Canada’s Climates & What They Mean For Roofs
Canada’s climates vary quite a bit from season to season but also by geographic region. Because of this, the roofing materials that are preferred across Canada tend to vary too, with some classics being popular everywhere.
Canada has coastal regions that are more humid, which means that materials there tend to hold onto moisture. Then in dry, desert-like areas people need to be aware of materials that dry out easily and crack.
In mountainous regions, roofs need to be able to hold heavy snow and deal with slow melting periods for months at a time. Then some regions are much windier than others which calls for sturdier shingles.
Since Canada is such a vast country, we won’t go through all the different climates individually. Today, we’re focusing on our province of Alberta and what roofs work best here.
Alberta’s Climate?
Alberta gets more sun than any other province with its continental climate. Summers are hot and winters tend to be dry, sunny, and cold; although southern Alberta shakes things up a bit.
Down here in Lethbridge, our weather systems are particularly bad for roofs. We not only get the extreme cold that’s common in the province, but we also get chinooks (warm, Pacific winds that roll off the Rockies and can sometimes raise temperatures by 20°C in one hour).
Like last week, for example. We went through a week-long cold snap of about -30°C then just a few days after it passed we enjoyed positive 10°C. This frequent fluctuation of temperatures is not great for any kind of building materials as it wears them out faster.
Then there’s the wind itself (and we get lots of it). High winds can easily damage low-end shingles. For areas like this, it’s important to consider spending a little more money on your roof in exchange for better quality materials. We don’t push products on anyone, but we know which ones tend to last longer. If you ask for our advice we will likely direct you to higher quality products in that scenario.
Making the right decisions now will save you repair costs in the long run and increase the value of your home.
What Materials Are Best Across Canada?
Let’s talk about the specific materials that are available.
Shingles
Shingles are by far the most popular type of roofing material in Canada. They’re cost-efficient and they look good. Having said this, people seem to have no problem splurging on their kitchen but have a hard time finding extra dollars for high quality shingles.
This may seem OK when you’re first building your house, but spending the money on a better roof now will save you money in the future. Think about the repair costs paired with low-end products and the fact that you’ll have to replace your roof sooner. Decisions like these impact the value of your home.
Metal
We’re seeing more people choose metal roofs these days because they give homes equity. Yes, they’re expensive— but with the long, 50-year life span of metal roofs you get a good return on your investment. The same can’t be said for 25- to 30-year rated shingles.
Some people don’t like the industrial look of metal roofs though, so consider the rest of your home’s aesthetic and make sure it matches. Plenty of modern homes are designed with metal roofs that look great. Plus the sound of rain is awesome and keeps you in tune with the outside world.
Rubber
Rubber is an acceptable material for roofs in Canada as well. Having said this, the rubber doesn’t love dry climates like here in Lethbridge and can crack with the temperature changes, as well.
Tile
Tile roofs are good, although they’re less common to see. Since they’re less popular, they take more labour hours to install which makes them expensive. The high cost doesn’t necessarily give you added protection, either. Tiles still get damaged and can be finicky to repair. You won’t hear us recommending tile roofs very often but this style is a personal preference so we’re happy to install them on the right homes.
Composite
Composite products are made from various materials; they’re built to give classic looks with modern technology. We work with Davinci products like their wooden shake and slate styles. Composite roofs are considered higher-end but they work well here in Lethbridge because they don’t dry out.
Wooden Shakes
Cedar shakes are popular in places like Vancouver because of the moisture in the air there. As wood is a natural product, it benefits from humidity and rain. It’s not very hot there so you don’t see shakes drying out as much in those coastal areas.
If you use cedar shakes in Lethbridge, they would dry out quicker and lose their look. Not to mention that high winds loosen the nails that hold them in place.
What Materials Are Best for Alberta?
As we mentioned before, shingles are the most popular roofing material in Canada and that applies to Alberta, as well.
In Lethbridge, we recommend higher quality shingles that can withstand the high winds and frequent temperature changes.
Other materials that work well in Alberta include metal roofs and composite roofs. If you’d like to talk about what would work best for your home, give us a call at (403) 394 1811. As always, we recommend letting the professionals install and repair roofs as we have the experience and knowledge to make sure you and your home are safe.
