Pareco + Answers Some of Your Questions

With some exceptions, the estimate for roofing repairs is free and includes an interview with the applicants, a site visit, an evaluation and a brief work proposal with costs transmitted by email, by mail or phone.

Municipal regulations vary greatly from one place to another, each owner is responsible for checking with the relevant authorities and obtaining the required permits. When a project requires a license of occupation of public property, Pareco + can help you through the permit process at no charge. You only pay for the permit fees.

Tar and gravel roofing is a traditional artisanal construction involving the superposition of three to five layers of tar-coated black felted papers. Gravel (sand, stone, rock or otherwise) is spread over the top, primarily to prevent direct contact of the sun’s rays on the tar and paper. This type of roofing can be up to one inch thick depending on the roofer’s methods, the type of material, the number of layers and the amount tar used.

At Pareco +, we know from experience how long our roofing team will take to remove two layers of tar and gravel roofing, which allows us to accurately estimate the costs of a project. However, we also know that if there are more than two old layers of tar and gravel, the project costs increase due to time, additional workers, special cutting tools and the additional waste transport required. Obviously, it is possible to determine the exact number of old tar and gravel layers by making a cut in the roofing to be replaced. For a minimal fee, Pareco + will be happy to do such a test when a customer wants to know the exact cost for removing that number of layers.

Following the recommendations, regulations and standards in place since the late 1960s, it is appropriate to remove all the old roofing from a residential roof prior to professional installation of new roofing. This makes it possible to check and correct any problems with the decking. The quality of the new job is then verifiable and you avoid adding more weight when piling new roofing on to old roofing.

In the experience of Pareco + and according to the recommendations of impartial parties such as designers and architects, construction engineers and technicians, etc., a system of good quality elastomeric membranes (term resulting from the amalgamation of the words elastic and polymer) is the best type of roofing material for a flat or low slope roof, as long as it is installed according to manufacturing standards and best industry practices.

In a perspective of sustainable development, this type of system overrides any other roofing type because the elastomeric membrane systems installed in Quebec since the 1970s generally show high reliability for their impermeability, stability and durability. Among the many benefits of an elastomeric membrane, it should be noted that they provide waterproofing around flashings and other roof components (chimney stacks, boxes, walls, access door, skylights, etc.) since they will extend vertically up the sides of these components and even over the roof walls. In practical terms, it is generally easier to diagnose and repair problems occurring with an elastomeric membrane than any other type of roof covering. Elastomeric membrane is available in eight colours, including reflective white.

Roofing procedures for a flat roof will differ according to the materials used. When paper, tar and gravel are used, the coverage is limited to the decking surface (horizontal portion) of the roof. When elastomeric membrane is used, the coverage includes all vertical areas as well (sides of flashings and other components, roof walls). The total area to be covered with a properly installed elastomeric membrane system varies depending on how many existing vertical areas need to be covered and waterproofed.

Depending on the type of elastomeric membrane used, they may be cold welded (with adhesives specifically designed for this purpose) or fused with a propane torch calibrated for this application. All methods of sealing elastomeric membrane are safe when performed by well-trained and experienced roofers. At Pareco +, when a roofing project involves the use of torches to fuse a membrane, the crew chief uses an infrared thermometer to monitor the temperature of the new membrane during and after installation to detect any potential fire hazard. Pareco + has installed elastomeric membrane systems since the mid-1990s and has had no incident in this regard. As required by law, Pareco + holds liability insurance for five million dollars.

This recommendation applies to roofs that have been covered for some time with tar and gravel, as it is common to see drains clogged with tar and gravel, affecting the building’s interior plumbing. A preliminary inspection of the roof drainage system will inform you on the status of your drain so you can potentially plan for corrective action which, in many cases, may be less expensive when performed in conjunction with the roofing repair work. In addition, the information obtained from the inspection can often be used to obtain a rebate on your home insurance policy.

When we see indentations on the roof where water can puddle with no way to drain off, the situation requires intervention by professional roofers who can offer a local or general solution, depending on the extent of the problem. A comprehensive solution involves building an additional structure over the existing bridge, providing the proper slope and drainage.

For a normal roof with adequate drainage, the materials warranty for SOPREMA elastomeric membrane is 10 years plus 10 years. This means that there is a 10 year unconditional warranty after the initial installation and a possible additional 10 year warranty, subject to inspection by SOPREMA in the tenth year after installation. In addition to the manufacturer’s warranty, Pareco guarantees installation for 20 years on a roof with proper drainage.

Because of the multitude of causes of water infiltration in a roof, no honest roofer can guarantee a spot repair.

Roof insulation is designed to retain heat in the inhabited parts of a building during cold weather and prevent the inside from overheating in hot weather. However, insulation should not affect the temperature of the roof decking, which should always be the same as the outdoor temperature. This important objective is reached by proper ventilation of the air gap between the insulation and the underside of the roof. Thus, when insulating the roof of a building, make sure to proportionally increase the attic ventilation. Usually, the best time to improve insulation and ventilation without affecting the inhabited parts of the building is when roofing work is being done.