ROOFING GUIDE

A comprehensive guide to roofing including: Roofing materials comparison Warning signs that you need a new roof Roofing trends and interesting facts Finding a roofing contractor

This Renovation Innovations reprint courtesy of Bil-Den:

Ontarios Metal Roong Experts

and exclusive distributors of METALWORKS Steel Shingles
NTARIO SE RVING O

! s rst,, y any roong Call u ou bu y before

Decades of experience installing metal roong Ontarios only certied installer of METALWORKS Steel Shingles

www.bil-den.com 1-800-263-2720 905-666-0018

Testimonial
We had Bil-Den install a METALWORKS Steel Shingle roof on our home last year. It looks stunning and theres real peace of mind knowing well never have to replace it, it requires no maintenance and will stay looking great. Friends who redid their asphalt roof ve years ago are already complaining that the shingles are curling! We made an investment in our home with our METALWORKS Steel Shingle roof and we are condent in dealing with Bil-Den because they oer excellent service and stand behind their work 100%. Mr & Mrs Wilson, Whitby, ON

ROOFING GUIDE
Key factors in selecting your next roof
How long can I expect my new roof to last? Can a new roof lower my utilities and insurance costs? Will my roong choice impact the value of my home? What roong products are best suited to the climate conditions of my area? Will my roong choice have an impact on the environment?
These are the questions you should know the answers to, before you buy. Buying a roof for your home isn't as simple as nding a contractor and purchasing some shingles at your local big box store. Your roof covers one of the biggest investments you may have in your lifetime. All the more reason to ensure that you make the best choice. Not only does this guide provide answers to the necessary questions, weve also gathered research from the roong industry to provide you with a comprehensive guide that will assist you in determining which roong option is right for you.

Food for thought... A healthy roof is an indication of healthy home. Nothing plays a greater role in protecting your home than your roof. Aging roofs are the cause of excessive damage, soaring heating and cooling bills, and potential harmful destruction to your home.

Look up... roong has changed!

Remember when the only aordable option in roong was asphalt? If you are replacing a roof, your rst thought is probably to just put up the same stu again but is that really the right choice for your home? There are some compelling reasons to change the colour, style and even the material of your roof. Perhaps youve changed the siding or basic colour scheme and the original roof style is no longer suitable. Maybe youre concerned about your environmental footprint and want a greener solution. If youve made other upgrades (like landscaping, or an interlock brick driveway) you may want to upgrade your roof as well to impact curb appeal, or you may want more protection from wind, hail and re than your current roof can oer. And how do you view a roof system as a necessary expense every 8-12 years, or as a one-time investment that will add value to your property? If its been a while since you had a home re-roofed youll nd some new products on the market, including a few that replicate costlier materials without being cost prohibitive, and some exciting green solutions. To help you make your decision, consult our product comparisons article for overviews of Asphalt, Wood, and Metal.

Time for a new roof? These are the common signs:

Rotted fascia, damaged decking, curling shingles, stained ceilings, reduced curb appeal, granular loss, hail damage, higher heating and cooling bills, leaks, saturated insulation, cracks and splits...

DID YOU KNOW...

Re-roofing pays better than any other home renovation with an average cost recovery of 106%, according to Remodeling Magazine Every year more than 30 billion pounds of asphalt shingles are dumped into our landfills? Metal is the most recycled material in the world: more steel is recycled than paper, aluminum, glass and plastic combined? In 1983, premium products only represented 15% of the roofs being installed. By 2005, premium products had grown to 44%! The trend to higher end roofing like metal, is obvious. 65% of all residential roofing in Finland is metal?

Energy Saving Roofs

Many homeowners are unaware that one of the areas that they can cut soaring energy costs is with their roof. Installation of reective metal roong can save your home up to 40% in summer cooling energy costs while highly emissive metal roofs can reduce urban air temperatures by as much as 12 F. Combined, these benets mean less money out of your wallet, less dependence on energy resources and less general air pollution in your neighborhood and across Canada.

Energy-absorbing Dark Asphalt Roof

Reflective Metal Roof Surface

Re-emissive Metal Roof Surface

The secret to metal roong is shown above. The basic, unpainted metal roof will reect much of the solar radiation usually absorbed in your attic and home by an asphalt roof. Metal roong not only reects solar energy but also cools your home by re-emitting most of what solar radiation is absorbed. A highly emissive painted metal roong is optimal for reducing energy consumption and can actually re-emit up to 90% of absorbed solar radiation.

Food for thought... your home is probably the biggest single investment you will make... so why buy a house and rent a roof? Asphalt begins to depreciate the day it goes on your roof, and the only sure thing about it is it will have to be replaced... again and again and again...

Roong materials product comparison

ASPHALT, a petroleum by-product, is an inexpensive roong material made from asphalt saturated berglass or paper mat with tiny stone-like coloured chips embedded in the surface to protect the petroleum based mat from UV rays, and give the shingle its colour and dimension. ADVANTAGES: inexpensive commonly available large selection of colours, types, suitable for most residential applications from mobile homes to premium housing DISADVANTAGES begins to deteriorate as soon it goes on your roof blows o in high winds scars easily when hot susceptible to mildew and moss environmentally unfriendly limited warranty coverage (at most 5 years): All are pro-rated and few are transferable limited durability may aect resale WOOD shake and shingle roofs are distinctive because of their appearance and lend themselves to particular styles of architecture. Wood shingles are smooth and uniformly shaped while most shakes have a rough uneven texture. ADVANTAGES: unique, natural look blends in with the environment good insulation properties DISADVANTAGES expensive high maintenance subject to mold and mildew subject to environmental aging can lose virtually all their natural preservatives in as short as 5 years very combustible unless treated rot, attract insects and vermin originally from old growth trees, the cedar available now is from second and often third growth trees which have a shorter life span METAL, specically steel, is gaining popularity as a new alternative to standard roong materials because of its strength, permanence, high performance capabilities and low environmental impact. Available in three varieties: Stone Coated Shingles, Painted Stamped Shingles, and Standing Seam ADVANTAGES: the durability of galvanized steel will not rot, chip, fade, burn freeze & thaw resistant variety of colours, types long life span light weight low maintenance energy saving excellent performance in high wind, hail and rain energy ecient environmentally friendly 50 year warranty upscale styles to enhance your home investment versus cost

Four reasons to protect your home with steel: withstands hail will not burn impervious to insect damage can withstand high winds and extreme weather conditions

Why Asphalt belongs on the road... not your roof!

For years, North Americans have covered their roofs with asphalt and not given whats over their heads much thought, but considering how crucial your roof is to the integrity of your home, you might want to consider these facts when it comes time to replace your roong: While Asphalt Shingles are getting more expensive, their life span is getting shorter. Why? The principal ingredient in Asphalt is tar which comes from petroleum, which as we all know is skyrocketing in costs. So, in an eort to keep asphalt shingles cheap, manufacturers and putting more ller, and less tar in their products. But guess what? The ingredient that makes them weather resistant is... you guessed it... tar! Hence the shorter life span, which could explain why each year 30 billion tons of asphalt shingles end up in our landlls!

30 billion tons of asphalt shingles end up in our landlls every year!

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Metal roong wins hands down...

oering the ultimate in lifetime protection, metal is the right choice for your roof and for the environment too!

Choosing a new roof is an important decision. Since up to 40% of your homes exterior may show as roof, your choice will greatly aect your homes visual appeal, now, and in the future. A permanent metal roof will enhance your homes curb appeal and look as fabulous in 20 years as the day it goes on your home so, if you sell your home it is a selling feature, not a detriment. Giving maximum protection to your greatest investment, a metal roof can withstand high winds and hail, will not rot, crack or split, is re resistant and impervious to pests and insects. A permanent metal roof is an investment that will actually save you money over time by adding value to your home, helping save on energy costs, requiring little or no maintenance, and will last a lifetime.

Why we recommend metal:

Investment grade roong life-long performance Upscale styles enhance your home Freeze & thaw resistant Wont crack, break, burn, curl, split, rot, or grow mold Protection from Hail and Wind damage Energy savings Durable proven performance 50 year limited warranty

Improved curb appeal is just one of the many benets of investing in a Metal Roof

As beautiful as they are strong, metal roong is available in a variety of styles, colours and nishes. There is a metal roof perfect for every style home.

Cost vs Price

There is a signicant dierence between conventional asphalt roong and a lifetime metal roof system. This graph illustrates how, over time, the permanent metal roof costs less.

Cost versus Life Cycle Expectancy

Two conventional roofs over the next 25 years
COST

One-time metal roof investment

YEARS

10

20

30

40

50+

Frequently Asked Questions about metal roong...

Question: Why spend more for a metal roof?
Answer: Ordinary roong materials have shorter life spans than metal and will need to be replaced regularly. With constantly increasing material and labour costs, that could mean a signicant expense over the life of your home. A metal roof virtually never needs to be replaced, saving you money while adding value to your home.

Question: How can a metal roof save money on energy bills?

Answer: Metal reects the majority of the suns rays, so it doesnt retain as much heat as wood, asphalt shingles, tile or cement. This means a metal roof could help your attic stay cooler longer leading to a signicant reduction in your energy bills and increasing the lifespan of your cooling equipment.

Question: Is the roof noisy when it rains?

Answer: A properly installed metal roof will not create additional noise. Proper installation by a reputable, experienced installer will limit opportunities for reverberation thereby eliminating additional noise.

Question: Can I walk on my metal roof?

Answer: Yes, but since metal roong requires virtually no maintenance, there should be no reason to do so. Like any roof, care should be exercised. You can discuss specic details about walking on your roof with your installation company.

Question: Does my homes present roof have to be removed before a metal roof can be installed?
Answer: In most applications, metal can be applied directly over the old asphalt roof, saving money and eliminating a great deal of mess. In addition, because there is no old roof to dispose of, landll space is spared, helping to protect our environment.

Question: How much does a metal roof weigh in comparison to other types of roong?
Answer: A typical metal roof weighs one-fth the weight of asphalt, one-twentieth the weight of concrete, and will add less than 10% to the weight of the existing roof materials.

Question: How long will a metal roof last?

Answer: Metal wont dry out, split, curl, peel or ake like conventional roong products. Most metal roofs are considered lifetime and are guaranteed for 50 years. Metal has been protecting many of the worlds monumental buildings for decades, and has been in use for over 100 years.

Finding a roofing contractor:

Be informed before you sign on the dotted line...

Consumers who do their homework when buying improve the process for themselves, and for professional, reputable contractors. Here are some of the key things you should ensure a contractor has as part of your due diligence Oer exible payment methods without requiring a substantial deposit Member in good standing with the Better Business Bureau Proof of Liability coverage Minimum $1,000,000 Supply a list of completed projects Written contract thats easy to read and understand

APPROV

In your area, we recommend:

RENOVATION has determined that Bil-Den meets or exceeds our requirements to be certied as an Approved Contractor.

CONT R ED

TOR AC

Innovations

Completed over $135,000,000 in contracted sales throughout Ontario, for thousands of satised customers Ontarios only certied installer of METALWORKS Steel Shingles Members of the Better Business Bureau since 1989 $2,000,000 Liability coverage
NTARIO SE RVING O

1-800-263-2720
www.bil-den.com

Put your trust in us...

Nearly 30 years of servicing customers from the same location

RE-ROOF NOW and SAVE!

If we can use your home to showcase the look of our Quarry Slate or Cedar Shingle roof to others, we will denitely make it worth your while. As a display home participant, you will receive discounted pricing and have access to our special bank nancing with low rates, zero down and aordable payments.
CALL FOR AVAILABILITY OF THIS OFFER IN YOUR AREA 440 Hopkins St., Whitby, ON L1N 2B9

1-800-263-2720
email: metalworks@bil-den.com