RBQ-Licensed Roofers in Saint-Sauveur and the Laurentians
Roof repair in Saint-Sauveur
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The Roof Repairs We Perform Most Often
On the rooftops in the area, the same short list appears year after year.
- Chimney or wall flashing that has come loose, cracked, or been improperly backed: this is the number one source of water infiltration.
- The valley, the angle where two slopes meet, carved out by the friction of the ice and the accumulation of water.
- Asphalt shingles torn off or lifted by the wind, often at the eaves and on exposed slopes.
- The edge of a skylight or a plumbing vent, where the seal dries out and cracks over the years.
- The elastomeric membrane of a flat roof, cracked at a welded seam or around a drain.
- The drip edge and the roof flashing along the eaves, warped by successive ice dams.
Each of these issues can be repaired without affecting the rest of the roof, provided the problem is isolated. On an asphalt shingle roof that is still flexible and properly nailed down, these repairs will last for years. On a metal roof, the weak spots are different—loose screws, panel seams, ridge flashings—and repairs require parts that are compatible with the existing profile.
On a flat roof made of elastomeric membrane, the list changes yet again: blisters, open weld seams, drain collars, and the perimeters of mechanical units. These repairs are made using a torch and a modified bitumen compatible with the existing membrane, not sealant.
Two rarer incidents do occur every year in the Laurentians, however: damage caused by a branch during an ice storm, and a plumbing or ventilation vent being torn off by a slab of snow that has slid down.
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Find the leak before fixing it
The water doesn’t fall straight down. It enters through a spot in the roof, travels along the support, runs along a rafter, passes through the insulation, and appears on the ceiling several meters further on. That’s why patching over the stain so often gives the illusion of a successful repair—until the next rain.
Our assessment consists of three steps: an attic inspection, which reveals the actual path of water and the condition of the roof structure; thethe roof inspection, which assesses the condition of the shingles, flashings, valleys, and vents; and finally, the evaluation of moisture indicators, such as mold, frost, or old water stains.
We’ll show you the photos before making any recommendations. A roof repair proposed without anyone having gone up into the attic is a repair done blindly.
This inspection is free and non-binding, even if it concludes that there is nothing to repair. Sometimes a stain on the ceiling is caused by a plumbing pipe, a poorly connected dryer vent, or condensation—and has nothing to do with the roof at all. Knowing this can save you from unnecessary expenses.
When the source remains unclear after these three checks, we proceed by process of elimination rather than by intuition: we spray the roof in a controlled manner, section by section, starting from the bottom, while a second person observes the attic. It takes time, it’s not spectacular, but it’s the only method that provides certainty before starting any work.
You will then receive a written report detailing what we observed, what the issue is, what we recommend, and what can wait. You are under no obligation to have the repairs done by the same team.
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Emergency: When Water Has Already Entered Your Home
When water is leaking inside, the priority isn’t a permanent repair but stopping the leak. We respond to emergencies in Saint-Sauveur to install temporary protection, clear away ice buildup, or seal the point of entry, and then we return to make a permanent repair once the surface is dry and accessible.
While waiting for us to arrive, there are three steps you can take to minimize the damage: place a container under the leak, carefully poke a small hole in the bulging ceiling to release the accumulated water, and turn off the power to the room if the water is getting close to a light fixture or outlet. Do not climb onto the roof: a wet or snow-covered roof is the leading cause of falls in winter.
Two tips round out the list. Take pictures of everything, starting with the very first stain, even before you clean it up: your insurer will use these images. And move anything that’s susceptible to water damage—furniture, rugs, documents—rather than hoping the leak will stop on its own; once water has found a path, it will follow it every time it rains.
Inside, a wet ceiling does not dry properly on its own. Depending on the extent of the damage, you’ll need to ventilate the room—and sometimes open windows to let the insulation dry—otherwise mold will set in over the following weeks, long after the leak has been repaired.
The emergency hotline number is 450-990-6977.
What Can Be Repaired, and What Can No Longer Be Repaired
Repair is the right choice when the problem is localized and the rest of the roofing is in good condition. However, it is not the right choice in four specific cases.
- The shingles are dry, brittle, and cracked across all the roof slopes: every repair causes further damage to the surrounding shingles.
- The wooden deck feels soft underfoot, a sign of long-standing and widespread water infiltration.
- You’re on your third or fourth repair, each time in a different spot.
- The roof has exceeded the lifespan specified in the warranty provided by the manufacturer of the installed materials.
There is a fifth, less obvious case: the problem is not the roofing but the design. A valley that is too short, flashing that was improperly installed from the start, or insufficient attic ventilation since the building was constructed. In this case, a repair identical to the previous one will only repeat the failure; the detail must be redone differently, and this is a sheet metal job, not a patch job.
In these situations, we’ll let you know rather than just piling on repair after repair. Our page on roof restoration explains the decision in detail, and the one on roof replacement describes how the work is carried out.
How long does a repair take?
Most repairs can be completed in a single visit lasting just a few hours: a flashing, a valley, a section of shingles, or a vent. You don’t need to be there, and nothing inside the house is torn down.
Two factors extend the timeline. The first is access: a very steep slope, a high-up cottage roof, or a section above a deck require anchors and sometimes lifting equipment. The second is the availability of materials: finding a shingle in the same shade or a custom-made sheet metal piece can take a few days.
We never leave an opening unprotected between visits: a mechanically secured tarp or a temporary membrane holds the area secure for as long as necessary.
Repairs require almost no effort on your part: no containers, no need to completely cover the site with tarps, and no power outages. All you need to do is clear a path for the ladder and remove any objects directly beneath the area to be repaired.
For emergencies, the response time is obviously shorter, and it depends on the season: after a major windstorm or ice storm, all roofers in the Laurentians receive calls at the same time. That’s also why it’s better to have a roof in question inspected in the fall rather than wait for the first leak to appear in January.
*Please note that delivery times may vary depending on weather conditions and other factors beyond our control.
Factors That Affect the Cost of a Repair
No reputable roofer will give a repair estimate over the phone, because the price depends on what they find once they’re up on the roof. Four factors determine the cost: the actual extent of the damaged area, the roof’s accessibility, the type of roofing material, and the condition of the underlying structure beneath the area to be repaired.
What we guarantee is our approach: inspection first, photos next, and a written quote before work begins. You won’t receive a bill for a repair you haven’t approved, and if the inspection reveals that a repair wouldn’t be cost-effective, we’ll let you know before we start.
A useful comparison, without giving specific figures: on almost all roofs, a one-time repair costs a fraction of a complete replacement. So the mistake isn’t in repairing the roof; it’s in repairing a roof that’s no longer worth the cost. That’s exactly what the inspection is meant to determine, and that’s why it comes before the price quote.
Is it possible to repair a roof in the winter?
Yes, and leaks often occur in the winter because the ice dam pushes water back under the roof. Emergency repairs can be done at any time of year.
A permanent repair, however, requires caution in cold weather: the self-adhesive strips on asphalt shingles don’t seal properly when the temperature drops below a few degrees, and the sealant doesn’t work as well. We therefore proceed in two stages: an emergency repair to stop the water, followed by a permanent repair once warmer weather returns.
Roof de-icing and snow removal are also part of our winter services, and they help prevent many repairs.
A word of caution about de-icing: an axe, a metal shovel, and salt are three quick ways to damage a roof and turn a winter leak into a spring repair job. Clearing should be done with steam or by hand, using tools that do not touch the surface, and never from a ladder leaning against a gutter loaded with ice.
Ice dams and leaks: Addressing the Cause
A winter leak along the roof edge is almost never a problem with the shingles. It’s the heat escaping from the house that melts the snow in the center of the roof and causes the water to refreeze at the edge, forming a dam that forces water back under the roofing material.
The repair stops the leak, but it doesn’t address the underlying cause. The cause lies in the attic: insufficient ventilation, compressed insulation, blocked soffits, and a bathroom exhaust fan that vents moisture into the attic. The Quebec Building Code requires a clear ventilation area of at least 1/300 of the ceiling area, increased to 1/150 for pitched roofs with a slope less than 1:6, as specified in Section 9.19.1.2.
It also requires roof overhang protection that extends at least 900 mm from the eave and at least 300 mm inward from the inner face of the exterior wall, as specified in Section 9.26.5.1. If this protection is missing or too short, the repair will only last until the next winter, and we will let you know.
The good news is that the problem can often be fixed without touching the roof: clear out soffits blocked by insulation, install deflectors, redirect a bathroom fan to vent outside rather than into the attic, and top off any compacted insulation. These are attic repairs, done from below, and they fix more winter drafts than any repair made on the roof.
Our Repair Warranty
Roof repair is a precise job, not just a quick fix. We guarantee it in writing: if the repaired area starts leaking again, we’ll come back.
Two important points to keep in mind, because they help avoid misunderstandings. A repair warranty covers the repaired area, not the rest of an aging roof: if water leaks in elsewhere six months later, that’s a separate job. And when we’ve warned you that a repair is only a temporary solution for a roof nearing the end of its life, it’s noted in the report—so that no one discovers this nuance at the wrong time.
In any case, you’ll receive before-and-after photos, which are useful for your insurance claims and when selling the house. We also note any observations that weren’t part of the scope of work: a neighbor’s flashing that’s starting to show signs of wear, inadequate ventilation, or a gutter with the wrong slope. You’re under no obligation to do anything, but at least you’ll know.
These photos are also useful to your insurer. The distinction your insurer will make is always the same: sudden and accidental damage, such as a roof being torn off by the wind or struck by a branch, is generally covered; normal wear and tear on a roof that has reached the end of its useful life is not. Documenting the date and cause at the time of the incident is better than trying to reconstruct it six months later.
Maintenance That Prevents the Next Repair
Most of the repairs we do would have cost much less—or wouldn’t have been necessary at all—if we had conducted two visual inspections per year.
- In the spring, after the snow melts: check the flashing, the valleys, the eaves, and the condition of the gutters.
- In the fall, before the snow falls: clear away debris, test the drainage, and check the vents.
- After a windstorm: check from the ground to see if any shingles are missing or lifted.
- After a heavy snowfall: watch for snow buildup and icicles along the eaves, which are signs of an ice dam forming.
- Every year: Take a look in the attic for frost, mold, or signs of moisture.
If you have trees around your house, there are two additional steps to take: have any branches that rub against or overhang the roof trimmed, and clear away conifer needles that trap moisture in the roof valleys. In the Laurentians, these two factors account for a large portion of premature asphalt shingle repairs.
An annual inspection is the least expensive service on our list—and the most overlooked. It takes an hour, is documented with photos, and, most importantly, gives you one thing: time to plan the work rather than having to deal with it in the middle of a storm.
Our Roofers and the Areas We Serve
Our roofers live and work in the Pays-d’en-Haut region. Toiture Couvreur Saint-Sauveur is a company licensed by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec—a license number that can be verified in two minutes in the license holder registry—and is covered by liability insurance.
When it comes to repairs, proximity matters more than for any other roofing service: a leak can’t wait two weeks, and the same team will come back if the repaired area starts to give way.
This also applies to vacation homes and second homes, which are very common in the area. When no one is living in the house for part of the year, a leak can go unnoticed for weeks before it’s discovered. We conduct inspections for homeowners who live elsewhere, complete with a photo report, which is much less expensive than discovering a leak in the spring.
We repair roofs in Saint-Sauveur, Piedmont, Morin-Heights, Sainte-Adèle, Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs, Prévost, and throughout the Pays-d’en-Haut region, as far as Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts and toward Montreal’s North Shore.
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How can I tell if my roof needs to be repaired or replaced?
How long does a roof repair take?
Do you repair flat roofs made of elastomeric membranes?
Do you provide emergency services?
Is my roof covered by my insurance?
Can you repair a roof in the winter?
Do I need to be there while the repair is being done?
Send us a brief description of your roofing project in Saint-Sauveur, and we’ll call you back within 24 hours. The inspection and estimate are free, with no obligation on your part.
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Available throughout Saint-Sauveur and on Montreal's North Shore
info@toiturecouvreursaintsauveur.com
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450-990-6977