Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/856921
AUGUST 2017 | 25 Metal Roofing/Cladding PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY FIRESTONE BUILDING PRODUCTS The RCABC is hardly alone in the quest to develop skill sets within the metal roof realm. "We have a training program for contractors and work with them on vari- ous projects so they can get up to speed on our different systems and fasteners," says Steve Brooks, business development manager for Vicwest Building Products. "Programs such as ours also help diversify the contractors' business." Brooks says 2017 is off to a slow start thanks to the intense winter and rainy spring suffered in many parts of Canada – but this may be a good thing, as the weather "has caused issues with regards to traditional roofing systems and people are now rightfully viewing roofs as an investment rather than something that is never planned for," he explains. Fortunately these people have plenty of solutions to choose from at Vicwest; from roofing, membranes, insulation, trims and mouldings for residential applica- tions, to steel cladding and insulated metal/architectural panels in the commercial realm. Vicwest is also an innovator, as evidenced by its Expressence line of roof and wall steel profiles with natural finishes that closely emulate wood, stone, or metal. Brooks adds, "This year we've acknowledged the rising trend of residential matte finishes by offering them on our entry-, mid- and upper-level products. This is great for property owners who want a unified appearance of their high-end home as well as the shed they have in the rear." Firestone Canada Inc. ensures that its roofing systems live up to their high potential by selling them only to trained and licensed applicators. Larry Shoesmith, Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) Calgary Chapter, liaison officer to Calgary Construction Association and president of Pilot Group Inc., cites the many ways Firestone distinguishes itself from the competition. "For performance and longevity, the company's Una-Clad Kynar 500/Hylar 5000 Pre-Finished Galvanized Steel sheet and coil is outstanding both in its resiliency to the elements and its colour retention," he says. "Firestone also uses injected sealants on details as well as manually-applied sealants for extra protection, and its peel and stick underlay for waterproofing is an innovation that saves an enormous amount of time and effort on job sites." But if Shoesmith had to name one element that especially distinguishes Firestone in terms of customer support, it would be its single-source warranty, extending in some cases to 30 years, which he describes as "covering all bases. It's crucial that owners and designers understand the full scope of warranties out there, because Una-Clad Kynar 500/Hylar 5000 Pre-Finished Galvanized Steel sheet.