If your home or commercial building has bravely weathered through decades of harsh Canadian weather and needs a new lease of life, then you should consider metal wall cladding for retrofitting such old buildings. Metal offers form with function and has an extremely long lifespan to provide several decades of style and protection for your refurbished structure.
Even though metal roofing and cladding may have started out as humble industrial sheds, they have evolved over the years into systems that deliver a chic look with unbelievable durability. The ability of metal to be twisted and bent into any shape has allowed designers and fabricators to come up with unique structures that look stunning and yet offer practicality at the same time.
Modern manufacturing methods ensure your chosen wall cladding made out of metal resists rusts and corrosion for over 40 years with ease. In addition, special polymer coatings applied on galvanized or galvalumed steel prevent moisture from coming in contact with steel and offer an extra layer of protection.
High-tech paints ensure complete protection from the elements and you can easily choose from over 100 different colors as well as finishes that mimic stone, wood, and stucco. The best part about cladding in metal for walls is that you need not demolish your structure, be it the walls of your home, your office, or industrial unit since this form of cladding can be easily fitted on existing walls made out of wood, brick, concrete, and even metal.
All you need is the right contractor for the job and right type of fasteners, flashings, etc., that must be made with compatible materials to avoid undesired reaction with your cladding. In addition to saving a lot of money by opting for a retrofit instead of a complete rebuild, you will also save a lot of time as well as ensure minimum wastage since most systems allow for pre-painted and pre-cut metal that only need to be assembled at the actual site.
Metal used for wall cladding and roof possesses excellent weight to strength ratio and is offered for vertical, horizontal, and curved applications, which in turn will enable you to give a totally new look to your walls while actually only retrofitting the same on your old ones. In addition, metal has better thermal properties that can lower your heating and cooling bills, which means that your retrofitted walls begin paying back from the very first day.
Retrofitting is a viable option for your home or office walls and can save a lot of money, effort, and time. Additionally, metal wall cladding offers several advantages over other materials and you now have the ability to merge chic form with function when you opt to retrofit your old building with stunning claddings made of high-tech metal.
The metal roof of your home or commercial structure needs matching and functional aluminum flashings to keep your home safe from unwanted leakage. The key to achieving watertight joints at important areas of your roof is to opt for well-designed flashings fitted by a top cladding company in Canada.
Your roof requires the presence of flashings in several key areas such as on intersections between your wall and roof, chimney, rake, skylight, eaves, etc. These flashings are often the final defense against water penetration. The flashings must battle constant attacks of water by way of surface tension, gravity, and wind pressure to ensure a dry home, office, workshop, store, or any other type of commercial structure.
Different types of Flashings
There are different types of flashings that are available in the Canadian market. You can opt for flashings made out of copper, which is a very durable material. However, it is also the costliest and special techniques are required to cut and install copper flashings.
If you have installed metal cladding on your roof, you can also consider flashings made of galvanized steel. While this form of flashing is relatively cheap, it will not last long in case you opt for raw and un-painted steel flashing. You may need to apply coats of special polymer paint to extend its life and make this flashing look aesthetically pleasing, which will push up costs.
You can also consider flashings made from stainless steel, lead, or zinc, but these too are costly options that require special tools and techniques for cutting, bending, and installation. A cost-effective option in flashings that is very easy to cut, bend, install, and seal is aluminum.
Advantages of using Aluminum for your Flashings
You can use aluminum for flashings for various applications including base, step, counter, valley, and chimney, among others. Your chosen installation contractor can bring such flashings in the form of rolls that can then be cut and bent to size the site itself. Aluminum that has been painted or anodized can last for many more years than ones without any extra finish.
Since aluminum cannot be soldered or welded, your contractor will merely lap the joints and fasten them mechanically or apply caulk to create a waterproof barrier between your home and the elements. In case you are building your home from the ground up then a metal roof with flashings made of aluminum presents a wonderful opportunity for your architect and designer to explore their creativity since these materials can be bent into impossible shapes that hold well.
Any roof on your home or commercial facility will not be able to do its intended job without the able support of matching flashings. Aluminum flashings offer a cost-effective and flexible option that can match your metal cladding in a perfect manner. However, since installation of such flashings is critical, you must ensure that you select a top metal cladding company in Canada, one that combines precision and professionalism to ensure a waterproof roof for your home or office.
A Cedar shake roof blends extremely well with natural surroundings and provides a warm and premium look to a house. However, this material is quite costly to purchase and install, and also requires frequent inspections and maintenance to ensure it lasts for a longer period of time.
Common Problems affecting roofs made of Cedar Shakes
Most Canadian roofs use Western Red Cedar in shingle or shake form. Shakes are thicker and sturdier than shingles, and offer better protection from harsh weather, especially hailstorms. Cedar is also naturally resistant to decay due to the presence of natural oils in the wood.
However, once exposed to the hot sun as well as precipitation, cedar undergoes weathering that can result in a change of color. In case your roof is silver-gray then you can expect the color to change to darker graphite-grey in the first year. Constant exposure to rain and sun also causes expansion and contraction in cedar, which in turn causes cracking and a way for microorganisms to enter the wood and begin damaging your roof from the inside.
Debris from broken tree branches as well as moss can also accumulate on your roof and cause your cedar roof to split, curl, crack, and can also lead to leaking, which in turn further aggravates the problem.
Maintenance for Cedar Roofs and Alternative Materials
Your cedar roof will require frequent inspections as well as cleaning by way of a brush and water to remove accumulated debris. You need to focus on removing debris and moss in valleys and around chimneys as well as clean all visible keyways. You may need to also use a pressure wash or hire a maintenance contractor to clean your roof at regular intervals, which in turn can be a costly affair.
You may also need to engage in chemical treatment of your cedar roof to ensure mold, fungi, moss, or mildew do not get a foothold and spread to the rest of your home. You may also need to go for preservative treatments to increase the life of your roof or at least make it last till the promised period of time. All these maintenance and preservation processes cost a lot in terms of time, effort, and money.
An excellent alternative to cedar wood for your roof is metal cladding. A metal roof possesses several advantages over cedar including a long life, around 50 years, negligible maintenance, wide choice of colors and finishes including the look of cedar wood, excellent thermal efficiency, reusability, and decent savings in insurance and tax payments.
The key to extracting the best out of your metal roof is to allow an experienced and proficient roofing company in Canada to install and maintain your roof so as to enjoy decades of protection without any worries.
While a Cedar shake roof can enhance the look of your home, it does have a limited life thanks to the harsh Canadian weather and requires a lot of love and care, both of which cost a lot of money. A green alternative is to opt for a metal roof made with rust-resistant alloys that can also mimic the look of a cedar roof, last for decades, and hardly require any maintenance during its long life.
 Any roof that needs to face extreme Canadian weather year-after-year will require repairs, especially after a violent storm. The material used for the roof will also determine the frequency of repairs as roof repairs will be required more regularly for roofs that are installed using asphalt shingles, wood, tiles, etc.
Several natural elements can hasten repairs on your roof. For instance, sunny weather, rain, ice or snow, trees, moss, algae, and moisture all affect your roof in an adverse manner. If you have not inspected your roof at regular intervals, you will require frequent repairs as you will not be able to stop a small issue turning into a big and costly repair job.
In case of metal roofing, you will only need to inspect your roof for dents or deep scratches that may have damaged the outer protective coating. In case you notice the same, you will need to merely touch up the damaged area with primer or matching paint depending on the intensity of the damage. With a fire rating of Class A and hail rating of Class 4, both top ratings, a metal roof will not only require minimum maintenance and repair, but is also an obvious choice in case you need to rebuild a completely new roof over one damaged beyond repair.
Roofs made out of asphalt or fiberglass shingles, clay tiles, wood, etc., need frequent inspection and repairs. These materials are not as tough or durable as metal and can be easily damaged during a hailstorm. They may be cheap to purchase and install, but in the long run, they require increasing trips to the roof for repairs and maintenance.
Metal offers an excellent alternative. In case your old roof is damaged beyond repair or has outlived its life, metal can be installed right over that existing roof. Metal is light, robust, durable, fire-resistant, environmentally-friendly, and reusable. Metal roofing was previously restricted to low-slope structures, but now standing seam steel roofs are easily installed on steeper roofs.
If your shingles or tiles are damaged in small areas of your roof, you can repair them and replace broken ones. If, however, the damage is intense and has spread to almost all areas of your roof then it may be wise to rebuild your entire roof with a stronger and durable material such as metal.
You can consider various roofing materials such as clay, wood, metal, asphalt, fiberglass, pvc, stone, and concrete in case you need to install a new roof. While roof repairs can help stop the damage from spreading and can extend the life of the roof, you will definitely need to opt for a new one in case of intensive damage.
 While wood, asphalt shingles, and clay tiles have traditionally been used for roofing throughout USA and Canada, rising costs, low product life, and higher maintenance bills can make you climb back regularly on the roof for costly repairs or replacements. On the other hand, metal claddings for roofs have evolved swiftly over the years and now offer the best combination of strength, durability, and affordability.In case of hailstorms, asphalt shingle roofs may not be able to protect your home. Once your roof is damaged and water enters your home, you will not only be staring at huge repair bills, but will also need to fight mold and other bacterial infections depending on the time factor and the extent of damage done to your roof.You must seriously consider metal roof cladding for your home or commercial structure. For one, most metal roofing systems have an impact resistance as well as hail rating of Class 4, which is the highest possible rating. This means that the metal clading on your roof will not crack even when a hailstone measuring around 2 inches hits it on the same spot twice in a row. Once the metal panels are properly fastened to each other and the structure, they will not be dislodged or damaged during storms like shingles or tiles and will form a watertight barrier to prevent snow and water from entering your home.
Metal also weighs less when compared to concrete, wood, clay, and stone roofing materials. This excellent strength-to-weight ratio means you can use fewer and slimmer beams and columns for your home, office, or factory, which in turn means great cost-savings even before you install your roof. Some insurance companies also give discounts on premiums if you have a metal roof, which translates into additional savings.The metal used for residential and commercial roofing has also evolved a lot since the old industrial-shed-look days. Nowadays, metal used for roof and wall cladding contains a mixture of zinc, aluminum, etc., along with special polymer coatings and heat-resistant paints that work together to provide a product life of around 50 years.In addition, you can choose from a mind-boggling range of solid and metallic colors and finishes such as wood, clay, copper, stone, etc., that provides excellent aesthetic appeal to your home and in fact, can raise its value too.Hence, by opting for metal roof cladding for your home or commercial structure, you get the best combination of strength, durability, and affordability, especially when you consider the long life of metal as well as energy savings. In addition, the metal clading on your roof will require negligible maintenance over the years and will certainly enhance the look of your home or office after installation.
If your roof is in need of repairs or replacement after decades of service to your home then in addition to considering metal roof cladding, you should also consider a cedar shake roof. Cedar offers a warm and traditional look to any home and can protect it from harsh weather for many years.Different options available for roof repairs
In case you need to replace your entire roof, you will be spoilt for choice since there are several materials and finishes available in the market. You can opt for metal roof cladding that is available in the form of galvanized steel, which features a zinc coating. Another steel option is galvannealed steel that features a zinc-iron alloy coating. You can also opt for aluminum roof cladding, which features 55 percent aluminum-zinc-alloy.Of course, there are other traditional roofing materials available such as stucco, asphalt, stone, etc. However, a cedar shake roof does possess unique features and also looks aesthetically pleasing at the same time.Reasons to opt for cedar for your roof
Cedar has been used traditionally for roofs in most countries around the globe including America and Canada. Cedar is available in a variety of species and shades with the Western Red Cedar being quite popular. This form of cedar is available in colors that range from light pink to dark chocolate to gray and is preferred in the form of cedar shakes as well as shingles.Another popular cedar species is the yellow cedar that is available in a silvery gray shade and is also preferred in the form of cedar shakes and shingles. You can choose the cedar finish that best matches your home and your surroundings.Cedar that is available for home roofs must possess Class C fire safety standards and you must ensure that your chosen cedar for roof repairs has at least Class C or the higher Class B rating. If you want to install a cedar shake roof on your commercial establishment, then it must possess Class B or even Class A fire rating depending on the location of your building.The chosen cedar must also pass all applicable wind and impact resistance tests in addition to fire tests. You can opt for a cedar shake roof that has been pre-treated with a fire retardant chemical in case you reside in an area prone to wildfires.A cedar shake roof made out of natural materials should last for around 15 to 20 years depending on weather conditions since a region that is more prone to hail storms or extreme heat and rain will shorten the life of your roof. However, modern manufacturing methods now offer composite cedar shake materials that are available in different shades such as classic silver cedar and aged cedar. This form of cedar offers the same traditional look and feel of natural cedar, but can last for almost 50 years while reducing maintenance costs too.When your roof is in dire need of repairs, rather than engaging in mere patchwork, you should consider a cedar shake roof. Cedar is quite tough and costs less than a metal roof. You can look at different shades and finishes before you opt for a cedar shake roof that looks easy on your eyes and is easy on your wallet too.
Your home, office, workshop, or manufacturing facility requires wall cladding that not only scores high on aesthetics, but is also durable enough to last for decades. You should seriously consider metal wall cladding since this form of cladding is available in various materials and possesses several advantages over other traditional cladding materials.
Advantages of Metal Cladding
Metal for cladding makes an excellent choice since it is extremely strong and durable. It also has an ideal weight-to-strength ratio which makes for a light-yet-strong cladding. This form of cladding can easily handle harsh weather and gale-force winds that form part of the weather system in Canada. Metal cladding offers easy installation on several types of existing walls made out of wood, concrete, brick, stucco, and even over existing metal wall cladding.
Different Metal Wall Cladding Materials
There are usually two commonly used materials in metal cladding. The first is sheet metal cladding that is available with zinc coating popularly known as galvanized steel and sheet metal cladding with a zinc-iron alloy coating popularly known as galvannealed steel.
The other popular material for wall cladding is aluminum, actually 55 percent of aluminum-zinc-alloy, which is coated using the hot dip process. As per Canadian construction rules, the minimum thickness of the steel used for cladding as well as flashings must be 0.46 mm.
In case of aluminum cladding, you can opt for flat cladding or plate panel cladding systems based on whether the total area covered is small or large respectively. Newer manufacturing techniques and extrusion methods ensure aluminum cladding has strength levels that are equal to sheet metal wall cladding.
If you need a structural sheet metal cladding system that will be subject to structural load then you need to opt for thicker metal cladding that is certified to handle structural load. For walls that are not subject to any loads, you can use metal cladding that does not need to meet those standards, but is yet manufactured from high quality steel and alloys.
Most metal wall cladding systems that you find today possess prefinished coatings in different colors and finishes. These coatings include an organic top coat that prevents water as well as oxygen from making contact with the steel sheet, which in turn prevents rusting. The result is baked paint that resists fading and corrosion for decades while providing excellent aesthetics to the walls of your house, office, or factory.
Special Finishes and Materials for Wall Cladding
In addition to solid and metallic colors, you will also find wall cladding in special finishes that mimic brick, wood, etc., and you can choose one that suits your tastes and also merges well with the surroundings. There are also some specialty metals used for wall claddings such as copper, zinc, and stainless steel. However, these materials are priced much higher than sheet metal and aluminum cladding.
So, if you need to adorn the walls of your home or commercial establishment with strong and durable wall cladding, then you certainly have a wide choice of materials and finishes at hand. You must make sure you get expert guidance from a licensed contractor as well as look at all available materials before choosing the right metal wall cladding for your project.
Rapid deforestation being a serious issue all over the globe and with price of petroleum products shooting through the roof, you need to make an intelligent choice when you want to replace your roof or are building a new home. A metal roof beats other materials hands down in technical abilities and is environmentally friendly too.
Why Metal Roofing?
Until now, you may have considered only asphalt or clay shingles, wood, or concrete as a material of choice for your roof. However, if you have already used any of these materials then you would have become very familiar with their drawbacks.
A concrete roof weighs 10 lbs/sq ft as compared to 1 lb/sq ft for a metal roof, which in turn means your concrete roof will require additional beams and columns just to support its heavy weight. Even an asphalt roof weighs 5 lbs/sq ft and provides poor thermal insulation, wind resistance, and low life of around 20 years.
A wooden roof too will only protect your home for around 15 years while requiring regular maintenance. A wooden roof for residential application may only have a fire resistance rating of Class C, which pales in comparison for metal roofing that has a Class A fire rating.
A metal roof also has extremely high wind resistance of around 100 miles per hour or 160 kilometers per hour. Your metal roof can keep you safe from hail stones, heavy rains, and scorching sun for years on end. In fact, most metal roof manufacturers offer a transferable warranty on their products for at least around 30 years.
Environmental Benefits of Installing a Metal Roof
Metal for your roof is actually a green product since it not only lasts really long, but also takes birth once again to serve for decades. Your metal roofing can easily last up to 50 years. Modern manufacturing methods offer galvanized, galvannealed, and galvalume aluminum-alloy roofing materials that are extremely resistant to rust. These materials are also strong and durable at the same time.
In addition, these metals are coated with special polymer paints that offer high level of resistance to chipping and fading. Hence, you no longer need to paint your roof every couple of years, which in turn makes metal a lot more environmentally-friendly than its competitors.
Your metal roof is totally reusable after it protects your home for around 5 decades. Metal can be reused again and again, and hence does not end up in landfills or leak pollutants into the surrounding soil. Since metal also possesses excellent energy saving properties, you may just end up saving up to 40 percent in your heating and cooling bills. In addition, you may also be able to claim energy tax credits as well as discounts in your insurance policy, wherever applicable.
So, if you want your roof to last well until your next generation, require negligible maintenance, look aesthetically pleasing, help conserve the environment, and provide strength and durability, then metal roofing should be your only choice. A metal roof shows that you have a good sense of style and are environmentally-conscious at the same time.
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