Ontario Roofing Contract Checklist: What Should Be in Writing?

The contract should identify exactly who is responsible

Use the legal business name, address and contact information that the contractor provides. If the salesperson, crew or subcontractor uses a different name, ask how those parties relate to the business signing the agreement.

Ontario's consumer guidance treats the written contract as a core protection for both homeowner and contractor. If an important promise exists only in a verbal conversation, it is much harder to prove what was agreed.

Write the roof scope so another person could understand it

A strong roofing scope explains what is being removed, installed, repaired and disposed of. It should identify the roof areas included, product type or line where agreed, and important accessories or allowances.

• Tear-off layers and disposal.
• Underlayment and eaves protection.
• Shingle, metal or specialty roofing product and colour if chosen.
• Flashing at walls, valleys, chimneys and penetrations.
• Ventilation work and vent types.
• Decking/sheathing allowance or unit price for unforeseen replacement.
• Skylight, chimney or gutter-related work if included.
• Magnetic nail sweep, site cleanup and debris removal.

Make the estimate part of the contract

Ontario's official renovation guidance says that when an estimate is included in the contract, the final price generally cannot exceed the original estimate by more than 10% unless the customer has agreed to new or different goods or services and signed a change to the contract.

That is one reason the original scope needs detail. A vague one-line estimate does not give you the same baseline for deciding whether later work is truly extra.

Define deposits and payment milestones

The contract should show the total price, applicable taxes and the payment schedule. Ontario's homeowner guidance recommends keeping down payments to a minimum and recommends no more than 10%.

Avoid a structure where nearly all of the price is due before meaningful work has been completed. The payment schedule should follow understandable milestones and end with a clear final-payment point.

Use written change orders for surprises

Roof tear-off can expose hidden damage. Decide in advance how that situation will be priced and approved. For example, the contract can include a unit price or allowance for decking replacement and require homeowner authorization before additional work beyond that allowance.

A change order should identify the new work, added or reduced price and any schedule effect. Both sides benefit when the project record stays current.

Record schedule, cleanup and warranty terms

Write down the expected start window, completion expectations, weather-delay handling, daily cleanup, final cleanup and material/labour warranties. If landscaping, siding, windows, eaves or neighbouring property need special protection, make that responsibility explicit.

Understand cancellation information before signing

Ontario's roofing guidance explains that some agreements signed in the homeowner's home are direct agreements and may carry a 10-calendar-day cooling-off period when the contract is worth $50 or more. If work begins during that period and the homeowner later cancels, reasonable compensation for work and materials may still be owed.

Do not rely on a summary alone. Read the current Ontario guidance and your actual contract before making a cancellation decision.

Add a short “not included” section

Exclusions can be as important as inclusions. A contract that says what it does not cover reduces the chance that homeowner and contractor make different assumptions. Common examples include structural framing, interior drywall repairs, gutter replacement, skylight replacement, chimney masonry, asbestos or hazardous-material work, and landscaping repairs unrelated to normal site protection.

An exclusion is not automatically a problem. The problem is discovering it after the price has been accepted. If an excluded item may realistically become necessary, ask how it would be quoted and approved.

Match warranty language to the party actually providing it

Roofing projects can involve a manufacturer warranty, a contractor workmanship warranty, or both. Record which party is responsible for each promise, how long it lasts, what conditions apply and what documentation you need to keep. Avoid treating a product warranty as if it automatically covers every installation problem.

At closeout, collect the final invoice, proof of payment, product information, warranty registration instructions if any, and approved change orders. The contract file should tell the story of the project from original scope through final price.