Overview: Roofing Contractors
Winter decides when a Canadian roof gives up. Snow melts over a warm attic, freezes again at the cold eave, and backs up under the shingles until a stain shows on the ceiling. Roofing companies chase that leak, fix what the wind lifted, and strip and rebuild whole roofs. Repair makes sense while the shingles have life left. Once every slope curls, patching just delays the bill.
Ontario doesn't license roofers, so the province tells homeowners to check references and complaint records instead. What it does require is working at heights training for workers on construction projects who use fall protection. In Quebec, a roofer needs a licence from the Régie du bâtiment. Alberta requires a prepaid contracting licence when a roofer signs you up at home and takes a deposit.
Ontario's roofing guide also lists what a contract should hold: an itemized price, start and finish dates, who cleans up, how the garden is protected, who pays for damage to your property or a neighbour's, and the warranties. It suggests a small down payment and warns against cash deals with no receipt.
Our listings show what each company states on its own website. Open your province, then your city, to find roofers who work there.
What roofing work costs in Canada
Use actual roof area and a matching roof system. Removal, underlayment, flashing and ventilation can change the total substantially.
| Service | Planning budget | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Localized roof repair | C$150–C$800per defined repair | Replace a few damaged shingles or reseal one roof penetration, with ordinary access during scheduled hours.Scheduled minor work only. Emergency attendance, widespread leak tracing, deck damage and substantial flashing replacement are extra.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Repair labour and normal minor materials Budget separately or confirm: Full flashing replacement; Emergency tarping, structural work and interior water damage |
| Asphalt shingle replacement | C$5–C$11per sq ft of roof area | Architectural asphalt shingles on a straightforward residential roof; price uses actual sloped roof area.Measured sloped roof area, not house floor area. Ordinary tear-off and disposal included; damaged decking, major ventilation changes and complex access are extra.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: One-layer tear-off, disposal, underlayment, shingles and routine flashing Budget separately or confirm: Deck replacement, structural repair, skylights and complex steep-roof access |
| Standing-seam metal roof installation | C$9–C$20per sq ft of roof area | Residential standing-seam steel roof with ordinary access; measured roof area.Supply and installation budget. Existing-roof removal, deck repairs and snow-retention details must be itemized; exposed-fastener metal is a different product.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Standing-seam roof panels and ordinary installation assembly Budget separately or confirm: Existing-covering removal unless expressly included; Deck repair, structural work and additional snow-retention equipment |
| Two-ply SBS low-slope roof replacement | C$10–C$20per sq ft of roof area | Residential low-slope SBS membrane replacement; confirm the insulation and drainage specification.SBS membrane system only. Match insulation thickness, tear-off, flashings and drainage details; extra insulation or damaged decking can change the total.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Tear-off allowance, membrane installation and routine flashings Budget separately or confirm: Major deck repair, tapered-insulation redesign and structural drainage changes |
| Roof deck replacement allowance | C$90–C$160per 4 × 8 ft sheet | One 4 × 8 ft plywood sheet replaced while the roof is already open for re-roofing.Only while the roof is already open. This is plywood, not OSB; a stand-alone repair has separate attendance costs. Add this only when it is needed and is not already included in the agreed package.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Replacement plywood, removal and fastening labour Budget separately or confirm: Separate mobilization, rafters and thicker specialty decking |
Use measured roof area
Assumptions:
- Illustrative roof measurement: 1,800 sq ft of actual sloped roof
- Ordinary asphalt replacement scope; no deck repairs
1,800 sq ft × C$5–C$11 = C$9,000–C$19,800.
Illustrative asphalt replacement budget: C$9,000–C$19,800. Confirm applicable tax and separately agreed repairs.
Not included:
- Damaged deck sheets and structural work
- Complex access, additional layers and major ventilation alterations
What changes the price
- Actual slope area, pitch, height and safe access
- Layers removed, damaged decking and roof-system specification
- Flashing, ventilation, ice protection and disposal scope
Ask before accepting a quote
- Does the quote include tear-off, disposal, flashing and required ventilation work?
- What is the agreed unit price for damaged decking found after removal?
- Which workmanship and product warranties apply to the exact installation quoted?
Compare complete roof systems
- Roof area is different from the floor area of the home
- A material-only shingle or metal price is not an installed replacement price
Canadian context
Ask the contractor to address the local snow, wind and ice conditions in the proposed roof specification.
Planning amounts in Canadian dollars. Published tax treatment varies; confirm applicable taxes and the final total in your written quote. Rows can be different services, alternative packages or separately priced extras. Add only work that is needed and not already included in your quote.
Frequently asked questions
Does home insurance pay for ice dam damage?
Often for the sudden part. The Insurance Bureau of Canada says standard policies commonly cover sudden and accidental water damage from ice dams, but damage that keeps happening counts as maintenance. A basic policy might not cover ice dams at all, and many insurers sell water cover as an add-on. A roof that failed from age or neglect isn't covered. Read your wording before winter.
What is the difference between a tear-off and an overlay?
A tear-off strips the roof to the deck, so soft boards get replaced and the eave membrane goes straight onto clean wood. An overlay nails new shingles over the old ones. It's cheaper today, but it hides the deck, adds weight under a winter of snow, and gives that membrane nothing sound to stick to. Ask which one the price assumes.
How does an insurance claim after a storm work?
Call your insurer early and take photos before any tarp goes up. An adjuster looks at the roof, and the policy pays for sudden storm damage, not old age. Keep the receipts for any emergency repairs. Walk away from any roofer who offers to cover your deductible or asks you to sign the claim over to them.
Which warranty actually protects me?
Two are in play. The shingle maker covers product defects, usually on a sliding scale. The installer covers the work, and nearly every leak on a young roof comes down to workmanship. Ask how long that promise runs and whether a buyer inherits it if you sell. Ontario's roofing guide tells owners to write the warranties into the contract itself.
Someone knocked and said my roof is damaged. Now what?
Slow down and ask for photos of the damage they say they saw, which is what Ontario's roofing guide suggests. A contract signed at your door in Ontario comes with ten days to cancel, though you pay for any work already done. Get a second quote from an established local firm. Never let a stranger up the ladder alone.
