Canadian Roofing Contractor &  Design July/August 2009
(click here for full magazine in Adobe pdf format)

ON THE COVER:  Shingles Peeler
A revolution in the roofing industry
Tearing off the old shingles from a roof is perhaps one of the worst parts of a re-roofing project. As a roofer, inventor Stéphane Gendron knows this first hand, which is why he formed his company – MatriX Evolutions – and designed the revolutionary Shingles Peeler.   Read more...

Canada: A Leader in Green Roofing?
More than a passing environmental trend, green roofs are here to stay
By JOY SCHMIDT, President, Xero Flor Canada
If you had a bird’s eye view of some cities, you’d probably be astounded by all the fields of green, yellow, orange, red and pink growing way up into the sky. Dotted with pastures and meadows, and the occasional bushes and trees, barren rooftops across the country are going green. Up until recently, the growth of green rooftops across the continent was based on a designer’s sensibility and the willingness of property owners to catch the sustainability wave. Now, several municipalities across North America have moved to legislate green design, and more specifically green roofs, as a solution to growing urban environmental concerns.   Read more...

An Additional Layer to Roofing in Toronto
Toronto City Council adopted a new chapter to the municipal code called: “Requiring and Governing the Construction of Green Roofs.” The Toronto Green Roof Construction Standard (TGRCS) sets out the City’s minimum requirements for the construction and maintenance of Green Roofs while also meeting the Ontario Building Code Requirements. Currently standards are being developed by the city in consultation with leading green roof organizations and companies such as Xero Flor Canada. Worldwide, the most accepted standards are Germany’s FLL guidelines on vegetated roofing, root barriers, growing medium, wind loads, erosion prevention and fire safety.   Read more...

Thermal Imaging Becoming The Norm For Detecting Moisture Damage
By Colin Plastow, Industrial Product Manager, Fluke Electronics Canada
With the growing concern about mould damage and associated health problems, inspectors are becoming increasingly vigilant in checking for areas of moisture within the confines of the building envelope. Weather related damage and flooding, and subsequent mould growth, have also escalated the need for tools that can facilitate fast and accurate moisture investigations.   Read more...

Pima Supports Proposed Ashrae Efficiency Increase
The Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA) is in full support of addenda “bb” to ASHRAE Standard 90.1 – 2007. This addendum would raise the thermal requirements for commercial buildings, thus improving the efficiency minimum for various components of the building envelope.   Read more...

SPRI Welcomes Emerging Technologies
SPRI, the association representing sheet membrane and component suppliers to the commercial roofing industry, recently approved a by-law revision expanding its membership to include companies that represent Emerging Technologies.   Read more...

Firestone Building Products Rewards Canadian Customers With A Trip To The 100TH Edition Of Indy 500
The week of May 24 was very special for nine Canadian roofing industry professionals. Firestone Building Products treated a group of its deserving clients to a forefront experience at the largest, single-day sporting event in the world.   Read more...

ISO Standard To Ensure Structures Are Not ‘Gone With The Wind
A new International Standard – ISO 4354 Wind Actions on Structures – will help ensure the reliability of structures in areas exposed to strong winds and cyclones.
The standard describes the actions of wind on structures, and specifies methods for calculating characteristic values of wind loads.   Read more...

Green Roofs Professional Designation Launched
Exam establishes Green Roof Professional viability in growing industrial sector

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC), the North American Green Roof Industry Association, is pleased to announce the launch of the new Green Roof Professional (GRP) Accreditation Program at the Seventh Annual International Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference in Atlanta, GA, held in June.   Read more...

EcoStar® Roofing Tiles Featured On Montana Zero Energy House
EcoStar recycled, synthetic Majestic Slate™ roofing tiles were donated by a local EcoStar distributor to kick-off phase one of the Montana Zero Energy House Project that is a part of Montana State University’s (MSU) Extension Housing and Environmental Health Program.    Read more...

EXCEPTIONAL® Metals Offer New Product – Touch Up Paint Pen
EXCEPTIONAL Metals, a division of Duro-Last® Roofing Inc., announced the availability of a new Touch Up Paint Pen, which allows users to touch up areas on any EXCEPTIONAL Metal product with the same coloured finish.   Read more...

Accuseam From OMG Increases Membrane Attachment Productivity
OMG Roofing Products has introduced the AccuSeam membrane attachment tool. AccuSeam is an ergonomically correct ‘stand-up’ tool for installing fasteners and plates in thermoplastic membrane used in low-slope roofing applications.   Read more...

New Software Optimizes Steel Deck Fastening
Available for free download, the new Hilti Profis DF Diaphragm Software Version 2.0 provides an efficient and effective tool for optimizing steel deck fastening solutions. Profis DF Diaphragm 2.0 calculates diaphragm shear, flexibility factors and uplift resistance for steel deck roof and floor systems using Hilti fasteners.   Read more...

New Rhinobond Literature Available From OMG
With the advance of wide membranes in the roofing industry, rooftop fluttering has become a greater concern to building owners and roofing contractors alike. OMG’s new RhinoBond brochure outlines a revolutionary new insulation and membrane attachment system for TPO and PVC membranes that virtually eliminates this issue.   Read more...

Custom TPO Accessories Now Available From Firestone
Firestone Building Products Company recently added the UltraPly™ TPO custom accessory program to enhance its growing accessories product line. This program offers UltraPly TPO Pipe Boots and Curb Flashings, which are available in white, tan or grey.   Read more.. .

Portals Plus Announces New “Premier Seal” Retrofit Drain
Portals Plus announced the addition of the Premier Seal to their Retrofit Drain offerings. The new product, made available to wholesale roofing and plumbing distributors on Jul. 13, 2009, is available in three-, four-, five- and six-inch sizes.   Read more...