A larger share of plexes, according to the City
In its housing policy, the Politique de l'habitation, the City writes that these neighbourhoods have a larger share of medium-density plexes and mixed-use buildings, most of them built during the 1940s and 1950s.
Its heritage inventory lists 46 main buildings in Laval-des-Rapides. The profile that comes up most often is the flat or low-slope roof, with 15 buildings. This inventory only covers heritage buildings. No City document gives the share of flat roofs in the neighbourhood.
For the permit and the choice of a membrane, see the page on roofing in Laval-des-Rapides. For snow, the safety advice does not change from one Laval neighbourhood to another.
Why snow remains after the crew leaves
A cleared flat roof is not a bare roof. The Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ, Quebec's building authority) recommends leaving a thin layer of snow on the roof to keep the waterproofing membrane in good condition.
The roof edge also keeps its snow. The CNESST (Quebec's workplace health and safety board) provides for a warning line that sets aside a 2-metre buffer zone all around the roof. This strip is not cleared.
The drains, where the water goes
On a flat roof, meltwater drains out through the drains. Ask us to clear them during the visit. Have this request written into the quote: it is not a check to do yourself.
From inside, you can watch the ceiling of the top unit. A ring that appears during a thaw is noted, photographed and reported in your request.
A business downstairs, apartments upstairs
In a mixed-use building, the snow removed from the roof falls in front of someone. The drop zone can block a business entrance, a sidewalk or parking spaces. Ask for the work schedule, and warn the merchant as well as the tenants.
If you share the roof with other co-owners, first agree on who orders the work. How the bill is split depends on your co-ownership documents, not on this page.
What the quote states
We answer your request with a quote. A snow removal quote should state:
- the depth of snow left in place,
- whether clearing the drains is included,
- where the drop zone is and who marks it off,
- whether it is one visit or a contract for the season, and the response time after a call,
- the company's liability insurance certificate.
According to the Régie, careful owners sign this kind of contract at the start of the winter season.
Frequently asked questions
Can I go up to check on my flat roof?
No. A flat surface looks safe, but snow hides what is on it. The CNESST asks snow removal workers to locate skylights, damaged sections and openings before winter, which it gives as examples of fragile surfaces. Look from a window or from the ground.
Does a flat roof hold more snow than a sloped roof?
None of the sources on this page compares the two, and none gives a depth limit. What matters to the Régie is what the building shows from inside: cracks in the walls, doors that rub, unusual creaking, a misshapen ceiling.
What should I do if the top-floor ceiling sags?
Do not look for the cause. Get all the occupants out of the building and call 911. The snow removal company and the engineer come afterward.