Claremont Cottage Roof Restoration — Shingle & Skylight Replacement
Real job. Real home. Real result. Tucked into the trees in Claremont, this striking cottage-style A-frame needed a full roof restoration — and its steep, dramatic slopes meant there was no easy way to do it. We completed a full asphalt shingle roof replacement and skylight replacement on the home, rebuilding the roofing system from the surface down so it looks the part and keeps the weather out for decades to come.
Here’s what made this roof a challenge, exactly what our scope of work covered, why the skylight and flashing details mattered so much, and the result the homeowners are living with today.
| Location | Claremont, Ontario (City of Pickering, Durham Region) |
|---|---|
| Home type | Cottage-style A-frame with steep roof slopes |
| Scope | Complete asphalt shingle replacement & skylight replacement |
| Roof system | Tear-off of the existing roof, new architectural shingles, new flashing and waterproofing components, new skylights |
| Special focus | Skylight transitions and roof penetrations — the most common leak points on steep-slope cottage roofs |
| Outcome | Enhanced curb appeal, improved energy efficiency, more natural daylight, and long-term weather protection |
The Challenge: A Steep A-Frame Cottage Roof
An A-frame is all roof. The slopes that give this style of cottage its character also make it one of the more demanding roofs to work on — the pitch is steep, the runs are long, and there’s very little flat footing anywhere on the structure. A roof like this can’t be walked the way a standard bungalow can. It takes careful planning, specialized access and fall-protection equipment, and a crew that stages every step so material, tools and people stay safe on the slope.
The payoff is worth it. When the geometry of an A-frame is roofed cleanly, with straight courses running the full length of those big slopes, the result is the kind of curb appeal you simply can’t fake.
Our Scope of Work
This was a full roof restoration, not a patch. The work included:
- Removal of the existing roofing system. We tore the old roof off down to the deck so we could start clean and inspect the surface underneath — the only honest way to replace a roof.
- New architectural shingles. We installed modern architectural (dimensional) asphalt shingles — heavier, more durable, and far better looking than the flat three-tab shingles they replaced, with a depth and shadow line that suits a home like this.
- Skylight replacement. The aging skylights were removed and replaced with new units as part of our skylight replacement service, bringing back clean, leak-free natural light to the rooms below.
- New flashing and waterproofing. Fresh flashing and waterproofing components were integrated throughout — especially at the skylights, valleys, and every roof penetration — to seal the roof against Ontario’s wind, rain, ice and snow.
Why the Skylight & Flashing Details Matter Most
On a steep-slope cottage roof, the shingles are rarely where leaks start. The trouble spots are the transitions — anywhere the flat plane of the roof is interrupted. Skylights, valleys, chimneys and vents all break the water’s path down the slope, and if the flashing and waterproofing at those points isn’t done right, water finds its way in.
That’s why we gave particular attention to the skylight transitions and roof penetrations on this project. New skylights are only as watertight as the flashing that ties them into the roof, so each unit was integrated with new step flashing and waterproofing membrane and sealed to shed water cleanly onto the shingles below — not behind them. Done properly, the skylights add light without ever adding a leak.
The Result
The finished project does two things at once. It dramatically improves the home’s curb appeal — the deep, even courses of new architectural shingle suit the A-frame’s bold lines — and it gives the homeowners a roofing system built to perform. New skylights bring more natural daylight into the home, the upgraded shingles and sealed details improve energy efficiency and weather protection, and the whole roof is now ready to stand up to Ontario’s changing seasons.
Most of all, it’s peace of mind: the homeowners no longer have to think about their roof, and they get to enjoy a home that looks as good as it’s protected.
Have a steep, complex, or one-of-a-kind roof of your own? Cottage A-frames, century homes, big skylight runs — the trickier the roof, the more it pays to have a crew that’s done it before. We’ll give you a straight assessment and a clear quote.
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Preserving the Character of Unique Homes
At C.D. Roofing & Construction Ltd., we’re a Whitby roofing company that takes pride in preserving the character of unique homes while delivering modern roofing performance that lasts. A home like this Claremont cottage deserves more than a generic re-roof — it needs a crew that respects the architecture, plans for the steep slopes, and sweats the skylight and flashing details that actually keep a roof watertight. That’s the difference between a roof that just looks new and one that performs for decades.
See more of our work across our roofing projects across Durham Region and in our roofing project gallery — like our lightning-strike emergency roof repair in Pickering and our structural sagging-roof repair in Ajax. Every job is backed by our warranty coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you replace the roof on a steep A-frame or cottage-style home?
Yes. Steep A-frame and cottage roofs are some of the most demanding roofs to work on because of their pitch and long slopes, but they’re well within our wheelhouse. The key is planning and the right access and fall-protection equipment so the crew can work safely and install clean, straight shingle courses the full length of the slope. We completed exactly this kind of full shingle and skylight replacement on a Claremont A-frame.
Should I replace my skylights when I replace my roof?
Almost always, yes. A skylight is only as watertight as the flashing that ties it into the roof, and that flashing is replaced during a re-roof. If your skylights are aging, replacing them at the same time as the shingles means everything is integrated and sealed as one system — it’s far cheaper than tearing back into a brand-new roof later, and it removes the most common future leak point.
Why do skylights leak, and how do you prevent it?
Most skylight leaks aren’t the skylight itself — they’re the flashing and waterproofing where the skylight meets the roof. We prevent them by integrating each new skylight with fresh step flashing and a waterproofing membrane, sealed so water sheds onto the shingles below rather than behind them. Proper detailing at skylights, valleys and roof penetrations is what keeps a steep roof dry.
What are architectural shingles, and are they worth it?
Architectural (or dimensional) shingles are a heavier, multi-layer asphalt shingle with more depth, durability and a richer look than basic three-tab shingles. They typically carry longer warranties, stand up better to wind, and give a home like an A-frame a far more attractive finish — which is why we used them on this Claremont cottage.
Does C.D. Roofing serve Claremont and the rest of Durham Region?
Yes. Claremont is part of the City of Pickering in Durham Region, right in our service area. We’ve handled roof replacements, repairs, skylights and flat roofs across Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Bowmanville and the surrounding area since 1994. Call (905) 430-7911 for an inspection and quote.
C.D. Roofing & Construction Ltd.
202 South Blair St, Whitby, ON L1M 0C9
Serving Claremont, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Bowmanville & Durham Region
Phone: (905) 430-7911
Email: info@cdroofingltd.com