Last updated April 19, 2026
With 20 local professionals averaging 4.9 stars, here is how to make a smart decision.
Toronto is Canada's largest city, home to 2.7 million residents and an extraordinarily diverse housing stock — from Victorian-era brick row houses in Cabbagetown and century-old bungalows in East York to modern glass-and-steel condominiums downtown and sprawling suburban builds in Scarborough and Etobicoke. That diversity in building age and architecture means Toronto's roofing market is genuinely complex. A roofer who excels at steep-slope asphalt shingles on a 1950s North York bungalow may not have the membrane expertise required for a flat-roof condo addition in Leslieville. When you're searching for roofing services, matching the contractor's specialty to your specific roof type is not optional — it's the first filter you should apply. The climate in Toronto compounds that complexity significantly. The city sits in a humid continental zone, which means it experiences the worst of multiple worlds: hot, humid summers that accelerate shingle granule loss and cause thermal expansion, and brutal winters with regular freeze-thaw cycles, ice storms, and snowpack that can exceed 100 cm in accumulation over a season. Ice dams — those ridges of ice that form at roof edges when heat escapes through the attic and melts snow that then refreezes — are among the most destructive and common roofing problems Toronto homeowners face. They force water under shingles, destroy fascia boards, and can compromise attic insulation in a single season. The installation window in Toronto is effectively May through October; any work done outside that window carries added risk of adhesive failure in cold temperatures and safety hazards for crews. With 20 roofing professionals listed locally and an average Google rating of 4.9 stars, Toronto homeowners have access to a high-quality pool of contractors — but that quality is not uniform, and knowing how to evaluate the right fit for your project remains your most important job before signing any contract. Flat roofing deserves special mention in Toronto's context. A significant portion of the city's residential and mixed-use building stock features flat or low-slope roofs — from 1970s townhouse complexes to laneway houses and coach houses that have proliferated since the city loosened zoning rules. Flat roofing in Toronto's climate requires specific membrane systems — TPO, EPDM, or modified bitumen — that can withstand ponding water in spring, UV degradation in summer, and membrane cracking in January cold. Several of Toronto's top-rated firms, including The Roof Technician Toronto and Universal Roofs, specifically list flat roofing and skylights as core service areas, which reflects genuine market demand rather than upselling.
Toronto Local Tip: The City of Toronto does not require a building permit for re-roofing with the same material in most residential cases, but any structural changes — adding a rooftop deck, converting a flat roof, or altering drainage — do require a permit through Toronto Building. Always ask your contractor to confirm permit requirements before work begins. Unpermitted structural roofing work can complicate home sales and insurance claims.
Roofing costs in Toronto span a wide range — CAD $8,000 to $30,000 or more — and that spread is not random. Several Toronto-specific factors push costs toward the upper end of the range compared to smaller Ontario cities. Labour costs in Toronto are among the highest in the province, reflecting the city's cost of living and the competitive market for skilled tradespeople. Material costs have risen sharply since 2021 due to supply chain pressures, and asphalt shingle prices in particular have not fully retreated. Disposal fees at Toronto transfer stations add to project costs that are often bundled invisibly into contractor quotes — always ask whether debris removal and dump fees are included in the quoted price. Project scope is the single biggest cost driver. A straightforward re-roof on a 1,500 sq ft Toronto bungalow with good decking underneath sits at the lower end of the range. The price climbs with roof pitch (steeper roofs require more safety equipment and slower production), roof complexity (multiple valleys, dormers, and penetrations in older Toronto homes add significant labour time), skylight installation or replacement, and the condition of the underlying deck — a common issue in homes built before 1980 where plywood decking has suffered decades of moisture cycling. Emergency repairs following ice storm damage, which are unfortunately common in Toronto winters, also carry premium pricing due to the urgency and hazardous working conditions involved.
| Service | Low Estimate | High Estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt Shingle Re-Roof (Bungalow, ~1,500 sq ft) | Low$8,000 | High$14,000 | Most common project in Toronto. Price varies by shingle grade (3-tab vs. architectural), deck condition, and number of layers being torn off. |
| Flat Roof Replacement (TPO/EPDM/Modified Bitumen) | Low$10,000 | High$22,000 | High demand in Toronto due to condo additions, laneway houses, and commercial mixed-use. Membrane type and insulation board thickness affect cost significantly. |
| Skylight Installation or Replacement | Low$1,500 | High$5,000 | Per unit cost including flashing kit. Toronto's freeze-thaw cycles make flashing quality critical — improper installation is a leading cause of leak callbacks. |
| Emergency Roof Repair (Ice Storm / Active Leak) | Low$500 | High$4,000 | Temporary tarping, ice dam treatment, and emergency patching. Common after Toronto winter storms. Final repair cost is separate and depends on full damage assessment. |
Money-Saving Tip for Toronto Homeowners: Schedule your roof replacement for late spring (May–June) rather than August or September. Late-season demand from homeowners who delayed all summer drives up prices and reduces contractor availability heading into October. Booking in May also gives your new shingles a full warm season to properly seal before their first Toronto winter — asphalt shingles require sustained warmth to fully bond their self-sealing strips. Additionally, always get three written quotes and ask each contractor to itemize labour, materials, disposal, and permit costs separately so you're comparing equivalent scopes.
Watch for These Red Flags Before Signing Any Roofing Contract in Toronto:
Toronto's roofing market includes 20 listed professionals, and the top tier is genuinely impressive by any measure. The five highest-rated firms all hold a perfect 5.0-star Google rating — but what separates them from a small business with two glowing reviews is the volume behind those ratings. Coverall Roofing Toronto leads in review count with 209 reviews at 5.0 stars, meaning their perfect rating has held across a very large and statistically meaningful sample of real Toronto clients. Prime Roof Repair follows with 191 reviews at 5.0 stars, and Roofing Monkeys rounds out the high-volume tier with 146 reviews at 5.0 stars — a name that belies a serious operation with a demonstrated track record. The Roof Technician Toronto — Roof Repairs, Flat Roofing, and Skylights leads this guide's top listing position and carries 126 reviews at a perfect 5.0. The breadth of their listed services is notable: flat roofing and skylight work alongside standard residential repairs covers three of the most technically demanding roofing categories in the Toronto market, and their rating suggests consistent execution across all of them. Universal Roofs — Flat Roofing Services, Skylights, and Emergency Roof Repair Toronto — rounds out the top five with 139 reviews at 5.0 stars, and their explicit inclusion of emergency roof repair as a named service is meaningful for Toronto homeowners who need confidence that their roofer can respond to winter crises, not just plan spring installations. Across all 20 listed Toronto roofing professionals, the average rating of 4.9 stars is well above what you'd expect in most service categories — it reflects both genuine quality and Toronto homeowners' willingness to leave reviews when they've had a strong experience. Use these ratings as a starting filter, not a final decision. A 4.9-star firm that specializes in your roof type and has done work in your neighbourhood is a better choice than a 5.0-star firm whose reviews all describe flat commercial roofs when you have a steep-slope Victorian shingle job.
| Company | Rating | Reviews | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Roof Technician Toronto - Roof Repairs - Flat Roofing - Skylights | 5.0★ | 126 | Flat roofing, skylight installation, and multi-service residential repairs — strong choice for Toronto homeowners with complex or mixed roofing needs |
| Prime Roof Repair | 5.0★ | 191 | High-volume repair work with a large base of satisfied Toronto clients — well-suited for homeowners prioritizing a proven track record across many completed jobs |
| Roofing Monkeys | 5.0★ | 146 | Consistent quality across residential roofing projects — strong review volume indicates reliable execution and responsive customer service in the Toronto market |
| Coverall Roofing - Toronto | 5.0★ | 209 | Highest review count of any top-rated Toronto firm — ideal for homeowners who weight breadth of client experience heavily in their decision-making |
| Universal Roofs - Flat Roofing Services - Skylights - Emergency Roof Repair Toronto | 5.0★ | 139 | Emergency roof repair and flat roofing specialist — a strong first call after ice storm damage or when a rapid response is needed alongside flat membrane expertise |
Toronto's climate imposes a rhythm on the roofing industry that every homeowner should understand — not as a curiosity but as practical knowledge that directly affects your project cost, timeline, and outcomes. WINTER (November–March): This is the danger season for Toronto roofs. Freeze-thaw cycles are the primary structural threat — water infiltrates small cracks or aged sealant, freezes and expands, then thaws and contracts, progressively widening gaps over the course of weeks. Ice dams form when heat loss through poorly insulated attics warms the roof deck above the freeze line, melting snow that runs to the cold eaves and refreezes. The water backed up behind an ice dam has nowhere to go except under your shingles. Toronto recorded several significant ice storm events in recent decades, most notably the catastrophic December 2013 ice storm that left hundreds of thousands without power and caused widespread structural damage to roofs across the GTA. Roof repairs in winter are possible but carry risks — adhesives cure poorly below 5°C, and working on icy surfaces creates worker safety hazards. Emergency tarping is often the appropriate winter response, with proper repairs deferred to spring. If you notice icicles forming unusually thick along your eaves or see water staining on interior ceilings following a snowfall, treat it as an urgent issue rather than waiting until spring. SPRING (April–May): The single most important time of year for Toronto roof maintenance. Post-winter inspections in April — ideally before April showers compound any damage — allow you to identify shingles displaced by ice, compromised flashing around chimneys and skylights, fascia board rot from ice dam backup, and gutter damage from ice weight. Spring is also when contractors emerge from the winter slowdown and are booking summer schedules. Booking your inspection and any needed work in April or May means you secure preferred scheduling before the summer rush drives up wait times. Many Toronto roofers offer discounted inspection rates in early spring as a business development tool — it is worth asking. SUMMER (June–August): Peak installation season. Toronto's summer UV load and heat accelerate the oxidation of aged asphalt shingles — if your shingles are granulating heavily (you'll see granule accumulation in downspouts and at gutter outlets), the summer heat will push them toward end-of-life faster than the roofing calendar suggests. This is the best time for full replacements, with long warm days allowing complete tear-off and re-roof on most residential projects in a single day. Skylight installations are best done in summer when sealants and flashing compounds can cure properly. Demand is highest and so are contractor schedules — do not expect a call on Monday to translate to work starting Thursday in July. FALL (September–October): The closing window. Contractors are often busy finishing jobs that were booked in summer, but fall is the second-best season for roofing work in Toronto. Temperatures remain suitable for shingle adhesion through October in most years. After October, overnight temperatures in Toronto regularly drop below the threshold for reliable shingle sealing. Fall is also the right time for gutter cleaning and inspection — clearing debris before the first freeze prevents ice damming caused by blocked drainage. If your roof is showing its age and you missed the summer window, push hard to get it done before the end of October rather than gambling on a mild November.
The lifespan of a roof in Toronto depends heavily on material and installation quality, but Toronto's climate shortens the theoretical lifespan of most roofing systems compared to milder Canadian cities. Standard 3-tab asphalt shingles typically last 15–20 years in Toronto conditions. Architectural (dimensional) shingles, which are now the dominant product in the Toronto residential market, are rated for 25–30 years but realistically deliver 20–25 years of serviceable life given the city's freeze-thaw cycles and summer UV exposure. Premium impact-resistant shingles can extend that window. Flat membrane roofs using modern TPO or EPDM systems should last 20–30 years with proper installation and annual maintenance. The single biggest variable is attic ventilation — an improperly ventilated attic in Toronto creates heat buildup that destroys shingles from below in summer and contributes to ice dam formation in winter. If your shingles are failing prematurely, have a roofer assess your soffit and ridge ventilation before replacing the roof surface alone.
For a standard residential re-roof — replacing shingles with the same type of material on an existing roof structure — the City of Toronto generally does not require a building permit. However, there are important exceptions. If you are changing the roofing material type (for example, switching from shingles to a green roof or solar tile system), altering the roof structure, adding dormers, installing new skylights (as opposed to replacing existing ones in the same opening), or making any changes that affect the building envelope or drainage, a permit is required through Toronto Building at toronto.ca/building. Your roofing contractor should identify permit requirements during the pre-work assessment — if they do not raise the question at all, that is worth flagging. Unpermitted work that required a permit can complicate your property's resale process and may affect insurance claim outcomes.
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View All Roofing Contractors Canada Contractors in toronto-onMost established Toronto roofing contractors can provide an on-site estimate within 2–3 business days during normal seasons. During peak demand periods — particularly after major storm events when hundreds of homeowners are calling simultaneously, or in the late summer rush of September and October — wait times for estimates can stretch to one to two weeks. If you have an active leak or storm damage, tell the contractor explicitly when you call; most will prioritize emergency assessments over standard quote appointments. For non-urgent projects, contacting contractors in April or May gives you the best access to timely estimates before summer demand peaks. When an estimate is provided, ask for it in writing with a detailed scope breakdown — verbal estimates are not useful for comparing bids or holding a contractor accountable.
First, contain interior damage: place buckets, move valuables, and use towels to manage active drips. Take photos immediately for insurance purposes — document ceiling staining, any visible exterior damage, and the conditions outside (snow, ice accumulation). Call your insurance provider to report the damage and ask about emergency repair coverage; many Ontario home insurance policies cover sudden and accidental water damage from roof failures but not gradual deterioration, so how you describe the event matters. Then call a Toronto roofing contractor and ask specifically about emergency services — Universal Roofs lists emergency roof repair as a named service, and several other top-rated firms handle urgent calls. Emergency winter repairs typically involve securing a heavy-duty tarp over the affected area until temperatures permit permanent repairs. Do not attempt to remove ice dams yourself using picks or chippers — this is how shingles and flashing are destroyed by homeowners with the best intentions. Calcium chloride ice melt in a nylon stocking laid perpendicular to the ice dam is a safer DIY stopgap while you wait for professional help.
This is the most common judgment call in Toronto roofing, and the honest answer depends on the age, condition, and remaining useful life of your current roof. A general rule used by experienced Toronto contractors: if a roof is within five years of end-of-life and requires a repair costing more than 20–25% of a full replacement, replacement is almost always the better investment. Patching an aging roof in Toronto buys time but does not reset the clock — the surrounding shingles are still oxidizing and losing granules, and the membrane or underlayment is still aged. Where repairs make clear sense: roofs with 10+ years of remaining life that have sustained localized damage (a few shingles blown off in a windstorm, a single flashing failure at a chimney), and situations where budget constraints make replacement impossible right now. Ask your contractor to give you a condition assessment that includes estimated remaining life — any credible Toronto roofer should be able to provide that assessment, and it should inform the repair-versus-replace decision transparently rather than defaulting to the higher-revenue option.