Guides
Advice for home projects in Greater Montréal: RBQ licences, city permits, subsidies and common problems at home.
RBQ licence check: how to verify a Quebec contractorAn RBQ licence check takes two minutes: where to look, what the register shows and the warning signs to spot before you sign a renovation contract.Water leak at home: what to do right awayA water leak at home: shut off the water, stay clear of electricity, limit the damage and know when to call the City or a plumber in Greater Montréal.Heat pump subsidy in Quebec: LogisVert and your installerHeat pump subsidy in Quebec: LogisVert amounts from Hydro-Québec, required licences, Montréal rules for the outdoor unit and what the quote should say.Frozen pipes: what to do and how to prevent themNo water at the tap in a cold snap? How to thaw a frozen pipe safely, what to do if it bursts and how to keep pipes from freezing in Greater Montréal.Septic tank pumping: how often and what to checkHow often a septic tank must be pumped under Quebec rules, what Saint-Lazare, Mirabel and Mascouche ask of owners, and the permit for a new system.Ice dams and roof snow removal: what to doIce dams and heavy snow on the roof in Greater Montréal: the signs of an overloaded roof, what really causes ice dams and when to hire a company.How to compare contractor quotes: 7 points to checkHow to compare contractor quotes for a renovation: licence, scope, schedule, payments, warranties and permits, plus what the City of Montréal asks for.Hiring a roofer in Montréal: licence, permits, warrantiesHiring a roofer in Montréal or the suburbs: the RBQ licence to ask for, the inspection, what the quote must list, roofing permits and the warranties.Winter home maintenance checklist: what to check in fallWinter home maintenance checklist: heating, chimney, outdoor taps, gutters, windows, alarms, plus carport and wood-stove rules in Montréal and Laval.Bathroom renovation in Montréal: trades, licences, permitsBathroom renovation in Greater Montréal: who does what, the licences to check, waterproofing, ventilation and the permit rules of Montréal and Laval.Foundation crack repair: when to worry, who to callHairline, horizontal or stair-step foundation cracks: how serious they are, who to consult and which permits Montréal, Boisbriand or Repentigny require.Water heater replacement: when and who installs itSigns a water heater is wearing out, the 60 °C rule, whether a permit is needed in Greater Montréal and who may replace the unit.Window replacement in Montréal: permits and rebatesWindow replacement in Greater Montréal: when to replace, what the quote must say, permits in Montréal or Laval and the Rénoclimat rebate since October 2026.EV charger installation at home: panel, permit and rebateLevel 2 EV charger installation at home: electrical panel capacity, a licensed electrician, permits in Montréal and Quebec’s $600 Écorecharge rebate.Hiring a painter in Montréal: quote, prep and licenceHiring a painter in Montréal: what the quote must specify, the preparation that makes paint last, the RBQ licence, lead paint and scaffolding permits.General contractor or specialist in Montréal: who to hire?General contractor or specialist: when one trade is enough, when you need a coordinator, what each RBQ licence allows and who handles Montréal permits.Metal roof vs shingles: how to choose in QuébecMetal roof vs asphalt shingles: lifespan, upfront cost, snow, noise, and the permit Laval or Montréal may require when you switch roofing materials.French drain (weeping tile): signs and replacementA clogged French drain: the signs, the camera inspection, permits in Repentigny, Brossard, Pointe-Claire or Chambly and what a quote should include.Attic insulation in Québec: air sealing, venting, rebatesAttic insulation in Québec: seal air leaks first, keep the ventilation, watch for vermiculite and know how the Rénoclimat rebate works since 2026.Kitchen renovation in Montréal: steps, permits, contractorsKitchen renovation in Greater Montréal: the steps, the trades and licences to check, staged payments and when you need a permit or a declaration.Well water testing: when to test and who to callWell water testing: how often to do it, common problems, the rules in Saint-Lazare and Mirabel, and when to call a well driller in Greater Montréal.Wood stove installation: by-laws, sweeping and insuranceWood stoves and fireplaces: Montréal, Laval and Longueuil by-laws on certified appliances, installation, chimney sweeping, ashes and telling your insurer.Door-to-door renovation scams: warning signs and rightsDoor-to-door renovation scams: contracts banned since 2024, the cancellation period, the OPC permit and soliciting rules in Montréal and Longueuil.Radon test at home: when to test and how to fix itRadon testing at home: measure this winter with a long-term detector, read the result against Health Canada’s guideline and fix it, with South Shore pointers.Aluminum wiring and old electrical panels: warning signsOld wiring, aluminum wiring and fuse panels: the warning signs, what insurers ask, the rules for Montréal plexes and who to call for an inspection.Renovation grants in Quebec 2026: LogisVert and RénoclimatRenovation grants in Quebec for 2026: what LogisVert and the new Rénoclimat cover, the published amounts, Montréal’s RénoPlex and the traps to avoid.Power outage generator safety and carbon monoxide alarmsPower outage generator safety: outdoors only, never on the panel, the carbon monoxide alarm Montréal requires, and what to do if the alarm goes off.Oil furnace replacement in Quebec: what the rules allowOil furnace, boiler or water heater broke down? What Quebec’s rule bans, which repairs are still allowed, tank removal and LogisVert help in Greater Montréal.Smoke detectors: where to install, test and replace themSmoke detectors: how many you need and where, the monthly test, batteries, replacing them every 10 years and the Montréal fire by-law for rental homes.Mould in the house or basement: causes and cleanupMould at home or in the basement: the humidity level to aim for in winter, cleaning small spots, the 1 m² threshold and the rules in Montréal and Longueuil.Snow removal contracts: choosing a residential serviceSnow removal contracts: what to put in writing, deposits to avoid, door-to-door sellers, mid-winter price hikes and the city permits snow contractors need.Heat pump in winter: settings, defrost and maintenanceHeat pump winter settings: heating mode, the gap with baseboards, defrost cycles, a clear outdoor unit, noise rules and Hydro-Québec peak events.Air exchanger maintenance: filters, core and winter careAir exchanger (HRV) maintenance: filters, outdoor hoods under snow, the drain and core, humidity rules for Montréal rentals and when to call a company.Weatherstripping and caulking: sealing air leaksWeatherstripping and caulking: finding air leaks with incense, choosing the right product, protecting fuel-burning appliances and knowing when to call a pro.Space heater safety: electric heaters and ethanol fireplacesSpace heater safety: clearances, extension cords, ethanol burners, kerosene and propane heaters outdoors only, and the Montréal fire department’s tips.Smart thermostats for baseboard heaters: choose and installSmart thermostats for baseboard heaters or a heat pump: compatible models, Hydro-Québec’s Hilo offer, the right settings and who may install them.Christmas lights safety: tree, cords and outdoor outletsChristmas lights safety: the tree away from baseboards, certified lights, a protected outdoor outlet, extension cords and Montréal’s tree collection rules.Basement renovation in Montréal: permits and valvesFinishing a basement in Montréal, Laval or Repentigny: when a permit is needed, the backwater valves to check before closing walls, and RBQ licences.Water damage insurance claim: step by stepWater damage: what home insurance usually covers, the first hours, Civil Code deadlines, the claims adjuster and the 15-day notice to the City.Legal hypothec in Quebec: how to protect your homeLegal hypothec in Quebec: who can register one on your home, the 30-day and six-month deadlines, declarations of contract, holdbacks and releases.GCR warranty on a new home in Quebec: coverage and claimsGCR warranty on a new house or condo in Quebec: covered buildings, pre-acceptance inspection, 1-, 3- and 5-year periods, exclusions and claim steps.Gutter cleaning and downspouts: Montréal rulesGutter cleaning twice a year, downspout extensions, Montréal’s rule on foundation drains, ice in eavestroughs and the signs that it is time to call a pro.Asbestos testing and vermiculite before renovatingAsbestos in a pre-1990 house: where it hides, attic vermiculite, testing before the work, choosing a contractor and disposing of the debris in Montréal.Lead pipes and drinking water: check your service lineLead in drinking water: how to recognize a lead service line, reduce exposure and have it replaced in Montréal, Laval or Longueuil.Poor renovation work in Quebec: remedies against contractorsPoor or abandoned renovation work in Quebec: acceptance and holdback, legal warranties, formal notice, small claims and the RBQ licence bond.Hiring a plumber in Montréal: RBQ licence and CMMTQHiring a plumber in Greater Montréal: RBQ subclass 15.5, mandatory CMMTQ membership, a two-step check and what a written quote and contract should say.Choosing an electrician in Montréal: RBQ licence and CMEQChoosing a residential electrician in Montréal: RBQ subclass 16, CMEQ membership, work owners may not do, the quote and contract, and city permits.Pool fence regulations in Québec: rules and 2027 deadlinePool fence regulations in Québec: a 1.2 m enclosure, a self-latching gate, the municipal permit and the September 30, 2027 deadline for older pools.Pre-purchase inspection in Quebec: RBQ-certified inspectorsPre-purchase home inspection in Quebec: the RBQ certificate (mandatory in 2027), the register, insurance, the service contract, the offer and complaints.Home adaptation program in Quebec: PAD and tax creditQuebec’s home adaptation program (PAD): Options 1 and 2, amounts, eligibility, the end of Montréal’s own program and the federal accessibility tax credit.Replacing exterior siding: permits in Montréal and LavalReplacing siding in Montréal or Laval: when a permit is needed, banned materials, the 80% masonry rule on front walls, PIIA areas and the RBQ licence.Flat roof in Montréal: white roof rules, membranes, permitsRedoing a flat roof in Montréal: minimum solar reflectance (SRI) of 56 to 82 by borough, white or green roofs, allowed membranes, permits and fees.Bulging brick wall: causes, risks and who to callA bulging brick wall (“ventre de bœuf”): causes according to CMHC and the RBQ, signs to watch, rules for 5-storey façades, permits and the licence.Rebuilding a balcony: fibreglass deck, railings, permitsRebuilding a balcony in Montréal or Laval: when a permit is needed by height and yard, switching to fibreglass, railing rules and the RBQ licence.Digging and retaining walls: locate request and permitsBefore you dig or build a retaining wall: the free Info-Excavation locate request, permits in Laval and Terrebonne, and when an engineer is required.Pyrite under the slab: signs, SPPI index and BNQ standardPyrite under a concrete slab: the signs found by a CMHC-funded South Shore study, the BNQ 2560-500 swelling index (IPPG/SPPI), its limits and the licence.Multigenerational home in Québec: tax credit and permitsMultigenerational home: the 14.5% federal tax credit (MHRTC), Laval’s rules for an additional unit and Terrebonne’s tax credit for intergenerational units.