HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-05-10, Page 15THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2000. PAGE 15.B Home & Garden 2000
Diamond Steel roofs reach into the past
Diamond
steel roofixgsyst lx
-888-S10-;
durability during hot and cold weath
er.
The product is available in 12
colours including red, green, brown
and copper. Contrasting coloured
inserts can also be used to add pat
terns to the roof.
As rural dwellers, Simpson said
one of the most commonly-asked
questions about the steel roofing sys
tem is the sound reverberation.
“There is no difference between steel
and asphalt,” he said, “because there
is so much between the steel and the
inside room.”
With the installation, Simpson said
the time required is comparable to
asphalt but is considerably simpler
and faster than other steel roofs.
“The tight lie to the roof makes it
simpler to make the valleys tight as
well,” he added.
While the price is substantial,
$6,000 to $9,000 for the average
house, Simpson said it is often the
rural homeowners who express an
interest in the product because they
tend to stay in their homes longer.
He added this type of product
should be of particular interest to
those with brick homes as high qual
ity products have longer life spans.
awn Master
Landscape Construction and Maintenance
• Interlocking pavestone patios, walkways, driveways •
• Custom decks, ponds •
• Full landscaping design & installation •
• Seeding, sodding, lawn repair •
• Perennials, trees, shrubs, grass seed •
“Award Winning Landscape &
Walkway Design"
can (519) 527-1750
R.R. #2 Seaforth. ON
Learning from the past
Murray Simpson of Diamond Steel Roofing Systems updat
ed an idea from the turn of the century to create an innovate
roofing product for the new millennium.
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
By looking to the past, Murray
Simpson of Whitechurch has been
able to forge a path for his future.
Having worked in construction
more than 22 years, Simpson has
spent many hours repairing and
replacing roofs on older homes
across mid-western Ontario.
It was through this experience that
hq decided there had to be a better
method of protecting homes from
wind, rain and ice damage because
of deteriorating asphalt shingles.
The idea first began after he dis
covered old steel shingles used on
houses 100 years ago. Though the
sheen had faded and surface rust had
diminished its appeal, the shingles
were still sound structurally.
In discussing the demise of steel
roofs, Simpson speculates the roof
ing industry shifted to other methods
when World War I hit. Steel prices
rose and the war machine was in
greater need of the steel.
He also discovered a unique inter
locking system on the century-old
model which secured the shingles
more strongly to the roof and each
other.
It was that technology, used
decades ago that led Simpson to the
creation of the Diamond Steel
Roofing System.
After eight years in development,
including trips to American and
European trade shows, Simpson said
he hadn’t found a similar product on
the market. He then worked out the
bugs of his new, updated system
before openingd his workshop and
sales office in Whitechurch three
years ago.
After speaking with a company in
London which designs industrial
machinery to do the work envisioned
by the customer, Simpson had his
folding and crimping equipment to
create his steel roofing system.
The four-sided, diamond shaped
“shingles” are 16 inches square with
two forward folds and two backward
folds to allow all sides to lock
together with the abutting pieces.
Because of the design, all the nails
are hidden beneath the connecting
piece of steel.
Unlike sheets of steel popular for
outbuildings which have a corrugat
ed effect, Diamond Steel sheets have
a crimped, decorative design which
not only serves to improve the look
of the product, but allows improved
May 11, 12, 13
Browse through our greenhouses
bursting with colour.
Lots of beautiful baskets and planters
to choose from
wburn.
. 9^
Open Mon. - Sat. 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Spring freezes
greenhouse
2nd sideroad west of Blyth
Watch for our blue sign on County Rd. 25
Jack kijlt ia ^Nonkes
523-9456
Free Draws
Daily
Free Refreshments
rv^ rvn r\/^ r\^ rv*> rv^ rv^ p\/y rx/?
Beautiful Gardens start here!
We have everything you’ll need including:
• bedding plants
• potting soil
• manure
• garden seeds
• mulch
• fertilizer
• edging
• cedar trellises
• Obelisks
• lawn furniture
• fountains
• bird baths
• garden benches
• nursery stock
Plus
Water Pond
Suppllies
• pumps
• liners
• plants
Adding colour
Steel roofing systems
can add a little pizazz to
any roof with the inclu
sion of colour.
Wingham Mercantile
185 Josephine St., Wingham
357-2700