Roofing cost in Ottawa: published ranges and what moves them
Ottawa figures for roof repair, a new shingle roof, metal and eavestroughs, each linked to where it was published. Then what turns a range into your quote.
In short
- 01Roof repair in Ottawa: about $1,800 on average, from $300 to $10,000 (HomeStars).
- 02New asphalt shingle roof: about $7,200 on average, from $4,000 to $20,500.
- 03Metal roof: about $22,500 on average, from $7,500 to $55,000 and up.
- 04New roof of any type: about $15,000 on average, up to $60,000 and more.
- 05Ontario rule: the final bill can be at most 10% over the estimate unless you sign a change for extra work.
Typical ranges
Source Roof figures: HomeStars, Roofing Cost Guide for Ottawa, updated 21.08.2026, seen 29.10.2026 (averages, lowest and highest reported jobs, cost factors). Labour and extra fees: HomeStars, roofing companies in Ottawa, seen 29.10.2026. Eavestroughs: HomeStars, gutter and eavestrough companies in Ottawa, seen 29.10.2026. Contract rules: Ontario, guide for home renovation and roofing businesses, seen 29.10.2026. Permits: City of Ottawa, projects not requiring building permits, seen 29.10.2026. HomeStars ranges are lowest and highest reported jobs; the company that calls you quotes its own price.
What to ask before you book
- Q1Is the old roof torn off, or are you shingling over it, and what does each option cost?
- Q2What is your price per sheet of decking if you find rot?
- Q3Are disposal, the bin, equipment and any permit in the total?
- Q4Which shingle line, underlayment and eave protection are in this price?
- Q5What deposit do you want, and when is the rest due?
Before the visit
- The roof's rough size: house footprint, storeys, and how steep it looks.
- Number of layers on the roof now, if you know it.
- Chimneys, skylights, dormers and vents, listed or photographed.
- Where a disposal bin can sit: driveway, street frontage, lane.
- Two or three written quotes laid side by side, line by line.
The Ottawa ranges, side by side
HomeStars publishes Ottawa roofing figures from jobs reported on its site. The averages and the spread:
| Job | Average | Lowest reported | Highest reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof repair | $1,800 | $300 | $10,000 |
| Asphalt shingle roof | $7,200 | $4,000 | $20,500 |
| Metal roof | $22,500 | $7,500 | $55,000+ |
| New roof, all types | $15,000 | $8,000 | $60,000+ |
The spread is wide because roofs are. A bungalow with one gentle slope and a two-storey house with dormers, a steep pitch and a chimney sit at opposite ends of the same line.
What moves your price
HomeStars lists these factors for Ottawa roofs:
- Tear-off or overlay. New shingles can go over the old layer or the roof can be stripped to the deck. The method changes the labour, the disposal and the price.
- Pitch. The steeper the roof, the more it costs to install.
- Rafters and trusses. If the frame under the deck is damaged, it has to be replaced, which adds to the total.
- Drip edge. A metal edge at the eaves that steers water away from the fascia. HomeStars notes it is optional under building codes on houses and recommends it. Ask whether it is in the price.
- Removal, disposal, equipment and permits. Ottawa roofers may add each of these to the price.
On top of that come the roof’s size, the material and how many chimneys, skylights and valleys the crew has to work around.
Reading a roofing quote
Two quotes compare only when they price the same job. Line them up and check each covers:
- Tear-off or overlay, and how many layers come off.
- The shingle or metal product by brand and line, the underlayment, and what goes at the eaves.
- A unit price for rotten decking, per sheet.
- Flashing at chimneys, walls and skylights: new or reused.
- Bin, disposal, cleanup of nails from the yard.
- HST, the deposit, when the rest is due, and the start and finish dates.
- The written warranty on materials and on workmanship.
Ontario requires a written agreement for any job over $50, listing the work and materials, any warranties, the total with taxes, the payment schedule and the start and finish dates. If you sign at your home, you have a 10-day cooling-off period to cancel for any reason, and deposits come back within 15 days of your notice.
Seasons and timing
HomeStars’ Ottawa guide calls spring the preferred season for a new roof. Book the quote visit early if you want a set month, and write the dates you need in the work order. The company tells you on the call when it can do the work.
Who you are dealing with
Ottawa Roofing Desk sends your work order to one independent local roofing company. That company calls you, sees the roof, quotes it and does the job. You compare and decide.
Questions
01How much does a new roof cost in Ottawa?
HomeStars’ Ottawa guide puts a new asphalt shingle roof at about $7,200 on average, with reported jobs from $4,000 to $20,500. A metal roof averages about $22,500. Size, pitch, tear-off and repairs to the frame move your price within those ranges.
02What does a roofer charge per hour in Ottawa?
Many Ottawa roofing contractors charge $50–$100 an hour, per HomeStars. Materials, removal, disposal and equipment can come on top, so ask for the full total in writing.
03Can the final bill be higher than the quote?
Under Ontario rules a business can charge at most 10% above the estimated cost unless you need extra or different work and both of you sign a change to the contract.
04How much deposit is normal?
The Ontario guide for home renovation and roofing businesses recommends deposits of no more than 10% of the total project cost.
05Does a permit add to the cost?
The City of Ottawa lists installing asphalt shingles among projects that need no building permit. Structural repairs need one, and heritage properties get no exemptions. Ask whether a permit fee is in the quote if your job needs one.