Ottawa Roof Replacement
Ottawa Roofing Pros replaces roofs on Ottawa houses, from 1960s brick bungalows to new-build townhomes. Every replacement is a full tear-off to the deck, followed by a rebuilt system of eave membrane, underlayment, flashing, ventilation and your choice of shingles, steel or flat-roof membrane.
We have spent more than 17 years and over 1,500 jobs learning what Ottawa winters do to a roof. That experience shows up in the details most quotes skip, like how far the ice-and-water membrane runs and whether your attic can actually breathe.
You get a free on-site assessment, an itemized written quote, and a 1-year written labour warranty on top of the manufacturer's material warranty.
A roof replacement with us is a complete rebuild of the roofing system, not new shingles laid over old problems. We strip every layer to the bare deck, repair what's underneath, and install each component the way the Ontario Building Code and the shingle manufacturer require.
Every quote itemizes the same scope, so you can compare it line by line:
This service suits homeowners whose roof has reached the end of its life, buyers handed a bad home inspection, and anyone switching from shingles to steel. If you're not sure your roof is done, a professional roof inspection is the honest first step. Replacement is one part of our residential roofing services, which also cover repairs, eavestroughs and attic work.
Your roof needs replacing when the shingles themselves are worn out, not just damaged in one spot. Repairs fix a defect; they can't restore shingles that have lost their granules, flexibility and seal.
These are the signs we look for on an assessment:
We see the age problem constantly on 2000s subdivisions in Barrhaven and Stittsville, where many original builder-grade roofs are now reaching the end of their life. If only one slope is damaged and the rest is sound, our roof repair service may be the better value.
Most Ottawa homes are best served by architectural asphalt shingles, but steel is worth the higher price if you plan to stay 20+ years. Any section too flat for shingles needs a membrane instead. Here is how the options compare at typical 2026 Ottawa installed prices:
| Material | Typical life in Ottawa | Installed cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural asphalt shingles | 25 to 30 years | $500 to $800 per square | Most pitched roofs, best value per year |
| Ribbed steel or steel shingle | 40 to 50+ years | $900 to $1,400 per square | Long ownership, snow shedding |
| Standing seam steel | 50+ years | $1,200 to $1,800 per square | Clean modern look, low-slope pitched roofs |
| SBS modified bitumen or EPDM | 20 to 30 years | $12 to $20 per sq ft | Flat roofs, porches, rear additions |
A "square" is 100 square feet of roof surface. Your roof's area is larger than your home's floor area once pitch and overhangs are counted.
Architectural (laminated) shingles are the most common choice for Ottawa re-roofs. They are two bonded layers of fibreglass-mat shingle that give a dimensional look and better wind resistance than the flat three-tab shingles they replaced.
We install products such as IKO Cambridge, GAF Timberline HDZ, CertainTeed Landmark and BP Mystique 42, in colours from charcoal and slate grey to weathered wood and brown. Compare the lines on our asphalt shingle roofing page.
Metal costs more up front but can outlast two shingle roofs. Its slick surface sheds snow, which reduces ice-dam risk and roof load in heavy winters.
Steel is the standard in Ottawa, including panels made locally by Ideal Roofing, while aluminum suits homes that want lighter weight and no rust risk. Shedding snow needs planning, so we add snow guards over entrances, decks and walkways. See our metal roofing installation options, or weigh the trade-offs in our metal roof vs shingles guide.
Porches, garages and rear extensions are often too flat for shingles. Below a slope of about 2 in 12, shingles can't shed water fast enough, so we switch to a membrane.
Our choice is usually two-ply SBS modified bitumen (from makers such as Soprema or IKO) or EPDM rubber (from Carlisle or Firestone/Holcim). The membrane is tied into the shingled roof with proper flashing, so the junction doesn't become your next leak. Details are on our flat roofing for homes page.
The layers under your shingles do most of the waterproofing, and they're where cheap roofs cut corners. Shingles shed water; the membrane, underlayment and flashing beneath them stop the water that gets past.
From the deck up, here is what we install and why:
Why it matters: Ottawa ice dams form when heat escaping into the attic melts snow that refreezes at the cold eave. The membrane stops the backed-up water, but ventilation and air sealing stop the dam from forming. Our attic ventilation and insulation work fixes that root cause, and our Ottawa ice dam guide explains the science.
A typical replacement runs from free assessment to warranty handover in five stages. The roof work itself usually takes 1 to 3 days on site.
We plan each stage so your home is never left open to the weather, and so you know what is happening each day.
We inspect the roof surface, the attic and the eavestroughs, measure every slope, and photograph what we find. Where a roof is too steep or fragile to walk, we gather photos from a ladder or by drone instead.
You receive an itemized quote listing squares, layers to remove, flashing, ventilation and the per-sheet price of any deck replacement.
Re-shingling in Ottawa does not normally need a building permit, but structural repairs and heritage-designated properties do. We flag either case at the quote stage.
Before install day we confirm the forecast, place the bin on your driveway on protective boards, and have shingles delivered to the roof or yard.
The crew covers gardens, AC units and windows, then strips one section at a time to bare wood. We walk the exposed deck and replace soft or rotted sheets at the per-sheet price in your quote.
We never strip more than we can dry in the same day.
Drip edge, membrane and underlayment go down first, followed by flashing, vents, shingles and ridge caps. Most detached homes take 1 to 2 days; steep, cut-up or large roofs and steel installs can take 3 to 5.
If rain threatens, exposed areas are covered before the crew leaves. The site is tidied at the end of each day.
We run a magnetic sweeper over the lawn, beds and driveway and haul away the bin. Then we walk the job with you and photograph the finished roof.
You receive the 1-year written labour warranty, and we help register the manufacturer warranty, since enhanced coverage usually depends on registration.
Most detached Ottawa homes pay $10,000 to $24,000 for an architectural shingle replacement in 2026. That works out to roughly $500 to $800 per roofing square installed, with steel running $900 to $1,800 per square depending on profile.
Typical ranges by roof size:
| Roof surface area | Architectural shingles | Ribbed steel or steel shingle |
|---|---|---|
| 15 squares (1,500 sq ft) | $7,500 to $12,000 | $13,500 to $21,000 |
| 20 squares (2,000 sq ft) | $10,000 to $16,000 | $18,000 to $28,000 |
| 25 squares (2,500 sq ft) | $12,500 to $20,000 | $22,500 to $35,000 |
| 30 squares (3,000 sq ft) | $15,000 to $24,000 | $27,000 to $42,000 |
What moves your price within those ranges:
These are typical ranges, not quotes. A written quote after a free assessment sets your actual price. For a fuller breakdown, read our roof replacement cost guide for Ottawa.
Ottawa homeowners choose us because roofing is the only thing we do. More than 17 years and 1,500+ jobs means we have already met the problems your roof is hiding.
We know the housing stock. Original 1970s and 1980s roofs over split-levels in Nepean, 1990s two-storeys with complex hip roofs in Kanata, and whole streets of same-age roofs coming due together in Orléans subdivisions each call for a different plan.
These are the questions Ottawa homeowners ask us most before replacing a roof.
Most detached homes take 1 to 2 days of on-site work for an architectural shingle roof. Large, steep or complex roofs, double tear-offs and steel installs can take 3 to 5 days.
Weather is the main variable. We won't open a roof with rain or high winds in the forecast, so allow some flexibility in your start date.
We don't recommend it, and we quote full tear-offs only. An overlay hides the deck, so rot and soft sheathing go unrepaired.
The Building Code's requirements still apply to the new roof: eave protection on the deck, proper flashing and fastening into sound sheathing. Those details can't be done properly over old shingles, and the extra layer adds weight and shortens the new shingles' life.
No, not for a standard re-shingle. The City of Ottawa lists installing asphalt shingles among projects that don't need a building permit.
You do need a permit for structural work such as replacing rafters or trusses, and heritage-designated properties need City approval for exterior changes. Our Ottawa roofing permits guide covers the exceptions.
Yes, with limits. Shingle sealant strips need warmth to bond, so in cold weather we hand-seal shingles to the manufacturer's instructions and only work on dry, calm days.
Spring through fall is easier and gives more scheduling choice. Winter work is best kept for roofs that can't wait.
For a typical detached home in architectural shingles, $30,000 is above the usual $10,000 to $24,000 range. It can be fair for a large or very steep roof, a two-layer tear-off with lots of deck replacement, or a steel roof.
Ask for an itemized quote. If you can see squares, layers, deck sheets and flashing priced separately, you can tell whether the number is justified.
Insurance usually pays when a sudden event, like a windstorm or fallen tree, damages the roof. It rarely pays for wear and tear on an old roof.
If storm damage is involved, our roof insurance claim help includes the photos and written scope adjusters ask for.
Our crews dispatch from Centretown to every Ottawa community and anywhere within about 30 minutes of the city.
Free roofing estimate
Call (343) 504-9753 or send the form with your address and roof concerns. We'll book a free on-site assessment and follow up with an itemized written quote for your new roof.