Roofing

Asphalt shingles are the most common thing found on pitched roofs, but unfortunately the most common building material in landfills too. Here is how to decide which are the best asphalt shingles and what you should know before deciding on a roof covering. In North America, about 90% of pitched roofs are covered with…

Asphalt shingles are the cheapest roof covering you can buy, until you need to replace it. The short lifespan of shingles makes metal roofing a viable option. We compare the pros and cons of both roofing types to see if metal or asphalt shingles are best. Asphalt shingles are the most common and cheapest roof…

Roofs - all homes have them in one form or another, and they're a potential cause of all manner of problems effecting the durability and performance of homes. Roof ventilation needs to be adapted to the type of roof and the climate. It is pretty much inevitable that at least some warm, moist air from living areas…

Learn the steps to creating a successful commercial green roof - concept, design and maintenance. Commercial green roof case study AB Canada Nestled in the Oldman River valley in Lethbridge Alberta, the green roof on the Helen Schuler Nature Centre (HSNC) has been attracting local and international attention from…

Learn how to fix Ice dams on your roof before they cause damage - if you look up and see icicles hanging on the gutter then it's probably ok to say "Ice, D@mn!". Ice dams form at the bottom of roofs, letting water penetrate and cause damage to the interior of walls and roofs. When snow melts on a roof it runs down…

A roof leak isn't really a roof leak if it’s leaking in on a sunny spring day as the snow finally starts to thaw. It's more likely a build up of frost and ice in your roof space - so how to prevent it. Frost in Attics: why is there Ice in my roof? When a warm sunny day arrives after a long cold stretch and it seems…

A living green roof can last far longer than many other roofing systems when installed properly. DIY green roof installation The following DIY green roof video shows the steps needed to ensure your green roof will not leak. Watch more Green Building Guide videos from Ecohome on YouTube here The most common building…

Mineral wool batts being installed in roof for a total of R95 - Contributing to a LEED Platinum V4 certification for Ecohome's Edelweiss House. Mineral wool roof insulation used to best effect: Watch more green building video on the Ecohome YouTube channel here The Ecohome's Edelweiss House LEED Platinum certified…

Choose durable roofing materials that will last through wind, precipitation and exposure to U.V rays. 1. Asphalt shingles: Asphalt shingles © Ecohome We’ll start with shingles to get it out of the way, because choosing an eco-friendly, durable roof covering starts first with dismissing any idea of installing asphalt…

Toronto will soon see an explosion of green space in the downtown core as residential and commercial buildings comply with new bylaws. In the process we will see a cooler city, cleaner air, cleaner water and lower utility costs. All that and a great place. It's becoming increasingly more common to hear of record…