Quebec City, QC repair guide
Roof Repair in Quebec City: Snow Load, Ice Dams, Heritage Rules and the RBQ
Quebec City gets more snow than almost any other large city in the world, and its roofs carry that weight for four months a year. Roof repair here is as much about winter as about leaks: snow load on flat roofs, ice dams on steep ones, metal roofs shedding sheets of ice onto sidewalks, and the annual question of whether to have the roof cleared. The old city adds heritage rules that govern what can be seen from the street. This guide covers what fails, what Quebec law requires of a roofer, and how to get through a winter without a collapse or a fall.
By Michael, founder, fixmystuff.ca · Reviewed and updated 2026-09-11 · About 7–10 minutes
Snow load and when a roof needs clearing
Flat and low-slope roofs on plexes and commercial buildings carry the greatest risk, especially after a rain-on-snow event turns light powder into dense, heavy slush. Signs of a roof under stress include doors and windows that stick, new cracks at ceiling corners, and sagging visible from outside. Those are reasons to call a snow-removal company the same day. Steep-pitched roofs shed snow on their own, but the eaves and valleys collect it and build ice.
Snow removal is dangerous. Quebec’s workplace safety board, the CNESST, sets rules for roof work, and the companies that do it professionally use harnesses, anchors and ground spotters. A homeowner on a ladder with a shovel is how a routine winter becomes a hospital visit. Roof rakes used from the ground are the safe limit for a do-it-yourself approach, and only on the lower edge of a pitched roof.
| Roof type | Winter risk | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Flat or low-slope | Snow load, drain freezing, ponding at thaw | Professional clearing when load builds; keep drains open |
| Steep pitched, shingle | Ice dams at the eaves, leaks inside | Attic insulation and ventilation; rake the lower edge |
| Metal | Sheets of ice sliding onto sidewalks and decks | Snow guards; clear paths below |
| Heritage slate or tin, Old Quebec | Brittle materials, approval needed for changes | Roofer with heritage experience; check rules first |
Ice dams: the leak that comes from inside
An ice dam forms when heat escaping through the attic melts snow on the upper roof, and the meltwater refreezes at the cold eaves. Water backs up behind the ridge of ice and under the shingles, and the leak appears inside at the top of an exterior wall or around a window, often weeks into a cold spell. The roof is usually not the problem; the attic is. Insulation gaps, bathroom fans venting into the attic, recessed lights and unsealed attic hatches are the usual causes.
The lasting fix is air sealing and insulation to keep the attic cold, with ventilation at the soffits and ridge. A roofer can add ice-and-water membrane along the eaves during a replacement, which limits the damage but does not stop the dam. In the meantime, a professional can remove the dam with steam; hacking at it with an axe or salt damages the shingles.
- Photos of the icicles and any interior stain
- Attic insulation depth and any gaps
- Where bathroom and kitchen fans actually vent
- Soffit and ridge ventilation present and clear
- Roof age and last replacement date
Quebec rules: the RBQ, deposits and heritage approvals
Roofing is construction work in Quebec, and a roofing contractor must hold a Régie du bâtiment du Québec licence in the right subclass; the RBQ’s online lookup shows the licence status and any restrictions. A contractor who cannot give you an RBQ number is not allowed to do the work, and you have little recourse if it goes wrong. Ask for the CNESST registration and liability insurance certificate as well. Quebec’s Consumer Protection Act gives you a cancellation period on contracts signed with an itinerant merchant, which covers a roofer who came to your door.
In the Vieux-Québec heritage site and the city’s other protected sectors, changes to roofing visible from the street, including material and colour, may need authorization from the Ville de Québec and, for classified buildings, the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications. Ask the City’s permit office before ordering materials; a tin roof replaced with asphalt shingles in the wrong sector can be ordered undone.
Repair, replace and the short roofing season
Quebec City’s roofing season is short, and companies book up from spring through fall. A leak found in February usually gets a temporary fix and a spring appointment; get the permanent quote in writing at the same time. For replacement, ask how many layers are coming off, what underlayment and ice-and-water membrane will be used at the eaves and valleys, and whether snow guards or heating cables make sense for your roof’s exposure.
Get the workmanship warranty and the material warranty in writing, in the language you read, and hold back the final payment until the site is clean and you have the documents.
Questions to ask before booking
- What is your RBQ licence number, and can I see your CNESST and insurance certificates?
- Do you clear roofs with fall protection to CNESST standards?
- Is this leak an ice dam problem, and will you assess the attic as well as the roof?
- Does my building fall under heritage rules, and who applies for approval?
- What are the workmanship and material warranties, and can I have the contract in the language I read?
Frequently asked questions
Should I clear the snow off my roof in Quebec City?
Flat and low-slope roofs sometimes need it after heavy or wet snow, and the signs are sticking doors, new cracks and sagging. Hire a company that works to CNESST fall-protection rules; do not go up yourself.
Why is water coming in above my window in winter?
Almost certainly an ice dam: heat escaping the attic melts snow that refreezes at the eaves, and water backs up under the shingles. The fix is attic air sealing, insulation and ventilation, with ice-and-water membrane added at the next replacement.
Does a roofer in Quebec need a licence?
Yes. Roofing contractors must hold a Régie du bâtiment du Québec licence, which you can verify online. Ask for the number before paying a deposit.
Can I put asphalt shingles on a house in Old Quebec?
Not necessarily. In the heritage site and other protected sectors, roofing visible from the street may need approval from the City and, for classified buildings, the Ministère de la Culture. Ask the permit office before ordering materials.
Nearby communities
Sainte-Foy, Beauport and Charlesbourg are boroughs of Quebec City; Lévis across the river is its own municipality with its own permit office. RBQ licensing and CNESST rules are the same throughout Quebec.
Browsing more broadly? Start from the Quebec City repair hub for every local guide in one place.
Sources and further reading
- Régie du bâtiment du Québec: licence lookupVerify a contractor’s licence and subclass.
- CNESSTFall protection and roof snow removal safety rules.
- Ville de Québec: permits and heritagePermit requirements and protected sectors.
- Office de la protection du consommateurCancellation rights for contracts with itinerant merchants.
Prices, programs, and acceptance rules can change. Check each source and obtain a written local quote before deciding.