Trust neighbour recommendations a little more than online reviews, because you can see the actual roof and ask follow-up questions, but don't rely on either alone. A neighbour's experience is one job; reviews show patterns but can be filtered or faked. Use both as a starting point, then verify the RBQ licence, compare written quotes and call references.
You need a roofer. Your neighbour swears by the guy who did her roof three summers ago. Meanwhile, a quick search shows a different company with dozens of glowing reviews. Who do you call?
Both sources have real value, and both have blind spots. Here’s how to use each one wisely, from someone who’s seen plenty of roofing jobs go right and a few go very wrong.
Neighbour recommendations vs. online reviews: the short answer
When it comes to neighbour recommendations vs. online reviews, a recommendation from someone you know usually carries more weight, because you can see the finished roof and ask honest questions. But one happy neighbour is still just one job. Online reviews add volume and show patterns over time. The smartest move is to use both as leads, then verify the roofer yourself.
Why neighbour recommendations are so valuable
A recommendation from next door has advantages no website can match.
- You can see the work. Walk outside and look at the roof from the street: straight lines, tidy flashing, even ridge caps.
- Same conditions. Your neighbour’s house faces the same weather, the same winters and often the same type of roof.
- You can ask anything. Did they stay on budget? Did they clean up? Did they come back when there was a problem?
- Time has passed. A roof that still looks good after a few Montreal winters says more than a review written the day the crew left.
Say you live in a row of duplexes in Verdun and three neighbours on your street used the same roofer for their flat roofs. That’s a meaningful track record on exactly your type of building.
The limits of a neighbour’s opinion
- It’s usually one job, and one experience can be luck, good or bad.
- Your neighbour may not know what a good roof job looks like up close.
- The company may have changed owners, crews or prices since then.
- Friendship can soften the truth. People don’t love admitting they overpaid.
- A flat-roof specialist may not be the right choice for your steep shingle roof, and vice versa.
What online reviews do well
Reviews give you something a neighbour can’t: many experiences at once. Read enough of them and patterns appear.
- Consistent praise for communication and cleanup is a good sign.
- Repeated complaints about the same issue, like missed start dates or unanswered warranty calls, is a warning.
- How the company responds to negative reviews tells you how it treats unhappy clients.
- Recent reviews show what the company is like now, not five years ago.
The problems with online reviews
- Some reviews are fake, bought or written by friends and family.
- Businesses may ask only happy clients to post.
- Many reviews are written right after the job, before the roof has faced a single winter.
- Some negative reviews are unfair or come from misunderstandings.
- A handful of reviews is not a pattern.
How to read reviews like a pro
| Look for | Be careful with |
|---|---|
| Details about the actual job: roof type, area, timing | Short, generic five-star comments with no specifics |
| Reviews spread over months and years | A burst of reviews posted in the same week |
| Mentions of warranty follow-up or callbacks | Only praise for price, nothing about quality |
| Calm, professional replies to complaints | Aggressive replies or no replies at all |
| Mixed reviews that still trend positive | A perfect score with almost no reviews |
What matters more than either
Recommendations and reviews tell you who to call. They don’t tell you whether a roofer is licensed, fairly priced or right for your specific job. That’s where your own checks come in.
- Verify the RBQ licence. Use the RBQ online licence search and make sure the licence includes a subclass that covers roofing.
- Check the OPC record. The Office de la protection du consommateur lets you look up a merchant’s record.
- Call references from recent jobs similar to yours.
- Get written, detailed quotes with scope, materials, warranty and taxes spelled out.
- Compare. Comparing quotes from several licensed contractors is the best protection, whether they came from a neighbour, a review site or a referral service.
For context, small roof repairs often cost roughly a few hundred dollars up to about $2,000 before taxes, and asphalt shingle replacement on a typical Quebec house often lands roughly between $8,000 and $20,000 before taxes. It varies with size, slope, access and condition. A recommended roofer whose price is far outside the others deserves a few questions.
A simple way to combine both
Here’s a practical approach many homeowners use:
- Take one or two names from neighbours you trust.
- Add one or two names with solid, detailed, recent reviews.
- Verify all of them the same way.
- Get three or four comparable written quotes and decide on substance, not reputation alone.
Questions to ask your neighbour
A recommendation becomes far more useful when you dig a little. Instead of just asking “were you happy?”, try these:
- What exactly did they do, a repair or a full replacement?
- How long ago was it, and has the roof been through a few winters since?
- Was the final bill close to the written quote?
- Did they show up when they said they would?
- How did they handle surprises, like rotten decking?
- Did you need to call them back, and did they respond?
- Did you compare their quote with others?
If your neighbour got only one quote, their good experience still counts, but it doesn’t tell you whether the price was fair. That’s something only your own comparison can show.
Bottom line
A neighbour’s recommendation is often the most trustworthy starting point, and online reviews help you spot patterns. Neither replaces your own homework. Verify the RBQ licence and subclass, check the OPC record, call references and compare written, detailed quotes. Permit rules vary by municipality and borough, and insurance coverage varies by insurer, so confirm what applies to your home before work begins.
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Request my quotes →Frequently asked questions
Should I hire a roofer my neighbour recommended without other quotes?
It's still wise to get two or three other written quotes. Even a great roofer may not be the best fit or the fairest price for your particular roof.
How can I tell if online reviews are fake?
Watch for vague, repetitive praise, many reviews posted in a short burst, and profiles with no other activity. Detailed reviews spread over time are more reliable.
What if a roofer has bad reviews but a great recommendation?
Read what the complaints are about and how the company responded. Then verify the licence, call references and compare quotes before deciding.
Read also
You may also search for:How Much Should I Pay for a Roof Repair in Montreal?What Is the Average Cost to Replace a Roof in Montreal?How to Hire a Roofer: A Montreal Homeowner's GuideRoofing Quotes in Montreal
Estimations.pro is a referral service and does not perform the work. Prices are indicative only and vary with the size, slope, access and condition of your roof. Requirements (RBQ licence, municipal permits, programs) can change: check with the relevant organizations and get detailed written quotes.