Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1385297
Frontek extruded porcelain facade system. FleeceBack RapidLock (RL) Roofing System. J U N E 2 0 2 1 | 31 Roofing/Cladding Materials P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E SY EN G I N EER ED A SS EM B L I E S; C A R L I S L E SY N T EC SYS T EM S Roofing and cladding are not just for protection, they also create a unique facade by ROBIN BRUNET A s a building component most vulnerable to wear and failure, roofing systems are understandably the continued focus of product development and innovation. The same goes for its cousin, cladding. And even though government lockdowns have compromised manufacturing to a degree, the windfall of activity in the roofing and cladding sectors that erupted in 2020 has extended into 2021. Lawrence Matzek, director, RoofStar Guarantee Program at Roofing Contractors Association of British Columbia (RCABC), says, "We appear to be in a busy market period, and part of the reason is that the owners of so many com- mercial and industrial facilities realized they had a good opportunity to upgrade or renovate while their buildings were empty. "Now, with daily life returning somewhat to normal, we're seeing the benefits of government stimulus money kicking in: people are still going ahead with roofing projects, and I imagine our members will ride the wave of this for at least a year." The only drawback is something the construction industry in general must contend with. "Some projects have to factor in as much as a six month delay for delivery of products such as insulation, due to high demand and interruptions in transportation," says Matzek. As for RCABC itself, the association earlier this year introduced the new 15-year RoofStar Guarantee, following the success of the 10-year guarantee program. The 15-year guarantee requires premium materials and has enhanced standards. Currently, SBS, EPDM, TPO, PVC Roof Waterproofing Systems and Architectural Sheet Metal (ASM) Roof Systems qualify; roof systems must be designed and constructed in compliance with both the RoofStar Guarantee Standards and the membrane manufacturer's available 20-year System Warranty standards. Founded in 2007 in Ontario, Engineered Assemblies has grown to serve the light- weight facade market across North America by way of distributing facade materials of the highest standards and providing guidance to the design and construction industries for rear-ventilated rainscreen (RVRS) substructure installation. Helping along these efforts is a material whose esthetic benefits (in addi- tion to being part of an RVRS) compel Jeff Ker, senior technical advisor at Engineered Assemblies, to discuss. "Cupaclad is slate chiseled by hand from quarries in Spain that have a very low carbon footprint, and although it is a historically widely sought material for roofing we have several engineered attachment systems that makes it ideal for cladding," he says. THINGS ARE LOOKING UP