The leaky condo crisis of the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s provides plenty of proof that construction materials and methods can have a major impact on the overall condition and quality of your home.  Living in British Columbia means that you likely experience more rain in a few months than most climates experience in an entire year.  Yet, if you’re wondering which the best roofing materials for British Columbia are, there are no simple answers.  Indeed, British Columbia offers a very diverse climate, and many regions face a great deal of rain as well.  So, if you’re asking yourself which roofing materials are the best, speak to a qualified roofing contractor in your city.

Nevertheless, while even the most experienced roofer cannot offer a simple answer to this question, there are some guidelines that can help you choose the best materials for your roof.  Today, residential roofing materials come in a wide range of colours, textures, and types that each offer unique benefits and characteristics.  Choosing the right roofing material for you requires that you carefully consider your needs and also discuss your options with a roofing contractor.

Clearly, your roof is an important aspect of your home; one that provides key structural elements in addition to protecting your home, its contents, and your family from inclement weather.  Moreover, roof replacements generally constitute a sizeable investment, but if you choose the right roof and the right materials, it is an investment for many years to come.  Your roof should not only provide the right function, but the right style as well so choosing the right roofing materials requires that you make the following considerations:

1. What is your budget?  An excellent roofer can help you choose sound materials and design that will fall within your budget.
2. What is the style of your home?  Roofing materials are available in an impressive variety of styles, colours, and textures so be sure to choose materials that match the look of your home.
3. What are your insulation needs?  Your roof needs to effectively insulate against cold winters and hot summers.
4. Will your roof resist fire?  This is an important consideration for all homeowners, but especially those who live in high risk forest fire zones.
5. What are your weather conditions?  Rain, snow, and wind are just a few elements that can have a destructive impact on your home, so you need to consider these factors before choosing a roof.

Still, even after you consider all these questions, you will still find a variety of options available to you.  Composition or fibreglass shingles, wood shakes, rubber shakes, clay tile and slate roofing, and even metal roofing are all popular options in British Columbia.  As such, you should make an appointment with a professional roofer to determine the style, function and design of your roof and which materials fit best.

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Sustainability matters.  As cities grow and societies become more complex, the impact of human life on the environment is becoming frighteningly clear – we’re creating climate change which has devastating consequences for all life on earth.  To this end, new building practices that focus on sustainability are setting the trend for future development.  Green roofing is one building practice that has a variety of environmental benefits.

Green roofing is suitable for almost any type of building – large or small.  Residential homes, apartments and condos, industrial facilities, and parking garages can all be constructed with green roofing.  Nevertheless, let’s focus on some of the applications and benefits of green roofing for commercial building.

First, let’s talk money – after all, commercial enterprises exist to make money.  Fortunately, green roofing not only addresses many of the livability issues arising in urban centres, it also enhances the performance and appearance of commercial properties while reducing many costs.  Without a doubt, green roofs will save money over the long term.  Even if we just consider heating and cooling costs, green roofs will essentially pay for themselves by reducing these costs. 

Moreover, green roofs increase a building’s resale value while also giving the building a competitive advantage when it comes to finding tenants.  Indeed, commercial properties featuring green roofs attract potential tenants not only because of reduced energy costs but also because these buildings are more interesting and attractive.

Still, the main reasons to consider green roofs for your commercial project are the livability issues that dense, urban population has created.  The heat-island effect, storm water mitigation, and biodiversity and habitat issues are major concerns that need to be addressed and green roofing may be the answer.  Let’s take a closer look.

The heat-island effect refers to the increased use of concrete and glass in urban construction that has resulted in increased temperatures in dense urban areas.  Average urban temperatures regularly exceed those of surrounding rural or suburban areas simply due to a lack of vegetation in the city.  Green roofs ameliorate this heat-island effect by providing shade and removing heat from the air.

Another urban problem resulting from the use of concrete and asphalt in construction relates to storm water mitigation.  During rain storms, demands on storm water infrastructure are considerable and flash floods can result.  Green roofs help urban centres manage storm water as they act as sponges to capture or slow the movement of storm water. 

Finally, commercial roofing projects that feature green roofs can help improve biodiversity by replacing habitats for insects and birds.  Green roofs certainly make buildings more physically attractive, but they can also contribute to creating a healthy environment that promotes a healthy food supply.

Ultimately, there are many excellent reasons to invest in green roofing for commercial buildings, and the cost of these roofs needn’t be prohibitive especially when you consider the many benefits these roofs bring.

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Nesting birds can be a nightmare for homeowners as they can have a significant negative impact on the quality and durability of your roof.  Not only can their droppings make a considerable mess, but they also expose your home to parasites such as worms and mites.  Nesting birds can also cause damage to roof tiles and shingles while also making a lot of noise.  Still, preventing birds from nesting in and around roof structures can be difficult, especially if you prefer to take humane measures.  So what are some safe methods for protecting your roof from birds?

Birds are often put off by surfaces that reflect the sun – so, if you want to “deflect” birds, there are a few easy enough solutions.  Using drinking cans, disposable baking dishes, old CDs, or aluminum foil, you can create reflective strips and attach them to the sides and surface of your roof.  Birds will usually avoid the glare created by these reflective surfaces and nest elsewhere.

Scare the Crow

Scarecrows are used by farmers for a reason; and while you probably don’t want to fix scarecrows to your roof, figures of cats or owls are often enough of a distraction without being an eyesore.  In fact, home supply stores often sell owl decoys that can be installed on roofs or in gardens to deter pesky birds.

Peppers and Spray

Now, I’m not suggesting you go out and buy pepper spray (which is actually illegal in Canada), but you can make a natural pepper spray that helps deter birds and other wildlife.  First, crush some chili peppers and put them in a large glass of water.  Let the mixture sit in the sun for a couple of days until the peppers ferment, then put the mixture in a spray bottle.  You can then spray this mixture around the surface of your roof, or even around established nests.  Birds will be reluctant to establish themselves, and already nested birds will likely depart.

Protect with Nets

Your local home and garden supply store is sure to sell bird netting.  You can lay this netting over your roof (and specifically roof structures that are prone to nesting) and this will prevent birds from access.  The netting does not harm the birds and it’s not intended to catch the birds.  Instead, bird netting is intended as an easy solution for preventing birds from getting into areas where they like to build nests.  Take care to buy netting specific for birds, as other types of netting can be dangerous for birds.

Unfortunately, natural solutions are not always effective.  You may find you need to employ more than one of these techniques.  If you’ve tried one or more of these solutions without success, you should consider hiring a pest control expert.

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Your commercial roof is leaking and you’re in a panic.  Calm down.  Even if you’re in a rush to find a good commercial roofer, you want to take some time to pick somebody who is qualified and has a history of doing great work.  So, before we move on to what to do in an emergency situation, let’s take a few breaths and talk about what to look for in a commercial roofer.

The Best Commercial Roofers

The best commercial roofers will offer a number of important qualities, namely knowledge, craftsmanship, integrity, and timeliness.

Indeed, good commercial roofing contractors are knowledgeable.  They know a lot about the different kinds of roofing systems and the products that make or break them.  Whether you’ve got all the time in the world, or you’re looking for a roofer in a pinch, quality roofing contractors are effective at every stage of the project from quoting and planning to executing and completing your roofing project.

Moreover, good contractors do good work.  If you have the time, you want to speak with potential contractors and ask them for references for their work.  If you can inspect their body of work, you’ll be more confident that they provide quality craftsmanship.  If you’re in a rush to find somebody now, start calling colleagues, family, and friends to find somebody that they know to do excellent work.  After all, those individuals with personal relationships with you are going to be more likely to point you in the right direction.

Integrity is another important quality in a roofer.  You want to know that your roofing contractor is going to do the best work for you as the client, even if it means costing him or her time and money.  Obviously, we’re all interested in making a buck, but the best roofing contractor will give you accurate advice, even if it means their project profit is diminished.

Finally, timeliness is crucial.  You want your roofer not only to get projects done on time, but you also want them to be available to you in times of crisis.  Whether you’re talking about getting a roofing project completed before the inclement weather arrives, or knowing that your roofer is available to respond in an emergency – the best roofing contractors are available to you and they’re on time.

You Need Somebody NOW

Ok, so your roof is leaking, and you’ve calmed down, but that hasn’t stopped your roof from leaking.  You want to start contacting commercial roofers based on personal referrals or even from a list of quality contractors in the Better Business Bureau (BBB).  You’re also likely to find online reviews for local commercial roofers that can help you find somebody that you know embodies the qualities we discussed above.

Some tips for you:

• Avoid pushy sales tactics and choose a contractor that tries to get valuable information about your roof and your leak.
• Call at least a couple of contractors and choose the one that seems to have your interests in mind.
• Check for credentials – quality roofers will be highly ranked by the BBB or may be a member of a professional association such as the Canadian Roofing Contractors Association.
• Choose a contractor that has been in business at the same address for an extended period of time (10 years or more) as this helps to establish their commitment to the community and by extension the quality of their work.
• Choose a roofer and build a relationship so you know you have somebody you can trust for future work – emergency or not!

Related: 

Residential roofing: http://www.k2roofing.com/roofing-services/residential-roofing/ 

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