Failures, Disputes and Official Sources
Roofing and siding problems in Canada: what goes wrong and who can help
The most common roof and siding failures and disputes in Canada, mapped to the warranty, insurer, regulator, consumer office or court that can help, with official sources.
Most roofing and siding problems in Canada fall into six patterns: installation defects (leaks at flashing, poor ventilation, ice dams), warranty disappointments (prorated or voided manufacturer coverage), insurance disputes (claims refused as wear and tear or settled at depreciated value), contractor failures (abandoned jobs, lost deposits, unlicensed or uninsured crews), liens from unpaid subcontractors and suppliers, and scams after storms. Each has a different first stop: the contractor's written warranty, the manufacturer, your insurer's complaint process and then the General Insurance OmbudService or your provincial regulator, the provincial consumer protection office, the RBQ in Quebec, and finally small claims court or a tribunal. This page maps each problem to the right place and links to the detailed guides.
This is the overview for the failures, disputes and official sources section. It is general information, not legal advice.
Problem map
| Problem | First step | Then | Detailed guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| New roof leaks | Written notice to the contractor under the workmanship warranty | Manufacturer if a product defect; consumer office or small claims | Warranties |
| Ice dams, condensation, mould in attic | Inspect ventilation, insulation and air leaks | Contractor if installation caused it | Ice dams, ventilation, flashing |
| Hail or wind damage | Notify your insurer promptly, document damage | Insurer's complaint officer, then GIO or regulator | Insurance claims |
| Claim refused as wear and tear | Ask for the reasons and policy wording in writing | Internal complaint, ombudservice, regulator | Insurance claims |
| Door-to-door seller, pressure, big deposit | Use your cooling-off right in writing | Consumer protection office; police if fraud | Storm chasers and scams |
| Contractor abandoned job or kept deposit | Written demand with deadline | Consumer office; RBQ in Quebec; small claims | Complaints |
| Lien registered on your title | Do not pay the holdback to the contractor; get legal advice | Court process under the lien act | Holdbacks |
| Permit or bylaw issue | Contact the city building department | Corrective work and inspection | Permits |
Common installation failures
Roof leaks on a new roof are rarely the shingles themselves. Common causes include:
- Flashing: reused or missing step flashing at walls, poor chimney counter flashing, missing kick-out flashing at the bottom of a roof-wall junction.
- Eave protection: missing or too-short ice and water membrane at the eaves where ice dams form.
- Ventilation: blocked soffit intake, too few exhaust vents, or mixing vent types in ways the manufacturer does not allow.
- Fastening: nails too high, overdriven or too few, which matters for wind resistance and warranty.
- Valleys: poorly cut closed valleys or missing valley membrane.
- Siding junctions: missing barrier lapping and flashing over windows and at roof lines.
Photograph problems as soon as you see them, including inside the attic, and keep the photos dated.
Getting evidence for any dispute
- Your contract, quote, invoices, receipts and payment proof.
- Product names and warranty registration.
- Dated photos and videos before, during and after the work.
- Messages with the contractor.
- An independent inspection report, if the dispute is about workmanship. Choose an inspector or roofer with no stake in the original job.
- For insurance, the policy wording, declarations page and claim correspondence.
Who regulates what
| Body | What it does for this topic |
|---|---|
| Provincial consumer protection offices (Consumer Protection Ontario, Consumer Protection BC, Office de la protection du consommateur in Quebec, Service Alberta and others) | Contract rules, door-to-door sales, complaints about businesses |
| Régie du bâtiment du Québec | Contractor licensing and building standards in Quebec |
| Municipal building departments | Permits, inspections and bylaws |
| Insurance regulators (FSRA in Ontario, AMF in Quebec, BCFSA in BC, and provincial superintendents elsewhere) | Insurer conduct and complaint handling |
| General Insurance OmbudService (GIO) | Independent help with disputes between consumers and participating home, auto and business insurers |
| Provincial workers' compensation boards | Contractor coverage and clearance |
| Small claims courts and BC's Civil Resolution Tribunal | Deciding money disputes |
Limitation periods: don't wait
Provinces set limitation periods for suing, often two years from when you discovered the problem in several common-law provinces and generally three years in Quebec, with exceptions. Warranty claims may also need notice within a set time. Insurance policies set their own deadlines for reporting a loss and starting an action. If a dispute is serious, get advice well before any deadline.
Worked example: deciding where to start
Illustrative: a roof installed 14 months ago leaks at the chimney after heavy rain. The contract gives a 5-year written workmanship warranty.
- Notify the contractor in writing with photos, asking for a repair within 14 days.
- If no response, send a formal demand letter referring to the warranty clause.
- If still no response, get a quote from another roofer (say an illustrative $850) and an inspection noting the cause.
- Complain to the consumer protection office and, in Quebec, check the contractor's RBQ status.
- Claim the repair cost in small claims court or, in BC, the Civil Resolution Tribunal for claims up to $5,000.
Do not involve the home insurer for a workmanship defect unless the leak caused sudden water damage inside; even then, policies often exclude the faulty workmanship itself. See insurance claims.
Where to find official information
- Rules for contracts and complaints: your provincial consumer office.
- Building code: the code your province adopted, based on the National Building Code of Canada.
- Permits: your municipality's website.
- Taxes: the Canada Revenue Agency and, in Quebec, Revenu Québec.
- Rebates: Natural Resources Canada and provincial programs. See rebates in 2026.
- Laws: Justice Laws Website (federal), and provincial legislation sites such as Ontario e-Laws, BC Laws and LégisQuébec.
FAQ
Can I withhold payment if the work is defective?
Only as your contract and the law allow. Withholding the statutory holdback is normal; withholding more for deficiencies should be agreed and proportionate. Excessive withholding can put you in breach.
Should I post a review about a bad roofer?
Stick to verifiable facts and avoid exaggeration; defamation law applies to online reviews. A formal complaint to the right body is usually more effective.
Who pays for an independent inspection?
Usually you, at first. You may be able to recover it as part of a successful claim.
Sources
- Consumer Protection Ontario — complaints and contract rights
- Office de la protection du consommateur — Quebec consumer rights
- Consumer Protection BC — BC complaints
- General Insurance OmbudService — home insurance disputes
- Civil Resolution Tribunal — BC small claims up to $5,000
- Régie du bâtiment du Québec — Quebec contractor licences
