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J U N E 2 0 2 5 | 27 Roofing & Cladding Materials P H OTO G R A P H Y BY S T ÉP H A N E G RO L E AU/CO U RT E S Y N E W T EC H WO O D; S O U N D S O LU T I O N S; LO N G B OA R D A RC H I T EC T U R A L P RO DU C T S I N C . the crew what it had done to the façade, I could hardly believe what I heard: we didn't lose a single façade component or tile." Unsurprisingly, Engineered Assemblies is busy in Atlantic Canada providing products and con- sultation to a variety of clients. Ker says, "People are starting to think of facades in direct relation to storm damage and resilience, and that's a very good development as far as I'm concerned, and perhaps one of the biggest components of sustainability." While there are many aspects to sustainability, different companies involved in roofing and cladding products achieve it in different ways. NewTechWood distinguishes itself by offering a range of composite products all featuring Ultrashield coating that pro- tects the material from rotting, fading, staining, and other issues that can ruin traditional wood. NewTechWood's cladding boards and siding pan- els are available in up to nine standard natural wood and modern tones, and as with the company's other products, the major draw for building devel- opers is that its composite wood products are made from 95 percent recycled materials including plas- tic bottles and reclaimed wood fibre. NewTechWood estimates that 12-million pounds of plastic are diverted from landfills monthly as a result. Meanwhile, as the building industry continues to evolve toward more sustainable and efficient solu- tions, Longboard Architectural Products Inc. – a manufacturer of extruded architectural aluminum building products – is expanding into residential siding, bringing commercial-grade durability to the residential market. Two new profiles enable residential develop- ers to enjoy the ideal blend of traditional aesthetics and modern performance: Lap Siding and Board & Batten. These profiles reflect Longboard's dedica- tion to producing beautiful, durable, and sustainable products that are easy to install. Both new profiles integrate seamlessly with Longboard's standard T&G trim and fastening components, allowing previous clients to work with familiar installation techniques. Engineered for long-lasting durability, both pro- files feature a 1.5-millimetre thickness and are crafted from premium 6063-T5 aluminum, which provides exceptional resistance to denting, warping, and fading. The initial launch consists of four colours: Old Navy (a deep, rich blue); Shale (a solid, dark grey); Onyx Black (bold black with a textured fin- ish); and Bone White (a crisp, contemporary white). Another important company in the clad- ding realm is Sound Solutions, which carries an extensive line of innovative exterior cladding prod- ucts ranging from wood and metal to porcelain and terracotta, as well as solar shading. It also represents and distributes an extensive line of cost-effective interior products that allow designers to finish the walls and ceilings of virtually any type of project. These products include fabrics under the Avanti brand as well as speciality items such as Akustus, Newmat, and Fellert. Andrew Rogers, principal at Sound Solutions, says his company is currently considering new products to add to its offerings in the near future, since it came out of a record year for cladding in 2024 "and is now in the midst of what is shaping up to be an equally strong 2025." This is despite high inflation and other factors causing a pullback on some college and university projects. "Our strongest segment is institutional projects – everything from learning institutions and municipal buildings to libraries and aquatic cen- tres," Rogers says. "So we hope some delayed projects will eventually come back online. Meanwhile, we're keeping very busy with work in other segments." In terms of roofing, BP Canada has been produc- ing quality home building and home renovation products since 1905, and Nathalie Lambert, BP's marketing director, notes that a trend in inte- rior décor – colour drenching (a design technique that involves painting a space in a single colour or a closely related range of tones, thus creating a monochromatic look) – is extending outdoors, with Canadians opting for monochromatic schemes for their home's exterior and choosing roofing to match. This has led to a rise in popularity of more neu- tral, saturated shingle colours such as copper. "While black is still the most popular roofing choice, coppery brown tones are gaining traction in exte- rior home decor from outdoor furniture to garden accessories, so we're seeing a movement towards consumers choosing these shades for their roofs as well," Lambert says. To address these trends, BP Canada's Chroma Colour Lab recently introduced a line of colour- infused, multi-toned shingles called Signature. An industry first, the shingles can be merged together (following BP Canada's carefully curated designs) by alternating two colours over successive rows to cre- ate a third hue that produces a complementary or contrasting visual effect. BP Canada's shingles predicted to gain most popu- larity this year are Signature Mesquite and Toscana (both available in Eastern Canada) copper browns, as well as Signature Dublin (available in Eastern Canada), and Edinburgh (available in Western Canada), which feature a mix of copper/tan and grey hues. Shiplap siding, decking, and architectural beams in Teak. Eataly Restaurant, Sherway Gardens, Toronto, ON Lap Siding and Board & Batten aluminum siding.

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