Montreal QC
My Roof has these rain diverters on the roof. They are placed before the gutters and I want to remove them. Will this cause a problem? Thanks -Gin
Collingwood, ON
Hi Gin It's really hard to say without looking at your roof. In general, we might install rain diverters in specific cases. It's unusual that there are diverters installed where there is a gutter. I would consult with a professional before removing them. Good luck!
My roof has 2 levels to it. The high roof has downspout that goes to the lower roof and it looks like it is destroying the lower roofs shingles
Collingwood, ON
Very easy fix! run a gutter that runs from where the water comes out on the low roof, to the eaves of the low roof. If you cannot do it yourself, expect to pay for an hour of labor (depending on the difficulty).
Alcona
When I look at my roof from the ground I can see that there is a a spot about 6x6 that looks like it is sagging into the roof. Our roof is only 4 or 5 years old so i cannot imagine that it is leaking already. Any help is appreciated.
Collingwood, ON
Hey Laura, It's tough to give solid advice without a picture, but here are some thoughts: A sinking roof is often a sign that the roof decking—the plywood or OSB beneath the shingles—is starting to rot. Even though your roof is only five years old, that’s typically around the time when issues from poor installation start becoming apparent. There’s a chance that the roofers didn’t replace the decking when they installed the new roof, meaning your roof might not be leaking but also wasn’t fully replaced five years ago. I strongly recommend reaching out to a roofing company to inspect the area before it turns into a bigger problem.
Toronto
My home is a semi and my neighbor does not want to get a new roof at the same time as me. Our roof is about 25 years old and needs to be replaced. My concern is that the roof will not have as much integrity if we only do half the house.
Collingwood, ON
Roofers deal with this all the time and its a pretty trivial issue. Unless you have a flat roof or some other specialty roof, this is not anything to be worried about. -Ray
I've had a couple quotes and the cheaper quote is only a little less and they say they don't need to install ice&water on the entire roof. Only in the valley and 10ft off the eaves. The higher bid company said they have to install on the entire roof cause the slope is only a 4/12. Do you think I am being scammed here or whats the deal?
Collingwood, ON
A 4/12 roof is on the cusp of where ice and water underlayment should be installed on the entire roof. In general your lower bid is correct. I'm not sure that I've ever seen damage on a roof that could have been saved if I&W underlayment were installed in non-problem areas — valleys and eaves as you mentioned. However, it is pretty standard practice to install it on the entire roof. A standard underlayment is very inexpensive and fast to install, especially on a low-sloped roof like yours.
Lindsay, ON
I am rebuilding my garage and we had all new wood put in through the whole thing. Well it looks like the plywood that the shingles are getting attached to are starting to go black after 3 weeks of being exposed. Will this be a problem when we finally get the roofing company here to place shingles on them?
Collingwood, ON
Hey Nina, If you’ve installed actual plywood as your new roof deck, it could pose a problem. Plywood needs to be “dried-in” promptly. This means applying underlayment over it right away, especially if shingles won’t be added for several weeks. That said, any impact is likely to be cosmetic. The shingles might appear wavy or uneven, but they’ll still perform their intended function. I’d suggest replacing the plywood with ½" OSB panels instead. They're more suitable and typically cost around $15 per 4' x 8' sheet. Best of luck!
Barrie Ontario
My chimney is constantly leaking. We had somebody come out and put new metal around it. But after only 2 years it is leaking once again. Can you fix this or should I just take it down?
Collingwood, ON
Hi Ozzy, I’ve sent you a separate email with additional details, but the solution here is actually quite straightforward with a roof cricket. Crickets are designed to sit against chimneys or skylights, redirecting water flow to prevent it from hitting the flashing directly or pooling in place. If it’s just the roof cricket that’s needed, you can expect the cost to be around $800. This typically includes both installation and re-flashing the chimney, which is necessary since the cricket changes the shape and how the water interacts with the flashing
Fergus
When we redid our roof last year we swapped to a mixture of ridge vent and box vents. I feel like they are not working because when I stuck my head into the attic it was EXTREMELY hot. It was so hot that it was not even possible to be up there for more than a couple minutes. What can be done about this and was it done right and I appreciate you answering my question
Collingwood, ON
Hi Manny, Here are a few things to keep an eye on: - Make sure the intake vents near the soffits aren't obstructed. A quick sweep with a broom on the exterior can help keep them clear. - In the attic, check that the baffles are functioning properly and allowing airflow from those vents. - Avoid mixing different types of ventilation—building science strongly advises against it. Box vents can unintentionally act as intake vents, which can cause issues. If you're unsure about how much ridge vent is needed, there are online calculators that can help. Otherwise, stick to either power vents or box vents—never both. - Finally, take humidity readings throughout the day. During hot weather, the attic humidity should stay close to ambient air humidity. Let me know if you need help with any of these!
Coburg
I just had a bunch of shingles slide off my roof. I have no idea how or why this huge section just did this. Ive owned the house for 5 years and the shingles that came off look like they are in good condition still. What can I do to make sure this doesnt happen again?
Collingwood, ON
I'm sorry to hear about this situation. It appears that your roof underwent a "roof-over," meaning the old shingles were left in place when the new ones were installed. While this isn't entirely uncommon in roofing practices, it’s not considered the best approach. The issue seems to be that the roofers didn’t use longer nails capable of penetrating through the multiple layers. Without this support, the shingles were unable to withstand the weight of heavy snow, which ultimately caused them to come loose. Although you mentioned the shingles themselves appear to be in good condition, based on the image you shared, the roof needs immediate replacement. Unfortunately, removing the additional layers of shingles will likely lead to higher replacement costs.
Port Perry, ON
What is the best way to get a better price on material and roofing labor?
Collingwood, ON
The best way to ensure you're getting a fair price from a roofing contractor is to collect at least three quotes. Make sure each quote covers the same scope of work—such as re-flashing all chimneys, using the same type of underlayment, and applying the same ice and water shield. The quality and cost of these materials can vary significantly, so consistency is key for an accurate comparison. When it comes to materials, it’s usually best to go with the roofing contractor’s supplier. Contractors often receive substantial discounts due to the high volume of materials they purchase annually. Savings that individual homeowners typically can’t match.
Georgetown
hi and thank you for taking questions. I had minor damage from the winters storm this year. My insurance agreed to pay about 1/3 of the cost for a new roof and I used the roofing company they recommended. Well we had quite the wind storm and already there was a lot of shingles blown off. The roofers fixed it immediately but I think the install is totally wrong. What do you think I need to do to protect myself.
Collingwood, ON
The first step is to contact an independent roofing inspector to conduct a thorough assessment. Be sure to request a sample report—ideally one that’s both clear and professionally formatted. So you’ll have documentation to forward to your insurance company if any issues are discovered. During the inspection, ask the inspector to pay particular attention to the following: 1. Check that the shingles are not high-nailed, as this can compromise their effectiveness. 2. Confirm the roof deck that was replaced is at least 1/2" thick—or even 5/8", depending on the type of shingles installed. 3. Ensure the roof deck was properly replaced where needed. A rotting deck means there’s no solid surface to secure nails, which can lead to further damage. Wishing you the very best with the process. If you have any other questions, feel free to email us—we’re always happy to help!
Hanover
I am building a large detached garage/barn. It will be about 2000sqft and it will have a standard gable roof. I got two quotes for around $15k but I feel like I am getting ripped off. Is this really the price for a new roof? What things should I look out for when hiring these contractors?
Collingwood, ON
Hi Garage Guy, Those quotes seem quite steep. If your roof is walkable and the design is straightforward, a 2,000 sq ft building should typically fall in the $10K–$12K range, depending on the type of shingles you choose. We're a bit outside your area, but our bid would be $11.5K using Owens Corning shingles. Best of luck with the project, and be sure to send your blueprints to 3 other roofers for quotes.