Absolute Roof Solutions

2010 Gold Winners

2010-05-31T12:06:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, in Vancouver, the GVHBA Renovation Council presented its inaugural renOVATION Awards. The awards honour excellence in home-renovation design and construction. Terasen Gas was the presenting sponsor. Kenorah Construction & Design led all winners with five awards, followed by Kerr Construction with four, and Intermind Design with three. Renovators of the Year are CCI Renovations (large volume) and Intermind Design (small volume). Visit www.gvhba.org to view winners and sponsors. Congratulations to all winners and finalists.

Let's give finalists a round OVATION!

2010-05-03T13:33:00.000-07:00

The Province

May 2, 2010

The finalists have been named -- that is, the finalists in a renovations competition organized by the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association called the "renvOVATION Awards."

Leading all renovators with 10 finalist nods is Kenorah Construction & Design. Intermind Design follows with seven nominations, G. Wilson Construction and Basil Restoration have six each, and CCI Renovations, Kerr Construction and REVISION Custom Home Renovations each have five.

Shown, top, before-and-after pictures of the Kenorah project that generated the company a finalist nomination in the best-renovation, $400,000 -- $599,999, category.

Also shown, left and right, are before and after shots of the kitchen project by Intermind Design, a finalist in the best kitchen, less than $40,000 category.

And below, a project that generated, for Basil Restoration, a finalist nomination in the best heritage renovation category.

The winners of the competition will be announced on May 28. To view the complete list of finalists and more before-and-after photographs, visit ovationawards.ca.

Park Royal Home and Garden Show

2010-04-21T13:13:00.000-07:00

Vancouver Home And Garden Show 2010

This year the usually big Home and Garden Show has been seriously downsized to fit into Park Royal shopping centre in West Vancouver for the weekend of April 17 & 18th. Renovate, decorate, landscape and shop are still the taglines for the small show. There are speakers and ask an expert booths so probably worth checking out if you are looking for some tips or to connect with a supplier.

Saturday Schedule:

Noon: GVHBA Renovation Expert, Doug Kerr, Kerr Construction | The Three P's of Home Renovation: Pro's, Plans, and (it's not always about) Price.
2pm: Vancouver Sun Gardening Editor, Steve Whysall | A Reason to Garden: How Gardening Can Enrich Your Life
4pm: HGTV's Wendy Russell | Decorating Tips that You & Your Home Can't Live Without!

Sunday Schedule:

Noon: GVHBA Renovation Expert, Todd Senft, reVISION Construction | The Emotional Rollercoaster of a Renovation & How to be Prepared
2pm: Vancouver Sun Gardening Editor, Steve Whysall | A Reason to Garden: How Gardening Can Enrich Your Life
4pm: HGTV's Wendy Russell | Decorating Tips that You & Your Home Can't Live Without!

Steve Wysall is a garden writer worth listening to for his knowledge on plants and especially plants that work in coastal gardens. He has written four bestselling books: 100 Best Plants for the CoastalGarden, The Blooming Great Gardening Book, 100 Best Plants for Ontario Gardens and The Vancouver Sun's Best Plant Picks.

renOVATION Awards 2010

2010-04-21T13:10:00.000-07:00

2010 FINALISTS

The Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association (GVHBA) has announced the finalists for Metro Vancouver’s first-ever home-renovation awards. The renOVATION Awards program, which recognizes excellence in renovation construction and design, is presented by Terasen Gas.

"This year, Vancouver-area homeowners will spend $3.5 billion on home improvements, generating $1.6 billion in wages. The renovation industry is a major foundation block of Metro Vancouver’s economy, and we are pleased to honour the industry’s best," said GVHBA Chief Executive Officer Peter Simpson.

Finalists were selected in each of 22 categories, including best kitchen, bathroom, outdoor living space, accessible renovation, exterior renovation and heritage renovation. Judges were all award-winning renovation professionals from Whistler, Nanaimo, Summerland, Victoria and Seattle.

Delta-based Kenorah Construction & Design led all renovators with 10 finalist nominations, followed by Intermind Design with seven, G. Wilson Construction and Basil Restoration with six each, and CCI Renovations, Kerr Construction and reVISION Custom Home Renovations with five each.

Award winners will be announced at a gala awards ceremony on Friday, May 28 at the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel. To view the before-and-after photographs of the finalists' exceptional renovation projects, click on the category names below (renovators mentioned more than once within a category have submitted more than one project in that category).

Sponsors are All Weather Windows, Axis Insurance Managers, B3 Communications, Curtis Lumber, Dick’s Lumber and Building Supplies, Epic Marketing Solutions, Green & Green The Creative Gift Company, Martin Knowles Photo/Media, Minuteman Press, Norburn Lighting and Bath Centre, North Shore Door, Oasis Windows, Smart Home Systems, TD Financial Services and The Brick Commercial Sales.

Media sponsors include Home Trader, New Local Home, Real Estate Weekly, The Province and The Vancouver Sun.

Design to be timeless

2009-10-05T13:42:00.000-07:00

The Edmonton Sun

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

BY JOANNE RICHARD, SUN MEDIA

Time for change? Well, if renovating is on your dream list, then make sure it doesn't turn into a nightmare.
Do your homework first. "There are a lot of things that can go wrong, so educate yourself on the process and use professionals," says homebuilder Doug Kerr.
Don't overbuild for your neighbourhood and choose a design that is timeless to avoid renovating a renovation in the future, advises Kerr, owner of Kerr Construction, a multiple award-winning Vancouver-based design/build firm.
"People renovate for many different reasons, and it is important as a renovator to find out the purpose for the renovation," says Kerr. "Some need more space for family, some need a work space in the home, some want a nicer environment to live in and some need to renovate because the place is falling apart."
And some want the nicest home on the block with all the new gadgets and latest design.
"It's fun, like getting a new car except you get to help design it," says Kerr, whose renovations range from $10,000 decks to $1.4 million whole house renovations.
"Our average project is in the $100,000 to $600,000 range."
Kerr offers up these general renovation mistakes:
The homeowners get fixed prices for the work before all the decisions are made as to exactly how it is to be done and exactly what materials are to be used.
There are too many changes throughout the project, which increases the cost and adds time to the job. This is a result of not enough time spent in design and specifying materials in the beginning.
They don't get everything in writing. All agreements need to be in writing to avoid misunderstanding and disagreements later.
They hire on price and not on the skill and ability of the people doing the work and quality of materials they will use.
They see these TV shows and get an unreal idea of how long it takes and what things cost. "They assume reality TV shows are done with real budgets, timelines and quality of work," says Kerr, of kerrconstruction.ca.
"There are a lot of things put together with duct tape for the cameras. And if you look at some of the shots in these so-called two-week long renovations, one shot is the summer and another is in the fall with all the leaves off the trees." Good work takes time.
Meanwhile, according to Kerr, if you are renovating to increase value of the home, you have to then sell the home before the designs and colours go out of style. "This can be mitigated if you stick to a traditional design, colours and architecture. Good design never goes out of style but fads do."
The best bang for the buck -- if you are just interested in selling after renovating -- is usually sprucing up the curb appeal, such as landscaping, painting, minor repairs or new trim details, and inside finishes, like flooring, paint, etc.
"If the majority of the house is still outdated, rundown or falling apart, then the money you put in to say fix one bathroom will not do much to the resale value. You have to do enough to change the appearance of the house as a whole," says Kerr.
Kerr's firm tends to attract clients who want to live in their house for a while; the selling price is not the priority but it's still important. "The first step is always to ensure the structure is good and the space is functional, and then move onto the systems like electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, insulation, etc. The last thing is the finishes and fun things like new bathrooms and kitchens."
Kerr has developed innovative systems to make the renovation process smooth and fast so clients' needs and wants are surpassed.

Laneway Homes

2009-08-12T10:20:00.000-07:00

Starting July 28, 2009 the City of Vancouver approved Laneway Homes to be built on lots where normally a garage would be placed.

The reason behind this new project is to increase the number of people living in Vancouver in an environmentally sustainable manner. The drive for eco-density will provide an affordable self contained second home on a single-family lot while giving privacy and green space to occupants.

Requirements:

- RS-1 and RS-5 Single Family areas
- Lots 33’ wide and wider with an open lane, on a double fronting street or on a corner with a corner with a lane dedication
- Unit within the area on the rear 26’ of the lot with a minimum 16’ separation between the laneway home and the main house
- Rental or Family only no strata titled
- Minimum of one on-site parking space
- Unit size will be based on the lot size with a maximum of 750 sq ft
- 1 and 1 ½ storey configurations are acceptable

Kerr Construction a locally owned and operated Design/Build company can help you determine the size of your Laneway Home today. Visit www.kerrconstruction.ca

Parade of Renovated Homes

2009-06-08T14:12:00.000-07:00

Professionally Renovated Homes Open to Public
Renovations Magazine June 2009

The Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association (GVHBA) Renovation council invites the public to tour 17 professionally renovated homes in Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta, Mission, New Westmister, North Vancouver, Surrey and Vancouver on Sunday, June 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The 16th Annual Parade of Renovated Homes – with the most participating homes ever – showcase leading-edge design, advanced construction techniques, and innovative building products.

Projects include a complete transformation of a Mission rancher, restoration of a 1906 Kitsilano craftsman-style bungalow (Kerr Construction), and extreme facelifts of homes built in the ‘20’s right up to the ’80’s.

GVHBA Renovation Council Chair Daine Halley says B.C. homeowners will spend a record $7 billion sprucing up their homes this year, and this popular one-day event offers exceptional sample renovations.

“Professional renovators, many of them award-winners, will be on site to offer expert advice and discuss their craftsmanship. Projects range from $70,000 to more than $700,000, offering people an abundance of ideas they can possibly incorporate into their own renovations,” says Halley.

Admission is by passport, available at each home for $10 per person. Children 17 and under are free. Passports can be purchased at any home, and then used for entry to the remaining 16 homes. Part proceeds will help fund the purchase of tools, building materials and safety gear for a carpentry training program offered by Guildford Park and Frank Hurt secondary schools in Surrey.

The event is limited to six hours, so visit www.gvhba.org to review the selection of homes, then plan your route to ensure you have sufficient time to visit specific homes that capture your interest.

2834 West 6 Avenue, Vancouver
(From Broadway, turn north on MacDonald St., turn left on West 6 Ave.)

When restoring this 1906 craftsman-style bungalow, the owners wanted the home to blend flawlessly with the turn-of-the-century homes in this Kitsilano neighbourhood. Kerr Construction surveyed the surrounding homes originally built in the early 1900s to meticulously re-create the home’s interior dimensions. The back deck and pergola were built to preserve the 60-year old grapevines. There were many sustainable practices incorporated throughout the home, such as using solid wood to reduce toxic formaldehyde resin and recovering old-growth fir from an abandoned Vancouver Island mill. Beautiful second-hand fixtures and hardware were also sourced. This attractive renovation captured a 2008 Georgie Award.

Kerr Construction, 604.263.0343, www.kerrconstruction.ca

Firm Foundation

2009-05-28T16:57:00.000-07:00

A Firm Foundation

By Janet Collins

The perfect home, in one of the most desirable beachside neighbourhoods of South Surrey, came in an unexpected package for one particular family of four. Their search for a comfortable home on a large, treed lot located within walking distance of the beach ultimately led them to a ‘50s-style bungalow with a basement at the rear – a house they knew they could shape into the home of their dreams.

One of the outstanding features of the home, and one of the key selling points for the homeowners, was its superb foundation – an asset that held the potential to save them thousands of dollars on their renovation costs.

“It was, without a doubt, the nicest foundation I’ve seen in all my years in this business,” says Douglas Willoughby, who manages design services for Kerr Construction – the company that undertook the renovation. “It was well beyond what anyone would expect. It was 10 inches thick – a full two inches more than code.

“Being able to keep the foundation was huge in terms of keeping costs down,” he adds. “The cost of demolishing the concrete, and then re-pouring new concrete and new drainage would have added a lot to the final figure.”

As it was, the 2,500-plus-square-foot project came in under $400,000.

The redevelopment of the home literally began from the ground up. “Only the foundation, exterior hard surfaces like the driveway, the main floor framing, and the carport were kept,” says Willoughby. “The rest was built new.” The result is a functional two-storey home with a basement to accommodate a growing family of four, plus room for guest accommodations.

The bungalow’s existing basement proved to be another valuable asset in light of the fact that the City of Surrey no longer allows basements in the area; the space was grandfathered into the renovation. Another plus was the stand of large cedars at the back of the property, which lessened the feeling that the house sat in the middle of a subdivision.

BUDGET-CONSCIOUS CHOICES

The search for ways to save money on the renovation did not begin and end with constructing the new home on the existing foundation. It extended into the interior design of the house as well.

“We looked for economies everywhere,” says Donna Chong. “We purposely simplified some areas so we could do more in others.”

“I think this project shows that you don’t need a huge budget to get a good result.”

In the kitchen, economical pre-finished birch plywood cabinets were installed, providing plenty of storage space. The decision to use a laminate rather than stone on the countertop also reduced costs – the homeowners can easily upgrade later, if they wish, without replacing the entire cabinet system. Clear glass was installed behind the cooktop for easy clean-ups, a choice that also proved more economical than tile. “It also made for a cleaner look,” says Chong, who was aiming for a modern esthetic that would reflect the family’s lifestyle.

The oven and microwave were built in to enhance the streamlined look and to ensure as much room as possible was available for the family to gather around the central island, which doubles as a dining area.

The bright living room combines with the dining room to create a large, open area that is well suited to the activities of young children. The metal fireplace forms the focal point of the room and, like the metal staircase railings, adds an industrial edge to the home’s modern design. The unusual fireplace features a steel grid that slides along a C-channel mounted in front of the hearth.

The homeowners had wanted slab concrete floors in the living room, but that would have necessitated extensive structural upgrading to accommodate the weight of the concrete. A compromise was achieved through the application of a skim coat over plywood. Bamboo was used on the floors throughout the second storey, with the exception of the bathrooms.

“The challenge in the master bath was to make it interesting without making it expensive,” says Chong. “We put money where it counted – the sink, drop-in tub, oversized shower and faucets. We used nice materials, but not overly expensive ones.” For example, inexpensive tiles were used for the most part, with a bit more spent on the glass accent tiles.

In the children’s bath, savings were gained by no having cabinets under the sinks. This created the perfect place for storing a step stool to help give the youngsters a boost when using the sink.

The simple, uncluttered entry area was purposely kept clear to se the tone for the clean, modern esthetic the homeowners wanted to achieve throughout the entire home.

“Eventually I’ll likely put in some sort of floating shelf and some artwork in the entry area,” says one of the homeowners, “jut like I’ll add more colour throughout the house when I find the right pieces of artwork. And I love mid-century furniture, so I will add that later, too.

“What I have right now is a house that will be able to change as my family grows and our needs change.”

Does Size Matter?

2009-05-28T15:03:00.000-07:00

Does Size Matter when you want to hire a construction company?

By Jamie Beliveau

When choosing a custom homebuilder or renovator, service and quality is more important than size, according to Doug Kerr, owner of Kerr Construction, a multiple award-winning Vancouver Design/Build firm.

Kerr, who has been building custom homes and handling renovations for over 20 years, is now recognized at the top of the field, capturing numerous industry awards and, more important, praise from clients. “Our experience, resources and drive to be the best have come together. We have developed the procedures needed to deliver superior service, consistent quality and true value.”

There are inherent advantages in both small and large companies. Some smaller companies have close relationship with the client, but lack the resources for training staff to provide proper service. They may also lack specific knowledge in design, permits, the latest construction technology, building codes and old world craftsmanship. On the other hand, big companies tend to lose the intimacy and consistency of the one-on-one communication necessary to positive client relations.

Kerr said he has been able to find the proper balance, allowing his company to carefully grow while providing the benefits of a large company with the close client contact and service. This assures a renovation or design/build contract reaches its full potential.

“Bigger is better, but only when you focus on the little things,” Kerr explained.

For instance, Kerr provides warranties, follow up service, professional resources, staff training and staff dedicated solely to quality control. “It all adds up to a more professionally done project for the homeowner.”

In today’s busy renovation market, many companies take on too much work simultaneously and do not have the proper systems in place to keep track of the little details, Kerr explained. “Yet it is the little things that personalize a renovation or custom home and getting them right is critical,” he said.

An over-booked contractor often finds the sheer volume of details on each job overwhelming. The little things are missed, quality starts to drop, the project begins to stretch out, and the contractor never seems to be around because he or she is always on another project.

“One of the solutions to this is to have one project supervisors per job and present from start to finish. That’s how Kerr achieves consistency. The project supervisor is always there for the homeowner or subcontractors when issues arise.”

Simply put, Kerr says, “One person cannot be an expert at everything from design, getting plans approved at City Hall, project management, all the legal issues of running a business and still be on top of all the different trade skills, technologies and materials that go into a modern day construction project.”

Kerr’s advice for anyone looking for a good company to design/build or renovate their home is to ignore the size of the company. Look instead at how they operate. Here are some of the things to consider:
- Do they have a separate quality control person inspection the work? It has to be someone other than the person doing the day-to-day work so you get an unbiased look with fresh eyes.
- Do they have their own in house design them? If you want to stick to a budget it is best to have the design, budgeting and construction all done under one roof. It also allows the project to move faster when design issues come up throughout the project.
- One project per supervisor. You want to have one person in charge of the project from start to finish with all their attention solely on your project.
- Do they have systems in place to ensure the project runs smoothly? For example Kerr implements a detailed 70 item checklist for every project before the job even starts to ensure nothing has been missed or forgotten in the planning and setup stage.

“Ask to see the company’s written policies and procedures,” Kerr said, “You can be sure it isn’t written down it will not be done.”

You can reach Kerr Construction at 604.263.0343 or visit www.kerrconstruction.ca

Making Solar Energy Pay

2009-04-09T15:41:00.000-07:00

Home Makeover Magazine April 2009

Contractor’s Corner

Making Solar Energy Pay
Solar hot-water heating is viable for home renovations

We all agree that energy saving is necessary for the sustainability of the planet. But looking at all the green options that are available, what is best for you and your family to increase a home’s carbon footprint during a renovation?

Solar energy is a subject that often comes up. According to BC Hydro, the average B.C. household uses 122.2 kilowatts of energy per day, making the family home one of the premier energy users.

There are two options when it comes to solar energy. Photovoltaic, which converts solar energy into electricity and solar hot water heat that harnesses solar energy to heat only the water used in the home.

Most people first envision rooftop-mounted photovoltaic panels. These panels are the ones that some hope will get their home “off the grid.” Great idea, but the cost of the panels can cost about $30, 000 and take close to 100 years to pay for themselves. Also, with the way the average household consumes energy, the panels do not provide enough power and require a backup system, such as electricity or natural gas.

Another issue with photovoltaic is that you need about a 12-panel system for a four-person household. The panels also need to be installed at a specific angle on your roof, which makes them quite visible from the ground. This takes away from the overall design of the house, and some consider them an eyesore.

Still want to do your part for the environment? Read on.

Hot-water Heating

An alternative to photovoltaic panels is solar hot-water panels. These cost about $8,000 and will pay themselves off in approximately six years, based on a comparison with current hydro rates.

In the first year of installation, homeowners who had them installed in Metro Vancouver reported a reduction of 30 percent to 35 percent from their previous energy bills.

These panels do not take away from the design of your home because they can be mounted directly onto your roof, making them invisible from the ground. A family of four would only need to install two panels, each four feet wide by eight feet long. The solar hot-water panels can be used year-round, even during the winter months. The Canadian Government has also made this process a little less painful by adding a $1,750 rebate to those who complete their project.

“It is the only panel that is CSA (Canadian Standards Association)-approved and there is no permit needed if you follow your roof line,” said Keith Kinvig from Absolute Roof Solutions of Vancouver, who installs Enerworks Solar Hot Water Systems in the Lower Mainland. “As well, it only takes three people to install and one-and-a-half days to complete it.”

Homeowners should do an evaluation of their house to see if the panels will fit and work efficiently. Basically, a house will need about 64 square feet of south-facing roof space, with no shade or little shade during peak daytime hours.

There are generous incentives from the government for such home energy improvements.

The federal 2009 budget is offering up to $1,350 in tax credits on top of LiveSmart BC’s $125 and the SolarBC rebate program that can total $1,000. The contractor installing the solar panels can also take care of the energy audits required to qualify for the rebate programs.

Doug Kerr is president of Kerr Construction Ltd., Vancouver. He can be reached at 604.263.0343 or via www.kerrconstruction.ca.

Devotion to Design

2009-04-09T15:08:00.000-07:00

From Home Makeover Magazine April 2009

Best Renovation $100,000-$249,999
Gold Winner: Kerr Construction Ltd., Vancouver

This old Kitsilano Craftsman bungalow was made over using old-growth fir from a demolished sawmill, local B.C fir and great care to blend the renovation into the 1900s character of the neighbourhood. All woodwork was hand-milled in-house, including the custom porch pillars. The oak floors were refinished, second-hand fixtures and hardware were sourced locally and exterior paint matches the heritage palette of old Kitsilano. “The luxury cottage in the city” is also super-energy-efficient, with new radiant floor heating, increased insulation, energy-saving windows and appliances and a custom-built wood-burning fireplace. (Kerr Construction also took the gold Georgie for best kitchen under $100,000)

For more information http://www.kerrconstruction.ca/articles.html

Energy-saving kitchens

2009-04-01T14:26:00.000-07:00

By Frank O'Brien
Home Makeover Magazine April 09 issue

Kerr Construction Ltd. of Vancouver captured a 2008 gold Georgie Award for the best kitchen under $100, 000-and the national SAM Award for the Canadian Home Builders’ Association as the best kitchen in Canada-for this renovation in Vancouver’s Southlands. But it is the emphasis on the environment that may truly set it apart.

The 1970s-era rancher was transformed into a 21st century contemporary statement in green, from solar-heated hot water to bamboo floors and energy-saving appliances.

All the water used in the kitchen was heated via twin roof-mounted solar panels, which are estimated to cut the cost of hot water heating by at a least 30 per cent.

Then Kerr worked out how to reduce the amount of water used, opting for a compact drawer-style dishwasher that runs smaller loads. The company also installed a built-in water filtration system and ionizer to improve the quality of the drinking water.

Environmental measures extend to the recycling of interior doors and trim, the use of low-E and triple-glazed windows and extra insulation in the walls and ceiling. The large counters are engineered quartz, which is recognized as having a lower carbon footprint than granite. Bamboo floors, considered more environmentally friendly than hardwood, were installed, as were new Energy Star appliances, most hidden behind the custom-made, vertical-grain, solid mahogany cabinets.

www.absoluteroof.ca
www.kerrconstruction.ca

Gold Georgie Helps Windfall for Business

2009-02-02T11:25:00.000-08:00

Even though the 2009 economy has started in a recession, this years CHBA (Canadian Home Builder’s Association) 17th annual Georgie awards gala displayed a positive forecast of this year’s building and renovation industry.

With greater Vancouver dominating the provincial awards, homeowners can be assured that they are being serviced by the highest caliber in the industry.

Georgie Gold winner Doug Kerr of Kerr Construction says, “These awards really give our business a boost in tougher economic times. Winning a Georgie award gives consumers confidence in what we can do for them and the quality of workmanship they will receive.

Even Stephen Harper is encouraging Canadians to make those small renovations with his tax credit of up to $1350 for one year.

“There are lots of incentives from the government for home energy improvements,” says Kerr. “Additional to the tax credits there are programs such as LiveSmart BC and Solar BC with rebates of up to $12,325.”

Now with the encouraging rebates and tax credits it is prime opportunity for homeowners to take advantage of these and increase the value of their homes.
With materials prices coming down now and trades more available homeowners are able to get their projects done faster and at less cost.

Kerr Construction is celebrating their 4th Gold Georgie and has been one of Vancouver’s trusted Design/Build Firms for over 20 years. "With good design and proper planning we are able to really provide value to home owners" added Kerr.

Media Contact
Jamie Beliveau
Kerr Construction
Office: 604.263.0343
Jamie@kerrconstruction.ca

Solar Energy

2009-01-29T11:58:00.000-08:00

By Jamie Beliveau

We all agree that greener energy is necessary for the sustainability of the planet. But looking at all the green options that are available what is best for you and your family? Solar energy is a subject that often comes up. According to BC Hydro the average BC household uses 122.2kw of energy per day.

There are two options when it comes to solar energy. Photovoltaic, which converts solar energy into electricity, and Solar Hot Water Heat, this takes solar energy to heat your water. The first one is the one that is most thought of; photovoltaic panels. These panels are the ones that we hope will get us “off the grid.” Great idea but the typical problem that occurs is the cost of these panels. For a family of 4 these panels can cost about $30 000 and take close to 100 years for the panels to pay for themselves. Also, with the way we consume energy, the panels do not provide enough energy to for us to rely on them independently.

Another issue photovolatic’s have is that you need about a 12 panel system for a family of 4. They need to be installed at a specific angle on your roof, which makes them very visible from the ground. This takes away from the overall design of the house.

Still want to do your part for the environment? An alternative to photovoltaic panels is Solar Hot Water Panels. These cost about $8000 and will pay themselves off in approx 6 years. In the first year of installation homeowners’ noticed a reduction of 30-35% in their energy bills.

These panels do not take away from the design of your home because they can be mounted directly onto your roof without you able to see them from the ground. For a family of 4 members, you only need to install two 4 X 8 ft panels. The solar hot water panels can be used year round even during the winter months. The Canadian government has also made this process a little less painful by adding a $1750 rebate to those that complete their project.

Keith Kinvig from Absolute Roof Solutions, who has being installing Enerworks Solar Hot Water Systems in the lower mainland says, “It is the only panel that is CSA (Canadian Standards Association) approved and there is no permit needed if you follow your roof line. As well it only takes 3 people to install and 1.5 days to complete it.”

So if you are thinking about reducing your carbon footprint, Doug Kerr, a local contractor from Kerr Construction says, “There are lots of incentives from the government for home energy improvements. The 2009 Budget is offering up to $1350 in tax credits on top of the LiveSmart BC and SolarBC rebate programs. We also make it easier for the homeowner by taking care of the energy audits.” This makes it a perfect time to build you and your family a health and sustainable home.

Government Savings for Vancouver Home Owners

2009-01-28T14:12:00.000-08:00

With the economy still in recession Stephen Harper’s 2009 Budget gives Vancouverites a positive reason to invest in their homes.

Starting January 28, 2009 for 1 year the government is offering tax credits to homeowners of 15 per cent on all spending over $1 000 to a maximum of $10 000, giving homeowners a maximum tax credit of $1 350.

“We have not only been pummeled by the snow. Throw in the suffering economy and you get job losses and a decline in building projects throughout the construction industry in the lower mainland,” says Doug Kerr, president of Absolute Roof Solutions. “ This has made it tough on homeowners to do the up-grades and repairs that they need.”

Now with the new budget out and the industry slowdown it is a prime opportunity for the homeowner to take advantage of the tax credit offers. The government is also offering up to $12 325 in rebates for home energy improvements. Additionally, in your favour the projects will take less time with trades more available. According to the budget report the offer lasts one year.

“This is a great time for those homeowners looking to do necessary up-grades to their homes,” says Kerr. “ The basic Vancouver roof will cost about $5 000 with this tax credit you will save yourself $600.”

Absolute Roof Solutions celebrated its 10th year as one of Vancouver and surrounding areas leading roofing contractors and publishes the “Roofer Madness Booklet” for homeowners.

For Further Details
Please contact Jamie Beliveau
Telephone 604.263.0343
Fax 604.263.1501
www.absoluteroof.ca
www.kerrconstruction.ca
Jamie@kerrconstruction.ca

Roofs Feeling Weight

2009-01-07T16:30:00.000-08:00

Jan 7/09 from 24hours

Heavy rains are wreaking
havoc on roofs around the
region.
A warehouse in Burnaby
collapsed on itself yesterday
and a townhouse complex in
Port Moody was evacuated
because of a partial roof collapse.
Kerr Roofing operations
manager Keith Kinvig said
snow on rooftops would
increase in weight as it sops
up a steady supply of rain
over the next couple of days.
A roof covered with 25 cm
of snow can weigh upwards
of 300 kilograms per cubic
metre.
“If people have a lot of
snow on their roof and it continues
to rain, they should be
concerned,” he said of homes
30 years in age or older.
Environment Canada predicts
up to 50 mm of rain
today followed by another 10
mm of rain tomorrow.
On the bright side, temperatures
could climb as high as
7 C over the next two days,
causing snow to melt rather
than stick around and pose a
risk.
- Dharm Makwana, 24 hours

Roof Collapsing

2009-01-06T11:26:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jamie Beliveau
604.263.0343
Jamie@kerrconstruction.ca

COLLAPSING ROOFS

Vancouver is now being pelted with rain after weeks of heavy snow and ice. Media has already reported roofs collapsing under the weight of the snow. Meteorologist state that up to 40mm of rain could fall in the next 24 hours; this makes the snow and ice on your roof even heavier.

This brings to mind the question about your roof – what do you do?

One experienced roofing contractor and author of “Roofer Madness”, Doug Kerr president of Absolute Roof Solutions warns of the legal liabilities on dealing with your snowy or icy roofs.

“Do handle your roof, but don’t take risks. Injuries can happen when you least expect it causing broken bones or worse. A fall from a roof can be fatal. Only professionals with the correct safety gear should be anywhere near your roof,” says Kerr. “Following these tips will safeguard you from injury or suits.”

Absolute Roof Solutions celebrated its 10th year as one of Vancouver and surrounding areas best roofing contractor. “Our dedication to superior workmanship and quality products has been our promise to our customers,” added Kerr. “

Here’s a list of do’s and don’ts:
-Don’t let the snow cause you legal litigation
-Don’t shovel the roof yourself it could cause damage to your roof
-Don’t go on a roof without proper safety gear you could cause serious injuries
-Don’t hire the neighbour’s son, you will be liable if they injure themselves on your property
-Do call a professional roofer for consultation and handling your roof

For more tips on how to deal with your roof and find a roofer you can call Absolute Roof Solutions (604.263.0334) and get a FREE copy of “Roofer Madness.” Or click on their website to order a booklet www.absoluteroof.ca
This informative booklet exposes you to all the in’s and out’s of how to hire the right roofing contractor – education material for the home owner.

Snow Suing

2008-12-17T16:04:00.000-08:00

NEWS RELEASE

SNOW SUING

VANCOUVER - December 18, 2008 - Don’t let the snow cause you legal litigation. Remember these points if you are thinking of shoveling your roof.

-Don’t shovel the roof yourself it could cause damage to your roof
-Without proper safety gear you could cause serious injuries
-Don’t hire the neighbour’s son, you will be liable if they injury themselves on your property

Call Absolute Roof Solutions (604.263.0334) today to get your FREE copy of “Roofer Madness.” This informative booklet exposes you to all the in’s and out’s of how to hire the right roofing contractor.

“I wrote this booklet because there is a real need for a roofing company to educate their consumers,” says Doug Kerr president of Absolute Roof Solutions.

This year Absolute Roof Solutions has celebrated its 10th year as Vancouver and its surrounding areas’ best roofing contractor. Our dedication to superior workmanship and quality products has been our promise to our customers.

For Further Details
Please contact Jamie Beliveau
Telephone 604.263.0343
Fax 604.263.1501
www.absoluteroof.ca
www.kerrconstruction.ca
Jamie@kerrconstruction.ca

To Buy or Not to Buy

2008-12-16T13:38:00.000-08:00

This is the question…The other day I attended a seminar presented by the GVHBA discussing some of the economic and real estate forecasts for Vancouver. As the Marketing Director for Kerr Construction and Absolute Roof Solutions, I was interested in attending for the obvious reasons of figuring out what our future market will bring us. But, personally I am interested in purchasing my first home as well.

Since September the media has bombarded our heads with negative stories of the “world coming to an end.” The words…Foreclosure…Bankruptcy…Bailouts and Recession have oversaturated our conversations. But how is the economy affecting Vancouver?

We can all admit that there is a slow down in the economy or as Michael Audain, Chairman of Polygon Homes Ltd refers to it as, “A correction in the economy.” Our hot real estate market of buying homes for the last two years could not stay sustainable forever.

So let’s look at the numbers from CMHC: the actual year to date housing starts is down only 5% from the same November period last year (18,481 from 19,491). 2007 was the best year since 1993. They also state that in 2008 $7 billion dollars will be spent in B.C. on home renovations or improvements, with 65% of those dollars spent in the Lower Mainland.

The economist predict that by late spring next year the housing market will pick up again but not quite as significant as the last two years. Following this the economy will stabilize along with the cost of real estate and commodities. This will be due to an increase in consumer confidence that will be aided by the 2010 Olympic Games.

So in the mean time the smart consumers will look at the great opportunities that these times present and realize it is an excellent time to renovate. For instance:

- Trades and Labour are cheaper
- Supplies arrive faster and can find better prices
- Contractors can start your job sooner
- Interest rate decreases
- Tax free savings plans put savings toward your home
- $12, 325 in government renovation rebates

I believe that 2009 will bring tougher times to our industry but Vancouver residents know that they live in the “Best Place on Earth” and would rather renovated that move. There is equity in your home that is better than stocks or commodities because you get to use and live in it while it appreciates. As well 2010 promises to be a monumental moment with the spirit of the Olympic Games showcasing all the great things Vancouver has to offer.

On the West Coast

2008-10-22T09:41:00.000-07:00

With the first fall rains this year Absolute Roof Solutions (www.absoluteroof.ca) has received a surprising number of calls from homeowners who have concrete tile roofs that were leaking. I could hear the discontent in their voices as they described leaks all over the house. With Concrete Tile roofs they are made to last a very long time, so when I get a phone call from an owner with Tile roofs that leak, I have a sinking feeling in my heart as I can often guess what the problem is.

Of course when it comes to roofing I will be the first to admit I can be wrong and so comes my first statement about roofing. “Mr. Customer! I might be wrong but it appears your Built in gutters are leaking”.

Obviously I get the customer to tell me all the problems and leak symptoms he can observe, but after a few minutes and if the signs are typical it is usually fairly easy from that point to realize that the persons Built in gutters or EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomers) gutter liner has either failed, worn out, seams released or in rare cases been physically damaged.

As a matter of fact EPDM rubber has recently received an award for the longest, most durable roofing system. So when you hear of them leaking it just doesn’t sound right, especially to the homeowner.

So what is my point?

My point is that the EPDM rubber membrane gutter liner in this case must be applied according to the manufacturers’ instructions. Very important. When they are not installed per the manufacturer’s instructions, eventually the seams that overlap each other (usually at corners and drains) release from each other and water can work its way through and leak into the soffits.

A very important point for installing EPDM gutters or Built in rubber gutters in Vancouver is that the adhesive glue must be applied at 10deg. Celsius or better for it to work properly. This means that come mid October you pretty well can’t do many EPDM gutter installs. Now of course the roofer can use a heat gun or hair dryer to assist the adhesive in curing or “flashing” but it is slow and if you are doing a whole house with many corners and drains it could take a long time.

So temperature plays a big part in achieving a good seal with EPDM rubber and can make the difference between lasting 5-10 years and lasting over 20 years. Another problem with installing EPDM rubber for gutter liners is that when you get to a corner the rubber has to be laid and cut so as to lay flat and not lift up or curl up, this is called “tenting”. When this happens you have a restricted flow of water around the gutter corners, the water level has to build up higher, to make it around each corner. Compounding this issue is that “tented” corners restrict the flow of water along with needles and leaf debris and it creates a dam at the corners and then overflows the gutter edges.

Some people mistake this overflow for leaking EPDM gutters. It can really be an annoyance when that part of the roof is over a walkway causing people to get wet and possibly ice up side walks too.

One way to help prevent the tenting is to ensure your EPDM gutter liner is glued down to the gutter bottom. In case that sounds too simple, don’t worry we’ll make it more difficult. You cannot use the same adhesive to glue the rubber to the wooden deck as the adhesive used to Glue rubber to rubber. Sometimes the roofer doesn’t have the right glue, other times the glue may be from a partial can already opened and does not apply as well. Some roofing suppliers only carry one type of the adhesive and the roofer has to drive across town for the right one. (Doesn’t bother!)

If all the above still doesn’t sound too bad then let’s add the last one, my favorite. “How to seal an EPDM gutter drain.” Nail the drain into the wood and glue the rubber down right? Nope sorry it will leak soon afterward.

There are several ways to seal a copper drain in an EPDM gutter system that will last over 20 years, a diagram of the layout and some technical descriptive passages to describe it would get it done properly by the roofer. These are available at the manufacturers Web sites.

But after all that is said and done, in reality it is sometimes worse than all the above. Take the wooden deck under the old rubber liner, often does not have a flat bottom and the drain hole that has been drilled into the soffit is at a 45 degree angle facing the house and the hole exits the soffit only 3-4 inches from the house wall making the new drain hard to install flush and connecting the down pipe at the underside is at an odd angle. Then there is the situation where the drain has been placed next to an odd corner or to make it even worse a 3 way corner. After all the corners are cut and sealed, the drain is ½ to ¾ of an inch higher than the surronding areas and there is always water sitting there.

At the end it feels like you’re one of Jim Carey’s customers in a comedy movie, but you aint laughing and the roofer IS Jim Carey and he’s laughing hysterically, not because he doesn’t care but because he does and he has gone into complete glee with all the complications.

EPDM is a GREAT product; it just needs to be done right.

Keith Kinvig
Absolute Roof Solutions

www.absoluteroof.ca
www.kerrconstruction.ca

www.abosoluteroof.ca

www.kerrconstruction.ca

Roofing Madness

2008-10-21T15:40:00.000-07:00

WARNING!! This Book could save you thousands of dollars and a lot of grief...

Absolute Roof Solutions (http://www.absoluteroof.ca/) would like to assist you choose a roofer who will prevent your worst nightmares and make your project a success.

1) New Roof or Fast Fix? What do you really need?

Unless you know or trust your roofing contractor it is a good idea to get the advice of an independent roofing inspector — not a home inspector but someone who specializes in roof inspections. You may find you need only spend a few hundred dollars in repair now and the expensive reroof project can be safely put off for some years. Roofs usually start leaking around the areas where there are details (ridges, valleys, vents, chimneys, flashing, etc.). These areas may only need inexpensive repairs which could give you several more trouble free years. On the other hand the inspection may find some very serious leaking problems that need to be addressed immediately to prevent water damage or rotting. Replace your roof before it leaks to avoid water damage or the hassles of an emergency repair. Get your roof inspected by someone who is qualified and who will give you honest answers.

2) How long will it Take?

The Variables
- size of roof
- complexity of roof
- size of installation crew

The longer the project takes, the more noise, mess, commotion and general disruption there will be around your home and greater potential for water damage through an open roof. With a smaller building with a simple roof may not be as much of a problem as a larger more complex roof. If plywood decking or rot repairs are required the project could drag on.

Doing the work properly takes a set number of man hours that you don't want to shortcut. The only real way to reduce the time is to increase the size of the crew. Ask "How big is your crew? How many people will show up each day? Will you work everyday until the project is complete?" This is what you need to know to determine how long it will take them in relation to other crews.

3) Is the roofing done right? Who knows . . .?

If you happen to know what a properly done roof looks like and are happy to go up onto the roof and check it out, you have no worries.

If you know what the critical roof details should look like but you don’t want to go up the ladder, option B is to have the roofers take some close up digital photos so you can look at them on the ground. Most established companies have digital cameras now.

Most homeowners are not roofers so they need to relay on someone else to check out the details. If you know your roofer personally or he was referred by someone you trust you may feel safe they will take care of you.

Nothing beats an independent inspection so…

Get an independent inspection from a licensed roof inspector. A very large percentage of new roofs installed today would not pass an inspection from RCABC inspectors. Cedar roofs are a particular problem. Cedar shingles vary, as they are a natural product. Some cedar roofing companies increase their price by up to 20% when they know the roof is going to be inspected because they know their usual standards will not pass. Make a deal with your roofer; you will pay the cost of the inspection if it passes and the roofer will pay for the inspection if it fails. Don’t make the final payment until it passes.

See it yourself.

You don't need to go up on the roof. Some of the better roofing companies have digital cameras. They will take detailed photos of your roof before and after and show them to you on a lap top computer. New roofs rarely leak in the wide open spaces: it happens, almost always, in the details.
You can compare how the details are done in the digital photos with simple sketches from
the RCABC (Roofing Contractors Association of BC) procedure manual. Any good roofer
will have a copy of this.

4) Caution! Liability Issues

Workers Compensation

Under Workers’ Compensation Board legislation, you, as the property owner, are ultimately responsible by law to ensure everyone working on your property is covered by WCB.

If the worker (whether he is a window cleaner, tree trimmer, drywaller or roofer) does not have his own coverage it is up to you to take out coverage with WCB for each worker. It is possible that the company is registered with WCB but is not in good standing or is delinquent with their account. If this is the case, they are not covered and again you become liable. Don't just take their word that they are covered. Get the company's WCB number and check it out. If they are delinquent or not registered with WCB it may indicate that they are a fly-by-night company or are not financially sound. This should concern you as they may not be around to back up their warranty. To protect yourself as the home owner, this is what you do:

Get a clearance letter or number from WCB for the company doing the work.
This can be done on line at:

www.worksafebc.com >How to obtain a Clearance Letter
or by telephone:
Clearance Section 604-244-6180.

Liability Insurance

Check that your roofer has proper, up-to-date liability insurance that will cover water, fire or other property damage. Many roofers don't have this insurance now as prices have increased and it's harder to qualify.

5) Quality Counts

You have probably added up a column of figures and made a mistake at some point in the past. Most people add them up twice to verify the answer. That is a system of quality control.

Even the best roofers can and will make mistakes. Accept the fact that there will be minor
deficiencies that will need to be found and corrected on your roof while it is being installed. The important thing here is that the roofing company has a standard system for finding and correcting those deficiencies.

After working hard on your roof for 8 - 10 hours in the hot sun your installer is hungry, tired, wants to finish your job and go home. I can tell you from experience that as good as he may be, he is not the one you want to do the final inspection!

In my 15 years of managing roofing projects I have never gone onto a “finished” job and found it really finished. There's always some non-optimum situation like an exposed nail head, a loose shingle, or debris in the gutters. These are the types of details that will be found even after a good installer is complete. Usually they will take only a few minutes to an hour to correct. What you may find after a poor installer is complete… I won't go into that!

The point is that you need someone to inspect the roof after the installer is done. This can be someone from the same company (if it is a reputable company) or it can be an independent roofing inspector who is familiar with RCABC standards. They need to do a thorough inspection of everything from the last shingle on the roof ridge to the nails being picked up from the driveway.

It is worth noting that the quality of installers’ workmanship increases substantially when they know that all their roofs will be inspected by someone other than themselves. The best system is one that not only inspects all the roofs but also corrects the installers as problems come up. This way the quality continues to improve.

6) War Zone or Work Site?

If precautions are not taken before the tear off begins, property can be damaged. If your property is close to the neighbour’s, the old roofing can hit their house as it comes down, leaving black tar marks on the walls. Flower beds can get trampled, bushes and shrubs can be crushed and broken nails can be left on the lawn or driveway. There are ways to protect your property with tarps and plywood barriers. Every property will have a different approach depending on the roof pitch, access and surroundings. If you have a flat roof and can park a disposal bin right against the house you don't have to worry about this too much. Unfortunately, that is usually not the case.

What to do before you Start

1. Go around your property with the potential roofing contractor and point out the areas you want to protect. Have the contractor propose a solution to protect them and then make sure the solution gets written into the contract. Getting details like this in writing increases the chance that the protection instructions will be passed on to the installer who actually does the work. And you are covered if they don't provide adequate protection which results in some damage.

2. Ask the salesman if the crew will have a magnetic roller to pick up nails. This will be a clue as to how seriously they take the clean up. There is really no other way to get nails out of some surfaces like grass or gravel.

3. Ask your potential roofing contractor how they will keep the water out of your house if it rains. Remember, we live on the "wet coast" and it can rain at any time, unannounced. There are several things that can be done to minimize this risk to almost zero.

- Make sure the crew that shows up is big enough to get the old roof off and the new roof on in a timely manner (two installers and two laborers minimum). If the roof is too big to do in one day, even with a larger crew, then have them do it one section at a time.

- Have an agreement with your contractor to always tarp unfinished roof sections at the end of every day. Never leave a roof open overnight no matter what the forecast is and never let the installer on the job talk you into leaving it exposed overnight. It only takes an hour of rain in the middle of the night to warp your hardwood floors, ruin your cabinets, stain your carpet, wreck your furniture or peel the paint off your walls.

- Ensure the contractor will always have a tarp on the job should the weather changes during the day.

7) First impressions ARE important

I can't give you any surefire rules that will guarantee the company will be reliable, trustworthy and considerate, but if they don’t respects the following courtesies it should put up a red flag.

- Did they show up to do the estimate when they said were going to or at least call if they got delayed?

- Did they get the quote back to you within a reasonable time or when they said they would?

- Did they answer their calls promptly when you left a message?

- Did they put the things you asked for into the quote? Do you feel you have been understood and an effort has been made to provide what you asked for or said was important to you?

Fundamentally, these are basic manners but they are also clues to the type of company you are dealing with.

8) Warranties - What they Really Mean

Putting on a “30 year Shingle” does not necessarily mean your roof will be replaced (or even repaired) if there is a problem in 10 years. Warranties can be complex. It is actually easier to work out who has the worst warranties. Once you understand the information below, you won't get caught up in the salesman's hype about warranties and end up not covered the way you think you are.

There are two parts to the warranty: the materials warranty (supplied by the manufacturer) and the labour warranty (supplied by the installation company).

The Materials Warranty

Most manufacturers only warranty the product and not the installation. This means that if his product does not hold up as it was supposed to and the manufacturer has determined that it was a materials defect (and therefore covered by their warranty), they can do one of two things:

Supply New
The manufacturer will back their truck up to your house and drop off new shingles. It will be up to you to install them. If you have chosen your roofing contractor well, and he is still in business ten years after your roof was installed, and he has given a long labour warranty, you may be able to convince him to come back and install the shingles at no charge to you.

Pay out
Some manufacturers’ warranties don't replace the shingles but will pay you money instead. This sounds good until you discover that the amount is prorated (decreased proportionally over time). The usual procedure is to pay the full amount for 5 years and then prorate amounts after that. This means that if your 30 year roof fails in 15 years the company may pay you 30% of what you originally paid for the shingles. The price they pay out will probably not be adjusted for inflation. If it does not include installation it hardly seems worth spending the time to prove their roofing product failed in the first place. Even "lifetime warranties" are prorated and may not be of much value in 15 to 20 years.

The last bit of bad news about warranties is that most are not "Performance Based", which means based on whether the shingle stands up and performs the way it is supposed to perform. The majority of manufactures base their warranties on "Water Infiltration". This means that all the granules can wash off your shingles or they can curl and fade or anything else but if no water gets in then you don't have a valid warranty claim.

The Labour Warranty
- Does the Installation Company automatically give you a labor warranty in writing with their quote or do you have to ask for it?
- How long is it for?
- Does it cover installing new shingles if it was determined to be a manufactures defect?
- Do you think they would come back in 8 years and install new shingles at no cost to you even if it was the manufacturer's shingle that broke down?
- You may find that you now know more about warranties than a lot of installation companies. If they can't answer your questions it's a bad sign and indicates that they probably don't have a standard warranty policy.
- Choose the roofing installation company you think will most likely to be in business ten years from now. (They need to be in business to honor their warranty.)

9) Attic Ventilation

The Roofing Contractors Association of BC (RCABC) says “attic ventilation is not the responsibility of the roofing contractor as it is a design and building code requirement,” but the shingle manufacturers say that without proper ventilation their warranties become void.

That puts the home owner in a tough spot wondering if he has enough attic ventilation to protect his shingles, keep his warranties valid, keep his house cool in the summer and prevent mold and wood rot caused by condensation build up.

The building code says that 1 square foot of ventilation needs to be installed for every 300 sq ft of attic space. Half of this ventilation should be in the soffits and half at or near the peak.

That all sounds simple enough but unfortunately there are many complications on achieving this depending on the age of the house and type of construction. It is understandable why the RCABC didn’t want to touch this issue, as it really needs someone who is up to date on current construction practices. Someone who can look at your home as a complete system and not just one part at a time, such as just the roof only.

My advice would be to ask the potential roofing contractor some questions to see how much they know. Do they know the 1/300 ventilation ratio in the building code? Do they know the difference between the intake ventilation at the soffits and the exhaust at the ridge?

Most roofers will automatically put a couple of vents up at the ridge or suggest some other from of exhaust ventilation but not many roofers will ever consider the intake. Without a balanced system it will not work properly and can actually pull moisture into your attic.

If you have an older home that has had additional insulation blown into the attic there is a good chance that the intake ventilation from the soffits is restricted. This can be easily checked for and rectified. Attic ventilation is a complex subject especially when you get into flat roofs and vaulted ceilings but you can be sure that if the estimator doesn’t at least know about the 1/300 ventilation ratio he doesn’t know enough about ventilation to design your system.

The Good News

There are good roofing contractors and there are some good manufacturer's warranties.

Here are some suggestions to help make a good decision.
Questions to ask your Roofing Contractor about the Manufacturer

Warranty

-Does the supplier's warranty include installation cost or just material cost?

- Is the warranty value worked out based on the original purchase price of the
product or on today's replacement cost?

- Is the material warranty performance based or water infiltration based?

Performance based is better.

Keep in mind that if the installers don't install the roofing materials as per the manufacturer's specifications the manufacturer will void the material warranty. So hire a quality minded installation company if you want the manufacturer to back his warranty. The above information will help you to hire a roofing contractor who will put on a leak free, long lasting roof, that will look good, protect your home and save you from ROOFER MADNESS.

The above information will help you to hire a roofing contractor who will put on a leak free long lasting roof that will look good protect your home and save you from Roofer Madness.

Enjoy your new roof.
Doug Kerr

http://www.absoluteroof.ca/
http://www.kerrconstruction.ca/