When it comes to making decisions about your cottage, its roof and siding are big-ticket items. Whether you’re replacing an existing roof or deciding how to wrap a brand-new building, there are a lot of factors to consider—from cost to maintenance to longevity to style. Weighing these can be overwhelming. But you might have noticed that more and more homeowners and contractors today are turning to steel to meet their roofing and siding needs. If you take some time to find out why—and then factor in that here in Muskoka your steel needs can be 1) made-to-order 2) by a proudly Canadian, local manufacturer, and 3) on your property within days—you might find your decision a little easier.
A premium steel cut-and-bend shop, SteelRidge has been offering custom-built steel roofing and siding products throughout the Muskoka region for two decades. They’ve seen the product evolve from a boxy, utilitarian choice for industrial buildings to what it is today: an extremely versatile and modern solution to the practical needs and aesthetic desires of homeowners and businesses alike.
For those in the Muskoka cottage market, the most popular roofing profiles are standing seam and the aptly named Muskoka Shake, and for siding products, SteelRidge’s newest addition to the product line, board-and-batten. “Board-and-batten siding has been increasing in popularity year after year,” says Jason Watpool, SteelRidge’s owner-operator. The product mimics traditional wooden board-and-batten, where the seam between two planks set side-by-side (usually vertically) is covered by a flat strip of squared wood (a batten) to keep bugs, rain, wind, and snow out. It was first employed in the nineteenth century as an alternative building style to log cabins, which helps to explain why it has associations with rural life and classic Canadiana. “Today, we often see it applied in contemporary architecture,” says Jason. Architects and designers play with its clean, vertical lines to harmonize with or contrast other angles in the structure, such as steeply pitched rooflines. “We’re also seeing a growing trend in barndominiums,” says Jason, “and board-and-batten is an obvious choice there. It’s authentic to the aesthetic, without the need for painting or sealing.”
Like all of SteelRidge’s metal siding products, their board-and-batten siding is virtually maintenance-free and is backed by a lifetime warranty. It’s available in 22 flat and six textured colours. Seams and fasteners are concealed, which translates to simple enjoyment, free from worries about leaks.
Their local manufacturing provides our installation teams with high quality products with turnaround times that are easily ten times as fast as any other supplier we have ever dealt with. Quality and efficiency are a must on all of our projects and SteelRidge helps us maintain our quality, cost, and efficiency standard.”
— Bay Roofing, Muskoka
SteelRidge’s standing seam roofing profile is another favourite in Muskoka. Its linear design, raised seams, and hidden fasteners contribute to a high-end appearance that aligns well with the more minimalist contemporary architecture that is being built across the lakes. “The roof feels modern and refined,” says Jason, “but those raised seams add just enough detail to give it visual interest.”
“In terms of cost, you’re on parity with wood,” says Jason, addressing one of the biggest myths about steel products. In the context of roofing, the initial cost may be a bit higher than traditional asphalt shingles, but when you factor in the longer term, the outlook changes. “With a steel roof’s R-value, you’re using less electricity to warm your cottage in the winter, and because steel also reflects heat efficiently, you’re saving on hydro in the summer, when you can expect indoor temperatures about two to three degrees cooler than under an asphalt roof.” Even more importantly, the lifespan of a steel roof is three or even four times that of a traditional roof. A realistic price comparison means taking the quote from the asphalt shingle roofing company and tripling or quadrupling it.
— Tom Smith, General Manager, SteelRidge Metal Roofing & Siding
SteelRidge is a proudly Canadian, proudly local company. Buying locally manufactured siding and roofing products doesn’t just support your community and boost Canadian jobs—it also means faster, better service, precise customization, and environmental benefits. “Thanks to our manufacturing facility and established efficiency processes, we give same-day quotes and can generally produce the materials for an order within two to three days of placement,” says Jason. In fact, SteelRidge is the only local metal roofing and siding manufacturer. Recent investments include the purchase of a new metal brake that ensures greater efficiency in the production of metal trim and moulding profiles, and an upgraded delivery fleet. “Less distance between the manufacturing facility and the end customer means fewer delivery trucks on the road, fewer emissions, and fewer transportation costs built into the price.”
From an environmental perspective, there are other benefits to steel roofing, too. Unlike asphalt shingles, steel isn’t a petroleum-based product that ends up in our landfills—in fact, it’s recyclable and can be repurposed and reused in various applications. A steel roof’s fire resistance provides peace of mind, and potentially lower insurance premiums, especially in areas at risk of wildfires. Pair a steel roof with steel siding, and the safety benefits multiply. And when it’s time to up your green game, steel roofs easily accommodate solar energy panels, without penetrating the roof system.
SteelRidge is happy to work with parties at all stages of a project, including homeowners, builders, architects, and designers. With their twenty years of experience, their experts have the knowledge to find a tailored solution to your roofing or siding needs—and have the product manufactured and delivered to your site within days. “We make every effort to serve our customers well,” says Jason, “because we know, once the product is installed, they likely won’t need us again for decades.”
Ph: 705.724.3723 • Email: [email protected]
