Summer is just around the corner and that means, it’s time for homeowners to inspect their roofs.     It’s always a fearful journey up the ladder to witness first-hand what mother nature managed to ravage over a few months -but it’s reality in Canada.    In recent years, many people have been thinking of changing the way they think about roof and are asking a lot of questions.   Is it time for solar panels?   Have solar panels come down in price and up in quality with a better return on their investment?    Could my roof space be better used?     The divide we’re seeing in roofing solution advancements for multi-family urban homes versus rural homes is vast.     If you peer across any city scape in North America you’ll see green roofs sprouting up everywhere.   And if not green roofs, at least cool roofs.     What’s the difference and what should homeowners be holding out for? Let’s break it down.

Jim Perkins, President of FairTradeWorks, a residential and commercial contractor in Vancouver, BC says, “that the average rooftop is brutal terrain, taking a beating from sun, wind, rain, and snow.”   He adds that “In the past, the affordable solution for homeowners was to just replace their roof with traditional asphalt shingles which lasted for 15-25 years.   But like everything else, times are changing and so are homeowner’s expectations, needs along with the roofing material business.”

Besides asphalt, let’s look at what we currently see in the marketplace.  For those who love metal and cedar roofing, these products allow for more years of durability and a luxurious look but also come at approximately 3 times the cost.   Let’s not forget about beautiful slate roofs that are said to outlive a lot of homeowners for up to 150 years but cost on average up to $40/sq foot.  Rubber roofing fans are screaming by this point that their products are also an affordable and durable solution and that is true.   They are less expensive than metal and cedar and offer incredible durability.

But let’s face it, if we could find a simpler, more cost effective solution to our energy producing potential for our roofing space combined with a product that is durable and easy to install, we would all be happy right?

Well, Tesla thought they were able to produce solar shingles and offer homeowners just that but it turned out that the panels needed a little more testing.   The product was difficult to get in Canada and it proved even harder to find a qualified installer.     Elon Musk and his team announced last December 2019 that their version three, now called Solar Glass Roofs, are the perfect combination.  Not only are the tiles bigger now (45×15 inches from 14×8) which results in fewer connections and faster installation but the company is also opening up installation to outside contractors.  The company’s website says that the new roof design will cost around $42,500 (usd) for a 2,000-square-foot roof with 10kW of solar capacity (or about $21.25 per square foot) with a warranty of 25 years.

From energy harnessing to thinking about reducing your carbon footprint, you might also consider a green roof?   Let’s face it, while large high rises in urban centers build full-fledge gardens, parks and farms on their flat rooftops, there are different versions of green roofs that can be used simply to insulate, moderate our single family residential homes’ temperature year-round and reduce greenhouse emissions at the same time.   Green roofs can be elaborate and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars or for simple bungalows in Canada, as little as 20k.

Or, if green roofs seem too complex for you but you like the idea of energy savings and helping to reduce your carbon footprint, you can go even simpler, with a cool roof.     A cool roof uses material to reflect up to 80 % of solar energy back into space reducing the heat taken on by your structure.

So, as you can see, there are many factors to consider when your roof needs to be replaced.   Don’t just think you are stuck with what your local roofer offers.    Call a FairTradeWorks, Advisor today.   As a residential and commercial contractor in Vancouver, BC that is unbiased towards material choices, educated on different solutions along with their benefits and their costs, you will feel assured that your next roof will best suit your budget and your true needs.   Contact FairTradeWorks at 604-264-7366 or email ContactUs@FairTradeWorks.biz