Buyer's Guide
How to choose a metal roofing contractor in BC
Eight checks that work on any company, including us. With no provincial roofing licence in BC, these are what separate one quote from another.
1. Ask for a WorkSafeBC clearance letter
BC does not license roofing contractors provincially, so the first check is coverage. If a roofer's crew is not covered by WorkSafeBC and someone is hurt on your roof, the liability can land on you. WorkSafeBC lets you request a clearance letter for any firm yourself; do that rather than accept a screenshot, and check it again if the job is scheduled months out.
2. Get the liability insurance certificate from the insurer
Ask for proof of commercial general liability insurance sent directly from the broker or insurer, with the policy dates on it. A photo of a certificate from last year proves nothing about the week your roof comes off.
3. Ask about the municipal business licence
Many BC municipalities require contractors to hold a business licence to work there, and some share an inter-municipal licence across neighbouring cities. It is a quick question, and a contractor who works in your area regularly will have the answer ready.
4. Read the warranty as if the exclusions are the document
Ask four things: does the coverage reduce over time? Is there a wind figure written down, tied to installation to the manufacturer's specification? Does it transfer to the next owner, and on what terms? What is excluded? Then ask who issues it. On our roofs the material warranty comes from the manufacturer, Interlock Roofing Ltd., and we'll hand you the full document before you sign.
5. Ask what the fasteners look like
Exposed gasketed screws through the weather surface are a leak point once the gaskets age, and on the coast they spend most of the winter wet. Concealed-fastener, mechanically interlocked panels keep the fasteners out of the weather and leave no edge for a winter windstorm to get under. If the answer involves visible screws, ask what the maintenance looks like in year twelve.
6. If you live near forest or grassland, ask about the fire rating properly
A fire classification under ASTM E108 belongs to a roof assembly, not to a panel on its own. Ask exactly which assembly the rating applies to. On our roofs, Class A is available with two layers of GAF VersaShield® over 12 mm (15/32-inch) plywood. Then ask about the edges: embers get into gutters, vents and gaps, which is why FireSmart BC guidance looks at the whole home ignition zone, not just the roof covering.
7. In a strata, get approval before the contract
Most strata bylaws require written approval for changes to the exterior, including the roof. Ask the contractor to provide what the strata council needs: the profile, colour, specification sheets and warranty, and get the approval in writing before you sign.
8. Ask who manufactures the panels, and check it
Many metal roofs are re-branded panels from commodity mills. Ask for the manufacturer by name and for its published test reports. The system we install is made in Delta by Interlock Roofing Ltd.: aluminum with up to 95% recycled content, roughly 2 to 3.5 kg per square metre depending on profile, four-way interlocking with concealed fasteners, Class A Fire Rated Available as a complete assembly, minimum 3/12 slope on every profile. If you get snow, ask where it will slide and where snow guards go before the roof is ordered, not after the first slide.
Contractor-vetting questions, answered
Do roofers need a licence in BC?
Not a provincial one. BC does not license roofing contractors the way some provinces and states do. What protects you is WorkSafeBC coverage (request a clearance letter yourself), commercial liability insurance, a municipal business licence where your city requires one, a written contract and a warranty you can read in full.
What is a WorkSafeBC clearance letter?
It confirms that a firm is registered with WorkSafeBC and in good standing. You can request one yourself for any contractor. If a contractor is not covered and a worker is injured on your property, you can be exposed to the cost, so it is worth checking before work starts.
What questions should I ask a metal roofing company in BC?
Five with the highest signal: Can I get your WorkSafeBC clearance letter and insurance certificate? Who issues the warranty, does it transfer, and what does it exclude? Are the fasteners exposed or concealed? Which assembly does the fire rating apply to? Who manufactures the panels? Confident answers to all five are rare, and telling.
Does my strata need to approve a new roof?
Usually. Most strata bylaws require written approval for changes to a building's exterior, and the roof is part of it. Check your bylaws and get the approval in writing before you sign a contract; your contractor should give you the specifications the council asks for.
What is the difference between an installer and a certified installer?
Certification means the manufacturer trained the crews and stands behind the installation. Interlock Metal Roofing (BC) Ltd. is the certified Interlock® roofing contractor for British Columbia.
Should I get multiple metal roofing quotes?
Yes, and compare them like for like. A cheaper quote with exposed fasteners and a prorated warranty is not the same roof at a lower price. Compare the system, warranty terms, coverage and insurance, then compare price.
Which parts of BC do you cover?
Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Sea-to-Sky, Vancouver Island from Campbell River to Victoria, the Gulf Islands, the Sunshine Coast, the Okanagan and Kamloops. Those are the regions we currently take work in.
Ready when you are — bring this checklist to the estimate.
