Roof Repair in Montreal

What can be repaired on a roof

We explain roofing in Montreal to homeowners and give them a quote for their work. A repair is often the first reason people write to us. These are the most common jobs.

• A local leak. We find where the water gets in and restore the seal at that spot.
• Torn, cracked or curled shingles. They can be replaced one by one or by section, as long as the rest of the roof is still sound.
• Loose or rusted flashing. The metal that seals the joint around a chimney, a wall or a vent can be redone without touching the rest.
• A damaged flat roof membrane. A blister, an open seam or a tear is fixed with a patch welded onto the existing membrane.
• A drain or gutter that no longer empties. Standing water eventually finds its way inside.
• A cracked vent boot. The rubber around a plumbing pipe dries out over the years and lets water through.

When to ask for a visit

Some repairs cannot wait. A brown stain on the ceiling, paint bubbling near the top of a wall or a damp smell in the attic means water is already inside.

Other signs give you a few days to get organized. Shingles found on the ground after a windstorm, granules in the gutters, or a puddle that stays on a flat roof long after the rain are all warnings. Nothing is leaking yet, but the next storm could change that. This is the right time to ask for a quote, while the repair is still small.

Flat roof or sloped roof

On a flat roof, water drains slowly and every seam has to be watertight. We clean and dry the area, then glue or weld a patch of membrane that extends well past the defect. We also check the flashing up the parapets and the drain.

On a sloped roof, water runs from one course of shingles to the next. A repair restores that overlap. We lift the neighbouring courses, remove the damaged shingles, slide in and nail the new ones, then seal everything back down. On an old roof, the neighbouring shingles sometimes crack when lifted, and the area to redo grows.

Where these problems show up in Montreal

The plexes of Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, Rosemont, Villeray, Verdun and Le Sud-Ouest mostly have flat roofs edged with parapets. Repairs there focus on drains, membrane seams, parapet flashing and metal coping. A leak often stains the ceiling of the top-floor flat first, sometimes before the owner hears about it.

Single-family areas like Pierrefonds, Rivière-des-Prairies and Pointe-aux-Trembles more often have sloped roofs covered in asphalt shingles. Typical repairs there are wind-torn shingles, chimney flashing, vent boots and the damage ice leaves at the roof edge in winter.

How a repair goes

We start by looking for the cause, not just the spot where water appears. We check the top of the roof and, when possible, the attic or the affected ceiling.

We then give you a written quote. It describes the problem found, the work proposed and the materials. Ask for the warranty to be written in it, with its length and what it covers. Ask for before and after photos. You should not go up to check yourself.

1. Opening. The damaged roofing is removed down to a sound surface.
2. Repairing what is underneath. Rotten roof deck or soaked insulation is replaced before closing up.
3. The repair itself. New material is installed and tied into the existing roofing so water runs over the joint.
4. Check and clean-up. We take our photos, pick up nails and debris, and explain what we found.

If the opening reveals more damage than expected, we stop and talk to you before going further. Have that written into the quote.

Getting ready for our visit

• Note when the problem started and the weather at the time, such as rain, wind or a thaw.
• Take photos of the stains inside and of what you can see from the ground.
• Gather what you know about the roof, such as its age, the invoice for past work and earlier repairs.
• Clear access to the attic hatch and the yard.
• Let your tenants know if we need to enter a unit.

What affects the price

• Access to the roof, including the building's height, the slope, and a lane or parking area.
• The real extent of the damage, sometimes only found once the roof is opened.
• The type of roofing and how easy it is to find a matching material.
• The condition of the wood underneath.
• Urgency. A call-out outside normal hours costs more than a planned visit.
• The season. Some materials do not install well in extreme cold.

Do you need a permit?

In Montreal, the rules vary by borough, type of building and type of work. Minor repairs and maintenance generally do not need a permit. Heritage buildings and heritage areas have additional standards. When in doubt, call your borough before the work starts.

Ask us for our RBQ licence number and check it in the public register of the Régie du bâtiment du Québec, as with any contractor. In Quebec, a construction contractor must hold a licence from the RBQ.

Frequently asked questions