Renovating in Montreal? Start with the roof, finish with the floors

The right order for a Montreal renovation is roof first, then windows and doors, then walls and paint, then floors and tile. Each step protects the next one from water, dust and damage. Here is why the order works, what Quebec adds to it, and what it costs you when you flip it.

The right order, in 4 steps

What is the right order for a home renovation in Montreal?

Work from the top down and from the outside in. Do rough work before finish work.¹² That gives four steps for most Montreal homes.

1. Roof. Water comes in from above, so the roof and attic come first.
2. Windows and doors. They close the walls once the roof above them is sound.
3. Walls and paint. Inside rough work and paint go in while the house is dry and closed.
4. Floors and tile. Floors take the most wear from other trades, so they go in last.

Not every house needs every step. A roof in good shape means you skip step 1 and start at the windows. An inspection tells you which.

Why should the roof come first?

A roof leak ruins everything below it. Water stains ceilings, soaks insulation and can end up on a new floor. Fix the source before you spend on anything the water can reach.

Montreal winters make this more urgent. Southern Quebec already sees freeze-thaw days from mid-October to early December and again from March to May.⁶ Heat escaping from the house melts roof snow, the water runs to the cold edge and refreezes into an ice dam. Water then backs up under the roofing and into the house.¹⁰

That is why the roof step includes the attic. Sealing attic air leaks, adding insulation and keeping soffits clear all help stop ice dams.¹⁰ Read the Couvreurs Demos Roofing guide to ice dams in Montreal for the warning signs.

Start with a roof inspection in Montreal. Couvreurs Demos says a licensed roofer checks seams, flashing, drains and the inside of the house, then explains what is fine and what needs work. They recommend a visit once a year, ideally in the fall before the snow.⁹

When should I replace windows and doors?

Replace them after the roof is sound and before you finish the inside. New frames set into dry walls stay clean. Interior trim and paint then go on once, not twice.

Winter does not have to stop you. Factory Direct Montreal says winter installs work in a heated home with the right sealant. Below -25 °C, an installer needs special foam.⁸ Spring and summer are the busy season, so waits are longer.⁸

See our windows and doors pages for the styles we make and install.

How does Rénoclimat change the window step in 2026?

The Québec program changed on October 1, 2026. For windows, it now pays up to $4,500 for a house (at $300 a window) and up to $6,000 for a multi-unit building.¹ The energy evaluation before the work is now optional.¹

Rules to check before you order, as set out in our checklist:³

• Only ENERGY STAR Most Efficient windows and patio doors qualify.
• You must replace complete units in existing openings.
• An RBQ-licensed contractor must do the work and sign the conformity form.
• You apply online within 12 months after the work ends.

Files started under the old rules can finish until March 31, 2027.² Our Rénoclimat windows and doors checklist for Quebec walks through each step. Confirm the final terms on Québec.ca before you sign.

Do floors and tile really go last?

Yes. Roofers, window crews, painters and electricians all walk across the floor. A finished floor laid early gets scratched, stained or torn out. Laid last, it stays new on move-in day.

Tile has one extra rule: decide on heat before you choose the tile. A heated floor has a cable under the tile, and the layout is planned for the room first. Arta Ceramic describes heating cable, thermostats and a layout plan for warm tile and stone floors, and gives a kit quote once you send your room size or floor plan.¹¹ See Arta’s page on heated floors for tile and stone.

When you are ready to pick a material, Arta’s tile and stone guides cover zellige, terracotta, travertine and Calacatta marble.¹¹

What goes wrong if you renovate in the wrong order?

Most of the cost comes from doing work twice. These are the common mix-ups.

• Floors before the roof. A leak or ice dam soaks the new floor. You pay for the floor again.
• Windows before the roof. Roof crews work along the wall line with ladders and debris. New frames and trim can get scuffed or damaged.
• Paint before windows. Installing a window opens the wall edge. You repaint around every opening.
• Tile before the heated-floor decision. Adding heat later means lifting the tile.
• Windows without the Rénoclimat rules. Without Most Efficient labels and an RBQ-licensed installer, you lose the aid.³
• Booking in late July. The construction industry takes two weeks of mandatory holiday: July 19 to August 1 in 2026, and July 25 to August 7 in 2027.⁷ Plan crews around it.

How do I check that a Quebec contractor is licensed?

Contractors doing residential renovation in Quebec need an RBQ licence.⁵ Before you sign, look the contractor up in the Régie du bâtiment du Québec licence registry and confirm the licence is valid for your type of work.⁴ You can also call the RBQ at 1 800 361-0761.⁴

Do this for every trade in your plan: roofer, window installer and tile installer.

FAQ

Do I need a new roof before I replace my windows?

Only if the roof is failing. Get an inspection first. If the roof is sound, start with the windows and doors.

Can I replace windows in a Montreal winter?

Yes. A heated home can take a winter install with the right sealant, and below -25 °C the installer uses special foam.⁸ Winter orders also tend to wait less than spring and summer ones.⁸

How much does Rénoclimat pay for windows?

Up to $4,500 for a house at $300 a window, and up to $6,000 for a multi-unit building, under the rules in force since October 1, 2026.¹ Only ENERGY STAR Most Efficient units qualify.³

Should heated floors go in before or after the tile?

Before. The heating cable sits under the tile, so decide on it and plan the layout before the tile is set.¹¹

Can I hire one company for all of it?

Each trade needs its own RBQ licence for its own work.⁵ A general contractor can manage the project and subcontract specialists.⁵ Check the licence of whoever does each job.

What if I only want to do windows and floors?

Keep the same order: windows and doors first, floors last. If you suspect a roof leak, get the roof checked before you start.

Ready for the window and door step? Ask Factory Direct Montreal for a quote.

Sources

1. Gouvernement du Québec, Rénoclimat, Nouveautés en vigueur depuis le 1er octobre 2026 (French): quebec.ca. 2026.
2. Gouvernement du Québec, Remplacer des portes et des fenêtres (French), updated October 13, 2026: quebec.ca.
3. Factory Direct Montreal, Rénoclimat windows and doors checklist, updated November 4, 2026: factorydirectmontreal.ca. Conformity form: quebec.ca (PDF).
4. Régie du bâtiment du Québec, “Vérifiez si votre entrepreneur a une licence de la RBQ”, February 9, 2026: rbq.gouv.qc.ca. Registry: verify a licence.
5. CAA-Québec, Rénovation : licences et certificats de compétence requis (French), updated December 3, 2025: caaquebec.com.
6. Ouranos, Freeze-thaw events: projected changes, updated February 2026: ouranos.ca.
7. Commission de la construction du Québec, Congés et vacances de la construction: ccq.org.
8. Factory Direct Montreal, best season for window replacement, updated August 24, 2026: factorydirectmontreal.ca.
9. Couvreurs Demos Roofing, Roof inspection Montreal: couvreursdemosroofing.ca.
10. Couvreurs Demos Roofing, Ice dams in Montreal, updated November 4, 2026: couvreursdemosroofing.ca.
11. Arta Ceramic, heated floors and tile and stone guides: heated floors, guides.
12. Block Renovation, Home renovation order: what comes first in a remodel, 2026: blockrenovation.com.