Hi there, great question! First off, it’s important to understand that building permits are handled by local municipalities, which means the rules can vary dramatically depending on where exactly you live—even across the street. If you're located within the City of Toronto (and not in a historical heritage area), you do not need a permit for a typical roof replacement. However, if the project involves replacing a significant portion of the roof decking or making any structural modifications, then a permit is definitely required. In cases where you're unsure, it’s wise to err on the side of caution—have your roofer document every stage of the work thoroughly. That way, if the city ever requests a retroactive permit, you’ll have the evidence you need.

Hey Tom, I’m fairly confident this is the result of a bad installation. What you’re describing sounds like one of the most common issues—about half of poor installs come down to high-nailing the shingles. Since you mentioned it’s only happening on one side, I’d suspect that someone inexperienced nailed too high on those shingles. Modern shingles are made of two loosely bonded layers: a top layer and a bottom layer. They’re not perfectly aligned, and when nails are placed too high, they often miss the bottom layer entirely because of that offset. It’s likely the bottom layer is being torn off by wind, snow, or other harsh weather. I recommend having the installers come back to inspect the problematic side and replace any affected shingles. good luck!

Hi Parath. I've sent you an email. The workmanship on this roof is scary bad. You should consult with a professional roofing contractor to obtain an accurate estimate for the repair costs. Once you have that information, pursue legal action to claim damages.

Hi Felix. insurance work in Quebec is tough because the regulations are so unfavorable to homeowners it makes having a happy customer hard, and not worth the risk. I would suggest you call back a professional roofing company to inspect. Its really impossible to tell the reason why. It could be because of water damage from the rain, or it may have not been repaired correctly the first time. Sorry you're dealing with this but I wish you the best on it.

This is a common concern that homeowners have — and yes, you almost always have the replace the entire skylight, not just the casing and flashing around it. The cost of $6k for 4 skylights seems very reasonable depending on the size of them. A typical range for replacement is anywhere from $800 for small, plastic ones - $2,400 for a large glass one. I always recommend you get two quotes. If the difference in price is significant, then get a third.

Many brands manufacture shingles in Canada, so you won't incur additional costs for those brands. However, most high-premium shingles are now made in the USA and will be subject to tariffs when they arrive. Considering this, the material cost typically accounts for about 50% of your total expenses. In the worst-case scenario (25% tariff and all material from the USA), you might end up paying an extra $800 per $10,000.

Installing shingles in 5°C weather is generally acceptable, as most manufacturers set the minimum temperature at 4°C. The primary concern during colder installations is the risk posed by high winds, as shingles may not adhere properly to one another until they’ve had a warm day to bond. Fortunately, it being Summer now, even though calgary gets cold weather, the shingles will bond on the first warm day you get.

The short answer. your roof should have been rolled out and left to "rest" for longer before installing it. I've seen worse. Structurally, this will be fine. It's purely aesthetics (unfortunately your windows are right there). A side note: Your neighbors roof has significant gaps in the insulation. That's why half the roof is darker color

Hi there. We are currently about 4-6 weeks depending on weather, work type, etc. If you have an emergency like a roof leak, we will do some temporary work and then schedule you in for 2-3 weeks.

If your roof pitch is less 4:12, shingles should not be installed in areas that get snow. However, with a high quality underlayment you can go down to a 2:12 roof pitch (although no manufactuer warranty will be available). Roofers need to be sure they know how to install for low slope roofs. This means extra care in underlayment, nail types, etc. I know that a metal roof can be a little more costly, but if your roof is less 4:12 or less, you will see a better long term investment over a shingle roof. Good luck!

Hey Lorena and great question. The answer’s a bit nuanced. If your roof truly needs replacing but your adjoining neighbors aren’t on board, some roofing companies might decline the job—especially if the roof design includes shared features like valleys where the sections meet. In those cases, it’s just not feasible to replace one side in isolation. That said, if the roof has a simple layout, the concerns you mentioned are usually quite minor. Roofers are typically able to work on individual townhouse units without any trouble. Be sure to coordinate with your neighbors about the brand and color of shingles so everything matches seamlessly down the line. Good luck with everytnhing!

Yes they will! The falling water creates a lot of erosion of asphalt shingles which strip away the granules leading to cracks and leaks. You need to redirect the water to a gutter or downspout.