roofing bc summer 2010

PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40014608

RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO:

Roofing Contractors Association of BC9734 201 StreetLangley, BC Canada V1M 3E8

THE VOICE OF PROFESSIONAL ROOFING CONTRACTORS Vol. 7, No. 2 • SUMMER 2010

SUMMER 2010I N T H I S I S S U E :

Asphalt warranty lawsuitsMounting lawsuits may threaten thefuture of Canada’s most popularresidential roofing product. See p. 4

FEATURES:Asphalt warranties challenged.................................... 4Profile: Al Sinclair, pioneer roofer............................. 5The roofs of tomorrow.............. 8Certi-Cedar “the real green” roof ................................ 14

ASSOCIATION:President’s message .................. 3

INDUSTRY NEWS:First wood-framed 6-storeyapartment building in BC ......... 6Vicwest opens new Delta plant ....................................7Montreal’s ‘Big O’ stadium to get new roof........................... 9Infinity pool tops 55th floor .... 9GAF meets high-wind test .......11Safety fines hit record level ....11HST fails to deter home builders ......................... 12Firestone presents on-linedesign program........................ 12Bidders sought for Evergreen Line.......................... 13New truss connector ............... 13BOMA BC names greenestbuildings .................................... 14Bullish report sees upturn in construction.......................... 15Northerners hope for boom times ................................15Native reserves eyed forcommercial buildings ...............15Public spending leadsconstruction trend .....................15

COLUMN: LEGAL MATTERSBlunt answer to blunt question............................10

Real green roofsCertified cedar shakes are thegreenest roofing product on themarket, says the Cedar Shake andShingle Bureau. See p. 14

RCABC aims forAugust completionThe Roofing Contractors Association of BC will finishthe new $1.2 million Architectural Sheet Metal trainingcampus this August, though the official opening won’tbe held until October 28.The complex is being built by KDS Construction,

with CJP Architects at the Langley site of RCABC.Classes have already been held on the campus,

with 16 registered apprentices completing six weeks of training. Watch our next issue for information about the grand opening ceremonies. ■

The Architectural SheetMetal training facility willcomplete this August at theRCABC campus in Langley.Photos: RCABC

101 Industries Ltd.

Admiral Roofing Ltd.

Advanced Systems Roofing and Waterproofing Ltd.

Alpha-Duron Roofing Ltd.

Alpha Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc.

Aquaproof Membrane Services Inc.

Arbutus Roofing & Drains (2006) Ltd.

Arcona Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd.

Arctic Roofing Ltd.

Aurora Roofing Ltd.

BF Roofing Ltd.

Bollman Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd.

Bond-A Ply Roofing Ltd.

Broadway Roofing Co. Ltd.

Cambie Roofing Contractors Ltd.

Campbell & Grill Ltd.

Cascade Roofing & Waterproofing (2007) Inc.

Chilliwack Roofing Ltd.

Coast Hudson Ltd.

Continental Roofing

Crown Roofing & Drainage Ltd.

Design Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd.

D.M. Henderson Roofing Ltd.

Eby & Sons Construction Ltd.

Flynn Canada Ltd.

G & G Roofing Ltd.

GRC Columbia Roofing Inc.

Harmon Roofing Ltd.

Harvard Industries Ltd.

Heritage Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd.

Homan Contractors Ltd.

Hunter Roofing Ltd.

Interior Roofing (2001) Ltd.

Kelowna Roofing (1984) Ltd.

Laing Roofing Ltd.

Laing Roofing (Vernon) Ltd.

Lam Metal Contracting Ltd.

Langley Roofing Co. Ltd.

Mack Kirk Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd.

Mainline Roofing Co. Ltd.

Marine Roofing (1996) Ltd.

Metro Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd.

Mica Holdings Ltd.

Mid-City Roofing & Sheet Metal (2008) Ltd.

Nelson Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd.

Nielsen Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd.

Olympic Roofing Ltd.

Pacific Restorations (1994) Ltd.

Pacific Waterproofing Ltd.

Parker Johnston Industries Ltd.

Peter Magas Roofing Ltd.

Pocklington Building Systems Ltd.

Prince Sheet Metal & Heating Ltd.

Raven Roofing Ltd.

Roy Dennis Roofing (2005) Ltd.

Standard Roofing Corporation

Tomtar Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd.

Top Line Roofing Ltd.

Totem Roofing & Insulation Ltd.

Trail Roofing Ltd.

Transwest Roofing Ltd.

Universal Sheet Metal Ltd.

Villa Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd.

Western Roofing (Master Roofers) Ltd.

Active MembersProfessional Roofing Contractors that support

an educated and committed workforce

Associate Memberscompanies focused on the manufacture and distribution of qualityroofing products that meet or exceed changing industry standards

A. Proctor Group Ltd.

Atlas Roofing Corporation

Blue Ridge Fiberboard, Inc.

Building Products of Canada Corp.

Canada Metal (Pacific) Limited

Carlisle SynTec Systems Canada

Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau

CertainTeed Corporation

Convoy Supply Ltd.

Dow Chemical Canada ULC

Duro-Last Roofing, Inc.

Firestone Building Products

GAF/Elk

Garland Canada Inc.

Genflex Roofing Systems LLC

Georgia Pacific Canada

HAL Industries Inc.

Henry Company Canada

IKO Industries Ltd.

Intertek

InterWrap Inc.

Johns Manville Corporation

Louiseville Specialty Products Inc.

Makin Metals Ltd.

Malarkey Roofing Company

Mansonville Plastics (B.C.) Ltd.

Menzies Metal Products

Mercury Metals, a Div of VicWest

Mule-Hide Products Co., Inc.

Owens Corning Canada

Pabco Roofing Products

Pacific Roof Centre

Phoenix Vinyl Sundecks Ltd.

Plasti-Fab (Div. of PFB Corp.)

Posi-Slope Western

Pro-Line Construction Materials Ltd

RMAX, Inc.

Roofmart Pacific Ltd.

Roxul, Inc.

Sika Sarnafil

Simplex Asphalt Products

Siplast

Slegg Lumber

Soprema Inc.

Steels Industrial Products Ltd.

Tech-Crete Processors Ltd.

Tremco Ltd.

Western Wood Truss Association

Westform Metals

BUILDING ON 50 YEARS OF INNOVATION9734 - 201 Street • Langley, BC V1M 3E8 • Tel 604-882-9734 • Fax: 604-882-1744 • www.rcabc.org

ROOFING BC SUMMER 2010 3

From the President

SuccessionPlanning Vol. 2: Adding valuewhen planningsuccessionWe all have aninterest in ensuringthe durability of ourbusinesses tomaintain a healthyand vibrant roofingcommunity. Inretirement planningfrom an operatingbusiness such as ours,there are a variety ofapproaches that canbe taken to eitherplan a smoothtransition, or an immediate exit. Allapproaches should be carefullyexamined from both a taxationstrategy and emotional perspective.The sell out:The dream method of selling

assets and/or shares to a thirdparty with no strings attached, andsailing off into the sunset.The earn out:The process of selling assets and

continuing with employment toearn out the goodwill, workingcapital, or over-book asset value,enabling a new owner to replaceworking capital out of futureprofits.

The fire sale:The process of locking the doors

and turning over the physical assetsto an auctioneer (or selling theassets on the open market).The gift:The process of handing control

(and sometimes ownership) of theassets and working capital to arelated third party – usually a

family member.Regardless of which

method of exit strategyis employed, it should beconsidered thatbusinesses with a highcomponent of humancapital, as well as solidand desirable assets, arethe quickest and easiestto part with. Continualre-investment in ourbusinesses is a sure fireway to ensure a

successful succession strategy.While there can be value in a

run-off, where the business is runwith little or no investment andthen sold-off for residual value, thisgenerally results in little or no goodwill value, little or no physical assetvalue, and little or no businesscontinuity.Most important to consider is

that all of the above methods –with the exception of the fire sale –take a long time to come tofruition: the average small businesstransition takes five to seven years.As such, if your time horizon forretirement is shorter than that,

succession planning should startnow. Having a rough plan forretirement will no longer beenough, as employees, family, andoutside managers see numerousopportunities in the marketplace asthe guard changes. Having aconcrete plan is critical, particularlygiven the human element of anytransition.It is estimated that within 10

years, 70 percent of the smallbusiness owners in Canada willretire, leaving opportunity andchaos in their wake. Are youpositioned to take advantage of thistrend, or to buck it?The future vibrancy of our

industry depends on it. Roderick M. Parker GSC,

President, Roofing ContractorsAssociation of British Columbia ■

Tel: 604-882-9734 • Fax: 604-882-1744

ADMINISTRATIONExecutive Vice PresidentBrian Hofler, [email protected]

Executive AssistantBarbara [email protected]

ControllerJohanna Kuker, CGA

[email protected]

Receptionist/Administrative AssistantAdele [email protected]

RCABC Educational FoundationEducation & Training ManagerShirley Caldwell, PID

[email protected]

RegistrarMichelle McKinnon, PID

[email protected]

Instructor / Inspection AuditorDavid Rice, I.P., PID, RRO

[email protected]

Instructor / Risk ManagementRoger Sové, I.P., PID, Ad.Ed.

[email protected]

RCABC Guarantee Corp. Technical Manager

Jim Watson, PRC, [email protected]

Assistant Technical ManagerRob Harris, [email protected]

Guarantee AdministratorKaren [email protected]

MISSION STATEMENTThe mission of the Roofing Contractors Association ofBritish Columbia is to provide its members with the

training, support, and leadership required to enable themto offer customers the highest quality roofing practices,guarantees and business ethics in the roofing industry.

Rod Parker

A S S O C I A T I O N

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DUOTACK adhesive may be used to attach the COLGRIP A insulation panels to the substrate providing a quick, neat and clean installation. The COLVENT base sheet may be installed directly to the facer of COLGRIP A insulation. Thus, saving time and energy by eliminating the need for overlay boards.

A high-performance base sheet system that combinesthe historical predictability of a fully bonded membranewith the advantages of a loose-laid membrane.

1.877.MAMMOUTHwww.soprema.ca/colvent

LANGLEY: A series of class-actionlawsuits – and resulting intensemedia coverage – against majorasphalt roofing manufacturers putsthe future of the most widely usedroofing shingle in doubt, accordingto industry veterans.But if asphalt fades out, what

will replace a product that is used

on about 70 percent of homes –and many commercial buildings –across Canada?“I think asphalt will be replaced,”

said Al Sinclair, a retired BC rooferwho once owned one of the largestroofing companies in the province,“we will be going to more torch-onroofing.”

Leonard Coughlin of EnercorpInc., a supplier of roofing systems,said, “asphalt [fiberglass] laminateswill probably never go away. Theyare an excellent product.”Coughlin also doubts that torch-

on roofing will catch on inresidential roofing, because ofliabilities. He points to a large

condominium fire in WashingtonState that was linked to torch-onroofing. Coughlin sees TPO andEDPM gaining ground in theresidential and commercial marketif demand for asphalt shingleswanes.Others see metal products,

particularly metal shingles,becoming more popular as anasphalt replacement.Some industry observers expect

that most if not all manufacturerswill no longer produce asphaltshingles in the near future. Thereare also rumblings that paper-backed asphalt shingles may bedropped for contractor insurancecoverage.The asphalt controversy flared

from complaints about the long-term warranties issued by asphaltshingle manufacturers, which oftenextend for 25 years to 40 years.But, as reports on CBC TV’sMarketplace, and CTV newscoverage detailed, many consumerscomplain that their asphalt shinglesfail prematurely.“We found consumers whose

roofs are dying early deathsattempting to draw on theirwarranty to foot their roof repairbills,” CBC reporter Erica Johnsonsaid in her study. “Unfortunately,the peace of mind warranties seemto provide don’t always comethrough as expected when theproduct falls to pieces.”Most of the shingles with

problems appear to be paper-backed “organic” models, rather

than laminates backed withfiberglass.This year, CertainTeed

Corporation settled a class-actionlawsuit filed by homeowners whoargued that that a type of organicasphalt shingle manufactured bythe company failed prematurelyand didn’t perform as well as theshingles should have.In the settlement CertainTeed

continued to deny the allegationsand maintains that the “vastmajority” of the singles are defect-free and will last beyond thewarranty period. It said it agreed tothe settlement to avoid the expenseand other negative aspects ofprotracted litigation. The settlementis not for a lump sum; instead,claimants will be paid an amountbased on a formula. The dollaramount was not released. Thesettlement agreement covers onlyorganic shingles, which thecompany made from 1987 through2005, and then discontinuedmanufacturing and selling severalyears ago. The settlement does notinclude CertainTeed’s fiberglassshingles.Last December, plaintiffs from

Ontario and Alberta filed classaction lawsuits against IKOIndustries Ltd. The plaintiffs claimthat their IKO roofing shingles weredefective and began to leak, curl,split, or crack before the end of thewarranty period. IKO is facingsimilar lawsuits in the U.S., allrelated to warranties on IKOorganic asphalt shingles. ■

4 SUMMER 2010 ROOFING BC

Asphalt future threatened by lawsuitsExample of shingle failure along a roof eavewhere water accelerates the washing awayof the asphalt saturating the paper fiber ofthe “organic” shingles. Photo: D Mahalko

Profile: contractorAl Sinclair

Why worry?Pioneer roofer has asimple plan for longevityAl Sinclair, the former owner ofMainland Roofing and Sheet MetalLtd. of Burnaby, now retired andturning 96 years old on September1, has a simple formula forbusiness success and longevity.“Why worry?” he said in an

interview with Roofing BCmagazine. “Worrying doesn’t getyou anywhere.”Sinclair recalls how the phones

would ring on the first sunny dayevery spring since he startedroofing in 1933. “Everybody wouldwant you to start on their roof rightaway. I would say we would get tothem in time. Why worry about it?”Sinclair retired as the owner of

his successful roofing company in1981, only to be hired as aNorthwest roofinginspector, aposition he helduntil 1989.Today, the

veteran roofer andwidower takes iteasier, living withhis common-lawwife in SouthSurrey and keeping an eye on theroofing industry. One of hishobbies: “reading Roofing BC

magazine from cover to cover,twice.”We are grateful Al took the time

to talk to Roofing BC and commenton both his frontline view ofroofing historyand hiscurrentoutlook.Think

roofing todayis tough work?When Sinclairbegan hiscareer inVictoria in1933, therewere nopumps,hydraulic liftsor snap-onroofingmaterials.He recalls

haulingbuckets ofgravel andother materialby cast-iron pulley and a 3/4-inch

rope to the top ofcommercialbuildings. “Iweighed about 125pounds then so Iwould need acouple of guys tohelp out,” Sinclairrecalls with alaugh. There were

no gravel spreaders, either: all therock was shoveled into place byhand.

In those early days it was alltorch-on and tar and gravel built uproofing on the commercial projects,a sector that became Sinclair’sspecialty over the next 50 years. “I

never workedon residential,”he said.Trained as a

sheet metalworker,Sinclair spentsome time inOntario beforereturning tothe Vancouverarea full timein 1936.After

working in themetal roofingand sidingindustry formany years,he boughtMainlandRoofing andwent on to

lineup blue-chip clients, such asImperial Oil and BC Tel, where hehandled installation of a number ofmicrowave towers across theprovince. Mainland also worked onscores, if not hundreds, ofcommercial roofs.We asked Sinclair about planted

green roofs. “I don’t like them,” hesaid, “I don’t see any advantage forthem on commercial buildings.”We asked him about the current

asphalt shingle lawsuit controversyand what he sees as potential

replacement for the ubiquitouscovering. “I think torch-on roofingwill make a comeback,” he said.We asked him about the current

concerns about BC’s economy.Coming from a man who startedhis career during the 1930s-recession era, his comments aretimely. “I don’t see any recessiontoday,” Sinclair said, pointing outthat both the Vancouver Canucksand BC Lions sell out every game,and “every shopping mall parkinglot is packed, even mid-week.”Sinclair is particularly proud of

his industry safety record: he andhis crews never had an accident onany project in half a century. “Wealways stressed safety,” he said.The veteran union roofer is also

proud of what the RoofingContractors Association hasbecome, and credits the RCABCstaff and executive for creatingwhat he calls the “greatest industryassociation in the country”.“The RCABC has done a

wonderful job of raising thestandards and training for roofing,”Sinclair said. “At one time rooferswere the lowest man on the[construction] totem pole. Now Ithink they are at the top.” ■

ADVERTISE INROOFING BC!

[email protected]

604-507-2162

Roofing BC is published quarterly onbehalf of the Roofing ContractorsAssociation of BC and the professionalroofing industry by Market AssistCommunications Inc.

Roofing BC online at:www.rcabc.org

Managing Editor and PublisherJ. Michael SiddallPhone: 604-740-8369E-mail: [email protected]

EditorFrank O’Brien

Consulting EditorBrian Hofler, M.Ed.E-mail: [email protected]: 604-882-9734

CirculationBarbara PorthPhone: 604-882-9734E-mail: [email protected]

Production/Art Director and Advertising AssociatePaddy TennantPhone: 604-507-2162E-mail: [email protected]

Contributing Writers:Dermot MackRobert SmithsonRod ParkerBrian Hofler

While information contained in thispublication has been compiled fromsources deemed to be reliable, neitherthe publisher nor the RCABC will be heldliable for errors or omissions. The opinions expressed in the editorialand advertisements are not necessarilythose of the publisher or RCABC.


WE HAVE MOVED!The new mailing address forthe Roofing BC publisher is:Michael SiddallMarket Assist Communications6412 Marmot RoadSechelt, BC V0N 3A4

“At one time rooferswere the lowest manon the [construction]

totem pole. Now Ithink they are

at the top.”

Al Sinclair, pioneer roofing contractor. Photo: RCABC


ROOFING CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Less than 18 months after the BC governmentapproved them, the first wood-frame, six-storey residential building has broken ground.The Remy, a 188-unit housing developmentwhich includes social and market rentals, isbeing built in Richmond by the province andthe federal government.

The 33 social housing units cost thegovernments $4.75 million, or about$143,000 each unit.The City of Richmond will also provide

$900,000 for an on-site daycare.In April of 2009, the province changed the

Building Code to allow builders to build up to

six storeys out of wood for residentialbuildings. The code change also allows‘hybrid’ buildings with wood-frame upperstoreys on top of a concrete or steel lowerfloors, provided the overall building heightdoesn’t exceed the 18-metre height limitation.In much of Europe, wood-frame buildings

can go as high as eight floors, and inWashington state six-storey wood frameresidential towers are allowed, provided thebottom floor is concrete.A number of BC developers, including the

giant Polygon Group, have expressed interestin building six-storey condo towers. ■

Ground was broken this July in Richmond forthe first six-storey wood-framed homes in BC.The BC Housing’s Remy building will deliver188 units. Photo: BC Housing

BC’s first wood-frame six-storey residential building breaks ground


DELTA: On August 4th, Vicwest officiallyopened its new, state-of-the-art plant in Delta.To mark the day, Vicwest invited communityleaders and key clients for a personalized tourof the plant and show room as well as anopportunity to learn product information.Founded over 100 years ago in Winnipeg,

Manitoba, Vicwest has made a highlysignificant impact in Western Canada’sconstruction industry and is now the nation’sleading supplier of steel decking, metalroofing, metal siding, insulated metal panels,architectural panels and other buildingproducts.

The Delta facility will feature Vicwest’s first and only product showroom featuring an entire product portfolio designed forcustomers to view, learn, and planconstruction projects.This new plant contributes to Vicwest’s

large range of products including architecturalmetal panels, insulated metal panels, 3-inchsteel decking, and various light gauge profilesused most commonly in residential andagricultural applications.Vicwest is an associate member of the

RCABC, as Mercury Metals, a division ofVicwest Operating Limited. ■

L-R: Emile Mabro VP &GM, Vicwest BusinessUnit and ColinOsborne, Presidentand CEO of VicwestIncome Fund

Vicwest opens new Delta plant

One Stop Roof Shop s Same Day DeliveryOne Stop Roof Shop s Same Day Delivery

s Full line of IKO commercial products s Safety equipment and tools s Atlas Roofing products s Feltex roofing underlayment s RoofAquaGuard UDLX high performance roofing underlayment s RoofRoc synthetic slate & cedar shake tile s MonierLifetile energy efficient concrete tiles

s Chutes International construction debris chutes s US Tiles authentic clay tiles s Metro Roof Products s Mule-Hide Products s ArrowLine Roofing system

s A.R. EPS foam silver rigid insulation board s Custom Flashing

Serving the Lower Mainland from the Fraser Valley to Squamish

10870 120th Street, Surreywww.roofingproducts.ca or www.pacificwesternroof.com

Tel 604-581-5863 s Toll Free 1-800-918-ROOFFax 604-581-5864

Email [email protected]

10870 120th Street, Surreywww.roofingproducts.ca or www.pacificwesternroof.com

Tel 604-581-5863 s Toll Free 1-800-918-ROOFFax 604-581-5864



Environmental concernsdrive innovation: buttorch-on primed for acomebackBy Frank O’Brien

White roofs across major cities; solarpanels integrated into residential roofshingles; roofs that can monitor andchange with the climate; and smartroofs coated with recycled cookingoil. Such are the scientific forecastsfor future roofs, but pragmaticcontractors see traditional torch-onbitumen making a big comeback andmetal covering more of tomorrow’sroofs.White roofsA study by the American Chemical

Society foresees a future where themajority of urban roofs are paintedwhite.The research, the first computer

modeling study to simulate theimpacts of white roofs on urbanareas worldwide, suggests that whiteroofs can help cities adjust to climatechange. But the study team, led byscientists at the National Center forAtmospheric Research (NCAR),cautions that there are still manyhurdles between the concept andactual use of white roofs tocounteract rising temperatures.“Our research demonstrates that

white roofs, at least in theory, can bean effective method for reducingurban heat,” says NCAR scientistKeith Oleson, the lead author of thestudy. “It remains to be seen if it’sactually feasible for cities to painttheir roofs white, but the ideacertainly warrants furtherinvestigation.”The study is slated for publication

later this year in GeophysicalResearch Letters. The National

Science Foundation, NCAR’s sponsor,funded the study,The study found that asphalt

roads, tar roofs, and other darksurfaces absorb heat from the sun,creating an urban heat island effectthat can raise temperatures by 1-3degrees Celsius or more, compared torural areas.The study indicates that, if every

roof were entirely painted white, theurban heat island effect in a majorcity could be reduced by 33 percent.The authors emphasize that their

research should be viewed as ahypothetical look. In the real world,the cooling impact might be lessbecause dust and weathering wouldcause the white paint to darken overtime and parts of the roofs wouldremain unpainted because ofopenings such as heating and coolingvents.In addition, white roofs would

have the effect of coolingtemperatures within buildings, whichcould mean higher winter heatingcosts.“It’s not as simple as just painting

roofs white and cooling off a city,”Oleson says.While the model did not have

enough detail to capture individualcities, it did show the change intemperatures in larger metropolitanregions. The New York City area, forexample, would cool in summerafternoons by almost 1˚ Celsius.Roofs that change with climateBen Wen, Ph.D, a vice-president

with United Environment & EnergyLLC in New York, presented researchat the national meeting of theAmerican Chemical Society this springon a new smart roof that can readand adapt to temperature changes.His study was published in the

March issue of Physics & Chemistry,an industry journal.Wen reported the development of

a “smart” roof coating, made fromwaste cooking oil from fast foodrestaurants that can “read” athermometer. The coatingautomatically switches roles,reflecting or transmitting solar heat,when the outdoor temperaturecrosses a preset point that can betuned to the local climate.“This is one of the most innovative

and practical roofing coatingmaterials developed to date,” saidWen, leader of the research project.“This bio-based intelligent roofcoating, compared with a traditionalcool roof, could reduce both heatingand cooling costs as it responds tothe external environment. It will helpsave fuel and electricity and reduceemissions of volatile organiccompounds from petroleum-basedroofing products. In addition, it willprovide a new use for millions ofgallons of waste oil after it is used tocook french fries and chickennuggets.”Roofs coated with the material

would reflect summer sunlight andreduce air-conditioning bills. Whenchilly weather sets in, the coatingwould change roles and transmit heatto help warm the interior, Wenexplained.Tests on coated asphalt shingles

showed that it could reduce rooftemperatures by about 50 - 80percent in warm weather. In coolerweather, the coating could increaseroof temperatures up to 80 percentcompared with the traditional coolroof. By changing the coating’scomposition, Wen and colleagues cantune the substance, so that it changesfrom reflective to transmitive at aspecific environmental temperature.“Even though the roof temperature

is reduced or increased by a fewdegrees, depending on the outsidetemperature, this change could makea big difference in your energy bill,”Wen noted.In producing the coating, waste

cooking oil is processed into a liquidpolymer that hardens into a plasticafter application. Unlike raw wasteoil, which can smell like French friesor fish, the resulting polymer isvirtually odorless. The material isalso non-flammable and nontoxic.

The coating can be applied tovirtually any type of roof, he said.Wen expects that the coating can lastmany years and can be reappliedwhen it wears off. If further testingcontinues to go well, he estimatesthat the coating could be ready forcommercial use in about three years.Wen cautions, however, against

pouring ordinary cooking oil on aroof in an attempt to mimic theenergy savings. That’s becauseordinary cooking oil won’t turn into apolymer, doesn’t contain the keyingredient for controlling infraredlight levels, and could pose a firehazard for the building, he explained.Black to white and backMeanwhile, the Massachusetts

Institute of Technology (MIT) hascome up with its own temperature-changing roof concept. MIT’sThermeleon material is a compositeof layers that makes it thermochromic– on exposure to heat it changescolor from black to white. It works bysandwiching a common polymerbetween flexible plastic layers, with ablack one at the back. When cold thepolymer solution stays dissolved andthe black rear face shows through,and when it heats up the solutioncondenses to form light-scatteringwhite droplets, according toresearchers.When the summer sun is shining,

a roof tile covered in the material iswhite-coloured, scattering up to 80percent of the sunlight back and thuskeeping the building beneath the roofcooler. During winter, the blackcoloured tiles help keep the buildinginterior warmer.The MIT team is working on

micro-encapsulating the chemicals, sothat in future they may work as aspray-on coating. There is noindication when it may becomecommercially viable.Styrofoam roofBilly Ellis Roofing, a Texas-based

roofing company, and Oak RidgeNational Laboratory (ORNL) arecollaborating to test a residential roofsystem with Thermadeck insulation, aStyrofoam piece specifically designedfor air ventilation covered with foilthat can be installed on top of astandard shingle roof. Takingadvantage of the simple science thatheat rises, the Thermadeck insulationequipped with air gaps helps move

hot air up and away from the roof inan effective, cost efficient way withoutcompromising the quality of the roof,according to proponents. Billy EllisRoofing is funding the researchthrough a user agreement withORNL’s Building Technology Centerand the U.S. Department of Energy.Solar shinglesSolar shingles that look like

normal roof shingles are hitting themarket this year from Dow Chemicals(see the Summer issue of RoofingBC), but new solar competitors areturning up the heat and perhapslowering the cost.One of the new innovations is

battery-pack solar roofs that allowpower to be stored for use at night.U.S.-based home builder KB Homeshas installed the Chinese-madebattery-pack solar roofs on five newdemonstration houses in Californiathis year.So far, the concept is not

economical, but KB thinks the costcould be tacked onto new homeprices, if and when the U.S. housingmarket recovers.The KB solar roofs look quite

different from normal roofs, whichcould affect the commercial takeup.But, like Dow Chemical solar

wafers, SRS Energy’s Solé solar tilesare made to look like traditional clayshingles. SRS models are a marriageof traditional clay tile and aphotovoltaic cell developed byBresselergroup.Instead of the rigid silicon

crystalline wafers, Bresslergroupcreated a polymeric material thatallowed them to make the curve ofthe tile. For the panels themselves,they used an extremely flexible triple-junction non-crystalline amorphoussilicon cells made by Michigan-basedUNI-SOLAR, known as a “thin film”technology.“They’re the first company to make

a cost-effective, lightweight solartechnology that’s ideal for the roofingspace,” says Abby Nessa Feinstein,director of marketing for SRS Energy.Not only are the Solé tiles farcheaper to produce, the solartechnology employed uses 99 percentless material than a traditional siliconwafer. And the curve in the tile allowsair to freely circulate below it,preventing overheating, according toSRS. The ability to easily disassemblethe thin film at the end of its lifespanalso makes for easy recycling.Dow Chemical’s solar shingles use

thin-film copper indium galliumdiselenide technology to make themcheap and light, and they aredesigned to be intermingled withtraditional asphalt tiles on a roof.That makes for easy installation, andlower visibility from the curb, thecompany claimsBut the cost is still rather hair

raising.According to Dow, a rooftop solar

shingle array for a typical house costsapproximately $27,000, and offsets60 percent of total home energyconsumption. It’s an expensiveupfront cost, but Dow believes the

White roofs: scientists say if every urban roof was painted white, it wouldlower the “heat island” affect by 30 percent. Photo: Henry Company

SRS Energy’s Solé solar tiles are made to looklike traditional clay shingles: the companyclaims they are cheaper and more effective thansolar panels. Photo: SRS Energy


Pool tops world’s mostexpensive hotelSINGAPORE: An infinity pool 55 storeys above the streets of Singapore is among the signature items on the new ultra-luxury Marina Bay Sandshotel, which opened this summer. At three times the length of an Olympic pool and 650 feet up, it is

the largest outdoor pool in the world at that height.It is perched atop the three towers that make up the world’s most

expensive hotel, the Marina Bay Sands development, valued at over $6 billion. The hotel has 2,560 rooms priced at around $750 a night. ■

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In January 1999, the Olympic Stadium’s rooftore, spilling tonnes of snow into an area whereworkers were preparing for the city’s annual

auto show. Photo: CBC

Montreal ‘Big O’ stadiumto get new roofMONTREAL: Quebec’s Olympic Installations Board is moving ahead witha $300 million project to replace the decrepit roof covering Montreal’sinfamous “Big O” stadium.The Board filed a notice of intent in July to seek approval from

Quebec’s government to hire SNC-Lavalin for the job.The new steel roof will be rigid, fixed, and more durable than the

current retractable fibreglass membrane that rips frequently, requiringexpensive repairs. The current retractable structure will be dismantled tomake room for the new steel structure. The project also includes majorrepairs and maintenance over the next 25 years.The roof of the stadium is in such rough shape that Montreal’s fire

department threatened this year to shut the building completely.The membrane has lost almost half of its tear resistance and requires

repairs as often as 50 times a year. The membrane roof, installed by U.S.company Birdair in 1998, cannot handle Montreal’s heavy snowfalls. ■

A birds-eye view of Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands hotel towers. Photo: Reuters

Don’t look down: A guestswims in the infinity poolatop Singapore’s newMarina Bay Sands hoteltowers. Photo: Reuters

shingles could generate $5billion in revenue by 2015 and$10 billion by 2020.Back in the real worldBack in the real world, BC

roofing contractors have adifferent take on the roofmaterials of tomorrow – andthey are very familiar products.Torch-on roofing, they say,

could well replace asphaltshingles, which are currentlythe most popular residentialroof material in the country.Also, architectural metal roofing – as

witnessed by its explosive use in BC – isseen as the most likely commercialroofing material of the future. ■

Dow Chemical thinksthat solar panels thatlook like asphaltshingles could morphinto a $5 billion marketwithin five years.Photo: Dow Chemical

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Candid answers to blunt questions don’tconstitute grounds for dismissalBy Robert Smithson

Among the possible acts ofworkplace insubordination,criticizing your boss to his or hersuperior ranks high on the list ofactions sure to generate a negativereaction. But what if the criticismwas solicited rather than voluntarilyoffered up?Mau was an employee of the

Canadian National Railway Co., inthe position of Trainmaster,between 1999 and 2007. Initially,he was stationed in Sarnia, Ontariobut later relocated to Kamloops,BC.In November of 2007, Mau

began reporting to a new AssistantSuperintendent of the Kamloops CNterminal, Roberts. Roberts reported,in turn, to the Superintendent ofOperations of CN’s BC SouthDivision.In December of 2007, the

Superintendent of Operationsvisited the Kamloops terminal. Theevents of that visit led to thetermination of Mau from hisemployment for “insubordination”

and “lack ofprofessionalism”.During the visit to the

Kamloops terminal, theSuperintendentapproached Mau inthe yard and askedhim somequestions aboutproblems that werebeing experienced atthe Kamloopsterminal. Inparticular, Mau wasasked why theKamloops terminal was“so f#%&ed up”.Mau answered this

unusually direct questioncandidly, telling theSuperintendent heshould look at a calendarto see what had changedin the Kamloopsoperation. That commentwas intended to be areference to the recentarrival of Roberts to theKamloops terminal.A little later, Mau was

asked to attend at theoffice and was directed togo into Roberts’ office.There, Mau was informedby Roberts that he wasbeing “relieved of hisposition for grossinsubordination”.Complaint filedMau filed a complaint of unjust

dismissal pursuant to Part III of theCanada Labour Code.The arbitrator zeroed in on the

fact that the heart ofthe matter was therelationship betweenMau and Roberts. It seems that the“artificial, detached, and rigidlyhierarchical management approach”of the Assistant Superintendent, his

“unreasonable demands andexpectations, and his

propensity to takeundue umbrage”were at the heart ofthis relationshipdifficulty.

The arbitratornoted that Mauhad madestatementscritical ofRoberts andthat makingcritical

comments “aboutone’s superior to

higher members ofmanagement mayvery well constituteinsubordination”. But, inthe circumstances of thiscase, Mau’s comments didnot.In particular, Mau did

not volunteer his criticism tothe Superintendent. He wasasked questions pointedlyseeking an explanation ofwhy the Kamloops terminal“was so f#%&ed up”.“Honest candour”As the arbitrator stated,

“both the questions themselvesand the language used to framethem, reasonably gave Mr. Mauthe impression that his honestcandour was being sought. Mau“simply communicated his view thatthe Kamloops terminal had ceasedto function well coincident with”Roberts’ arrival.The arbitrator commented that,

“at some point, a superior who asksblunt questions will be taken tohave solicited blunt answers.”The arbitrator determined that

none of Mau’s conduct complainedof constituted insubordination orinsolence. The outcome was afinding that Mau had been unjustlydismissed and, as a result, CN wasordered to reinstate Mau to hisemployment.As in all things employment-

related, this outcome was highlydependent upon the context inwhich the alleged insubordinationoccurred. For employers, the lessonis that employees should not bepenalized for providing a bluntanswer to a blunt question. ■

Robert Smithson is a partner at Pushor Mitchell LLPin Kelowna, practicing exclusively in the area oflabour and employment law. For more informationabout his practice, visit www.pushormitchell.com.This subject matter is provided for generalinformational purposes only and is not intended tobe relied upon as legal advice.

The Institute of Roofing,Waterproofing andBuilding EnvelopeProfessionals

RCI’s professionalmembers have extensive experience in the science of roofing andwaterproofing.

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LEGAL MATTERS

Why is thisplace sof#%&ed up?


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WAYNE, NJ: With high winds forecast for much of eastern and central Canada this summer, the issue of roofssurviving hurricane-level blasts has become more pronounced.The two toughest wind tests in North America – ASTM D3161 Class F up to 177 kilometres per hour (110 mph)

and ASTM Class H, which tests roof for winds of up to 240 kmph (150 mph) – recently put shingles from GAFMaterials Corp. under the gun.The result? GAF, North America’s largest roofing manufacturer, confirms that every shingle it manufactures

passed both tests. GAF may be the only shingle manufacturer that can make this claim.GAF credits its DuraGrip adhesive for allowing its shingles to pass the Class H test, after it breezed through the

Class F winds. Under ASTM testing, the shingles must withstand the high winds for two full hours with no damage.In case some contractors think that wind may not be a major concern outside of obvious coastal areas, according

to the American Society of Civil Engineers (who develop wind guidelines for U.S. construction), high winds are notjust a concern for coastal regions, as local geography can cause high winds at peaks, mountain passes, or largebodies of water.According to the Institute for Business and Home Safety, more than 60 percent of all homes in North America are

vulnerable to damage from high winds generated by storms and heavy rains. ■

GAF Elk shingles undergo ASTM wind tests (above), and are shown on a new house. Photos: GAF Materials Corp.

GAF shingles breeze through wind test

Safety fines hit record levelVANCOUVER: In 2009, WorkSafeBC imposed $4.4 million inpenalties for safety violations, the highest dollar value ever ina single year.The vast majority of safety incidents were caused by

inadequate training or supervision on the job site, accordingto WorkSafeBC. Some of the increase in fines comes fromstepped up inspections, especially of companies withrepeated infractions.Of the 211 penalized infractions last year, 16 of them

involved the death of a worker. ■


Firestone Building ProductsCompany, LLC, is unveilingRoofGenuity, an online new roofmodeling tool for the commercialroofing industry. The online toolenablesarchitects,consultants,roofingcontractorsand buildingowners todesign theroof of theirbuildingdesigns withvarious configurations of Firestonesingle-ply, asphalt and metalroofing systems and polyisoinsulation virtual objects to createthe optimal model for theircommercial building needs.Firestone introduced RoofGenuity atthe AIA 2010 National Conventionin Miami, June 10-12.“Just as each building project is

unique, so are the roofing solutionsnecessary to address their distinctneeds,” said Rick Ruppert, strategicaccount executive for specifiers atFirestone Building Products. “The

first-of-its-kind commercial roofmodeling tool enables professionalsto assemble every possibleconfiguration of Firestone roofingsolutions to accommodate their

specificneeds,export it tothe mostpopulardesignprogramsandvisualize thecompletedesign of

the building.” RoofGenuity can be used for a

wide range of building types,including educational facilities;commercial, industrial and officebuildings; entertainment venues;healthcare facilities and governmentbuildings. To use RoofGenuity, roofing

professionals can visitwww.roofgenuity.com and registerfor a free account. After enteringoptional project locationinformation, the user can begin theroof assembly process. ■

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Despite fears of doom and gloom,the introduction of the harmonizedsales tax has not had much effecton the British Columbia or MetroVancouver housing construction,according to Canada Mortgage andHousing Corporation.Across BC, total housing starts

soared 109 percent in the firstseven months of 2010 and were72.7 percent higher in July – afterthe HST came into play – than inJuly of 2009. So far this year,13,392 homes broke ground,including 7,537 multi-family units. InKelowna, for instance, 2010 startsare up nearly 180 percent than ayear ago.The Metro Vancouver region

recorded 1,124 housing starts inJuly 2010, and year-to-date startshit 8,005 new homes, much higherthan before the HST was introduced.

Total Vancouver area starts inJuly were up 117 percent from Julyof 2009. Since the start of the year,starts are 107 percent higher, at8,005 homes, compared to 3,859 inthe first seven months of 2009.In Vancouver, 1,819 homes

started, compared to 819 in thesame period last year, an increaseof 217 percent. Burnaby startsjumped from 505 units to 707 andCoquitlam starts soared from 179homes to 565, with 27 starts in Julyalone.Across the region, new detached

houses so far this year account for2,750 of the starts, while multiple-family starts totaled 5,255 homes.Most of these starts arecondominiums and townhomes,although 480 rental apartmentswere also started. The HST applies a 12 percent tax

on new homes, but most newhomes are eligible for a $26,500rebate. The HST is not applied toresale housing. However, the Canadian Real

Estate Association blames the HSTfor a downturn in resale housingthrough MLS in July. TheAssociation notes that both BC andOntario, which both introduced theHST on July 1, had the biggest dropin home sales among all provinces.“A slowdown in demand had

been widely expected in July, asmany purchases were broughtforward into the first half of theyear in advance of the introductionof the HST,” the Association states.While the HST is not applicable

to resale homes it is applied tomany closing costs and feesassociated with a resale homepurchase. ■

An accessible green roof tops theplanned James condominiumcomplex on Vancouver’s SouthFalse Creek. The 150-unitbuilding is among more than1,817 new home starts in Julyafter the HST came into effect.Photo: Cressey Developers

HST fails to deter home builders


PLEASANTON, CA: Erecting orretrofitting valley trusses just gotfaster and easier for roof framersand truss installers with theintroduction of the Simpson Strong-Tie VTCR valley truss connector.Installed on top of roof sheathing,or directly to the framing below,this single-sided valley truss clipeliminates the need to add asupport wedge under the valleytruss or to bevel the bottom chordto match the supporting roof pitch,according to Simpson Strong-Tie.The VTCR connector installs after

the valley truss has been set, atime-saving benefit for newconstruction as well as for retrofitsin high-wind areas. The connectorconveniently installs from one side

with nails or with Simpson Strong-Tie Strong-Drive® SD structuralconnector screws, the latterresulting in a nearly 30 percentincrease in uplift capacity.“With the introduction of the

VTCR, Simpson Strong-Tie hasaddressed the need for a valleytruss connector that doesn’t installunder the valley frame as well asone that only requires front-sidefastening,” explained Stan Sias,Simpson Strong-Tie nationalmanager for the Plated Trussindustry.The VTCR can be installed on

either beveled or non-beveledbottom chords and is clearlymarked for fast setup of pitchesfrom 0:12 to 12:12. ■



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VICTORIA: BC’s Ministry of Transportation andInfrastructure has issued a Request for Qualifications(RFQ) to find private partners to design, build andfinance the Evergreen Line, a $1.4 billion rapid transitP-3 project servicing the northeast quadrant of MetroVancouver.The RFQ process closes on September 7, and the

government will select up to three teams to participatein the Request for Proposals stage. The provincialgovernment has already done planning and publicconsultation.The Evergreen Line will connect Coquitlam to

Vancouver via Port Moody and Burnaby and tie into theexisting Skytrain and Canada Line systems. The federaland provincial governments have both committed about$400 million to the project. TransLink needs to come upwith $400 million as its share of the line’s total cost.Construction of the 11-kilometre line is slated to

begin early in 2011 and be completed by 2014. Theproject will generate an estimated 9,000 jobs.The Evergreen Line has six stations designated but

up to four more could be added. If construction followsthe lead of Skytrain, most stations will be above groundand clad and capped in architectural sheet metal. ■

Bidders sought for Evergreen Line

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Cedarshakes: ‘the realgreen roof’With doubts growing about greenroof claims in the midst ofconsumer demand forenvironmentally aware products,cedar roofs could emerge as a topgreen roofing choice, according toenvironmentalists and the BC-basedCedar Shake and Shingle Bureau(CSSB).“When it comes to building

materials, wood is the only materialthat is renewable,” notes PatrickMoore, a forest ecologist andcofounder of Greenpeace. “Steel,concrete, plastic and aluminum areall non-renewableresources; and inparticular require alot more energy andemit a lot moregreenhouse gassesin their manufacturing. So far as anenvironmentally friendly buildingproduct, wood is the clear leader.”Cedar, of course, has been

successfully used as a roofingmaterial for hundreds of years.In BC, perhaps the top green

choice in wood is the Certi-labelcedar roofing from the West CoastLumber Manufacturers Association.As the CSSB notes, “usage of the

term green is not regulated ormonitored: it seems like everyone is

jumping on the green bandwagon.”Certified labeled cedar roof

shingles, they suggest, go beyondthe green hype todeliver “anenvironmentallyresponsible choice –renewable,recyclable andsustainable.”

Here are some facts about cedarroofing as it relates toenvironmental decisions:• Wood is thermally efficient, easyto insulate and the only majorbuilding material that isrenewable. Tests have shownthat wood roofs can keep aresidential attic 2.2˚C cooler insummer heat, since the cells inwood allow the shakes tofunction as a natural insulator.

• The energy use and global

warming potential for a square(100 square feet) or heavyhandsplit and resawn cedarshakes is equal to the energyreleased and the greenhouse gasemitted by burning 7 pounds ofpropane for a barbecue – inother words, very low.

• Each year, more than 175 millionseedlings are planted in BC toreforest logged or burnt orinsect-damaged forest lands.More than five billion seedlingshave been planted so far.Cedar shake roofs are also well

ahead of the recycling curve. Theroofing industry has only begun torecycle asphalt shingles, but woodshakes can be easily recycled inwood chips or even kindling. Also, awell-installed cedar roof can last for50 or 60 years and the roofs areeasy to repair, the Bureau notes. ■

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BOMA BC namesgreenest buildingsVANCOUVER: The Building Owners and Managers Association of BC(BOMA) presented its Earth awards this June at its Green Buildings Gala.The retrofit of AXA Place (managed by Polaris Realty Canada) in

downtown Vancouver won in the existing building category, and ‘3383Gilmore Way’ Burnaby, (managed by Morguard Investments) won in thenew building category. This five-storey, campus-style building includes146,000 square feet of office space and accommodates more than 850employees for HSBC Technology.The new building has also been awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy

and Environmental Design) by the US Green Building CouncilThirty-five of the most recent BOMA BESt certified buildings (which

meet BOMA’s standards for recycling and other green measures) werealso recognized at the gala. ■

Certified cedar shakes are abeautiful – and some say thegreenest – roofing option.Photo: Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau

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Bullishreport seesupturn inconstructiondemand“There will not beenough new workersto fill labourrequirements”RICHMOND: British Columbia’sconstruction industry could emergefrom the steep downturn that beganin 2008, based on the potential ofgovernment stimulus and theresurgence of private-sector-ledprojects, says a newly releasedreport by the Construction SectorCouncil (CSC).In its annual report on the supply

and demand for construction labourin BC, the CSC estimated thatconstruction employment fell by 15percent with the loss of over 21,000jobs during the downturn.

M.J. Whitemarsh, chief executiveofficer of the Canadian HomeBuilders’ Association of BC, notesthat in general, construction workersfaced 10 to 15 percent job losses(21,000 jobs) in the downturn.But the provincial Construction

Looking Forward report estimatesthe return of stronger labourmarkets for much of the forecastperiod.

“Industry and governments mustalso consider that the demographicchallenge is here today and that weneed to continue to address ourlabour market needs,” said WaynePeppard, executive director of theBritish Columbia and Yukon BuildingTrades.Looking ahead until 2018, the BC

scenario indicates 28,000 workers

will retire, 3,700 positions will belost due to mortality, and 27,400new jobs will be created. And itestimates that the 24,000 newentrants will not be enough to meetdemand.

“There will not be enough newworkers to fill labour requirements,so our priorities will be onrecruiting, training and career

promotion that targets all potentialsources of labour,” said ManleyMcLachlan, president of the BritishColumbia Construction Association,who also noted that, “Constructionmanagers, contractors andsupervisors will be in high demandthroughout most of the forecastperiod.

The CSC compiles reports for

each province followingconsultations with industry leaders,as well as governments andeducational institutions. Thenational and regional scenario-based forecasts are releasedannually and are available online atwww.csc-ca.org. In addition, allforecast data is available atwww.constructionforecasts.ca ■


An example of the importance of public construction, the new $966 millionRCMP E-Division Headquarters project began this summer on a 24-hectaresite in Surrey. Designed by Kasian Architecture of Vancouver and being builtby Bird Construction and Bouygues Building Canada Inc., the complex isbeing built to LEED environmental standards. It will open in December 2012.Photo: Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd.

Native reserveseyed forcommercialbuildingsNORTH VANCOUVER: First Nationcommunities in BC and acrossCanada have been granted propertyrights that could allow large-scalecommercial real estatedevelopments on reserve lands.The federal government and the

Squamish Nation in BritishColumbia have said Bill C-24’samendments to the First NationsCommercial and IndustrialDevelopment Act gives reservesmore flexibility in attracting investorinterest for commercial real estateprojects.The bill passed through

Parliament in June with unanimoussupport from all parties.Indian Affairs Minister Chuck

Strahl said these rights, whichinclude a land title system and titleassurance fund, close an “importantregulatory gap that has so farhampered the development of largecommercial real estate projects onreserve land.” The certainty of landtitle granted by such a regimewould increase investor confidence,making the value of the propertycomparable with similardevelopments off the reserve, Strahlexplained.Previously, there was no certainty

of land title on First Nations land on

reserve. First Nations officials hadcomplained it hindered them fromfinding financial backing for on-reserve development opportunities.The Squamish Nation already has

plans to build condominium unitson prime undeveloped reserve landin West Vancouver.

Housing uptickheralds North’srecoveryPRINCE GEORGE: There could be aboom building in northern BC, andthe first signs are starting to showin the residential market.Sales through the BC Northern

Real Estate Board (BCNREB), whichtrack everything from lots todetached homes, mobiles andcondominiums, shot up about 40percent in the first half of this year,compared to 2009. Total salesvolume was nudging $490 million,up from $365 million a year earlier.“Listings are up and sales are up

over last year – and we expect thisto continue. Affordable housing andlow unemployment rates willcontinue to lead the north into ahealthy economy,” said BCNREBpresident Claudia Holland.The confidence is mostly linked

to the recent news that the Site Cdam project would be moving to thenext stage of approvals. If it goesahead, the $6 billion plus projectwould create thousands ofconstruction jobs.Talk of the power project has

been rife for years, and the projectis seen as a potential driver of theNorth’s resource-oriented economy.The two-year approval process

the province is undertakingpromises to spur speculativeactivity, say brokers in both Fort St.John and Dawson Creek.“You’ll see a lot of people buying

investment properties in this area,”said Trevor Bolin, owner of Re/MaxAction Realty in Fort St. John andRe/Max Dawson Creek Realty inDawson Creek, an hour’s drive east.

Public spendingto leadconstructiontrendVANCOUVER: Constructionemployment in the Lower Mainland-Southwest region grew slightly inJune, but the entire province is moredependent on government projectsthan private construction this year,according to the Vancouver RegionalConstruction Association (VRCA).Statistics Canada reported that Junesaw 111,900 persons working inconstruction in the region, up a slim1.9 percent from May 2010.“We expected to see a higher

gain in construction employment,but regional employment continuesto edge higher and has likely seenthe bottom for this cycle,” said KeithSashaw, Association president. “Thetrend seems to indicate that theworst is over for the industry.”In Metro Vancouver, construction

employment rose 1.2 percent inJune 2010 from May to anestimated 91,000 persons workingin the industry. This is down 7percent from June 2009.

In Abbotsford, constructionemployment increased for the sixthconsecutive month, up 2.9 percentin June to 10,800 persons. Year-over-year employment in the areawas up 45.9 percent.Province wide, seasonally

adjusted construction employmentlevels declined 2.7 percent in Juneto 192,600, its lowest level in morethan a year. Compared with June2009, the number of peopleemployed in BC construction wasdown by nearly 5,000 workers.Private non-residential building

construction does not offer muchupside for construction employmentin 2010, says the VRCA. Publicsector construction has morepotential since more governmentstimulus funds have to be spent andshould peak in 2010 before fadingin 2011. ■

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Grease Guard Inc. Hal Industries Inc. Hunter Panels Husky Energy Inc. Inland Coatings Corporation Innovative Manufacturing Insulfoam InterWrap

Louiseville Speciality Products Johns Manville Lomanco Inc. Malco Products Inc. Ventilation Maximum Menzies Metal Products Pabco Roofing Products

Permaquik Plasti-Fab Ltd. Roofmaster Products Company Roxul SFS Intec Inc. Degussa AG (Sonneborn) Soprema Canada Inc.

Tarco Tech-Crete Processors Ltd. Thaler Metal Industries Ltd. Tinman Tremco Inc. Waldun Forest Products Westform Metals Inc. Westman Steel Industries Inc.

Kelowna250-765-1441 Sales 250-765-2799 Fax

Terrace250-635-4611 Sales 250-635-5161 Fax

Prince George250-563-4704 Sales 250-563-3205 Fax

Victoria250-474-5733 Sales 250-474-5770 Fax

Nanaimo250-756-9959 Sales 250-756-9860 Fax

Surrey Head Office 604-591-5331 Sales604-572-7476 Fax

Burnaby 604-420-9666 Sales 604-420-9664 Fax

Abbotsford 604-852-0855 Sales 604-852-3266 Fax

Westex/Chilliwack 604-792-7663 Sales 604-792-7443 Fax

Kamloops 250-374-9955 Sales 250-374-9514 Fax

Penticton 250-493-5660 Sales 250-493-6744 Fax

QUEBECSaskatoon

306-653-5402 Sales306-653-5410 Fax

Regina306-721-5402 Sales306-721-5405 Fax

Hull/Gatineau819-595-5402 Sales819-595-0805 Fax

Rexdale416-741-5402 Sales416-741-9384 Fax

Oshawa905-434-5495 Sales905-434-5526 Fax

Hamilton905-662-3306 Sales 905-662-1899 Fax

St. Catharines905-688-5402 Sales905-688-1355 Fax

Kitchener519-742-5402 Sales519-742-5806 Fax

Edmonton ABTel: 780-436-5577Fax: 780-439-9797

Toronto ONTel: 416-741-5402 Fax: 416-741-9384

Surrey BCTel: 604-591-1606Fax: 604-591-2282

Calgary ABTel: 403-207-3400Fax: 403-207-3404

SIMPLEX ASPHALT PRODUCTSONTARIO

Spokane, WA509-533-1531 Sales509-533-1819 Fax

Kent, WA425-656-9749 Sales425-656-9746 Fax

Auburn, WA425-656-9749 Sales425-656-9746 Fax

Lynnwood, WA425-678-4983 Sales425-678-4994 Fax

Portland, OR503-416-4266 Sales503-416-4272 Fax

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

London519-686-5402 Sales519-686-5066 Fax

Windsor519-250-5402 Sales519-250-5412 Fax

Ottawa613-260-5402 Sales613-260-1742 Fax

Scarborough416-751-5402 Sales416-751-8470 Fax

Barrie705-722-5404 Sales705-722-7545 Fax

Sudbury705-524-9777 Sales705-524-8022 Fax

roofing bc summer 2010

Documents

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