Being of Dutch descent, Graham van der Pas has spent much time in Scandinavia. The European region has long been admired for its clean, minimalist, yet functional designs.
But van der Pas, vice-president of RUMCLO Developments Ltd., a construction company based in Brooklyn, Nova Scotia, was struck by how these design principles translated on the outside of the home, particularly with roofing. The roofs were solid yet sleek, with crisp, clean lines and not a screw in sight.
“I always looked at these roofs and thought they were cool,” says van der Pas. “It makes sense. They deal with many of the same climate issues as we do here in Atlantic Canada, which means they will need to stand the test of time.”
That’s how KLAD Building Armour was born. KLAD Building Armour, a division of RUMCLO Developments Ltd, manufactures and installs Standing Seam Metal roofing and wall panels from its Brooklyn, Nova Scotia facility.
Using their state-of-the-art Englert MetalMan Multi-Panel Roofing Machine, KLAD Building Armour manufactures panels of various sizes, profiles, and colours custom to the customer’s needs. The roofs are manufactured to last approximately 50-80 years minimum.
“You’ll be pushing up the daisies before you have to replace your roof.” van der Pas
The distinct difference between the brand and other metal roofing on the market is that it doesn’t require exposed screws to hold it down. As RUMCLO Developments Ltd president Chad Clothier puts it, why would you buy a roof with holes?
“Most metal roofs out there are screwed down from the outside. You put your panel on, you screw a million holes into them, and those screws have a rubber washer that prevents water from entering,” says Clothier. “If those fasteners fail, that means leaks in your roof. Although the panels might be fine, you’ve already perforated them with 1000s of screws. Ours is a completely different system.”
Instead, KLAD Building Armour uses a clip system along the edge of the panels. “Then another panel comes and folds over that,” says Clothier. “Then it’s mechanically fused at each seam. So there are no screws that are exposed to the elements at all.”
RUMCLO Developments is also incorporating KLAD roofing in its current project underway, including the Point on the Mercy, a new residential subdivision project in Queen’s County, Nova Scotia.
“It’s a product that’s uncommon here in Nova Scotia,” says van der Pas. “It is common in other parts of Canada and the United States. But in Atlantic Canada, it’s just starting to catch on.”
It’s not an easy time for a lot of homeowners financially. With rising interest rates, overall inflation, and increases in the cost of living, people everywhere are looking to cut costs wherever possible.
Clothier and van der Pas don’t hide that KLAD is slightly more expensive than other metal roofs on the market. But they say while there are some things you can “do it yourself” and cut costs with home renovations, your roof shouldn’t be one of them.
“Roofing is the number one thing that protects your largest investment life. A house is the largest investment most people will ever make,” says van der Pas. “It’s a no-brainer to protect that investment. If you want the best system, this is it, hands down.”
