Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/331457
of those who have spent on quality. On the other hand, the cost-conscious developer probably doesn't want to spend any more than necessary to com- ply with the local esthetics police. One relat ively budget-sensit ive solution, Smith says, might be to use Dryvit's TerraNeo line, which can be used for EIFS coatings or interiors. It is a high-end finish, and with a blend of multiple-sized quartz aggregates and mica particles it can replicate the look of granite. "It has the look of granite or stone, but with a lot less structure required. A full EIFS assembly weighs two pounds per square foot, instead of the 80 to 90 pounds per square foot if you used real granite," Smith says. Reflectit is another Dryvit product that can help buildings make a great first impression. It is aimed at those who favour the modernist look of gleaming metal panel cladding but are put off by the $70- to $80-per-square-foot price tag. Dryvit Custom Brick, which offers a variety of textures and colours, works on the same idea as TerrNeo and Reflec- tit, and is another system that is helping EIFS attract customers, Smith says. A new twist on traditional technol- ogy from IB Roof Systems could boost the esthetic appeal of PVC roofs. "It's an Italian product that includes the inte- gration of real copper flakes in the liq- uid plastisol, so the material simulates the look of a copper roof as it patinas and oxidizes," says Brad Egan, a marketing communications manager at IB Roof Systems. Casting is the oldest way of making PVC. It's not the fastest method but the product has some good attri- butes, including better durability, Egan says. It also works well at producing the desired copper look for IB's new Forti- Guard line of PVC membranes. These are also available with a silver or white look. When it comes to cladding products, European manufacturers and design- ers have had the field pretty much to themselves in some sectors. Until just recently, for instance, no one in North America was making phenolic resin panels for the cladding sector. "They all came from Europe," says Andrew Rog- ers, president of Sound Solutions Inc. Cost and lead times have some- times been an issue, Rogers says. Now, Fiberesin Industries Inc., a U.S.-based manufacturer of laminate and pheno- lic panels, with decades of experience in thermal fusion-based products, has introduced Stonewood Architectural Panels. "This means much shorter lead times. We have a relationship with Wilsonart, so we have a huge range of colours available," says Rogers. He notes that Sound Solutions is the sole distribu- tor in Canada. The firm has supplied phenolic archi- tectural panels for colleges, universi- ties, municipal buildings, hospitals, and some retail and restaurant chains. "Those with owner-occupied buildings are our biggest customers. They want something that will last," Rogers says. Esthetics have always been a big factor for some clients. Others, on the other hand, are only now giving more weight to this aspect. Rogers says, "The institutional sector is changing its thinking and focusing more on the exterior." Lightweight cladding and roofing products with a wide service tempera- ture range are often a good fit for Cana- da's climate. Both are characteristic of today's polycarbonate roof systems. Vicwest Corporation distributes Pal- ram's polycarbonate Suntuf corrugated sheets to the DIY market in Canada. Recently, Vicwest's R&D department was asked to review Palram's architec- tural polycarbonate standing seam roof systems, Sunpal and Sunglaze, used in airports, railway stations and arenas, to see what demand there might be for these systems in Canada. "These prod- ucts are popular in Europe and are now being sold in the U.S. It only seems natu- ral that it will find its way to Canada," says Peter MacNab, an architect and ICI market development manager with Vic- west Canada. With the increasingly wide range of roofing systems, online resources are assuming a greater role in the design community's tool kit. "Architects are using the [online] roofing practices manual. They can benefit by sending specs over to RCABC [Roofing Contrac- tors Association of British Columbia] for review to see that they conform to standards in the RoofStar Guarantee Program," says Judy Slutsky, director of business development at RCABC. Slutsky has been doing lunch-and- learn sessions with B.C. architects, how- ever, some architects from outside B.C. have said that RCABC's services are also needed in other regions of Canada. Of course, the type of construction being done varies across the country. "We're seeing increased demand for product, fuelled especially by northern Alberta," says Ryan Hunniford, opera- tions manager at Tech-Crete Processors Ltd. The company is a manufacturer of composite insulating panels for roof- ing and walls. Tech-Crete's concrete- faced insulation ( CFI) wall panels are pre-finished exterior insulating panels designed for use in perimeter founda- tion and low rise wall installation. Then there are systems or products geared for conditions specific to certain regions. The snow retention guards and systems from Sno-Gem, Inc. are a case in point and are designed for stopping snow from sliding off roofs. "We have several systems, each for slightly differ- ent applications," says Jim Carpenter, VP operations at Sno-Gem. ■ June 2014 /25 Roofi ng/Cladding Materials p.20-27Roofing.indd 25 14-06-03 9:43 AM