Answers
The honest version of the questions homeowners actually ask — what a roof costs, how we price it from your address, repair versus replace, materials, timing, permits and insurance. No sales spin.
Cost & pricing
Most GTA homeowners pay roughly $13,000–$25,000 plus HST for a full asphalt roof replacement on an average detached home in 2026, with smaller or simpler roofs lower and large, steep, cut-up roofs higher. Your number depends on roof size, pitch, layers and complexity — which is why we start from your address instead of a flat average.
Two roofs with the same footprint can differ by thousands because of slope, facet count, the number of old layers to remove, deck condition, access, and the shingle system chosen. A steep, multi-facet roof has far more surface and labour than a simple bungalow. An honest quote reflects your actual roof, not a citywide average.
On a typical GTA re-roof, labour is about 50–60% of the total and materials are the smaller half. Roofing is heavy, fall-risk, weather-exposed work, and the crew is what makes a roof last. A price far below market usually means corners cut on the crew or on what you cannot see.
Rotted decking under the shingles is the number-one concealed cost, and the most-abused change order — it is invisible until the old roof is off. An honest quote names a fixed per-sheet deck rate up front and only charges for what is actually rotted, with a photo you approve.
No. Our planning range is designed so you owe no deposit until your shingles physically arrive — you are not financing our materials months ahead. A firm price and terms come after the roof is reviewed; payment is tied to real milestones, not signed on the spot under pressure.
Getting a price
We measure the roof from recent aerial imagery of your address — every facet, pitch and edge — then multiply the measured quantities by published per-square rates. The math is deterministic, so the same roof always produces the same range. A visit or photo check is still needed before a firm, signed price, but not to get a realistic planning range.
For roof size, shape, slope and facet count, aerial measurement is accurate enough to build an honest planning range — it reads the real three-dimensional surface, not just the footprint. What it can’t see is what’s underneath: layers, decking condition and access. That’s why the aerial read gives a range, confirmed on site before you sign.
Because two things stay unknown until the roof is checked: how many shingle layers must come off, and the condition of the decking underneath. Both change the price. An honest range plans for that; a fake “exact” quote from a photo either pads the number or hides a change order for later.
No. You get the measured roof read and planning range from your address first, with no contact details. We only ask for contact information if you want a person to review the roof, save your file, book a look, or issue a firm proposal.
About 90 seconds. You enter your address, the roof is measured from aerial imagery, and a property-specific planning range appears — no sales call and no one at your door.
Repair vs replace
If the roof is under about 15 years old and the problem is localized — a few lifted shingles, one leak, flashing at a chimney — a repair is usually the right call. If shingles are curling and losing granules across the whole roof, or it is near the end of its life, repeated repairs cost more than replacing. When in doubt, a measured read plus photos tells you honestly.
A standard architectural asphalt roof in the GTA typically lasts about 25–35 years, with real life depending on ventilation, sun exposure, install quality and freeze-thaw wear. Basic 3-tab shingles run shorter; premium and impact-rated shingles can run longer. Age plus visible wear matters more than the number on the warranty.
Not always. A few blown-off shingles after a windstorm can often be repaired. But curling, cracking and granule loss spread across the whole roof are signs the shingles are worn out, and patching a worn roof is throwing money at borrowed time. A quick read tells you which situation you’re in.
Yes — an active leak or storm damage is an emergency. Get the fastest safe fix started first to stop water getting in and protect the inside of your home, then decide on repair versus full replacement once the roof is dry and assessed.
Materials & systems
All three sit on the same measured roof and the same core protection — ice-and-water membrane, underlayment, ventilation and new flashing. The difference is the shingle grade and warranty posture: Good is quality architectural shingles, Better steps up the shingle and accessories, and Best adds designer or Class-4 impact shingles for the longest life and toughest exposure.
Both IKO and GAF make strong architectural shingles installed across the GTA, and a correct install matters more than the logo. GAF Timberline HDZ and IKO Cambridge are the common workhorses; IKO Nordic and GAF UHDZ are the impact-rated upgrades. The right pick depends on your roof’s exposure, your budget and how long you plan to stay.
For a larger, exposed roof you plan to keep, Class-4 impact shingles can be worth the premium for hail and high-wind resilience and a longer lifespan. On a smaller, sheltered roof, upgraded architectural shingles are usually the better value. It’s a keep-time and exposure decision, not a default upsell.
A complete replacement is more than shingles: tear-off of the old roof, deck inspection, ice-and-water membrane at eaves and valleys, underlayment across the field, balanced intake and exhaust ventilation, all-new flashing at walls and penetrations, starter and ridge cap, and a full magnetic nail sweep and cleanup.
Process & timing
Most GTA asphalt roof replacements are done in one to two days, weather permitting. Larger, steeper or more cut-up roofs, or ones needing significant deck repair, can take longer. The tear-off, install and cleanup usually happen in the same visit.
Asphalt shingles can be installed in almost any season in the GTA, but late spring through fall gives the mildest conditions and best sealing. Roofs can be replaced in winter with proper cold-weather technique; if your roof is failing, waiting for perfect weather usually costs more than acting.
The work area is set up to protect landscaping, siding and windows, debris is contained through the tear-off, and the site gets a full magnetic nail sweep at the end. Roofing is messy work done carefully — protection and cleanup are part of the job, not an extra.
Permits, warranty & insurance
A standard like-for-like asphalt re-shingle generally does not require a building permit in GTA municipalities. A permit is usually only triggered if structural decking or framing is replaced beyond a repair, the roof structure changes, or skylights are added or relocated — we confirm with your local building department before any structural work.
A new roof carries two kinds of coverage: the manufacturer’s warranty on the shingles and system components, and the contractor’s workmanship warranty on the install. What matters is that both are in writing and that the installer is still around to honour theirs — the workmanship coverage is where cut-rate roofs fall short.
Yes — proper liability insurance and WSIB coverage are non-negotiable, and you should ask any roofer for proof before work starts. If a crew is hurt on an uninsured job, the homeowner can be exposed. We provide credential and insurance documentation as part of the file.
Home insurance generally covers sudden, accidental roof damage — like a windstorm tearing off shingles or a tree falling on the roof — but not replacement due to age or normal wear. If your roof was damaged in a specific event, document it with photos and dates; if it simply wore out, replacement is typically an out-of-pocket or financed cost.
Townhouses & semis
Yes. Aerial imagery can’t see the party walls between attached units, so we measure your unit’s roof area per unit and split shared runs conservatively rather than dividing a whole-block number by guesswork. You get an honest estimate for your section of the roof.
Often yes — your side of a semi or your unit in a townhouse block can usually be re-roofed on its own, with careful detailing at the shared wall or property line. Where the roof plane is continuous with a neighbour’s, we’ll flag it honestly so you know what’s involved before you commit.
The fastest way past a general answer is a specific one. Enter your address for a measured planning range built from your actual roof — no sales call, no obligation.
