Is the builder responsible for a leaking roof on a new Calgary house?

If your Calgary house was built after February 1, 2014, the builder carries a mandatory warranty under Alberta's New Home Buyer Protection Act that includes five years of coverage on the building envelope, which includes the roof. A leak that traces back to faulty construction or materials within that window is the builder's problem to fix, not yours.

What the Building Envelope Warranty Covers

The five-year building envelope protection is meant to catch exactly this kind of defect: water getting in through the roof, walls, windows or foundation because something was built or installed incorrectly. If your roof is leaking and the house is under five years old, document everything now. Photograph the leak source inside the attic, the water staining on ceilings or framing, and any visible defect on the roof surface from the ground. Note the date and weather conditions. Then contact your builder in writing, keep a copy, and give them a reasonable opportunity to inspect and repair.

If the builder disputes the claim or goes silent, the warranty is administered through a warranty provider approved under the Act. Your purchase documents should name the provider; if you cannot find them, the Service Alberta website lists approved providers. You can also file a consumer complaint with Service Alberta if the builder refuses to honour a legitimate warranty obligation.

A few things that can complicate the claim. If a storm caused the damage, your home insurer may be the right first call rather than the builder, since the Insurance Bureau of Canada confirms that standard home policies cover hail and wind damage. The builder's warranty covers construction defects, not storm events. If both are possible causes, document carefully and let the adjuster and the builder each assess; do not let one party's denial close the door on the other.

If the house was built before February 1, 2014, the mandatory warranty does not apply. Your options then depend on what your purchase contract said, whether the builder offered their own workmanship warranty, and how long ago the roof was installed. A roofer's typical workmanship warranty runs one to five years; manufacturer warranties on shingles cover materials but usually require proper installation as a condition.

For a house built after 2014 that is now out of the five-year window, or where the leak clearly follows a hailstorm rather than a construction flaw, the path shifts to your insurer. Calgary sits in what the City describes as "hail alley," the most hail-prone part of Canada, so storm damage is a realistic cause even on a relatively new roof. Report promptly, photograph from the ground, and check your policy's proof-of-loss deadline, typically 30 days.

One practical note: before anyone goes onto the roof, check the attic first. Water stains on the sheathing or rafters, daylight visible through the deck, or frost on the framing in winter all help pinpoint whether the problem is a construction defect, a failed flashing, or storm damage. Leave the roof surface inspection to a qualified roofer; working at height without fall protection is an Alberta OHS requirement, not a suggestion.

Whichever route applies, start with written documentation of the damage; a local roofer can inspect and write it up, and our form is a quick way to reach one.