Roof Replacement: When Repair Isn’t Enough

A new roof is one of the bigger decisions you’ll make about your home, and it shouldn’t be made on a salesperson’s timeline. We connect you with a local roofing contractor who inspects your roof free and tells you straight whether it needs replacing or can be repaired.

Call 1 (833) 435-4261 Book a free roof inspection

Repair or replace?

Usually repair	Usually replace
Damage in one area (a storm patch, a flashing leak)	Curling, cracking or bald shingles across whole slopes
Shingles lie flat, granules mostly intact	Leaks in several places, or leaks that keep coming back
Decking is solid	Soft or rotten decking
One-off event	The roof is near the end of its life and repairs keep adding up

Almost half of Ontario homes (49%) were built before 1981, and a quarter were built between 1991 and 2010. Either way, many roofs across the province are at an age where this question comes up.

Materials

Asphalt shingles: the most common choice on Ontario homes.
Metal: a longer-lasting option. Switching materials can change the permit picture (see below).
Flat-roof membranes (EPDM, TPO, modified bitumen): for low-slope sections. See flat roof repair.
Cedar, slate and tile: specialist materials that may be required on heritage homes.

Permits: it depends where you live

Across Ontario, re-shingling is often permit-free, but every municipality words the exemption differently, and the conditions matter:

Toronto: no permit to replace roofing material “provided no structural work is required.”
Hamilton: no permit to re-shingle with the same material, but repairing roof sheathing needs a permit.
Barrie: no permit to re-shingle only if there’s no increase in the weight of the roofing material. Dormers, skylights and solar panels need a permit.
Waterloo: no permit to re-shingle if you remove the old shingles.
Sarnia: normally no permit when replacing shingles with the same material.
Oakville: replacing roofing material on a designated heritage property, including 400+ homes in Heritage Conservation Districts, needs a heritage permit.

Your roofer should confirm with your city before work starts. Find your city’s rules on its city page.

What a replacement involves

Tear-off: removing the old roofing down to the deck.
Deck check: replacing damaged sheathing (which may need a permit in some cities).
Underlayment and eave protection: ice-and-water protection along the eaves helps against ice damming.
Flashing and ventilation: new flashing, and attic ventilation checked, because a well-ventilated, well-insulated attic helps prevent ice dams.
New roofing, cleanup and a final walk-through.

When to book

Ontario searches for roof replacement peak in late summer and September and bottom out in December. Book your inspection early if you want work done before winter.

What it costs

It depends on size, pitch, material, how many old layers come off, and the condition of the deck. The free inspection gets you an exact written quote for your roof.

Get an honest answer on repair vs replace. Call 1 (833) 435-4261 or book a free roof inspection.