Montreal homeowners warned of spring flood risk as temperatures rise

With rain and warmer temperatures approaching, experts say homeowners should check roofs, walls, and drainage to prevent water damage.

Temperatures are expected to warm in the coming days, and with rain on the way, there are concerns about spring flooding.

“We are starting to get calls, especially as soon as it gets milder. We’re expecting a big surge next week because of the rain,” said Walter Assi, owner of Dorval-based Renovco.

For homeowners, that means watching for water infiltration.

“We want to start from the top and go gradually down so we don’t miss any infiltration. We start with the roof. If you have missing shingles from the windstorm, you want to call a roofer for at least a temporary repair,” he said.

“If you have bricks or stone, make sure there are no openings, because that can cause problems.”

Assi said even small amounts of moisture can create issues, such as in outdoor light fixtures.

“The top part should have caulking, but not the bottom part. So, if water does come in, it has a way to drain from the bottom,” he added.

The concern isn’t limited to minor leaks. Montreal saw extensive flooding in 2017 and 2019 when rivers broke their banks.

The province plans to update flood maps this spring.

“The Quebec government revised the flood maps effective March 1. The problem is we don’t even have the maps yet,” said Jim Beis of the executive committee for security and prevention.

That means more homes in Montreal could be deemed at risk.

“What’s happened is it’s added about 1,700 homes that were never flooded before. Putting people on a map who were never flooded creates some anxiety, because what does that mean for the homeowner?”

Assi urged homeowners to act before water levels rise.

“At least be preventive with sandbagging. Flood barriers you can install in front of your garage work tremendously,” he said.