Shingle Roofing in Toronto

Signs to look for

• Existing shingles curling, cracking or bald in patches
• A roof coming up to twenty years old
• Storm damage across a whole slope rather than one area
• Planning to sell and wanting the roof off the inspection report

How the work is done

1. Lay new synthetic underlayment over sound decking
2. Run self-adhered ice and water membrane up from the eaves and through the valleys
3. Nail the shingles in the manufacturer's pattern, which is what holds them in a windstorm
4. Fit ridge exhaust and confirm the soffit intake is actually open

In Toronto specifically

Toronto's humid continental — long cold winters, humid summers, and a freeze-thaw shoulder season either side climate and its housing stock — Victorian and Edwardian semis through the old city, postwar bungalows and backsplits across Scarborough, North York and Etobicoke, and a downtown core that is almost entirely towers — decide what is worth doing first. Roofing work here falls under the Ontario Building Code, and the City of Toronto handles permits and inspections. Ontario does not licence roofers at provincial level, so the checks worth making are a WSIB clearance certificate and proof of liability cover — both of which a legitimate company will hand over without being chased.

Before the technician arrives

Four things worth doing — and the first one is usually the thing people get wrong.

1. Ask how far up the ice and water shield goes. In this climate the minimum and the sensible amount are not the same number.
2. Ask what ventilation is being fitted at the same time. A new roof over a badly vented attic ages early.
3. Check the warranty covers labour, not only the material.
4. Agree where the skip goes and who protects the garden and the driveway.