Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1477248
22 | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2 Metal Roofing/Cladding At Ontario Panelization, one recent project of note was the net-zero Hēlio building at London's West 5 community. Ontario Panelization installed 27,650 square feet of Aluminum Plate (along with 7,650 square feet of Longboard and 9,200 square feet of siding). Ontario Panelization's Alcotex Aluminum Composite Material panels (ACM) allow for greater options on any major construction project, thanks to a low-density polyethylene core and being engineered flat, lightweight, rigid, yet formable. This allows for multiple curve applications and use as a cladding for spandrel areas, columns and beams, in addition to parapets, copings, canopy facias, and soffits. Vicwest continues to prove not only its expertise in engineering and manu- facturing metal roofing and wall systems that withstand the harshest climates, but also its considerable design versatility for both interior and exterior projects. For example, for The Alley (a Stratford-based restaurant), designer Emily Wunder envisioned creating a wow factor that stood the test of time, and her solution was to make the bar a visual focal point – and Vicwest made it stand out by cladding it in 7⁄8 corrugated metal. "My contractor said, well, we have to go to Vicwest, they're just the supplier we need," she recalls. "They had all sorts of finishes, so we looked at the colour swatches, after looking at about 50 colours I chose this really beautiful burgundy colour that suited the vibe of the bar area really well." Vicwest's expertise and acclaim in its metal roofing products was also appre- ciated by Wunder when it came to selecting roof material for a 7,000-square foot, modern mountain style home in St. Marys, Ontario. Wunder specified Vicwest's Prestige roofing material in Ebony Signature Matte finish. "Prestige in Ebony worked well with not only the aesthetics of the house but also because of the massive expanse that they needed for this roof," she recalls. Additionally, Wunder found the quality of the Prestige roof to be exceptional: "When I use the word quality to describe a roof, I mean how it comes together; the way it joins has a lot to do with the aesthetic. The way the panels overlap, with it's Snap-Loc design, not only does it hide all the screws but the 1.5-inch rib creates a truly architectural look. With a lot of other metal roofs, the aesthetic isn't quite there and you can tell this product has been engineered to install easily and perform for the long term." Finally, Laurence Matzek, director, RoofStar Guarantee Program for the Roofing Contractors Association of British Columbia (RCABC), reports that despite inflation "metal roofing is still being specified in the institutional, com- mercial, and industrial sectors, for the simple reason of longevity: if the system is properly selected and installed, metal can outlast asphalt shingles two to one." But supply chain issues have had an impact, and for the metal roofing it has impacted in a curious way. "Fastener supply has been affected," Matzek says. "Screws and such are in short supply, and that's significant in that some roofing projects are dependant on specific products, and unless these products can be secured the project could run into delays." Matzek tentatively predicts that inflationary pressures will create slowdowns, and slowdowns in turn "will ease demand and bring the supply chain back into check. It's not an ideal situation by any means, but it will be a return to balance that we all need. However, most of our colleagues believe the process will take several quarters to a few years." Also in the meantime, the RCABC continues to focus considerable resources on training, specifically its apprenticeship training that for the roofing sector includes the Red Seal program (which provides training in all aspects of roofing, from damp proofing of foundations, ponds, bridges, and floors to all types of flat and sloped roofing systems), as well as the provincially recognized Architectural Sheet Metal Worker program (designed for those working to develop the product knowledge and skills to prepare, repair, and fabricate components for metal roofs, metal walls, and other exterior wall products). Robert Scales, director of education and training at RCABC, points out that while potential recruits to the skilled trades "are coming back after two years of low numbers of new apprentice registrations and hesitancy to attend training due to COVID," he stresses that the numbers are still lacking. He says, "We clearly have a need for more people to consider the trades, and apprenticing is a great way for them to discover sec- tors such as sheet metal or roofing. We will continue to promote our programs and the fact there are many career opportunities for young people, for women and indigenous people who are under-represented in skilled trade careers and apprenticeship opportunities." A Triumph Roofing.indd 1 2019-07-18 12:07