A full roof replacement means stripping the old shingles or membrane down to the deck, checking the plywood or boards underneath for rot, adding ice-and-water shield and underlayment, then installing new material (asphalt shingles, metal, flat roof membrane, or in older Toronto neighbourhoods sometimes slate or cedar). It's a different job from a patch or repair: it involves permits from the City of Toronto in many cases, dumpster rental for tear-off debris, and a crew on your roof for one to several days depending on size and pitch. We track 101 companies in Toronto that do this work, from small owner-operated crews to larger firms that also handle commercial flat roofing.
When you're comparing contractors, look past the lowest quote and check a few things: are they pulling permits where required, what's the manufacturer warranty on materials versus the contractor's own workmanship warranty, and do they carry WSIB coverage and liability insurance (ask to see the certificate, don't just take their word for it). A contractor who explains what they found under the old shingles, rather than just showing up to nail down new ones, is usually the one who catches rot or ventilation problems before they become a bigger bill.
Our scoring looks at review volume and consistency, how contractors respond to negative feedback, and signals like licensing and years in business, rather than a single star rating. For the full ranked list with our reasoning on each pick, see the best roofing contractors in Toronto guide. If you want the details on how we build these rankings, our methodology page walks through it.
