A complete residential shingle roof replacement in Gatineau takes one to two days for most homes and follows a defined sequence of steps: removal of the existing roof, inspection and repair of the decking, installation of underlayment and ice protection, installation of new shingles and flashing, and full site cleanup. Understanding the process helps you know what to expect, how to prepare your property, and what to confirm with your roofer before work begins.
Step 1: Property Preparation
Before the crew arrives, you should move vehicles out of the driveway and away from the perimeter of the house. Falling debris, both old shingles and the occasional stray tool or fastener — can damage vehicles. Fragile items near the home’s exterior (planters, outdoor furniture, decorative features) should be moved or protected.
Children and pets should be kept away from the work area during the project. The noise level is significant, and the hazards present during a tear-off are real. Your roofer should discuss access requirements and any site-specific considerations before the start date.
Step 2: Tear-Off of the Existing Roof
The first task on installation day is removing the existing shingles, underlayment, and any deteriorated materials down to the roof deck (the plywood or OSB structural sheathing). This is accomplished with flat shovels and rakes, working from the ridge downward. A bin or dumpster is positioned at the property to receive the material as it is removed.
Tear-off is the noisiest part of the process. The old material is stripped in sections across the full roof before new work begins. A complete tear-off (rather than a re-roof over existing shingles) is standard for all Cossette Roofing projects, it allows full inspection of the deck, eliminates trapped heat from a second shingle layer, and ensures the manufacturer’s warranty on new materials is valid.
Step 3: Deck Inspection and Repair
Once the deck is bare, the roofer inspects every section of plywood or OSB sheathing for soft spots, rot, delamination, or structural fastener failure. Damaged sections are marked and replaced before any new material is installed. This step is not optional — installing new shingles over a compromised deck is the most common cause of premature roof failure after replacement.
The extent of deck repair is not always known before the tear-off. Your written quote should specify how deck repair will be priced (typically per square foot of replacement material) so there are no surprises if additional work is required.
Step 4: Ice and Water Shield Installation
Ice and water shield is a self-adhering rubberized underlayment installed at the eaves, valleys, and around all penetrations. Under the Quebec Building Code, it must extend from the eave to at least 600 mm inside the interior warm wall. This membrane provides the secondary waterproofing barrier against ice dam water infiltration — one of the most important components of a Quebec roof assembly.
After the eaves and valleys, synthetic underlayment (or, in some applications, additional self-adhering membrane) is installed across the remainder of the roof deck, overlapping each course upward like shingles to direct any water that gets under the shingles outward and downward.
Step 5: Drip Edge and Starter Strips
Metal drip edge is installed along the eaves and rakes (sloped edges) of the roof to direct water away from the fascia and into the gutters. The correct installation sequence is drip edge at the eave, followed by underlayment, followed by drip edge at the rakes — a sequence that prevents water from being directed behind the fascia.
Starter strip shingles are installed along the eave edge before the first field shingle course. They provide the sealant strip under the first course, which is critical for wind resistance along the most vulnerable edge of the roof.
Step 6: Shingle Installation
Field shingles are installed from the eave upward in overlapping courses, following the manufacturer’s specifications for exposure, offset, and fastener placement. Each shingle is fastened in the nail zone with the correct number of fasteners — typically four to six per shingle depending on the product and the roof pitch.
At ridges, hips, and architectural features, specially formed ridge cap shingles or cut field shingles are used to complete the weather seal. Ridge cap installation at the peak is the final shingle step and completes the continuous waterproofing layer across the roof surface.
Step 7: Flashing Installation
All flashings — at chimneys, skylights, dormers, plumbing vents, exhaust fans, and wall-to-roof transitions — are installed and sealed during the shingle installation phase, integrated into the shingle courses as work progresses. Step flashing at dormers and walls, counter flashing at chimneys, and pipe boot flashings at penetrations are all replaced as part of a complete roof replacement.
Flashing is the most failure-prone component of any roof system and the most important to install correctly. Inadequate flashing detail is the leading cause of roof leaks in the years immediately following a new installation.
Step 8: Cleanup and Inspection
After installation is complete, the crew conducts a full site cleanup: sweeping the grounds, running a magnetic roller to collect nails from the lawn and driveway, removing the bin, and clearing all debris from the property. A final walk-around with the homeowner identifies any areas for review and confirms the completed scope of work.
Cossette Roofing and Renovations provides a written completion report and reviews all warranty documentation with the homeowner at project close. All work is performed under RBQ License 5697-7788-01. For a free estimate on your roof replacement in Gatineau or the Outaouais, call 819-777-7177.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a roof replacement take in Gatineau?
Most residential shingle roof replacements in Gatineau are completed in one to two days. Larger homes, steep pitches, complex architectures, or unfavorable weather can extend the timeline to three to five days.
Do I need to be home during a roof replacement?
You do not need to be present throughout the project, but you should be available at the start and end of the project for the site walkthrough and to confirm the scope of any deck repair discovered during tear-off.
What should I do to prepare for a roof replacement?
Move vehicles out of the driveway, protect fragile outdoor items near the perimeter of the home, keep children and pets away from the work area, and remove wall-hung artwork from interior walls adjacent to the roofline (vibration from nail guns can dislodge items).
Will the roofer clean up after the installation?
Yes. A reputable roofer performs full property cleanup including magnetic nail pickup from the lawn and driveway, removal of all debris, and bin removal. Confirm cleanup responsibilities in your written contract before work begins.