French-first text response for Quebec roofing companies

French first, written properly

Quebec's Charter of the French Language, as amended by Bill 96, requires French to be clearly predominant in commercial advertising. Websites and social content for Quebec customers must be available in French, and since 2025-06-01, non-French business names visible from outside premises need accompanying French terms. The OQLF explains the obligations.

For texting, that means:

• the first reply goes out in French, with an English option if your customer base needs it
• triage keywords work in both languages, such as OUI/YES or FUITE/LEAK
• STOP and its French equivalent, ARRÊT, both work

A French-first template, with placeholders:

Bonjour [Prénom], ici [Prénom de l'employé] de [Nom de l'entreprise]. Merci pour votre demande. Y a-t-il de l'eau qui entre en ce moment? Répondez OUI ou NON. Je vous réécris d'ici [heure]. Répondez ARRÊT pour ne plus recevoir de textos.

We adapt the tone to your region and clientele; Montréal and Saguenay homeowners don't always want the same register.

Winter snow and the spring thaw

Quebec roofing leads cluster around snow and melt. Heavy snowfalls prompt calls about snow load and ice build-up at the eaves; the spring thaw reveals leaks and winter damage. Summer storms add wind and hail surges.

For heavy-snow weeks, the first text should ask whether water is entering and tell homeowners clearly not to go on the roof themselves. For the thaw, an inspection booking flow that groups visits by neighbourhood keeps estimators efficient. Storm-surge mode covers the sudden spikes.

Regulators to know (reference only)

• Licensing: the RBQ licenses contractors. Roofing done for clients generally falls under its licensing, and a general contractor who uses an unlicensed subcontractor can face prosecution.
• Consumer protection: the Office de la protection du consommateur handles consumer matters.
• Workplace health and safety: the CNESST covers workplace standards and safety, a key reference for crews working at height.
• Privacy: the Privacy Commissioner's summary notes Quebec has its own private-sector privacy law.

Programs: as of October 2026, Rénoclimat changed from 2026-10-01, with the pre-retrofit evaluation now optional and new caps, and participants under the old rules must finish by 2027-03-31. We didn't confirm roofing eligibility. Texts should never suggest homeowners qualify; refer them to the program.

Montréal versus the regions

Greater Montréal, including Laval and Longueuil, is dense and competitive, with many homeowners contacting several roofers at once; speed matters most there. In Québec City, Sherbrooke or Saguenay, relationships and reputation carry more weight, and a well-written French thread signed by a real person often matters more than shaving off a few minutes.

How we'd approach a Quebec roofer

1. French-first instant text reply on every lead source.
2. Bilingual keyword handling for triage and opt-outs.
3. A snow-week and a thaw-season profile in storm mode.
4. Estimate follow-up in French, timed to how long Quebec homeowners typically take to compare soumissions.

Measuring it in Quebec

We measure the same things as elsewhere, response time and booked inspections, and also the share of threads where homeowners switch languages. If many reply in English, the English option should be more visible; if almost none do, keep it light. Our lead response guide explains the baseline, and the areas overview covers other regions.