Shingle roof in Laval-des-Rapides

What the inventory says about sloped roofs

The inventory of architectural heritage lists 46 main buildings in Laval-des-Rapides. Among them are 8 gable roofs with flared eaves and 7 straight gable roofs. Asphalt shingles cover 17 of the 46 buildings, and membrane covers 15.

The inventory stops at heritage buildings and does not give a picture of the neighbourhood. Its figures only show that roofing in Laval-des-Rapides does not always mean a flat roof.

The permit

For a residence, the City requires no permit when the covering is replaced with the same material, and requires one when the material is new. The fees and processing time are on the area page.

The City does not define what same material means. When in doubt, ask the City.

The Code de l'urbanisme (Laval's urban planning code) counts installing or replacing gutters as normal maintenance, which it exempts from a permit provided the load-bearing components of the structure are not altered. It makes an exception when this work is subject to a PIIA (site planning and architectural integration program): a permit or certificate is then mandatory. If we announce work on the roof structure, ask the City what applies.

The materials Laval allows

Article 379 of the Code de l'urbanisme lists the permitted roof coverings. Among them, those used on a sloped roof:

• asphalt, aluminum, enamelled or textured steel, wood or fibreglass shingles
• factory-painted and pre-baked metal
• galvanized sheet metal: standing seam, batten seam or Canadian style
• clay, slate or fibreglass tiles
• copper
• composite roofing

A nearby article prohibits asbestos shingles.

No colour rule for sloped roofs

The Code defines a sloped roof as one whose slope exceeds 16.7%, that is, 2:12. Article 380, which calls for a green or white covering, or one with a reflectance index of at least 78, covers flat roofs, without addressing an existing roof redone exactly as before. The Code has no equivalent requirement for sloped roofs.

If the building is of heritage interest

The Code names territories of heritage interest, and it also protects individual buildings. For a building of heritage interest, the rule is the same everywhere in the city: changing the roof materials of the main building may require a PIIA.

The Code provides an exemption for replacing a material with the same material in a similar colour, or with a material that preserves or restores the original or traditional features. Renovating a flat roof is also exempt. The City decides.

The City's Info-règlements tool lets you check an address.

What you can see from the sidewalk

Stay on the ground, with no ladder. From the street or the yard, three signs can be seen: curling shingles, patches stripped of their granules, shingle debris along the walls. A photo of each roof slope will help during the visit.

Frequently asked questions