What the City describes in Chomedey
In its land use plan, the City characterizes the Chomedey neighbourhood hub by commercial buildings set at the back of their lots, with parking in the front yard, and by multi-family housing of various sizes. The plan also describes the Immeubles Val-Martin, in the neighbourhood, as 586 two-storey duplex and fourplex units built in 1954 and 1955.
The City says nothing about the shape of these roofs, or about the snow that settles on them. The permit and material rules are gathered on the page about roofing in Chomedey. Caution about snow is the same across the city.
The signs show from the top unit
The Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ, Quebec's building authority) names four signs of a load that is too heavy: cracks in interior walls, interior doors that stick or rub, unusual creaking sounds and a ceiling that changes shape. None of them can be seen from the street.
In a duplex or fourplex, the top-floor occupant is often the first to notice these signs. If you own the building without living there, tell your tenants at the start of winter what to watch for and whom to contact. If you are a tenant, notify the owner without waiting.
When these signs are numerous, the Régie asks occupants to evacuate the building and have the snow removed, no matter how much has built up. If creaking repeats or a ceiling sags, nobody waits for the owner's answer. All occupants get out and someone calls 911.
Who calls, who pays
The Régie addresses its recommendation to owners: have accumulated snow removed by a company with the right experience and equipment.
How costs are shared between co-owners, or between an owner and tenants, is not settled on this page. That split depends on your declaration of co-ownership or your lease, and a legal advisor can help you. What you can settle now is the name of the person who will call the snow removal company.
Stairs, balconies and exits
The Régie wants stairs, doors, balconies and windows carefully cleared of snow and ice after each snowfall, especially those that serve as emergency exits. It considers it essential that escape routes be cleared all the way to the street.
On the day the roof is cleared, the snow falls somewhere. Ask us for the work schedule and the location of the drop zone, then warn the occupants.
Before you request a quote
In your quote request, tell us the number of storeys and units, what is at the foot of the walls and the person to contact on site.
Nobody climbs up to check, neither you nor a tenant. Photos are taken from the ground or from a window.
Frequently asked questions
My tenant hears creaking in the ceiling. What should we do?
Unusual creaking is one of the four signs named by the Régie du bâtiment. If it repeats, or if the ceiling sags, everyone gets out and someone calls 911.
In a fourplex, who has to have the roof cleared?
The Régie du bâtiment addresses owners. The split between co-owners depends on your own documents, and no source on this page settles it.
Where does the snow removed from the roof fall?
The snow removed from the roof falls into a drop zone on the ground. For clearing a flat roof, the CNESST (Quebec's workplace health and safety board) asks snow removal workers to mark off this zone and close it to access. Whatever your roof, ask in advance where it will be, so you can move the cars and warn the occupants.