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Roof Replacement Calculator

Plan a complete Canadian roof replacement in 2026: tear-off, ice and water shield, decking allowance, and full installed cost in C$ — itemized by line.

Roof Replacement Calculator

Plan the full replacement project: tear-off, disposal, decking allowance, code upgrades, crew duration, and total installed cost — all matched to your locale's currency and labour rates.

Estimated total replacement cost
$20,680
$10/sq ft · 22.4 squares · Architectural asphalt shingle
Annualised over 30-year service life: $689/yr · Project duration: 1 day(s) on a 4-person crew
Material
$4,344
Labour
$7,405
Tear-off
$2,853
Disposal
$1,476
Underlay
$1,526
Deck repair
$845
Code upgrades
$1,629
Permit + misc
$602
Surface area
2,236 sq ft
slope factor 1.118
Crew time
2.9 man-days
1 day(s) wall-clock
Debris
5,590 lbs
~10 cu yd skip

What this calculator does

This calculator estimates the full C$ cost of a Canadian sloped roof replacement, itemised the way a CRCA-member contractor’s quote should be:

  • Material — bundles, ridge cap, starter strip, hip-and-ridge accessories, fasteners
  • Labour — adjusted for pitch, complexity, and material handling
  • Tear-off — single, double, or triple existing layers
  • Disposal — bin rental and tipping fees
  • Underlayment — synthetic underlay over the full deck plus ice and water shield at eaves
  • Decking repair — % allowance for OSB or plywood replacement
  • Code upgrades — ice and water shield (NBC 9.26.5), drip edge, ventilation balance

It also estimates crew duration and debris weight / bin size.

How to use it

  1. Roof footprint — plan-view area in square feet (Canadian roofing convention is mixed; the calculator accepts both).
  2. Pitch — enter as X/12 or degrees. A 6/12 (27°) is the Canadian average.
  3. New material vs existing material — drives material cost and disposal weight.
  4. Layers to remove — single is normal; double adds C$0.45 per sq ft tear-off.
  5. Region — Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa run +15–25%; Atlantic and rural Quebec run –5–10%.
  6. Decking allowance — 5–10% on newer roofs; 15–25% on older homes with prior ice damming.
  7. Code upgrades — toggle on for NBC 9.26.5 ice and water shield, ridge ventilation upgrade.

Typical 2026 Canadian replacement costs

For a 2,000 sq ft single-family home (footprint), mid-cost region:

MaterialC$/sq ft installedTotal costCrew time
3-tab asphaltC$4.50–C$6.00C$9,000–C$12,0001–1.5 days
Architectural asphaltC$6.75–C$10.50C$13,500–C$24,0001.5–2 days
Premium / luxury asphaltC$10.50–C$14.50C$21,000–C$29,0002–3 days
Standing-seam metalC$16–C$26C$32,000–C$52,0003–4 days
Corrugated steelC$8.50–C$12.50C$17,000–C$25,0002 days
Concrete tileC$11–C$18C$22,000–C$36,0003–4 days
Cedar shakeC$13–C$20C$26,000–C$40,0004–6 days
Single-ply membrane (low-pitch)C$8.50–C$14.50C$17,000–C$29,0002–4 days

Sources: CRCA 2026 contractor benchmarks; HomeStars 2026 cost guides; Renomii Q1 2026 cost data; IKO and BP installer pricing surveys.

Regional variation in Canada

Labour drives most of the variance:

  • High cost (+15–25%): Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Edmonton
  • Above average (+8–15%): Mississauga, Surrey, Burnaby, Quebec City
  • National average: Hamilton, London, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Halifax, St. John’s
  • Below average (–5–10%): Most of Atlantic Canada, rural Quebec, rural Prairies

Quebec construction rates are governed by CCQ collective agreements — labour cost is fixed by trade, region, and overtime rules, which makes Quebec quotes more uniform but ~12% higher than equivalent Ontario rates.

Code-mandated items in NBC 2026

The 2026 National Building Code Section 9.26 requires:

  • Ice and water shield — NBC 9.26.5: from eave to a point 1 metre inside the inner face of the exterior wall (Quebec CCQ requires 1.2 m, Manitoba 1.5 m on north slopes)
  • Drip edge — at all eaves and rakes
  • Underlayment — synthetic or No. 30 felt over full deck
  • Ventilation — net free vent area equal to 1/300 of insulated ceiling area, balanced ridge / soffit
  • Snow retention — required on metal roofs over walkways and entrances per NBC 9.26.18

These items add C$1,200–C$2,800 versus pre-2015 construction.

Common Canadian gotchas

Decking surprises. Older homes (pre-1990) often have 1×6 plank decking. New code recommends plywood or OSB — C$2.30–C$3.20 per sq ft additional for re-decking.

Ice-dam damage. If you’ve had ice dams, the eave decking is likely soft. Plan extra contingency.

Skylight replacement. A skylight is the same age as the roof. Velux fixed skylight swap runs C$550–C$1,100 with flashing kit.

Chimney flashing. Replace at every re-roof. Ontario brick chimneys often need cricket installation at C$500–C$1,400.

Solar panel removal. C$3,000–C$6,000 for removal and reinstallation. Re-roof first if you’re planning solar.

Snow load. BC, Alberta foothills, and Quebec mountain regions have high snow loads (NBC 4.1.6.2) — verify the truss can take a metal-roof snow accumulation pattern before switching from asphalt.

Repair vs replace

Repair if: under 60% of expected life, localised damage, no widespread granule loss, no leaks beyond the damaged area.

Replace if: past 75% of expected life, more than 15% of the field shows curling or cupping, multiple non-adjacent leaks, ice-dam damage at eaves, or you’re planning solar in the next 5 years.

Sources: CRCA 2026 contractor pricing; National Building Code of Canada 2026, Section 9.26 (Roof Coverings); Quebec CCQ collective agreements 2026; HomeStars and Renomii 2026 cost guides; IKO, BP, and GAF Canadian distributor pricing Q1 2026; CASMA technical bulletins on ice damming.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a roof replacement cost in Canada in 2026?
A typical 2,000 sq ft Canadian home re-roof in architectural asphalt shingles costs C$13,500 to C$24,000 in 2026, including tear-off, ice and water shield, synthetic underlayment, drip edge, and disposal. Standing-seam metal runs C$32,000 to C$52,000. Concrete tile costs C$22,000 to C$36,000. Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Ottawa run 15–25% above the national benchmark; Atlantic Canada runs 5–10% below. Source: CRCA (Canadian Roofing Contractors Association) 2026 contractor pricing data, HomeStars and Renomii Q1 2026 benchmarks.
How long does a Canadian roof replacement take?
A four-person crew completes a 2,000 sq ft asphalt shingle replacement in 1.5 to 2 working days. Steel takes 2.5 to 4 days. The Canadian climate adds scheduling pressure — most contractors won't shingle below 4°C (asphalt sealant doesn't activate), and tear-offs after October 31 carry winter premiums of 10–20%. Best windows are May–June and September–October.
Should I tear off the old roof or roof over?
Always tear off in Canada. The 2026 NBC limits roof recovers to one additional layer over a single existing layer of asphalt shingles, and only with engineering verification of dead-load capacity. Recovering hides decking rot from snow-melt water that has been getting in for years, voids most manufacturer warranties (BP, IKO, Owens Corning, GAF), and adds 30–50 lb per square. Tear-off costs C$1.50–C$2.40 per sq ft and pays for itself when you find ice-dam decking damage.
What does the National Building Code require for ice and water shield?
NBC 9.26.5 requires self-adhering eave protection (ice and water shield) extending from the eave at least 1 metre inside the inner face of the exterior wall, in any region subject to ice-dam conditions — that's essentially all of Canada north of the 49th parallel. Provinces have variations: Quebec (CCQ) requires 1.2 m, Manitoba and Saskatchewan require 1.5 m on north-facing slopes. Add about C$0.55 per sq ft for ice and water shield.
What decking allowance should I budget?
Plan 5–10% on roofs under 25 years old, 12–18% on roofs 25–40 years old, and 20–35% on roofs over 40 years or with prior ice-dam history. Roofs over Quebec mansards or older Toronto Edwardians often need substantial board replacement — 1×6 plank decking is below modern code and most roofers will recommend full plywood or OSB overlay (C$2.30–C$3.20 per sq ft additional).
How big a bin do I need for a Canadian tear-off?
Asphalt shingle debris weighs about 2.5 lb per sq ft per layer. A 2,000 sq ft single-layer tear-off generates roughly 2,500 kg / 5,500 lb — a 10–14 cubic yard bin. Double-layer or tile tear-offs need 20–30 cubic yards. Most Canadian municipalities accept asphalt shingle debris at C$80–C$140 per tonne; some (Halton, Hamilton, Saanich) recycle shingles into asphalt road binder, saving 15–25%.
Will home insurance pay for a roof replacement?
Canadian home insurance pays only for sudden insured-event damage — wind, hail, falling tree, fire, vandalism. Wear and tear, ice damming, age-related shingle failure, and gradual leaks are excluded. After a hailstorm or wind event, photograph damage immediately, file the claim within the policy time limit (usually 7–30 days), and get a written assessment from a CRCA-member roofer. Most insurers depreciate asphalt shingles at 4–5% per year after age 10.
How do I find a reliable Canadian roofer?
Use CRCA (Canadian Roofing Contractors Association) — members are vetted, carry C$2 million general liability, and follow CRCA Best Practice. Cross-check on HomeStars, Renomii, and the BBB. In Quebec, verify RBQ (Régie du Bâtiment) licence; in Ontario, check the contractor's HCRA registration; in BC, Licensed Residential Builder. Get three written quotes itemising tear-off, ice and water shield, underlay, drip edge, ridge ventilation, and disposal.

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