Asphalt Shingle Roofs in Montreal

Where you find shingle roofs in Montreal

Montreal is known for its flat-roofed plexes, but a good part of the island has sloped roofs. You see them on post-war bungalows, cottages, semi-detached houses and townhouses in the residential areas of the east, north and west of the island. They are common on the bungalow and cottage streets of Pierrefonds-Roxboro, Rivière-des-Prairies, Pointe-aux-Trembles, Lachine and LaSalle.

A bungalow often has two or four simple slopes, quick to cover. A newer cottage has a cut-up roof with valleys, dormers and several heights, which takes more detail and more time.

According to the City of Montreal, a roof is sloped from 2:12, or 16.7%. Below that, it is treated as a flat or low-slope roof. Shingles are not the right material for a flat or low-slope roof.

Repair before redoing it all

A shingle roof repairs well as long as the problem stays local. A few wind-torn shingles, chimney flashing that has shifted, a split vent or a popped nail are routine roof repair jobs that do not require redoing a whole slope.

A repair only makes sense if the neighbouring shingles are still flexible. We have to be able to lift them without breaking them to slide in the new ones. On a roof at the end of its life, every repair damages a little more around it. When defects cover every slope, it is time to talk about replacement.

What a shingle roof is made of

The shingle is only the visible layer. The roof deck is made of wood panels or boards. The ice and water membrane goes along the eaves, in the valleys and around openings, wherever water and ice linger. The underlayment is felt or a synthetic membrane. Drip edge lines the roof, and the shingle courses start from a starter strip. Flashing seals the joints with walls, dormers and vents. Ventilation keeps the attic cold and dry.

Where a shingle roof leaks first

The middle of a slope rarely leaks. Water usually gets in where the roofing is interrupted or changes direction.

• Valleys. The trough where two slopes meet takes water from both sides, and snow and leaves collect there.
• Around the chimney. The flashing has to follow masonry that shifts and crumbles over the years.
• Vents and pipes. The rubber boot around a plumbing pipe dries and cracks in the sun.
• Where a roof meets a wall. At the base of a dormer or a storey, water runs along the wall before going down.
• The lower edge. This is where ice forms in winter and water can back up under the courses.

When we inspect a roof, we start with these spots.

How a replacement goes

1. Protecting the property. The yard, flower beds and driveway are covered, then a container is set up.
2. Tear-off. Old shingles and underlayment are removed down to the wood.
3. Deck inspection. Rotten or sagging sections are replaced before going further.
4. Water protection. We install the drip edge, ice and water membrane and underlayment. The roof can then handle a shower.
5. Shingles. They go up course by course, with the flashing, vents and ridge.
6. Clean-up. The yard is picked up and a magnet is run to collect nails.

The condition of the deck is only really known once the roof is open. A good quote says how replacement wood will be billed. We only open what we can close by the end of the day. Ask us how the roof will be protected if rain comes during the work.

What to ask for in a quote

Two quotes can only be compared if they describe the same work. Ask that each one, ours included, states in writing:

• Tear-off. Is the old roofing removed down to the wood on every slope?
• Roof deck. How will replacement wood be measured and billed?
• Shingles. The manufacturer, the exact product line and the colour.
• Underneath. The type of underlayment, and where the ice and water membrane goes.
• Flashing. Which is replaced and which is kept, especially around the chimney.
• Ventilation. The planned vents and the condition of the soffit intakes.
• Warranties. The manufacturer's product warranty and the contractor's workmanship warranty, with their length.
• The job site. Yard protection, container, clean-up and schedule.

What affects the price

• the real roof area, larger than the footprint when the pitch is steep
• the pitch and height, which set the safety equipment and pace of work
• the roof shape, since valleys, dormers, chimneys and skylights take detail work
• the number of shingle layers to tear off
• the shingle line chosen
• ventilation corrections and wood to replace
• access for the container and material delivery

Permits and checks

The rules vary by borough, type of building and type of work. Before replacing roofing, check with your borough whether a permit is required. In a heritage area, additional standards may affect the material or the colour.

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

Frequently asked questions