Specialty Roofing Materials: A Boilermaker's Perspective on What Your Fraser Valley Roof Actually Needs

Why We Think About Specialty Materials Differently

My name is Kory Peters, and I run Fraser Roofing out of Chilliwack, BC with my business partner Johnny Peters. Before we moved into roofing in 2016, we were both Red Seal Journeyman Boilermakers. That means we spent years working with heavy-gauge metals, precision welding, and custom fabrication before we ever climbed on a roof professionally.

That background changes how we approach specialty roofing materials. Where most roofers order standard parts from a catalogue, we can fabricate custom solutions on-site. Custom drip edge profiles, specialty chimney caps sized to fit unusual flues, snow guard brackets welded to exact specifications, that is what happens when boilermakers become roofers.

Over ten years of roofs across the Fraser Valley, we have learned which specialty materials actually earn their cost and which ones are just upsells. This guide is our honest breakdown.

Cedar Shakes: Beautiful but Demanding in Fraser Valley

Cedar shake roofs have a long history in BC. There is something about the look of hand-split cedar that suits the rural character of Agassiz, Harrison Hot Springs, and the eastern Fraser Valley perfectly. We have installed cedar shakes on heritage homes, farmhouses, and properties where the owners want that natural, rustic appearance.

But we are going to be straight with you: cedar demands respect in this climate.

What Cedar Does Well:

• Natural insulation value, cedar has higher R-value than asphalt
• Wind resistance, properly installed shakes grip well in Fraser Valley storms
• Character, nothing matches the aesthetic on a heritage or rural property
• Sustainability, cedar is a renewable resource harvested right here in BC

What the Fraser Valley Does to Cedar:

• Moss grows aggressively on untreated cedar, especially on north-facing slopes
• Wet winters accelerate rot if shakes are not properly spaced for drying
• Lifespan drops to 20-30 years here versus 30-50 in drier climates
• Re-staining every 5-7 years adds long-term maintenance cost

Our Approach:

When a homeowner asks about cedar, we walk them through the full lifecycle cost. If the aesthetic matters to them and they understand the maintenance commitment, we will install a beautiful cedar roof. If they are looking for durability without the upkeep, we steer them toward architectural shingles or standing seam metal, materials that handle Fraser Valley moisture without constant attention.

Cost: $8-14 per square foot installed, depending on shake grade and roof complexity

Custom Metal Fabrication: Where Our Boilermaker Roots Show

This is where Johnny and I bring something most roofing companies simply cannot offer. Our Red Seal boilermaker training means we understand metallurgy, which alloys resist Fraser Valley corrosion, how different metals expand and contract with temperature swings, and how to join dissimilar metals without creating galvanic corrosion problems.

What We Fabricate On-Site:

• Custom drip edge profiles: sized to the specific fascia depth, not a one-size-fits-all catalogue part
• Chimney caps: welded to fit unusual flue dimensions that off-the-shelf caps cannot cover
• Snow guard brackets: fabricated to match the specific metal roof profile and snow load
• Specialty flashings: for complex roof-to-wall transitions, dormers, and skylights
• Agricultural building trim: barns and outbuildings around Agassiz and the Fraser Valley often need custom metal work

On agricultural buildings in the rural Fraser Valley, off-the-shelf parts rarely fit. Barn roofs, equipment shelters, and older farm structures have non-standard dimensions. Having boilermakers on the crew means we measure once, fabricate to spec, and install a part that actually fits, no shimming, no caulk as a crutch.

Snow Guards: Essential for Metal Roofs in the Eastern Valley

Metal roofs shed snow efficiently, sometimes too efficiently. A sudden snow slide off a standing seam roof can crush landscaping, injure someone walking below, or tear off lower roof sections on multi-level homes.

In Hope, Harrison Hot Springs, Agassiz, and the higher-elevation pockets of the Fraser Valley, snow guards are not optional on metal roofs. They are a safety requirement.

Pad-Style Snow Guards:

• Small metal pads adhered or mechanically fastened across the roof
• Cost: $3-8 per pad, 50-150 pads per roof
• Best for residential metal roofs with moderate snow loads

Bar-Style Snow Guards (Snow Fences):

• Continuous metal bars running horizontally, supported by brackets
• Cost: $15-30 per linear foot installed
• Best for steep roofs, heavy snow loads, and commercial buildings

When You Need Them:

• Any metal roof in Hope, Harrison, Agassiz, or Yale snow zones
• Roofs over entrances, walkways, or parking areas
• Steep pitch (6:12 or greater)
• Multi-level roofs where upper roof dumps onto lower sections

Installation Note: Snow guards should be installed during initial roofing. Retrofitting is difficult and often compromises the watertight integrity of the metal panels. We calculate placement based on roof pitch, expected snow load, and eave overhang, improper placement can cause snow to accumulate and overload the roof structure.

Total Cost: $500-2,000 for a typical residential metal roof

Zinc Strips: Fighting the Fraser Valley Moss Problem

If you have lived in the Fraser Valley for any length of time, you know moss and algae are relentless. North-facing slopes, tree-shaded roofs, and anything from Chilliwack to Agassiz that does not get full sun, moss will colonize it within a few years.

Zinc strips are a passive, long-term solution. Thin metal strips installed at the roof ridge dissolve microscopic amounts of zinc when it rains, creating runoff that inhibits moss and algae growth on the shingle surface below.

Effectiveness:

• 80-90% reduction in algae growth
• 50-70% reduction in moss growth
• 15-20 year lifespan as the zinc slowly erodes
• Protection extends 15-20 feet below the strip

Limitations We Are Honest About:

• Will not kill existing moss, the roof must be cleaned first
• Less effective on heavily shaded roofs where moisture never fully dries
• Only protects the area directly below the strip
• Requires rain to activate, so dry summer months offer no benefit

Our Preferred Alternative: For new roofs, we recommend algae-resistant shingles with copper or zinc granules built in (IKO ArmourZone, Owens Corning StreakGuard). Same protection, no separate strip needed. For existing roofs, zinc strips at the ridge are the most cost-effective retrofit at $200-400 installed.

Heat Cables: A Band-Aid, and We Say So

Ice dams form when attic heat melts snow on the upper roof, and the meltwater refreezes at the cold eaves. Water backs up behind the dam and leaks into your home.

Heat cables are self-regulating electrical cables installed in a zigzag pattern along eaves and valleys. They melt channels through ice, allowing water to drain.

We install heat cables, but we tell every customer the same thing: this is treating a symptom. The real fix is proper attic insulation and ventilation that keeps the roof deck cold and prevents ice dams from forming in the first place.

When Heat Cables Make Sense:

• Heritage or older homes where insulation upgrades are not feasible
• Complex roof geometries with unavoidable warm spots
• Temporary solution while planning proper insulation work
• Properties in Hope and Agassiz with significant ice dam history

Cost: $800-1,500 installed, plus $50-150 per winter in electricity

Ice and Water Shield: Standard on Every Roof We Build

Ice and water shield is a self-adhesive waterproof membrane installed at critical areas, eaves, valleys, and around penetrations like chimneys and skylights. Unlike synthetic underlayment which is water-resistant, ice and water shield is fully waterproof and seals around nail penetrations.

BC building code requires it at eaves in ice dam zones. We install it on every roof at eaves and valleys as standard practice, even where code does not mandate it. In the Fraser Valley, the cost of the membrane is nothing compared to the cost of water damage from one bad ice dam or wind-driven rain event.

Cost: $1.50-3.00 per square foot installed

Chimney Caps and Extended Drip Edge

Chimney Caps:

Every chimney should have a cap. Period. It costs $200-500 installed and prevents rain entry, bird nesting, downdrafts, and ember escape. We fabricate custom caps for non-standard flues, another benefit of having boilermakers on the job.

Extended Drip Edge:

Standard drip edge extends 2 inches down the fascia. We custom-fabricate extended profiles (4-6 inches) for homes with chronic fascia rot, exposed locations that take wind-driven rain, or where extra protection is needed. Cost: $2-4 per linear foot versus $1-2 for standard.

What We Actually Recommend

After ten years of roofs across the Fraser Valley since 2016, here is what we recommend as standard for most homes in our service area from Hope to Abbotsford:

• Ice and water shield at eaves and valleys on every roof, non-negotiable
• Zinc strips or algae-resistant shingles: the Fraser Valley moss problem is real
• Chimney cap on every uncapped chimney, cheap insurance
• Snow guards on all metal roofs in Hope, Harrison, and Agassiz snow zones
• Extended drip edge on homes with fascia rot history or heavy rain exposure

We will not push heat cables or cedar shakes unless the situation genuinely calls for them. We would rather give you honest advice today and earn your trust for the next roof.

Fraser Roofing is a family-owned roofing company based in Chilliwack, BC. Kory and Johnny Peters bring Red Seal boilermaker precision to every specialty material installation across the Fraser Valley.

Need help choosing the right specialty materials for your roof? Call 604-728-0146 or email johnny@fraserroofing.ca for a free assessment.