Five roofing types, five ranges
The survey dates from October 3, 2026. Prices are given per square foot of roof. The survey does not specify, source by source, what each price includes. These prices help place the budget for a roof replacement before the first visit.
| Roof type | Price per square foot | What the sources say |
|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingles | $6 to $12 | Sloped roof. Two sources give $6 to $12, a third a minimum of $7. |
| Elastomeric membrane | $10 to $21 | Flat roof. Five ranges found, from $10 to $18 for the lowest to $11 to $21 for the highest. |
| Tar and gravel | $9 to $17 | Built-up flat roof. Two sources: $9 to $14 and $11 to $17. |
| TPO or EPDM membrane | $11 to $22 | Flat roof. Two ranges found: $11 to $16 and $14 to $22. |
| Sheet metal | $13 to $36 | Sloped roof. Two sources: $13 to $30 and $20 to $36. |
Metal has the widest range, from $13 to $36.
Advertised prices, not invoices
There is no official rate for a roof. The survey reflects what roofing companies and a quote comparison service advertise online. The full list appears at the bottom of the page.
Nothing shows what their customers actually paid, and the survey does not say whether taxes are included. The firm price comes after a visit, once we have seen the access and the roof.
From square foot to total
Multiply the roof area by the price per square foot. For 1,000 square feet of roof, the ranges give $6,000 to $12,000 in asphalt shingles and $10,000 to $21,000 in elastomeric membrane.
The roof area is not the floor area. A sloped roof is larger than the house it covers, and the gap grows with the slope. We take the measurement on site or from an aerial view.
This calculation is only a starting point. Each roof is then priced on its own.
Why two roofs of the same size do not cost the same
- Details to seal. Two simple slopes go quickly. Each dormer, valley or chimney adds work, as do parapets and equipment on a flat roof.
- The way to the roof. A building attached to its neighbours is harder to work on than a house clear on all four sides. Height, a crane or a street to occupy lengthen the job.
- What has to be removed. An old tar and gravel roof, or stacked layers, produce heavy waste to dispose of.
- What is installed besides the roofing. Underlayment, insulation, support board, new flashing, vents.
- The wood under the roofing. The whole deck can only be seen once the old roof is torn off. Rotten wood is replaced before installation.
Ask for the quote to give the price of replaced decking, per unit. The bad surprise then has a price known in advance.
What can add to the quote
Other work is added depending on the roof:
- correcting the slopes of a flat roof where water pools
- adding insulation or vents
- replacing a drain
- redoing chimney flashing or a masonry parapet
The permit, when one is needed, is also part of the cost. For a residence, the City of Laval does not require one if the roofing is replaced with the same material, and requires one for a new material. It does not define "same material." The fees it lists are $92 for the first $20,000 of work, plus $2.50 per $1,000 or part of $1,000.
Frequently asked questions
What does a flat roof cost?
A flat roof is listed at $10 to $21 per square foot in elastomeric membrane, according to the ranges found on October 3, 2026 on Quebec contractors' websites. The same sites advertise $9 to $17 for a built-up tar and gravel roof and $11 to $22 for a TPO or EPDM membrane. These are advertised prices, and the firm price comes after our visit.
What does it cost to replace an asphalt shingle roof?
An asphalt shingle roof is listed at $6 to $12 per square foot on the contractors' websites consulted. Two sources give this range, and a third a minimum of $7. Details to seal, access, layers to tear off and the condition of the deck move the total from one roof to another.
Why do three roofers give three prices?
Often, the three roofers did not price the same job. One tears everything off and redoes the flashing, another overlays and keeps it. Put the descriptions side by side, item by item, and look at the total only afterward.
Can the signed amount go up during the work?
Yes, when the tear-off reveals rotten wood. Have the contract state the price of that replacement and how you will approve it before it is done.
How can I replace my roof for less?
You lower the bill by asking for several quotes that describe the same work and by planning the job ahead rather than in an emergency. Also look into insulation help before signing. The lowest total is not always a saving. A poorly installed roof has to be redone sooner.
What is the average price of a roofer per m2?
Converted to square metres, the ranges found give about $65 to $130 for asphalt shingles and about $110 to $225 for an elastomeric membrane on a flat roof. The calculation starts from the per-square-foot prices in the table, at 10.76 square feet per square metre. This is not an official average, and the sites consulted post their prices per square foot.
What is a roofer's hourly rate?
A journeyman roofer earned $45.36 an hour under the light residential sector agreement as of December 28, 2025, according to the APCHQ (Quebec's residential builders association) pay table. Once vacation pay, benefits and employer contributions were added, that hour cost the employer $70.44. The Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ, Quebec's construction industry board) has since reported a 5.5% increase in that sector as of April 26, 2026. The current rate is higher. This is not the amount of a quote. A roofer often prices by the project, and the price also covers materials, equipment, insurance and margin.
Sources, consulted on October 3, 2026:
- Les Couvreurs Duro-Toit, « Prix d'une toiture »
- Les Couvreurs Duro-Toit, « Combien coûte un toit plat »
- Toiture Union, « Prix d'une toiture au Québec »
- Toiture Union, « Membrane de toit plat »
- Toiture Expert, « Toit plat »
- RénoAssistance, « Prix d'une toiture »
- APCHQ, « Spécial paie », hourly labour cost in the residential sector, January 2026 (accessed October 6, 2026)
- Commission de la construction du Québec, « Salaires et taux » (accessed October 6, 2026)
- Ville de Laval, « Rénovation ou réparation résidentielle extérieure », permit fees (accessed October 8, 2026)