Start from the calendar
Work backward from the date you want the roof finished. Three delays add up: the time to get and compare quotes, the permit processing time if one is needed, and the wait before the chosen roofer is free.
The buildings and rules for roofing in Vimont are described on the area page.
Choosing the season
In Quebec, roofs are mostly redone from spring to fall. Asphalt shingles go on best in mild weather. Their adhesive strips need heat to stick.
Roofers' schedules often fill up early. Asking for quotes at the end of winter leaves time to choose without rushing. A leaking roof does not wait for good weather: have it repaired first, and plan the replacement afterward.
Counting the permit processing time
For a residence, the City requires a permit when the covering is replaced with a new material, and does not require one when the material stays the same. The City does not define what same material means.
When the permit applies, the City gives an approximate processing time of 30 days, which starts from a complete file. The fees listed are $92 for the first $20,000 of work, plus $2.50 per $1,000 bracket or part of a bracket. Two City instructions affect the schedule: wait until the permit is received before starting, and post it in view of the street for the whole duration of the work.
If the roof is flat, add one step. Article 380 of the Code de l'urbanisme (Laval's urban planning code) requires a green, white or highly reflective covering, and it does not specify what applies to an existing roof redone identically. Ask the Service de l'urbanisme (the City's urban planning department) before asking for prices, so that all roofers quote on the right material.
Comparing quotes
Two quotes can only be compared if they describe the same work. Ask each roofer to include at least these four points:
- the proposed material and the area the roofer measured
- what happens to attic ventilation, kept or modified
- protection of the yard and debris cleanup
- the start date, the expected duration and the payment schedule
Check in the public register of the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ, Quebec's building authority) that each contractor holds a licence.
Financial assistance
The City of Laval's list of programs and grants contains nothing for the roof of an ordinary residence, or for white or green roofs. It includes a revitalization program for heritage buildings, whose conditions should be checked with the City.
Assistance exists from the Government of Quebec and Hydro-Québec. This assistance targets roof insulation, not the covering, and its conditions change. If you plan to insulate while redoing the roof, read the official pages for these programs before signing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best season to redo a roof?
Often from spring to fall. Asphalt shingles need heat to stick properly. Ask us about the temperature limits of the proposed product.
How far ahead should I plan for the permit?
When a permit applies, the City gives about 30 days from a complete file. Work does not start before the permit is received.
Are the steps the same for a house and for an industrial building in Vimont?
The City does not say so for the permit. In Vimont, it describes a residential eastern portion and an industrial western portion. The same-material rule comes from its page on residences, and none of its pages deals with the roof of a commercial building. For such a building, ask the Service de l'urbanisme.
Does the City of Laval subsidize roof replacement?
Not for an ordinary residence, according to its list of programs. One program targets heritage buildings.