Buyer's Guide
How to choose a metal roofing contractor in Ontario
Eight checks that work on any company, including us. Roofer is a non-compulsory trade in Ontario, so these are what separate one quote from another.
1. Ask for a WSIB clearance certificate
A WSIB clearance shows that a business is registered with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and up to date. The Government of Ontario notes that workers and independent operators in construction must have workplace safety and insurance coverage. WSIB doesn't require a homeowner hiring for home repairs to get a clearance, but clearances are free and valid for up to 90 days, so ask for a current one, and ask again if the job is scheduled months out.
2. Get the liability insurance certificate from the insurer
Ask for proof of commercial general liability insurance sent directly from the broker or insurer, with the policy dates on it. A photo of a certificate from last year proves nothing about the week your roof comes off.
3. Get the contract in writing, and know your rights
In Ontario, a home renovation contract worth more than $50 must be in writing, with the contractor's name, address and contact information, the work and materials, the warranty, the total cost, and the payment and work schedules. If you sign it in your home, you have a 10-day cooling-off period to cancel for any reason. The final price can't be more than 10% over the estimate unless you agree to new work. The province recommends keeping the deposit to no more than 10% and never paying in full before the work is done.
4. Read the warranty as if the exclusions are the document
Ask four things: does the coverage reduce over time? Is there a wind figure written down, tied to installation to the manufacturer's specification? Does it transfer to the next owner, and on what terms? What is excluded? Then ask who issues it. On our roofs the material warranty comes from the manufacturer, Interlock Roofing Ltd., the labour warranty comes from us, and we'll hand you both documents before you sign. Ice damming, for example, is a stated exclusion of the material warranty; a roofer who promises a roof will stop ice dams is promising something the warranty doesn't.
5. Ask what the fasteners look like
Exposed gasketed screws through the weather surface are a leak point once the gaskets age, and an Ontario roof goes through heat, cold and freeze-thaw every year. Concealed-fastener, mechanically interlocked panels keep the fasteners out of the weather and leave no edge for a windstorm to get under. If the answer involves visible screws, ask what the maintenance looks like in year twelve.
6. Ask where the snow will go
A metal roof sheds snow. Before the roof is ordered, ask where snow will slide off, what it will land on (an entry, a deck, a walkway, the neighbour's driveway) and where snow guards go. Ask about attic ventilation and insulation too: ice dams come from heat loss, and a good roofer looks at the attic, not just the roof.
7. In a condo, get the board's approval before the contract
In most condominium corporations the roof is a common element, so the board decides on it under Ontario's Condominium Act, 1998 and the corporation's declaration and by-laws. Ask the contractor to provide what the board needs, such as the profile, colour, specification sheets and warranty, and get the decision in writing before anyone signs.
8. Ask who manufactures the panels, and check it
Many metal roofs are re-branded panels from commodity mills. Ask for the manufacturer by name and for its published test reports. The system we install is made in Canada by Interlock Roofing Ltd.: heavy-gauge aluminum, roughly 2 to 3.5 kg per square metre depending on profile, four-way interlocking with concealed fasteners, Class A Fire Rated Available as a complete assembly, minimum 3/12 slope on every profile. If your house or cottage backs onto forest, ask exactly which assembly a fire rating applies to: under ASTM E108 and CAN/ULC-S107 it belongs to the assembly, not the panel.
Contractor-vetting questions, answered
Do roofers need a licence in Ontario?
Not a provincial one. Roofer is a non-compulsory trade in Ontario, so a roofer does not need a certificate of qualification to work. What protects you is WSIB coverage (ask for a current clearance), commercial liability insurance, any municipal licence your city requires, a written contract and a warranty you can read in full.
What is a WSIB clearance certificate?
A number issued by the WSIB that shows a business is registered and up to date with its premiums. Clearances are free and valid for up to 90 days. A homeowner hiring for home repairs isn't required to get one, but asking for it is a quick way to see whether the company is in good standing.
Can I cancel a roofing contract in Ontario?
If you signed a home renovation or repair contract worth $50 or more in your home, the Government of Ontario says you can cancel it for any reason within 10 days, without cancellation fees. Read the cancellation terms in the contract before you sign either way.
What questions should I ask a metal roofing company in Ontario?
Five with the highest signal: Can I get your WSIB clearance and insurance certificate? Who issues the warranty, does it transfer, and what does it exclude? Are the fasteners exposed or concealed? Where will the snow go? Who manufactures the panels? Confident answers to all five are rare, and telling.
Does my condo board need to approve a new roof?
Usually. In most condominium corporations the roof is a common element, so the board decides, under the Condominium Act, 1998 and the corporation's declaration and by-laws. Talk to your property manager first; your contractor should give you the specifications the board asks for.
What is the difference between an installer and a certified installer?
Certification means the manufacturer trained the crews and stands behind the installation. Interlock Metal Roofing (Ontario) Ltd. is the certified Interlock® roofing contractor for Ontario.
Should I get multiple metal roofing quotes?
Yes, and compare them like for like. A cheaper quote with exposed fasteners and a prorated warranty is not the same roof at a lower price. Compare the system, warranty terms, coverage and insurance, then compare price.
Which parts of Ontario do you cover?
The GTA, Oakville, Mississauga, Markham and Barrie; London, Chatham and Woodstock; Kitchener and Guelph; Hamilton, Simcoe and Niagara Falls; Muskoka, Gravenhurst and Huntsville; Kawartha Lakes and Peterborough; Kingston and Belleville; and Ottawa, Almonte and Cornwall.
Ready when you are — bring this checklist to the estimate.
