Choosing a Roofer in Montreal

Why the choice matters so much

The best material, badly installed, leaks. Leaks often come from the details, around a chimney, a drain or a parapet, and those details depend on the crew's care.

In a roof replacement, choosing the contractor is the decision with the most consequences. It is also the one where the homeowner has the most power, provided you act before a leak puts you under pressure.

The licence comes first

In Quebec, a construction contractor must hold a licence from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec. The register of licence holders is public on the RBQ website.

Ask us for our licence number and check it in the register before our visit. Do the same check for every contractor whose quote you compare. If a company does not appear in the register, or if the name does not match the one on the quote, move on to the next one.

Liability insurance

A roofing job carries risks for your building, for the neighbour's and for passers-by. Ask us for proof of up-to-date civil liability insurance in the company's name, as you would any contractor.

A serious contractor provides this proof without argument. Check that the period of validity covers the dates of your work.

Experience with the right type of roof

A flat roof and a pitched roof are two different trades. A roofer used to bungalow shingles is not necessarily at ease with a triplex membrane, and the reverse is also true.

Ask us precise questions, and ask the other contractors the same ones:

• What type of roof do you redo most often?
• Have you recently redone roofs like mine, in my area?
• Do you know my borough's requirements for flat roofs?
• Have you ever worked on a heritage building?

The rules vary by borough. A roofer who often works in yours already knows the way through the permit.

The visit says a lot

Watch how each contractor's visit goes, ours included. Does the roofer go up on the roof? Look at the flashing, the drains, the attic? Take measurements and photos?

A contractor who gives a price from the sidewalk is pricing a roof they have not seen. One who explains what they observed, with photos to back it up, already gives you a glimpse of how they work.

Who will do the work

Ask us who will be on your roof. Some companies have their own crews, others hand installation to subcontractors. Both models exist. You only need to know who is responsible for the job and who to reach if there is a problem.

References

Ask for addresses of roofs redone a few years ago, not just last month. A recent roof always looks good. An installation is judged after several winters.

If a contractor gives you names of customers, call them. Ask whether the job kept to the dates, whether the final price matched the quote and whether the contractor came back when called.

Warning signs

Be careful with:

• an offer made at your door, after a storm
• pressure to sign the same day
• a price clearly lower than the others, with no explanation
• a request for cash payment, with no invoice
• a refusal to put the agreement in writing
• a company address you cannot verify

Frequently asked questions