In short
- HomeStars Ottawa: new asphalt shingle roofs average about $7,200, from $4,000 to $20,500 on reported jobs.
- HomeStars sorts shingles into 3-tab, dimensional and luxury lines and gives a 20 to 50 year lifespan.
- One Ontario firm's list: architectural shingles $5.50–$7.50 per square foot, a second old layer adds $800–$1,500, decking repairs $3–$6 per square foot.
- A shingle-for-shingle re-roof needs no City of Ottawa permit, and the Ontario Building Code still governs it.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingle roof, Ottawa | $4,000–$20,500 | HomeStars; average about $7,200 |
| 3-tab, Ontario, installed per sq ft | $4.50–$5.50 | One Ontario firm’s list, tear-off of one layer included |
| Architectural, Ontario, installed per sq ft | $5.50–$7.50 | Same firm’s list |
| 1,500 sq ft roof, architectural | $8,250–$11,250 | Same firm; tear-off, disposal, ice shield |
| Second old layer | $800–$1,500 | Same firm; added to the quote |
| Decking repair | $3–$6 per sq ft | Same firm; billed separately |
Sources. HomeStars, Roofing Cost Guide for Ottawa, updated 21.08.2026, seen 29.10.2026. JDM Roofing, Roof Replacement Cost in Canada, 15.08.2025, seen 29.10.2026 (Canada-wide, one Ottawa firm). Custom Contracting, Roofing Cost Ontario, seen 29.10.2026 (one Brantford firm, Ontario-wide prices). Permit: City of Ottawa, projects not requiring building permits, seen 29.10.2026. Attic heat: Natural Resources Canada, Keeping the Heat In, section 5, seen 29.10.2026. Ottawa firm’s page: Roofmaster, Roof Replacement in Ottawa, seen 29.10.2026 (15-to-25-year life, overlay advice, ice and water shield). Contract rules: Ontario, guide for home renovation and roofing businesses, seen 29.10.2026.
Three shingle lines
HomeStars sorts the shingles on Ottawa roofs into three groups: 3-tab, dimensional and luxury. A 3-tab shingle is the thinnest and lowest priced line. A dimensional (also called architectural) shingle is laminated and sits thicker on the roof. Luxury or designer shingles are the premium tier.
One Ontario firm’s list shows the step: 3-tab at $4.50–$5.50 per square foot installed, architectural at $5.50–$7.50, premium designer at $8.00–$12.00. That list calls 3-tab a budget, wind-prone option and architectural the common pick, with tear-off of one layer included.
What a shingle roof is made of
Under the shingle sit the parts that keep water out when wind pushes rain up the slope or ice backs it up at the eaves:
- Deck. The boards or plywood the shingles are nailed to. Soft boards are replaced before the new roof goes on, billed at $3–$6 per square foot in one Ontario list.
- Underlayment. A waterproof membrane over the deck.
- Ice and water membrane. Self-adhesive sheet along the eaves and in the valleys, where Ottawa ice and meltwater push hardest. One Ottawa firm says to spend money here; the ice dams page explains why.
- Drip edge. A metal edge that steers water off the fascia. HomeStars says codes do not require it on a house; it recommends it.
- Flashing and ridge cap. Fresh flashing at each chimney, vent and valley, and ridge caps along the peak.
Quotes that name these items one by one are easy to compare.
What drives the price of a shingle roof
HomeStars Ottawa: $4,000 at the low end of reported jobs, $20,500 at the top, about $7,200 on average. A Canada-wide guide from an Ottawa firm puts small homes at $6,000–$10,000 and larger homes at $15,000–$20,000 and up. Pitch, valleys, dormers and chimneys add labour. Removal and disposal is a charge of its own, $1,000 and up in that guide.
The full side-by-side of sizes and materials sits on roof replacement cost. For another material, see metal roofing.
Lifespan and warranty wording
HomeStars gives a 20 to 50 year life for asphalt shingles. One Ottawa firm says most local roofs go at 15 to 25, and a Canada-wide guide agrees on 15 to 25 for the typical asphalt roof. Read these as ratings under good conditions. A blocked attic, an ice-prone eave or a missed flashing shortens the real number.
Warranty papers come in two parts: the manufacturer’s, on the shingle, and the company’s, on the work. The Ontario guide says the contract must describe any warranty on goods and on labour. Ask to see both in writing before you sign.
Permit and rules
A shingle re-roof is on the City’s no-permit list, which still holds the work to the Ontario Building Code. Heritage-designated houses and properties inside a Heritage District Overlay sit outside the exemption. The roofing permits page covers the rest.
Timing in Ottawa
Spring is the season HomeStars prefers for an Ottawa re-roof. One Ontario firm reports that most contractors close their replacement bookings by November. Ask the company how it handles a cold snap with the roof half done.
Who you are dealing with
The desk stocks no shingles and sends no crews. One independent Ottawa roofer receives your request, looks at the roof and writes the quote. Ask it for the shingle line by name and the written price of deck repairs.
Questions to ask the company
- Which shingle line and brand is in the price?
- How many layers are you removing, and is a second layer priced separately?
- What goes under the shingles: underlayment type, and ice protection on the eaves and valleys?
- Are drip edge, ridge caps and new flashing around the chimney and vents in the total?
- What does the manufacturer's warranty cover, and what does your own workmanship warranty cover?
Have this ready for the call
- Photos of every slope from the ground or a window
- The number of layers you know of
- Roof outline: footprint, storeys, steep or low pitch
- Chimneys, vent stacks, skylights and dormers, listed
Questions people ask
What is the difference between 3-tab and dimensional shingles?
HomeStars names three types sold in Ottawa: 3-tab, dimensional and luxury. One Ontario firm lists 3-tab at $4.50–$5.50 per square foot installed and architectural (dimensional) at $5.50–$7.50. Ask the roofer for the product name so that quotes compare line by line, and for the warranty term of that line.
How long do asphalt shingles last in Ottawa?
HomeStars gives a 20 to 50 year life across the three types. One Ottawa roofer says most local roofs need replacing at 15 to 25. The product line and the conditions on your roof move the number, so ask the roofer to say which rating applies.
Can a second layer of shingles go over the first?
It can be done, and it saves the tear-off charge. Roofmaster, an Ottawa firm, warns that an overlay covers up deck faults and cuts into the new shingles’ life. Where a second old layer has to come off, one Ontario firm’s list adds $800–$1,500, so ask for that line in writing.
Do darker shingles make the house hotter?
Natural Resources Canada says attic ventilation reduces summer heat buildup in the attic and prolongs the life of roofing. The sources here do not rate shingle colour. Ask the company what ventilation the quote includes, and whether it changes anything for your roof.
Are impact-resistant shingles worth asking about?
One Ontario firm’s October 2026 note says several Ontario insurers give 5–15% premium discounts for Class 4 impact-resistant shingles. Ask your own broker first. The discount depends on the insurer and the policy, and may need proof of the shingle rating from the roofer.