Roof replacement in Fabreville

When repair is no longer enough

The City's Politique de l'habitation (housing policy) refers to the bungalows of Fabreville. This policy says nothing about the condition of their roofs.

According to manufacturers and the quality of the installation, asphalt shingles last in the range of 15 to 30 years. If a new leak calls for a repair every year, have us price the replacement at the same time as the repair. The page on roofing in Fabreville describes the neighbourhood and the City's rules.

Tear-off or overlay

Two methods exist, and a roofer may propose either one.

Tear-off. The old covering is removed down to the deck. The roofer then sees the wood, replaces damaged panels and works on a sound surface. There is more labour and more waste.

Overlay. New shingles are installed over the old ones. The job is faster. On the other hand, the deck stays hidden, the membrane at the roof edge cannot be laid on the wood, the roof carries more weight, and the manufacturer's warranty may set its own conditions.

Ask each roofer which method they propose and why. Have it written down what happens if rotten wood turns up along the way.

The permit, depending on the material

For a residence, the City does not require a permit when the covering is replaced with the same material, and it requires one when the material changes. The City does not define what same material means.

When a permit is required, the City announces a processing time of about 30 days once the file is complete, and fees of $92 for the first $20,000 of work, plus $2.50 per $1,000 or part of $1,000.

The City asks that the work not begin before the permit is received. It also asks that the permit stay posted for as long as the work lasts, where it can be seen from the street.

Financial help

The City of Laval's list of programs and grants contains nothing for the roof of an ordinary residence, nor for white or green roofs, nor for gutters.

For a house, help exists for roof insulation, not for the covering, in programs from the Quebec government and Hydro-Québec. Conditions and amounts change. Read them on the official sites before signing a contract.

If you are thinking of adding insulation in the attic, tell us at the first visit. The City groups adding insulation with replacement by the same material, among work that needs no permit.

Reading the quotes

Written quotes can be compared if they answer the same questions:

• full tear-off or overlay
• the proposed shingle and the membrane laid at the roof edge
• the price of deck to be replaced, if any
• attic ventilation, kept as is or modified
• the manufacturer's and the contractor's warranties, with their length
• who applies for the permit, if one is needed

The contractor's licence can be checked in the public register of the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ, Quebec's building authority).

Frequently asked questions