Roofing Questions, Answered

Fill in the form on this page with your name, address and a short note about what is going on with your roof, or call us. Either way, we get in touch to find a time that suits you. The inspection costs nothing and comes with no obligation. It simply gives you a clear, honest picture of your roof’s condition so you can decide what to do next.

A few details make the first conversation far more useful. Roughly how old is the roof, and has it ever been replaced? Where do leaks or stains show up, and do they appear during rain, snowmelt or a chinook? Has there been a recent hailstorm or windstorm? Photos taken from the ground or through a window help too. If you do not know some of these answers, that is completely fine.

Not always. Most of the work happens on the roof and around the outside of the house, so many homeowners simply leave a side gate unlocked. That said, being home has real benefits. You can show us the water stain on the ceiling, let us look into the attic, and ask questions on the spot. If you cannot be there, we walk you through what we saw afterwards.

Start with what you actually see, not what you think the cause is. Say where the problem shows up inside or outside, when it started, and whether it gets worse in certain weather. Mention anything nearby, such as a chimney, skylight, vent or valley where two roof slopes meet. Words like drip, stain, bubbling paint or shingles on the lawn are all helpful. We sort out the cause on site.

We contact you to confirm the details and book a time for someone to visit. At the visit, we look over the roof, talk through what we found and answer your questions. If work is needed, you receive a written quote that explains what we recommend and why. There is no pressure to decide on the spot, and you are welcome to compare it with other quotes.

Look at full-size samples outdoors, in daylight, next to your siding and brick, rather than choosing from a small chip or a screen. Colours often look lighter on a large roof than in hand. Drive past homes nearby with the shades you are considering. Also think long term: a neutral colour tends to suit future exterior changes and appeals to more buyers if you ever sell.

In most cases, yes. Metal can go on most sloped residential roofs in Calgary, and many homeowners switch for its longer lifespan and how it handles snow and hail. The switch involves more than swapping materials, though. Details at the roof edge, ridge, valleys and around chimneys and vents are different, and snow sliding off metal needs planning above doors, walkways and decks.

Tearing off an old roof creates a lot of debris: shingles, underlayment, old flashing and nails. It is loaded straight into a bin or trailer parked in your driveway or on the street, then hauled away when the job is done. Disposal is part of a complete replacement, so you are not left dealing with it. We let you know where the bin will sit before work starts.

Plenty of noise, mostly during daytime working hours. Scraping, hammering and nail guns are loud inside the house, especially upstairs, so people who work from home or have young children or pets often plan to be out. Dust and small granules can fall into the attic, and vibration may shake loose items on walls and shelves. Very little of this reaches the main living areas.

Cover anything stored in the attic with old sheets or plastic, or move it out, because dust and debris shake loose during tear-off. Take down pictures, mirrors and fragile items on upper-floor walls. Move vehicles out of the driveway, clear patio furniture and barbecues from around the house, and tell your neighbours. Make sure the crew can reach an outdoor power outlet.

It is worth a look. Hail rarely hits every roof on a street the same way, since roof age, shingle type, slope direction and nearby trees all make a difference. If your neighbours’ roofs were damaged, yours may have been too, even if nothing shows from the ground. An inspection tells you whether there is real damage before you decide whether to contact your insurer.

Take them as soon as it is safe, and never climb onto the roof yourself. Photograph hailstones next to a coin or ruler for size, and dents on metal vents, window frames, siding, fences, cars and the barbecue lid. Capture loose granules collected below the roof edge, shingle pieces on the ground and any water stains inside. Photos with dates help show when damage happened.

Generally, yes. Most home insurance policies let you pick the contractor who does the work, although some insurers suggest preferred companies. Check your own policy wording and ask your insurer if you are unsure. Whoever you choose, get the scope of work in writing and make sure it lines up with what your insurer has approved before the job begins.

Raise it with your insurer, supported by documentation. Claim scopes are sometimes written from a quick look, and items like damaged vents, flashing or a second slope can be missed. Ask for a copy of the scope, compare it with the inspection findings and photos, and send your insurer the details in writing. Keep copies of everything you send and receive during the claim.

Slow down before signing anything. After big hailstorms, out-of-town crews often go door to door, and some ask homeowners to sign papers that commit them to that company or hand over part of the claim. Read every page, and never sign under pressure on your doorstep. Ask for a local address, and take time to get a second opinion and check your policy.

We base it on the roof in front of us, not on what is bigger. If the damage is limited and the rest of the roof has good years left, we recommend a repair. If the shingles are worn out across the roof or problems keep coming back, we explain why replacement is the better use of your money. You get the reasoning, with photos, so you can decide.

Cleanup is part of the job, not an afterthought. Debris goes into a bin as work progresses rather than piling up on the lawn. At the end, we clear the roof edges, walkways, driveway and yard, and run a magnetic nail sweep across the grass and hard surfaces to pick up stray nails. We want your property to look the way it did before we arrived.

You know the plan before we start: the expected start day, what happens each day, and who to talk to with questions. If weather forces a delay, we tell you rather than leaving you guessing. If we uncover something unexpected, such as a damaged section of deck, we contact you before going further. When the work is finished, we walk you through what was done.

We work with homeowners across all four quadrants of Calgary: northwest, northeast, southwest and southeast. That covers everything from older inner-city neighbourhoods with decades-old roofs to newer suburban communities hit by recent hailstorms. Roofs in different parts of the city face different issues, from mature trees dropping debris to wide-open exposure to wind, and we take those local conditions into account.