Flat roof repair in Hamilton

Flat roof services in Hamilton

Hamilton has many mid- and high-rise buildings, whose flat roofs are managed by condo boards and property managers. The usual work is drains, flashings at mechanical units and planned replacements. We find where the water gets in, fix that spot and tell you how much life the rest of the roof has.

When a roof is past repair, we replace it with EPDM, TPO, PVC or modified bitumen, and fix the drainage so water does not sit on the new membrane. Owners and property managers also book inspections and maintenance visits.

Steel city, escarpment and old wards: Hamilton

Hamilton became a major port after a canal cut through the sand bar in 1832 and received city status in 1846. Between 1900 and 1914 the population doubled, and Stelco formed in 1910 and Dofasco in 1912. At one time the two produced about sixty percent of Canada's steel. McMaster University moved to Hamilton in 1930, and the 2001 amalgamation added Ancaster, Dundas, Stoney Creek, Flamborough and Glanbrook. Census data show about 61% of homes were built before 1981 and about 33% before 1961.

Downtown Hamilton and the lower city have brick row houses, corner stores and mixed-use blocks where flat roofs over rear additions and storefronts are very common. Westdale and Ainslie Wood sit near McMaster, and the Niagara Escarpment divides the upper-city suburbs from the harbour side. Along Hamilton Harbour, steel mills, warehouses and port buildings have huge low-slope roofs. Stoney Creek, Ancaster and Dundas each have their own older cores plus later subdivisions, so roof age varies widely from one area to the next.

Hamilton weather and your flat roof

Ontario's Building Code sets the climate values used to design roofs in each municipality. They show what a flat roof in Hamilton has to handle. Figures are for Hamilton below the escarpment. Snow loads on the Mountain are higher.

• 1.1 kPaGround snow load (about 23 lb per sq ft)
• 0.4 kPaRain load added to snow (Sr)
• 23 mmRain in a 15-minute storm (design value)
• 108 mmRain in one day, 1-in-50-year storm
• -17 °CJanuary design temperature
• 3,460Heating degree-days per year
• 0.46 kPaHourly wind pressure, 1-in-50-year

That snow load is about 1.2 times the Toronto figure. Snow drifts against parapets, walls and rooftop units, and the weight sits on the roof for weeks. Drains that freeze shut leave meltwater nowhere to go.

Short summer storms can still drop 23 mm of rain in 15 minutes, so drains and scuppers have to be clear and sealed.

Environment and Climate Change Canada climate normals (1991–2020) record about 157 cm of snowfall a year at the Hamilton John C. Munro Int'l Airport station.

Source: Ontario Building Code, Supplementary Standard SB-1, Table 1.2

Homes and buildings in Hamilton

The age and type of buildings shape the flat roofs we see. These are the 2021 Census figures for Hamilton.

• 61%Homes built before 1981
• 18%Homes built since 2001
• 59%Detached and semi-detached houses
• 12%Row houses and townhouses
• 16%Apartments in buildings of 5+ storeys
• 34%Households that rent

16% of homes in Hamilton are apartments in buildings of five or more storeys. Those roofs are looked after by condo boards and property managers, who need a written scope, photos and a plan that fits the reserve fund. See condo buildings and apartment buildings.

About 61% of homes in Hamilton were built before 1981, more than in 26 of the 40 Ontario cities on this site. Older houses often have flat roofs over rear additions, kitchens and porches, sometimes with two or three layers of old roofing on top of each other. Replacing one usually starts with a full tear-off and a look at the wood deck underneath.

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census Profile

Hamilton: facts for property owners

• Population of Hamilton: 569,353 (2021 Census). Source
• City of Hamilton: a permit is required for replacing roofing with a different material and for repairs to structural members (e.g. roof sheathing). Source
• Downspout disconnection: City guidance to disconnect downspouts from sewers to reduce basement flooding. Source
• Protective Plumbing Program: Grant (subsidy) up to $2,000 plus loan option for protective plumbing for single-family homes. Source
• Stormwater fee (from 2028): City will implement a stormwater fee in 2028 based on property load; credits / incentive program under engagement. Source

Rules and programs change. Confirm current details with the municipality before you start work.

Starting prices in Hamilton

Starting prices in CAD before 13% HST, based on typical Ontario contractor rates (mostly Toronto and the GTA). The final price depends on roof size, access, the layers to remove, the membrane, drains and flashings, and is confirmed in your written quote.

See all prices.