How to Hire a Roofer in Ontario

Asphalt shingles versus metal roofing

Asphalt shingles remain the roofing material on most Ontario homes. They are the least expensive option upfront, widely available in many colours and styles, and most roofing crews in the province have installed thousands of shingle roofs, which keeps labour costs reasonable and reduces installation mistakes. Architectural or laminate shingles, thicker with a dimensional look, have largely replaced older three tab shingles and typically carry a longer manufacturer warranty.

Metal roofing, whether standing seam panels or metal shingles mimicking asphalt or slate, costs considerably more per square foot upfront but is often marketed on longevity, with many systems rated to outlast asphalt by decades. Metal also sheds snow more readily and reflects summer heat well. The tradeoffs are the higher cost and the need for a crew genuinely experienced in metal, since seams and flashing details are less forgiving than shingle work.

Neither material is universally right. A homeowner planning to sell within a decade may not recoup a metal roof's premium, while one staying long term, or dealing with a steep roof where snow shedding matters, may find the cost worthwhile. Get quotes for both if undecided, and ask each contractor about their experience with the material, since a crew skilled at shingles is not automatically skilled at metal.

• Asphalt shingles: lower upfront cost, widest contractor availability, typically 20 to 30 plus year lifespan depending on product
• Metal roofing: higher upfront cost, longer expected lifespan, better snow shedding, requires installer experience specific to metal

WSIB and fall protection are not optional

Roofing is consistently one of the more dangerous trades, and Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act has specific fall protection requirements for anyone working at height, applying to essentially every residential roofing job. A legitimate contractor should produce a valid WSIB clearance certificate on request. This matters to you directly, because if an uninsured worker is injured on your property, you as the property owner can potentially be held liable for costs WSIB coverage would otherwise have absorbed.

Fall protection equipment, harnesses, anchor points, guardrails, or safety nets, should be visibly in use, not just mentioned in conversation. A crew working a steep or high roof without visible fall protection is not just breaking the law, it signals the business cuts corners elsewhere too, in places like underlayment and flashing you cannot see once the shingles are on.

General liability insurance is separate from WSIB and covers property damage, such as siding or a skylight damaged during the job. Ask for proof of both before signing a contract, and do not treat a verbal assurance as sufficient.

Manufacturer warranty versus workmanship warranty

Roofing quotes often lead with warranty length, but there are two separate warranties involved, and confusing them is a common, costly mistake. The manufacturer warranty covers defects in the shingle, panel, or underlayment material itself, provided by the maker, not the installer. These can run 25, 30, even 50 years on premium lines, but typically only cover material defects, not poor installation, and many are prorated after the first decade or two.

The workmanship warranty, sometimes called a labour warranty, is provided by the contractor and covers installation errors, such as improperly nailed shingles or poor flashing around chimneys and vents. This warranty is only as good as the contractor standing behind it, so a business with years of local history is a meaningfully safer bet than one offering an impressive sounding warranty with nothing to back it up.

Ask each contractor to spell out, in writing, what their workmanship warranty covers and for how long, separate from what the manufacturer promises. Some manufacturers extend warranties to include labour, but only through certified installers, so ask if that applies to your quote.

1. 01

   Ask what the manufacturer warranty covers

   Get the product name and warranty length in writing, and whether it is prorated after a certain number of years.

2. 02

   Ask about the workmanship warranty separately

   This should be a distinct written commitment covering installation defects, typically two to ten years depending on the business.

3. 03

   Check whether an extended warranty applies

   Some manufacturers extend coverage to labour, but only through certified installers, ask if this applies to your quote.

4. 04

   Confirm how claims are handled

   Ask what happens if a problem shows up in year three or four, and whether the business has honoured past claims.

Getting a written scope: tear off versus overlay

An overlay, installing new shingles directly over an existing layer, is cheaper and faster than a full tear off, but it is not appropriate for every roof and can mask problems such as rotted decking or trapped moisture. Ontario building code generally limits the number of shingle layers allowed, and many roofers recommend against overlay altogether because it prevents inspection of the decking below and can void manufacturer warranties.

A full tear off removes all existing layers down to the decking, lets the crew inspect and replace any damaged sheathing, and gives the new roofing a clean, properly prepared surface. It costs more because of labour and disposal, but it is the only way to know what condition your roof deck is actually in.

Whichever approach you choose, get it spelled out clearly in the written contract, along with what happens if the crew finds rotted decking once the old roofing is removed. A vague quote that just says roof replacement, without specifying tear off or overlay and a per sheet decking price, leaves you exposed to a surprise change order mid project.

• Specify tear off or overlay explicitly in the written contract
• Confirm the number of existing layers on your roof before deciding whether overlay is even permitted
• Get a per sheet price in writing for any decking replacement found during tear off
• Ask what underlayment product will be used and whether it meets or exceeds code minimums

Ice and water shield for Ontario's climate

Ontario's freeze thaw winters create a risk called ice damming, where melting snow refreezes at the roof's edge and backs up under the shingles, potentially leaking into the attic below. Ice and water shield, a self adhering waterproof membrane installed under the shingles at eaves, valleys, and around chimneys and skylights, is the standard defence, and the Ontario Building Code sets minimum requirements for how far up the slope it must extend from the eave.

This membrane is not a place to cut corners. Ask directly how far up the roof the ice and water shield will extend and whether it meets or exceeds code minimums, since some contractors install only the bare minimum while others extend coverage further, particularly on lower slope roofs or homes with a history of ice damming. Ask about attic ventilation too, since inadequate ventilation is a leading contributor to ice damming independent of the membrane and shingles. See our homeowner guides for our full library of hiring guides, and the winners directory to browse recognized contractors.