Commercial roofing in Fabreville

Boulevard Dagenais, according to the City

In its land use plan, the City writes that commercial activity in the Fabreville hub, which took off between the 1960s and the 1980s, is concentrated along boulevard Dagenais. The City does not describe the roofs of these businesses.

The rules are those for all roofing in Fabreville. The Code de l'urbanisme (Laval's urban planning code) does not change from one area to another.

The industrial neighbours

The City also places Fabreville next to a heavy industrial and commercial sector. On building height, its plan speaks of Laval as a whole: most of the urbanized territory is occupied by single-family homes, businesses and industries of one or two storeys.

What the Code requires of the roof

Article 380 applies to principal and accessory buildings with a flat roof, without setting businesses apart. It requires a green or white covering, or one with a solar reflectance index of at least 78, and the Code does not say what applies to an existing roof redone identically.

Equipment that the Code allows on a roof is excluded from the requirement. The reflectance index is confirmed by the manufacturer's specifications or by a professional's specifications. Keep the technical data sheet in the building's file.

Under article 141, the roof structure must be designed to carry an extensive green roof when the building has more than three storeys, its roof area exceeds 250 m² and the roof is flat. The article speaks of the design of the structure and includes exceptions. Article 141 does not require a green roof to be installed and does not say what holds for an existing building where only the covering is redone. Count the storeys of your building: at three or fewer, the first condition is not met.

The permit: no City page

The same-material rule, explained on the area page, comes from the City's page on residential renovation, which says nothing about a business.

For a commercial unit, the City states that a construction-improvement permit is required before altering or fitting it out, with fees of $172 for the first $5,000 of work, plus $6.10 per $1,000 or part of $1,000. This page does not mention roofing. Ask the Service de l'urbanisme (urban planning department) in writing whether a permit applies to your roof, and at what rate.

Work on an occupied building

Have us specify in the quote:

• the side of the building where materials go up, and where the dumpster goes
• the delivery doors and parking spaces that stay free
• the time of day set aside for the tear-off, the noisiest step
• what happens to rooftop equipment during the work, and who turns it back on
• the state the roof is left in each evening, and the plan in case of a downpour

If the building is leased, notify your tenants in writing of the planned dates.

What you can prepare

Do not go up on the roof. From inside, locate the stains on the ceiling and mark them on a plan of the building. Gather the year of the last roof replacement and the repair invoices.

Frequently asked questions