Getting estimates
Contact at least three roofing contractors and ask them to take a look at your roof and provide you with an estimate. Three offers should give you a clear picture of the average price in your area.
During the exploratory “tour,” the roofer must climb onto the roof to properly assess its condition: a careful examination is required to produce a reliable estimate. The roofer should note the slope of the roof, its surface area, the parts to be replaced and any necessary corrective measures. Each estimate should be sufficiently detailed to allow you to make an informed decision. The list of materials, the description of the work to be done, the approximate start and end dates, labour costs, terms of payment, warranties… everything must be put in writing. Demand that it be so!
Find a CAA-Quebec approved roofing expert
Roof leaking? Talk to your insurer
What to check
Licence, permits and insurance
To operate legally, the contractor must hold a licence from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ), confirming their competence and integrity. Check the validity of your prospective contractor’s licence number. The number, which is 10 digits in length, must appear on all estimates, contracts and invoices.
To check the validity of the licence number, contact the RBQ by phone or check the licence holders’ directory on the organization’s website. To work in Quebec, a roofer must have Licence 7.0, “Insulation, waterproofing, roofing and siding contractor,” or a 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.2 or 1.3 general building contractor licence.
Mandatory insurance
The contractor must be registered as an employer with the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST). This provides them with insurance protecting their business against the risk of significant financial obligations arising from a work-related injury.
The contractor must also confirm that they have liability insurance for the duration of the work. This insurance provides protection against compensation claims for personal injury or property damage caused by the contractor or an employee.
RBQ licence security
A roofing contractor applying for a licence must make a deposit of $20,000 with the Régie du bâtiment du Québec. The deposit amount was recently increased from $10,000 to $20,000. This amount serves as a guarantee that the contractor will meet all contractual obligations and to compensate any customer suffering harm as a result of work that is not done, that is incomplete or that is improperly done. If work is improperly done, any problems must be reported within one year following the end of the work.
Good to know
Itinerant sales are not limited to door-to-door salespeople: any contract signed at home—as is often the case for roofing repairs—is subject to the regulations on itinerant sales. The Consumer Protection Act allows the customer to cancel a contract with an itinerant merchant, for any reason and without charge, within 10 days of signing the contract. However, in case problems arise and you need to make a claim, you would need to make sure that the licence number is valid. The Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC) monitors the activities of itinerant merchants. You can check the Get information about a merchant section on the OPC website to find out if a contractor has been the subject of consumer complaints.
Warranties
The Civil Code of Quebec stipulates that the contractor is “liable to warrant the work for one year against poor workmanship existing at the time of acceptance or discovered within one year after acceptance” (Section 2120).
As well, the contractor is “liable for the loss of the work occurring within five years after the work was completed, whether the loss results from faulty design, construction or production of the work” (Section 2118).
It is up to the contractor to specify all inclusions and exclusions to the warranty; however, they are responsible for ensuring that the roof covering is waterproof during that five-year period.
On this point, CAA-Quebec’s Residential Services division considers that loss of watertightness of the roof covering should come under “loss of the work,” and thus should be guaranteed by the roofer for five years.
Good to know
If your contractor is a member of the Association des maîtres couvreurs du Québec (AMCQ), they can offer you an additional optional warranty: under the AMCQ’s “5 + 5 program,” once a roofer’s five-year warranty has expired, the AMCQ provides its own for another five years.. And this will be a win-win for you, because a contractor who is an AMCQ member must meet the technical specifications of the association, which are broader than those of the National Building Code.
Doing the work yourself
According to CAA-Quebec, it’s always better to hire a licensed, experienced contractor for this type of work. Have the skills to redo your roof yourself? Take the time to properly plan out the job. Don’t forget to:
Make a budget
Select the materials (underlay, shingles, membrane, flashing and venting, sealant, fascia boards, nails, plastic cement, etc.).
Calculate how much material you’ll need
Schedule deliveries
Research and learn the proper techniques
Dispose of existing materials
Get your tools together, including ropes, a crowbar, a roofing knife, a nail gun, a hammer, a shovel, and a square
Acquire and learn how to use the necessary safety equipment, including cables, harnesses, and regulation scaffolding
Etc.
A note for do-it-yourselfers
Warranties
Many roofing manufacturers stipulate that their products must be professionally installed to qualify for their warranty. Check carefully to see if this applies to the roofing you have selected.
Insurance
What about damage caused by poorly installed roofing (peeling or water infiltration)? Your home insurance may, for example, cover damage caused by water infiltration, but not cover roof repairs.
Getting help from your brother-in-law or friends? Make sure you have liability insurance. You could be held responsible if someone is harmed in an accident. Your home insurance policy probably includes this protection, but it’s a good idea to confirm that the coverage amount is sufficient before starting the work.
And don’t forget to take out accident insurance if you’re doing the work yourself. It will come in handy if you get hurt.
Do you need personalized advice on your home?
Our Residential Advisory Services counsellors are there to answer your questions and support you when you need it. Ask for their advice as often as you like. It’s one of the benefits of membership.
