Houses that do not look alike
In its land use plan, the City writes that detached single-family housing dominates the landscape of the Duvernay hub. It attributes the diversity of architectural styles to a wide range of construction periods, and notes the appearance of high-value single-family homes. Along boulevard de la Concorde, it points to larger housing forms.
The City does not describe the roofs of these houses. Its heritage inventory, which covers only 50 main buildings, still records several profiles there: 29 gable roofs with flared eaves, 10 flat roofs and 8 mansard roofs.
The page on roofing in Duvernay gathers the permit rules. For snow, the safety advice is the same everywhere in Laval, whatever the house.
The roof shape changes the method
According to the CNESST (Quebec's workplace health and safety board), a roof can be cleared in three ways: from the ground, from a lifting device fitted with guardrails, or directly on the roof. The choice depends on the roof. We cannot price a roof we have never seen.
One shape needs particular attention. The Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ, Quebec's building authority) advises keeping an eye on vaulted or rounded roofs, especially when the snow is not spread evenly. If part of your house is covered this way, say so in your request.
A house that was enlarged or altered
Over the decades, a house often changes: an added storey, an extension, a moved load-bearing wall. The Régie considers it all the more important to consult a structural engineer when the building has undergone major changes.
We remove snow and we do not assess the strength of a roof frame. If you bought an altered house without knowing its history, the engineer is the person to ask.
What the snow covers
A skylight or a damaged area disappears after the first storm. In its method for flat roofs, the CNESST asks snow removers to locate these obstacles before the winter season. As a precaution, we advise the same check for any roof: this advice is ours, not the CNESST's. Name these obstacles in your request, and show them on a summer photo if you have one.
Five answers to prepare
The more precise your request, the more accurate our quote.
- Is the roof flat, sloped or rounded, and what is it covered with?
- Has the house been enlarged or altered?
- Are there skylights or equipment on the roof?
- Do electrical wires run nearby?
- What is at the foot of the walls, on the side where the snow will fall?
Take your photos from the ground or from an upstairs window.
Frequently asked questions
Does a recent house need snow removal?
The Régie du bâtiment makes no distinction based on the age of the house. In its view, roofs generally support the snow loads of a Quebec winter, and owners need to be vigilant as soon as accumulations are out of the ordinary.
Who can tell me whether my roof frame will hold?
A structural engineer, according to the Régie. We remove the snow, but we do not assess the frame. If the ceiling sags or the cracking sounds repeat, do not wait for either of us: leave the building and call 911.
Why does the roofer leave a layer of snow?
To avoid scraping the covering. The Régie recommends leaving a thin layer of snow on the roof. A completely cleared roof is not a sign of better work.
Official sources, consulted on October 8, 2026: