Metal roofing in Ottawa: one request, one quote
Say what is on the roof now, the house size and the metal you have in mind. One local roofing company gets the work order and calls you to measure and quote.
In short
- 01A metal roof in Ottawa averages about $22,500 on HomeStars, with reported jobs from $7,500 to $55,000 and up.
- 02That compares with about $7,200 on average for a new asphalt shingle roof in the same guide.
- 03Some roofers install metal over the old shingles, with a ventilation space between; others tear off first. Each changes the price.
- 04Ice can slide off a metal roof in large sheets, so doors, walkways and parking under the eaves matter.
- 05The City's no-permit list names asphalt shingles. For metal, check with 3-1-1 before the job starts.
Typical ranges
Source HomeStars, Roofing Cost Guide for Ottawa, updated 21.08.2026, seen 29.10.2026 (ranges, install over the old roof with a ventilation space, rain noise, materials); HomeStars, roofing companies in Ottawa, seen 29.10.2026 (hourly rate). Sliding ice: CAA-Quebec, ice dams along the roof edge, seen 29.10.2026. Permits: City of Ottawa, projects not requiring building permits, seen 29.10.2026. Deposits and estimates: Ontario, guide for home renovation and roofing businesses, seen 29.10.2026. The company that calls you quotes its own price.
What to ask before you book
- Q1Will you install over my shingles with strapping and a ventilation space, or tear off first, and why?
- Q2Which panel: standing seam with hidden fasteners, or exposed-fastener panels? What metal and thickness?
- Q3Where will you put snow guards, and over which doors and walkways?
- Q4Who checks with the City whether my job needs a permit, and who applies if it does?
- Q5What does the manufacturer's warranty cover, and what is your own workmanship warranty, in writing?
Before the visit
- What is on the roof now, and how many layers, if you know.
- Photos of each slope from the ground, and of chimneys, skylights and vents.
- Where people walk and park under the eaves: front door, side door, driveway, deck.
- A rough footprint of the house, or the square footage from the listing.
- The look you want: colour, standing seam or metal shingle profile, with a photo of a roof you like.
What to put in a metal roofing request
Metal is quoted from measurements, so give the roofer what they need to plan the visit:
- What is on the roof now. Asphalt shingles, how many layers if you know, and any soft spots.
- The house. Storeys, the main roof shape, dormers, skylights, chimneys.
- The look. Standing seam with vertical ribs, or metal shingles that imitate slate or shakes. A colour, or a photo of a roof you like.
- Under the eaves. Doors, walkways, decks and parking that sit below a slope.
Example: “Bungalow in Orléans, one layer of shingles, one chimney, one skylight. Want charcoal standing seam. Front door and driveway sit under the north slope.”
Over the old roof or after a tear-off
HomeStars notes that a metal roof can go over the old roof with a ventilation space between them to reduce moisture build-up. A tear-off adds removal and disposal but lets the roofer see and replace soft decking. The two approaches give different prices for the same house, so compare quotes on the same method or ask each company to price both.
Ask what goes on top of the deck: strapping, underlayment, ventilation at the ridge and the eaves. A quote that lists the layers is easier to compare than a single number.
Snow, ice and noise
Ice can slide off a metal roof in large sheets. On an Ottawa house that matters over the front steps, the side door, a deck and the car. Snow guards hold the load in place; their position belongs in the contract.
HomeStars also notes that metal can be louder than shingles in heavy rain. The layers under the panels change that, so ask what the roofer plans for your attic.
Permits for a metal roof
The City of Ottawa’s list of projects that need no building permit names installing asphalt shingles. Metal roofing is absent from that list. Before the crew books a date, ask the City through 3-1-1, buildingpermits@ottawa.ca or the Building Code Client Service Centre, and settle in the contract who applies if a permit is needed. Designated heritage buildings and homes in a Heritage District Overlay need a call to the City in any case.
Who you are dealing with
Ottawa Roofing Desk passes your work order to one independent local roofing company. That company calls you, measures the roof, quotes the metal job and installs it. The contract is between you and them.
Questions
01What does a metal roof cost in Ottawa?
HomeStars’ Ottawa guide puts the average at about $22,500, with reported jobs from $7,500 to $55,000 and up. The size of the roof, its pitch, the panel type and whether the old roof comes off all move the price.
02Can metal go over my old shingles?
Some roofers do it, adding a ventilation space between the old roof and the metal to reduce moisture build-up. Others tear off first. Ask each company which it proposes for your roof and what the difference in price is.
03Is a metal roof loud in the rain?
It can be louder than asphalt shingles in heavy rain. Ask the roofer what goes under the panels on your roof, since the layers between the metal and the attic change what you hear.
04What happens with snow on a metal roof?
Ice can slide off a metal roof in large sheets. Plan snow guards over doors, walkways, decks and the driveway, and write their placement into the contract.
05How big a deposit should I pay?
Ontario’s guide for roofing businesses recommends deposits of no more than 10% of the total. Ask what the deposit covers and when the metal is ordered.