In Which Neighbourhoods of Montreal Are White Roofs Mandatory and Why?

Do you own a residential, commercial or industrial building in the vast Montreal region and are about to get its roof renovated? Do you know that more and more boroughs require the installation of a white roof during new construction, expansion or repair work? At Couvreurs DM, flat roof specialists in Montreal, we would like to inform you about the reasons for this by-law and the neighbourhoods concerned by it.

Why Are White Roofs Mandatory?

Initially, virtually all roofs that were flat or had slopes lower than 16.7% were dark in color. As dark shades have the particularity of attracting more UV rays and storing heat, urban areas have gradually turned into heat island sites. Since they have the ability to reflect the sun's rays, white roofs have become an obvious solution to counter these islands.

What Are the Risks of Heat Islands?

Heat islands harm both the environment and human health. They contribute, among other things, to smog formation, increased energy requirements of air conditioning units (dark roofs increasing the building’s internal temperature), and degradation of air quality apart from causing increased discomfort, weakness and higher death rates during heat waves.

Which Districts Are Imposing White Roofs?

More and more neighbourhoods are changing their by-laws to include a requirement to install a white, reflective or green roof during construction or renovation. Here’s a list of the boroughs which, to date, require this type of covering:

• Ahuntsic-Cartierville
• Côte-des-Neiges – Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
• The South-West
• Mercier – Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
• Rosemont – La Petite-Patrie
• Saint Laurent
• Saint-Léonard
• Verdun
• Ville-Marie
• Villeray – Saint-Michel – Parc-Extension

This list is however subject to change. To find out about roofing regulations in your neighbourhood, visit the Ville de Montréal website. You will also find information on the possible types of white roofs as well as the solar reflectance index (SRI) required for each location.

You have your license in hand and want to entrust a professional team with the installation of your white roof in Rosemont, Saint-Laurent or any other district of Montreal? Contact us at Couvreurs DM and together we will assess the best covering options available to you!