans on sloped roofs.

Commercial roofing in Pierrefonds. Commercial, industrial, institutional and mixed-use buildings pay a higher minimum permit fee. That page gathers what a manager needs to plan.

Roof replacement in Pierrefonds. Redoing a whole roof follows an order: quote, permit check, documents, application, work. That page walks through each step.

Frequently asked questions