Warranty Coverage
Ottawa Roofing Pros backs every roof we install or repair with a 1-year written workmanship warranty on our labour. The materials carry a separate warranty from the company that made them, and that coverage depends on the product and whether it is registered.
We have completed more than 1,500 roofing jobs over 17+ years, on everything from Barrhaven shingle roofs to commercial membranes. We would rather tell you exactly what is covered than hand you a vague "lifetime guarantee" that falls apart when you need it.
This page explains both warranties, the exclusions, how to keep coverage valid, and your contract rights as an Ontario homeowner or building owner.
Every roof has two warranties: our written workmanship warranty, which covers how the roof was installed, and the manufacturer's warranty, which covers defects in the materials. Different companies back them, and they answer different problems.
The Ontario government's guide to hiring a roofer tells homeowners to ask who backs the material warranty, because manufacturers are usually not affiliated with the contractor. Here is our plain answer to that question.
We warrant our labour for one year from the completion date on your invoice. If a leak or failure traces back to our installation, such as a step flashing, a vent boot, a fastener or a membrane seam, we return and correct it at no charge.
One year covers a full Ottawa weather cycle: spring rain, summer heat, fall wind storms and a winter of snow load and freeze-thaw. Installation errors nearly always reveal themselves inside that first cycle.
The company that made your shingles, steel panels or membrane warrants that product against manufacturing defects. That promise comes from the manufacturer, not from us, so the terms are set in their warranty document.
Most material warranties start with a full-coverage period and then become prorated, meaning the payout shrinks each year as the roof ages. They often cover the cost of replacement material only, not the labour to install it, unless you hold an enhanced system warranty.
Our workmanship term is the same 1 year on every system; the manufacturer side varies widely by product. The table shows what is typical in the Ottawa market, and your written quote names the exact products and warranty documents for your job.
| Roof type | Our workmanship warranty | Typical manufacturer coverage | What manufacturer coverage depends on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingle roof | 1 year, written | Architectural shingles usually carry a "limited lifetime" warranty with a non-prorated period first (IKO lists 15 years for Cambridge in Canada), then prorated | Registration, matching starter, ridge and underlayment products, adequate attic ventilation |
| Steel or metal roof | 1 year, written | Panel and paint-finish warranties from the supplier, often decades on the coating, varying by finish system | Correct fasteners and trims, cut edges protected, no contact with incompatible metals or treated lumber |
| Residential flat roof | 1 year, written | Membrane warranties for modified bitumen and EPDM, commonly 10 to 20 years depending on product | Approved primers and adhesives, positive drainage, no long-term ponding |
| Commercial membrane roof | 1 year, written | Material-only warranties, or system warranties that need an approved applicator, a manufacturer inspection and fees | Documented maintenance, drains kept clear, no unapproved penetrations |
| Eavestroughs | 1 year on installation | Finish warranty on the aluminum coil, set by the coil supplier | Hanger spacing, no ice chipping or ladder damage |
| Repairs | 1 year on the work we performed | New components only | The rest of the roof keeps whatever coverage it already had |
Lifetime rarely means forever. In most shingle warranties it means as long as the original owner owns the home, and coverage for later owners is reduced.
Our workmanship warranty covers installation defects, not weather damage beyond product ratings, work by other trades or lack of maintenance. Manufacturer warranties carry similar exclusions, and both are spelled out in writing before you sign.
Most voided warranties come down to three things: materials never registered, a roof that was altered or neglected, or ventilation that never met the manufacturer's requirements. Each one is easy to avoid if you know about it.
We handle the technical side during installation. The steps below are the parts you control as the owner.
Many manufacturers require online registration within a set window after installation, and enhanced coverage is often only available through a registered contractor program. Keep your invoice, the product names and the completion date together with the registration confirmation.
Shingle makers make balanced attic ventilation a condition of coverage, so do not block soffit vents with insulation or new soffit panels. Commercial membrane manufacturers commonly expect documented spring and fall inspections, which our commercial roof maintenance programs provide.
Solar installers, satellite technicians and HVAC contractors all put holes in roofs. Unflashed penetrations can void manufacturer coverage on that area, so call us to flash the mounts or inspect the roof afterwards.
Our workmanship warranty runs one year from completion, so it only matters to a buyer if you sell within that year; ask us at listing time and we will confirm how it passes to the new owner. Manufacturer warranties are the bigger selling point, and their transfer rules vary.
Some shingle manufacturers allow one transfer and require the new owner to notify them in writing within a short window, often 60 days after the sale. Others cap a second owner's coverage at a fixed term, so read the document before advertising a "lifetime roof".
For the sale, give the buyer your installation invoice, the registration confirmation and the product names. Home inspectors and buyers' agents ask for exactly those papers.
A warranty claim starts with a call or email, and an active leak gets the same 24/7 response as any emergency call. From there we inspect, find the cause and tell you in writing whether it falls under our workmanship, a manufacturer claim or neither.
Call (343) 504-9753 or email info@ottawaroofingpros.com with your address, the completion date and photos of any interior staining. If water is coming in, we treat it as urgent.
We check the roof surface, flashings and penetrations, and the attic below. Many "roof leaks" in an Ottawa winter turn out to be attic condensation or ice dams, which need a different fix.
If our installation caused the problem, we repair it at no cost to you, including any of our materials needed. We document the repair with photos for your records.
If the cause is a material defect, we photograph it, gather samples where the manufacturer asks for them, and help you file. The manufacturer decides the claim under its own terms.
Ontario gives you clear protections when you hire a roofer, and a good contractor puts them in writing without being asked. The province's guide to hiring a roofer in Ontario lists what to expect.
Our written quotes include the warranty terms described on this page. For payment schedules and ways to budget a new roof, see our guide to roof financing in Ottawa, and our roofing FAQ answers the questions we hear most. If you are planning a full roof replacement, ask us to walk you through the warranty documents for the products on your quote.
Free roofing estimate
Call (343) 504-9753 any time or send the form with your address and installation date. If you think something we installed has failed, we will book an inspection and tell you in writing what we find.