​It’s coming, so we need to put you on the same page when it comes to the windy weather that is inevitable. This article will explain wind warranties, call volumes and shingle selection to avoid future repairs. I’ve highlighted the topics because it is a lengthy read.
WIND WARRANTIES – WHAT YOU ARE COVERED FOR
First of all, you need to understand that a properly installed shingle has a wind rating that is determined by manufacturer testing. This means that if installed correctly, a 25-year shingle is good until about 96kph. A lifetime, architectural shingle should hold up to winds of 210kph. According to the weather network, there will be an event Sunday/Monday in which the winds will be exceeding 100kph.
IF YOU ARE SEEING LIFETIME SHINGLES BLOW OFF, call the company who installed it. Workmanship warranties are generally 10 years in this industry.
If you are having 25-year shingles blow off, you will not be covered under any warranty. Again, the manufacturer guarantees, with proper workmanship, that these shingles will withstand up to no more than 96kph winds.
We find the product we use, CertainTeed, has an amazing seal on every 3-tab (or 25yr) shingle that glues the tabs down, thus keeping them from flapping, and subsequently tearing off in the event of strong winds.
SEVERITY, CALL VOLUMES AND YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING SERVICE
Last year, we had two major events where winds exceeded 120kph and insurance companies were calling roofers from Western parts of Canada to come here and help repair some of the damage. THAT IS HOW BUSY EVERY COMPANY WAS. We did listen to many complaints of how calls were not being answered. Please understand that the vast majority of roofing businesses are not large conglomerates having call centers or telephone customer service staff of 20 or more people. Our company alone exceeded 1000 calls within the first three days, and then we stopped counting. We literally set higher minimums to reduce the number of calls we received. It might sound crazy, but some jobs were going to be priced that much or more, depending on the degree of damage. Entire roof sides were torn off. We worked around the clock, sun up until sun down. Get home, answer more calls and emails until dropping from exhaustion and sleeping at our desks. At some point we started recommending to some people that they flag any roofer down (in hindsight, probably not a great idea; there were con-artists scavenging neighborhoods). I will leave tips at the end of this article to avoid the scammers.
MOVING FORWARD AND BUYING THE RIGHT SHINGLE
You can read this paragraph if you intend on getting your roof done in the near future, or you can skip to the tips at the end. In terms of the current trend with shingles, 3-tab, traditional, or 25-year shingles (they are all the same thing) is currently being squeezed out as suppliers are making more shelf room for the lifetime (50-year) shingles. When we drop off sample boards, we warn that some colors are discontinued in the 25-year line. Some people say What about metal? Well, what about it? They cover up to 220kph winds vs 210kph 50yr shingles and cost about 3 to 4 times as much. They look odd in a neighborhood that has all shingled houses, BUT THAT’S JUST MY OPINION. You might like standing out, like some commercial or differently purposed building. I don’t like it, but that’s my preference. Some of them are really very creative and beautiful, but… again, the whole neighborhood would have to have it. 
TIPS ON HOW TO AVOID A SCAM
First and foremost, if you are shopping for an entire roof, just go with a reputable company that will give you all the facts so you know what you are getting. The best price is really not something you should play with when it comes to your roof. That being said, let’s move on to the things you should consider for the next wind storm:

1. If they want to tarp a small section (for example 5 feet by 5 feet), send them on their way. Look for people who are prepared (thus, professional), with shingles, ready to install. You put on a tarp, you pay for a tarp, you still need to fill that spot with shingles and then pay for those shingles. So why not put shingles on in the first place? Who are these guys trying to make money off you twice? Bye!
2. Secondly, if they don’t have a ladder, send them packing (nothing, they have nothing to pack). Adios!
3. If they want a deposit, tell them to kick rocks. Tell them to deposit some shingles onto your roof first! There was a scam last year whereby people were leaving $50 deposits and then never heard from these door knockers again.
4. This one is not a scam but it deserves mention and very close attention. Last year, I had a customer call me for blown off shingles and I gave the information necessary to make an informed decision. It was a corner lot, so it was open for wind exposure (no neighboring houses to provide some sort of wind barrier). Second, the shingles did not have a good tar line seal to glue the tiles down (it was not CertainTeed). Thirdly, it was a 3-tab, or 25-year shingle and was rated for up to 96kph. Lastly, I told him that there is no way you can avoid another blow off in a high wind situation unless you are willing to use a CertainTeed 50yr shingle. Following the repair, the second event occurred about a month later. Winds exceeded 120kph this time and the same shingles blew off. Just for reference, I double-nailed these suckers (meaning, I put twice as many nails than required) on the nail line, as recommended by the shingle manufacturer. The same shingles blew off after the 120kph winds. I understand the frustration this may cause but my tip here is to listen to the information and make an informed decision. The decision to patch up with the same product (a 25-year IKO shingle) or with a 50-year CertainTeed shingle was that of the customer. It was his to weigh the plus and minuses. The minuses were that the repair was in a clearly visible spot, the browns between manufacturers was different, and the texture between the 50 and 25-year shingles was very different. Basically, the choice was between whether it was going to look good (like nothing had happened) and still be vulnerable to future winds, or was it going to look odd but provide the protection he needed until he was ready for a whole roof replacement?

So, there is some food for thought. I put these up there so that residents of the Durham area can be informed. This is a sub-trade. It is not a trade. Not all roofers are created equal. You don’t have to pay anyone’s prices but there are differences. Last year, a client called us, saying that the entire back side of his house was on his back lawn. He soon after realized it was his neighbor’s roof. The neighbors had contracted with Gone with the Wind Roofing. It’s a pun, and a double-edged one because they could not be reached after. The roof was less than a year old.
There’s a lot of info here, but my intention is to disseminate the information because I find there aren’t enough representatives in the industry that are as social media savvy or customer-relations savvy. If I could go on about this industry, I could probably write a book on it but the bottom line is that people want to save on something so important and it makes the scavengers come out. They come out also because there are virtually no standards (no certifications, no  trade schools), making it even easier to be a con-artist and it makes this industry pure f**kery, plain and simple! Here are the FACTS. YOU decide.

Please note that after the windstorm of April 4, there has been a tremendous amount of calls for repairs and full roof quotes. We have serviced most or all of the urgent repairs and have set quotes for full roof replacement as low priority until the holes in people's roofs have been patched up. Just as the mayhem comes to an end and homeowners are safe again, the weather makes quoting something of a futile quest. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE to measure roofs in situations of high winds or rain, or on top of roofs that have snow or ice sitting on them. If you have requested a quote for full roof replacement, you are on a very long list of people who have.  We are making attempts to shorten the wait time by enlisting help from a blueprint service which provides enough information about your roof on which to base an estimate. Please be patient, and observe the weather. If you're in a rush, please know that if we can't quote in this weather, we cannot replace your roof in this weather either so there is no rush to have all your quotes in before the ice and snow has melted. You still have time to make a decision.  Roof work will commence when safer conditions prevail. Thank you for your patience. 

After seeing and servicing what feels like hundreds of houses in the Durham area following the wind storm of April 4, I verified with my crew and partner last nigt what brands of shingles were observed and in neeed of replacing.. None of us came across a CertainTeed shingle. Not a one. That is not to say that it is not possible or that it did not happen anywhere. We just did not see it. And we saw A LOT! 
​The three tab shingle should have been the only type of asphalt shingle coming off the roof, really. I believe the winds reached a ceiling at about 83kph, last I heard. I could be completely off. I did not monitor the weather network, I just opened my front door and said, HOLY S***, IT'S WINDY!
If you've lost lifetime (50 year) shingles, it's because your roofing crew did not nail your shingles in the right spot (we've observed a relatively small occurrence of these). Chances are the shinglers were prioritizing speed over accuracy. It makes the other shinglers marvel in their super fast glory (not at all), and it allows the crew to quickly move on to the next roof. 
​I have heard and read comments about the quality of materials and the speculation that metal roofs may be better. I always mention the wind ratings of our shingle products when comparing lifetime to 25 year, especially when I believe the former is more suitable to a homeowner's needs. It's 130mph versus 60mph. Again, the lifetimes performed well. There is no need to spend 4 times as much getting a metal roof and sticking out like a sore thumb in your suburban neighborhood (unless you are into that sort of thing). I'm not against metal roofs. I just see them in neighborhoods where they look misplaced. I tell people all the time that lifetime means 50 years regardless of the product (metal or shingle). To be clear, metal lasts 50 years. Lifetime shingles last 50 years. Both seemed to have held up really well as per our findings in the last 4 days. 
​Now, I need to mention, again, that I do not get paid to plug CertainTeed. I just proudly install their shingles because we do not get callbacks for blow-offs (well.. we had one or two by homeowners that did not heed our warning to upgrade to a lifetime which would have prevented that). All shingles are nailed but not all of them seal the same. The seal is what will save you in a wind storm. It stops the shingle from flapping up violently during high winds, and ripping off. I know, someone has mentioned, that they buy Canadian products only but I'm gonna call them out on that one. Unless you wear Roots, drive a GM, shop at local farms instead of the supermarket, etc,,, I think you're lying. Just sayin. It's okay if you desire the best quality goods at a comparable or same price, even if it comes from somewhere else. It's going to happen at some point in your life. All of the Canadian furnishings under your roof should be well protected. 

Here's the skinny on full coverage paper, as we see it. Some roofing contractors will offer full coverage at no additional cost. If you are using some particular shingle brands, full deck coverage is REQUIRED for roofs with pitches under 8/12 in order to validate the warranty. In essence, if there is a failure and full coverage paper was not applied, shingle manufacturers will claim that full coverage is instructed right on the packaging, and now this is the reason your roof has failed and it is your problem alone. Neither building code nor CertainTeed shingle manufacturer, our manufacturer of choice, require full deck underlayment. In other words, if your roof fails, they will not look for "outs", saying, "well... you didn't put down paper first". While they'd love to upsell you into the idea of a super premium roof (and they do offer premium underlayment products), they know their shingles stand alone. And I know right now you're thinking, why wouldn't I want the free extra anyway, just to get more value for my buck?? 
​Here are some things to consider when a contractor offers you full underlayment: What is the breathability of the paper? Will it TRAP MOISTURE escaping from my attic INTO MY ROOF DECK? Are these the very shingle manufacturers that underwent class action law suits for producing defective recycled organics and now they're trying to sell more cheap, unnecessary material??? Did my roof deck previously have full coverage underlayment? If the system isn't broke, should we fix it? And for some final food for thought, ask your roofer, does your underlayment cost $60 per roll, or does it cost $200 per roll? TAKE IT FROM A PRO, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. You get what you pay for. I know roofs will not be the most exciting purchase in your lifetime, but it's a substantial purchase in the maintenance of your home, your investment. What does YOUR roof need? Why would I need something in addition to the shingles covering my roof? Shingles are DESIGNED to shed water. You can't paper your roof alone and leave it there for 25 to 50 years. If you're relying on paper, then Houston, we definitely have a problem! 
​To this point, I must mention the reason why we choose our product. (Disclaimer: we do not get any kickbacks for promoting them). CertainTeed has always used fiberglass in their shingles. Their asphalt quality is evident when handling them compared to their competitors, the error in their cuts is smaller than that of their competitors (ie. more attractive install). Further, they have a patented tar line seal that strongly glues shingles down in addition to the nails that fasten them to your roof. This way, they do not lift up and flap in winds. AND THE MAJOR REASON WE USE THEM: we have never had problems with clients calling back with issues. If you've ever dealt with warranties, there is a lot involved in working with the claims department. They require you to  take pictures of the inside of your attic (insulation and soffit ventilation), pictures of all facets of the roof from both far and close up. They also want to see how much ventilation you have (roof vents). They want to know what is the square footage of your roof. They want you to remove and submit two shingles from atop your roof, etc, etc. You're jumping through hoops to make absolute sure that they are entirely at fault. And what do you get after possibly months of back and forth with them? A percentage (the life expectancy that was not delivered) of shingle material costs. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE labor, disposal, etc. Surprise! You're still looking at thousands of dollars on a roof you didn't expect to purchase for several years. To further add insult, they will offer you a coupon for some more of their crappy product. To be honest, I'd rather install a better quality shingle for my client so that she or he does not call me in ten years, saying that her (or his) shingles are burnt out or not meeting wind ratings. THAT is why we choose what we believe is the best product that we have available to us. We don't install yucky roofs. We take pride in what we do and how we do it. 

At this time of the year, the temperatures are starting to dip into the negatives and a common question I get is, "are you still installing roofs, and is it better to wait for Spring"?
​I can't answer that for other companies, but because we install CertainTeed products according to manufacturer specs, we confidently install them right up until Christmas (and have also installed some in January in the past), without a hitch. We have never had any issues with roofs that we have installed late Fall and Winter. CertainTeed tar lines seal with UV, not heat. UV is present year-round.
​Believe me, we do not want you to call us because a shingle has blown off at a time when the temperature is super low or while there is ice or snow on your roof. We would not be installing them if blow-offs or other issues can potentially arise. We answer our calls. We don't want this call.
​Eaves troughs. The only requirement for eaves trough installation is that there is no precipitation on date of installation. It is not favorable for the installer to work in extreme low temperatures because, well... try touching metal for hours in the cold. Self-explanatory. Otherwise, your gutters are good to go. At any time of year, we observe the weather and plan accordingly. If he (or she!) is showing up on a rainy day, be concerned. Until then, trust that your contractor or installer is confident in the install.

This rain has been non-stop this year. Being of an outdoor nature, roofing has been a nearly impossible task so far. There are a couple of things to keep in mind when looking to have your roofing projects completed. Firstly, the list of calls we receive is endless and a huge feat to tackle, without even considering rain delays. If you are looking to get a quote today and your roof done tomorrow, forget about it. You'll have to seek out a less than reputable company that no one is looking to book. Please make sure you leave your contact info, INCLUDING YOUR ADDRESS. All complete information is sent to the estimator, and the roofs get visited in as quickly a time as possible. If you did not leave your address, "phone tag" and further delays will continue and we may not get to you in as quick a time as you would like. Sometimes another company will be reached and the work will be complete and we will still be chasing you for your information. We do not want anyone to feel as though we did not care enough about your business to even try to contact you to try to help and resolve your issue.

HERE IS WHY APPOINTMENTS ARE NOT NECESSARY UNTIL THE INITIAL QUOTING. We understand you have questions, but please look at our price first to see if you'd like to proceed further with us and then we can arrange to answer all of your questions. We put out hundreds of quotes each week in the Durham area and establish communication to those who are seriously considering hiring us. As I've said, we want to get to everyone who calls us, but there are only so many workable hours in a day (so much less with all this rain!). We only cover, say, a region or 2 per day (Courtice and Bowmanville, for example on a Monday, Brooklin and Whitby on a Tuesday, Courtice and Oshawa on a Wednesday, etc...) We want to get everyone a quote but cannot do that if we are bouncing around from region to region for appointments. There is no way that we can even reach half of the quote requests, talking to each homeowner for 30 minutes to an hour per visit. Believe me, we would love nothing more than to spend time educating the homeowner and fielding questions to ensure they are getting the best company and product to suit their needs, but price is a huge deciding feature for most homeowners and thus, it is a good starting point to initiate conversation afterwards. WE THANK EVERY CALLER FOR THEIR INTEREST IN OUR COMPANY AND FOR THEIR PATIENCE. WITHOUT YOU, WE WOULD NOT EXIST!! 

​

So consumer protection is the theme here. Don't just go with the lowest price. Ask why the price is so different. Not trying to be judgy here but.. aren't you embarrassed with the crew you hired? CLEARLY not operating within Canadian labour laws. Here's the scoop, prepared by someone other than myself. I first heard this from a credible source within the Ministry of Labour. I'm sure my older blogs address this.

I've been running around for the last three weeks, busier than ever, because everyone and their neighbour is scrambling to get their roof done before the snow starts to fall. Understandable. I have seen a lot of one thing lately: homeowners want their roof done and there is nothing wrong with it.  They see a leak coming in and they panic! Put a new one on, they tell me.
Take a deep breath and relax.
Sometimes all you need is a tune up.  Just like maintenance on your car, your roof needs a tune up every once in a while.  If your home still has the roof the builder put on, chances are the fine details were not covered.  It was completely covered with shingles and all of the accessories, but they did not take the time to caulk all the exposed nails, check all the underdriven nails, caulk the seams at intersecting ridge caps, etc.  With weathering and time, the nails rust, the "nail pops" burst through the overlapping shingle, and the gaps at the uncaulked seams give way to rain. The best and most cost effective solution is a roof tune up.  It's worth saving thousands to extend the life of your roof.  You wouldn't buy a new car when you need an oil change or new tires, right? 
Even homes that are older can experience these problems.  What's the warranty on caulking? NOT 25 years!! I've seen nails in vents standing right over their holes with caulking still on the nail heads.  Water enters through the uncovered nail hole and... you know the rest. So if you feel that your roof is failing a bit too soon for its age, don't jump to conclusions 

Ever wonder how some companies can charge hundreds of dollars less to do your roof? Two reasons: SLAVE LABOUR and COUNTERFEIT SHINGLES.  A credible source today has confirmed for us that the Ministry of Health and Safety is blitzing roofing construction sites, looking for counterfeit shingles.  There is, of course, the safety aspect, but one of their priorities is to bust contractors and suppliers importing counterfeit shingles from Eastern countries.  These shingles have the same wrapping as the major North American brands (sort of the way you can buy a $50 Fendi or Coach purse), but they are not manufactured from those companies.  They are sent over from Taiwan and do not meet the weight regulations of North American shingles.  What does that mean? That means your roof, which cost a couple to a few thousand, will be replaced again shortly for some more thousands.  And the immigrants up there, you ask? They are working for a lot less than minimum wage and sleeping in vans.  It's no wonder our economy is going to hell.  I was at the bank today and the teller told me that every cheque has to be certified from now on.  This is new, I thought.  The reason is that there is a marked increase in rubber cheques.  No one has money.  I suspect that if we keep buying foreign labour and material, that the economy is going to keep going downhill.     

So we were roofing today (finally!! the rain has been keeping us indoors)... anyway.. we were on a roof when all of a sudden, I look over and see people on my level.  The neighbor had called back his roofers to fix a leak.  I could see that it was a new roof (the houses were really close).  They had no idea where the leak was coming from.  One of them explained to me, "It's like a leak coming from a nail or something".  Really, clown!? How about the fact that you didn't check your step flashing around the chimney or even bother to put a starter underneath the first shingle over the back pan (starters are upside down shingles that make up for the keyhole of the properly oriented shingle)! This is all that was very obvious to me from a second's glance.  I never got on the neighbour's roof, but I'm sure there was a handful of other problems.  How do I know?  Because when someone who is unqualified to even stand on a roof can't find any sort of solution, they tar the shit out of everything.  Pardon my language but they really, really tarred the shit out of it.  It was dripping with black all over the chimney flashing and all over that first shingle that was missing its starter.  I've only seen something like it on a very old roof that needed to be replaced years before.  Ya.  I'm sure that homeowner got his money's worth.