How important is the roof to the look of a home?

Vancouver, Canada is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The mountain peaked horizons, and pacific coast line offer some of the most breathtaking views available. The city skyline is famous worldwide, more for its surroundings than for its buildings.

When it comes to residential Vancouver, our city has always left a mark on development styles as a whole. From Vancouverism, to the Vancouver Special, this city has been at the forefront of architectural style for decades.

More recently, the planning stages of building homes have focused more on how the aesthetic of the roof and exterior affects the surrounding neighborhood and environment by looking at themes. While commercial and industrial areas may look strong with a gray asphalt finish, the more handsome residential areas are working with a natural wood finish. With the housing market being so competitive, the look of a home is paramount. Real estate agents are constantly talking about raising the “curb value” of homes. So how should a builder approach aesthetics while taking care of the more practical things, like cost and durability?

Style Transcends Genre

Most of us have a good idea what looks good on us personally. If we’re going to a business meeting, we wear business clothes, and if we’re heading to the beach we wear a swim suit. These things are common sense. If we attend a wedding, we do not wear jeans simply because they’re cheap and durable. It would not fit the situation.

Homes in Vancouver find themselves in the enviable position of being some of the most highly valued dwellings on the planet. So how do we keep them there? Dress them in a classic style.

Don’t Look for a Fad

Though there may be roofing products out there that promise to solve all your problems, examine first how they will affect your home. Does the product hold up over time? Does it clash with the surrounding environment? Will it improve the look of the neighborhood as a whole?

You will have many options for roofing material, but when it comes to the look of a home, it can be hard to beat the classic look of cedar shakes and shingles. They blend well with any home, and even improve the look of the neighborhood overall. Cedar roofing material is durable, long lasting, and when installed by us, it comes with a worry free guarantee.

If you’re not sure how a roofing material will look, stop by our roofing showroom in North Vancouver for a look at some samples. Choosing the right roofing material for you gets a lot easier when you can see what you’re getting.

If you have an attic, the first thing you’ll want to do is head up and check for the most obvious sign of roof problems. Sunlight. Seeing the sun streaming through your roofing tiles, it should be obvious to you that your roof needs some attention. If you don’t see this, allow yourself a moment to sigh with relief, then take a quick look around for watermarks.

Water will leave an obvious discoloration wherever it is allowed to collect. If you see a mark, you will want to take action to prevent further leaks immediately. Things like roof rot, attic mold, and insect infestation will occur if leaks are allowed to continue unchecked.

Once you have conducted our search of the attic, it’s time to have a walk around the property. We do not recommend that every owner climb onto his or her roof to inspect it. While it is easier to check for problems by getting closer, there are serious safety concerns for those unaccustomed to walking on their roof. Fiberglass, and cedar roofing materials can become slick if it has rained recently. One loose or faulty tile is all it takes for a fall to occur.

If you have a pair of binoculars, use these instead. They are perfect for getting a closer look at your roof without placing you in any danger. On your inspection, keep an eye out for the obvious flaws in your roofing first. Missing or broken tiles should be relatively easy to spot, but try to spot inconsistencies in the roofing pattern as well. Have any tiles been shifted out of place?

A roof is designed to regulate the flow of water above the home. If you find that your roofing is covered in debris, this water flow will be interrupted. Leaves and other debris allow moisture to remain in one area for much longer. This shortens the lifespan of your roofing materials, so it’s best to have the debris cleared away as soon as possible. Many homes require monthly maintenance for just this very reason. Something as simple as regular gutter cleaning or maintenance will go a long way in preserving the future value of your roof and your home.

If you see something during your inspection, and are unsure of how to proceed with a roofing repair, just give us a call or stop by the showroom to ask us about it. We are always ready to talk about our favorite subject. Roofing is what we do, after all.

First, let’s look at 5 things that make a roof sustainable or “green roofing“, then let’s see if cedar roofing materials make the grade. 

Low-impact: Are your roofing materials non-toxic? Were they sustainably produced, or made from recycled materials?

Yes. Cedar shakes and shingles are non-toxic. In fact, with their built in resistances to insects, and moss or mould, they do not even need to be sprayed with any unnatural chemical products. As for being sustainably produced, the BC forest industry happens to be one of the leaders of sustainable resource control. Every area harvested is re-seeded, not just as a tree farm, but to develop into a healthy vibrant forest once again. This is manageable, since close to 95% of forestry land is owned by our British Columbia public government, and kept to strict standards for sustainability.

Energy efficiency: What impact does your choice have on the energy efficiency of your home?

The natural insulating properties of cedar make it one of the most energy efficient roofing materials available. It keeps your home warm in the winter time, and cool during the summer. Your energy bill stays down. Your carbon footprint stays small. Your home stays comfy. You win.

Quality and durability: A quality roofing material will last longer, requiring fewer replacements. The more durable it is, the fewer trips for repair are needed.

You might have already read our last post about cedar roofing materials. We talked about its durable qualities in stormy, windy weather. Its ability to withstand hail is also well documented. Speaking from our own experience, cedar lasts much longer, and requires much less maintenance than a product like asphalt.

Design for reuse and recycling: This should be easy to wrap our heads around. What happens to the roofing materials after they’re replaced? Do they get thrown in a landfill, or can they be used again?

Reuse is not an option for used cedar shakes or shingles. Once they are determined unfit for your roof, they will not be determined fit for another; however, recycling cedar shakes and shingles is a fairly common practice. Cedar shakes can be ground down into a mulch for our trails, or used as an alternate fuel source for power generation.

Renewability: Roofing materials should come from nearby (local or bioregional), sustainably managed renewable sources that can be composted when their usefulness has been exhausted.

Much of this has already been touched on, but it’s an often neglected point. Using a resource from our own province means less energy was used in its manufacture and transport. BC is rich in softwood resources, and has put plans in action to maintain this advantage for the long term. Cedar shakes and shingles are a natural, local resource that can be composted when their usefulness has been exhausted.

Looking over the evidence, the verdict is in, and I’m sure you would agree. Cedar is an eco friendly, and highly sustainable roofing material.

Contact The Cedar Roofing Specialists Since 1986 At Affordable Quality Roofing For A Free Cedar Roofing Estimate Now.

The storm resistance of any roof is affected by several factors, such as the design of the roof, the roofing materials used, and the quality of workmanship. When we talk to different ones about the types of roofs available, we’re often quick to point out the aesthetic qualities of a cedar roof. Many though, are surprised to find that a cedar roof is one of the most wind resistant roofing materials available.

This has been proven in tests done by Underwriters Limited, an independent, not-for-profit product safety testing and certification organization. Their test for wind resistance (known as UL-1897), has shown exemplary results for cedar roofing materials, earning ratings of up to 180 PSF (245 MPH winds).

Cedar roofing materials have more surprising benefits in this wet weather as well. While moss and mould are common problems for every roof type, quality cedar roofing has built-in all natural anti-fungal and anti-bacterial defenses. A treated cedar will last even longer. It won’t keep your roof maintenance free, but it can certainly help to keep the costs of regular maintenance down. Cedar is truly a “green-roofing” solution.

Storms are nothing to take lightly however, and even the highest quality roof can take damage from heavy winds and rain. With that in mind, it’s good to stay on top of your roofs health, and arrange to have it inspected annually by a professional. Any issues regarding the condition of your roof can then be dealt with immediately, saving you money and hassle in the future.

If you reside somewhere in the Greater Vancouver area, and you have any concerns about the state of your own roof, or questions about cedar roofing in general, be sure to contact us for a free cedar roofing estimate.

The harsh weather might be keeping us busy, but we’re always ready to lend our expertise to those that need it!

Confused? Don’t worry about it, our roofing solutions are much less confusing than our blog posts!

Since 1986 Greater Vancouver has trusted Affordable Quality Roofing to deliver on all their roofing services, and materials solutions. But just because we’ve been around since 1986 doesn’t mean we can’t keep up with the times!

So, this is Affordable Quality Roofing‘s new website. A new website, for Vancouver’s most established (don’t call us old) roofing company.

In fact, we’ve been members of the Vancouver BBB since 1991, and have been the proud recipient of the Better Business Bureau’s “Best Roofing Contractor” award a number of times over the years. But enough about us (we don’t like to boast), if you’re still reading this, you’re probably really bored, or evaluating roofing contractors yourself. We choose to assume the second, so here’s a few great reasons why we believe you should give us a shot:

1. Free Estimates – Sure everyone says this, but some estimates are more about ‘estimating’! In other words, projects tend to run well over their estimates that they’re not bound to. At AQR our estimates, become our invoices, end of story.

2. Customer Service – (What’s with all the clichés today?) Seriously though, we don’t rest until you’re happy!

4. Industry Leading Warranty – And we don’t just “say” it, we give it to you in writing, on a fancy-pants certificate and everything. Plus we’ve been in business for over 25 years, and plan to be for many many more, so we’ll actually be around to deliver on that warranty!

Okay okay, enough already. It’s time to upgrade to Affordable Quality Roofing! Contact us for a Free Roofing Estimate Today!