Tobermory is at the very end of the Bruce Peninsula with Georgian Bay on one side and Lake Huron on the other, which is about as exposed as Ontario gets. Wind comes from every direction and there's nothing to break it. Roofs here need to be fixed down properly, not just laid on.
Tobermory is at the very tip of the Bruce Peninsula with Georgian Bay on one side and Lake Huron on the other, which makes it about as exposed as anywhere in the province. Wind arrives from every direction and there is nothing to break it.
Roofs here have to be fixed down rather than laid on, and the fastening pattern matters more than the material. A great deal of the property is seasonal, so the same argument applies as everywhere in cottage country: the best roof is the one that does not need anyone.
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Roofing homes in Tobermory
With Georgian Bay on one side and Lake Huron on the other, wind arrives from every direction and there is nothing to break it.
Most of the decision is the profile rather than the colour. A deep tile like Banff suits older roofs with steep pitches and plenty of visible surface; Standing Seam is flatter and cleaner and sits better on a long modern run. Banff is available in black only; Standing Seam offers eight finishes.
Eight finishes
Black 9005 through Terra Cotta 8004, on every profile except Banff.
Snow
sheds rather than holds it, so there's less weight on the structure and less ice building at the eaves.
Summer heat
reflective coatings cut how much reaches the roof deck.
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Commercial roofing
The commercial building around Little Tub Harbour is small in scale and almost entirely seasonal in use.
On a commercial building the case for metal is mostly about what stops happening. Flat and low-slope roofs need attention on a cycle, and that cycle costs money whether or not anything has actually gone wrong — inspections, recoating, patching, and scaffolding booked every few springs. Metal takes most of it off the calendar.
Fasteners
Standing Seam fixes with concealed fasteners, so there are no exposed screws to work loose.
Finish
matched to the existing brick, cladding or curtain wall rather than fighting it.
Long runs
panels are rolled in Europe and cut to the building, so there are fewer joints.
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New builds and custom homes
New building here is cottage and retreat property, on exposed sites where fastening matters more than anything else.
The useful time to involve a roofer is while it is still on paper. Pitch, valley detailing and how the panel meets the fascia are all cheaper to resolve at the drawing stage than on site. We would rather be in the conversation with your architect early than be handed a finished deck and asked to make it work.
Early involvement
we work with architects and builders through detailing, not just at installation.
Seven profiles
the roof can be part of the design rather than a constraint on it.
Lifespan
metal outlasts asphalt by a wide margin, which matters on a house you intend to keep.
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Eavestroughs
Wind-driven rain here does not fall so much as travel, and it gets under anything not properly closed.
Metal sheds water fast — that is the point of it — but it does mean more water reaches the eavestrough in less time than a shingle roof would send down. Undersized or leaking gutters are the usual reason water ends up sitting against a foundation, so we size the system to the roof rather than fitting it afterwards.
Coated steel
four protective layers, warranted 40 years by the system's manufacturer.
Sized to the roof
metal sheds water faster than shingle does, so the system is sized for the roof rather than matched to whatever was on the house before.
Coordinate the eavestrough finish with your chosen roof. Confirm the available materials and colours.
SEVEN PROFILES. UP TO EIGHT COLOURS.
Roofing in Tobermory?
Free, no-obligation quote.