Opportunity knocking

Feature
Opportunity knocking
Remodels and green upgrades offer hot prospects in the Canadian metal building industry
By Scott Ringler and Jane Swayze
There is no doubt the recent downturn
relatively good condition.” As well, Canadians
new home construction market, it certainly
On the other hand, medical facilities are fore-
creasing, while on the residential front, LEED
provincial governments, Canada Mortgage
in the global economy will have a sig-
are not excessively overextended in debt or
will help lessen the blow. These conditions
casted to see an increase predominately due
Homes is now being introduced.
and Housing Corp., financial institutions and
nificant impact on the Canadian building
mortgage commitments.
present opportunities for the metal building
to aging generations requiring more frequent
products industry as residential consumers
medical care and long-term care facilities.
industry in 2009. However, for Canadian
While these factors mean the overall
companies that are able to optimize their
economy may not suffer as much as its U.S.
shift focus to products that are more durable
product mix, remain flexible during changing
counterpart, Mabro said, the most notable
and long-lasting than other building materials.
construction patterns and adhere to sound
changes for Canadian building products
financial practices, 2009 should be a period
While the average consumer is more inter-
local utilities. Regardless of the source, it is
ested in reducing energy consumption overall,
apparent that environmental sustainability
there is an increased focus on integrated green
is a growing concern, and it indicates that
stable, but significant growth is not expected
strategies that are particularly suited to metal
Canadian consumers and companies alike are
Companies that can offer renovators a broad
as business owners cut back on large over-
roofing products, particularly for commercial
becoming more environmentally conscious in
manufacturers will result from a lack of
range of residential products or that can tailor
heads and commercial developers seek to
developers wishing to move “off the grid.”
their planning activities and purchases.
of “practical opportunity” rather than the
available capital, which will alter construc-
their offerings to take advantage of the retro-
minimize the creation of excessive “unlease-
“doom and gloom” predicted by some.
tion patterns and slow building activity.
fit market also stand to gain from this shift in
able” inventory. Again, the key for manufac-
a positive number of new construction and
What to Watch
On the residential construction front, most
construction focus.
turers is developing alternative products that
retrofits heading toward untraditional building
Overall, 2009 will be a slower period in con-
enable commercial owners and developers to
practices in order to reduce annual operating
struction that will be coupled with a shift in
What is clear is that fiscal restraint will be
Office construction will remain relatively
“Across all building markets, we’ve seen
the order of the day for Canadian metal build-
affected will be new construction as a result
ing products manufacturers.
of tighter borrowing conditions and high
Outside the Home
meet diverse renovation and retrofit needs to
costs,” Mabro said. Metal roof systems, for
priorities in construction patterns. This down-
levels of housing inventory. According to
Institutional construction is predicted to con-
replace the slowdown in new construction.
example, that incorporate solutions for both
turn, however, does not mean there are not op-
Where to Make Money
published reports, Canada will see a drop of
tinue increasing above 2007 and 2008 levels,
active and passive solar thermal energy collec-
portunities for growth for those metal building
“Even though economic conditions in the Unit-
5.7 percent in new residential builds through
but only in certain defined segments. While
Easy Going Green
tion, reflective recycled standing-seam roofing
products manufacturers willing to go beyond
ed States will definitely impact global markets,
2010. This drop, however, should be buoyed
the total number of industrial, commercial and
Mabro noted a particular opportunity will be
for reduced cooling consumption in the sum-
traditional market segments and take advan-
Canada is in a better economic position than
by increases over the next two years in
institutional starts is expected to decrease
the “continued growth of ‘green’ initiatives
mer months, as well as integrated roof systems
tage of the changes in construction patterns in
most other countries,” said Emile Mabro, vice
residential remodels as homeowners resist
slightly, total put-in-place investment dollars
that will see continuous investment as we
to collect rainwater for nonpotable uses, are
both commercial and residential markets.
president and general manager of Vicwest,
the urge to upgrade or downsize, opting
should rise by 6.4 percent, according to fore-
move into 2009.” Green initiatives in Canada
becoming more common occurrences.
Oakville, Ontario, Canada. “We are rich with
rather to invest in renovations, additions and
casts from Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
have begun to catch up to our U.S. counter-
natural resources, largely self-sufficient in
regular home maintenance repairs.
energy, and—despite some job loss, primarily
Though the increase in home retrofits
in the automotive sector—labor markets are in
won’t entirely offset the decreases in the
Construction of educational buildings will,
The increase in sustainable building
Scott Ringler is national marketing director and
parts in both the ICI and residential markets.
practices can be attributed in large part to
Jane Swayze is marketing specialist for Vicwest,
however, see a drop as enrollment levels con-
The number of nonresidential buildings achiev-
the various financial support and investment
Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Details can be found at
tinue to decline, especially in rural markets.
ing the LEED Canada recognition is steadily in-
systems offered by Canadian federal and
www.vicwest.com.
We are rich with natural resources, largely
self-sufficient in energy, and labor markets
are in relatively good condition.
Citadel High School, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.
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METAL CONSTRUCTION NEWS JANUARY 2009
Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada. Material supplied by Vicwest and
installed by Igloo Erectors, Edmonton.
w w w. m e t a l c o n s t r u c t i o n n e w s . c o m
VicElite Standing Seam Roof Profile topped off this near zero-energy wartime home in Toronto. Chosen for its reflectance values
and aesthetic appeal, the Vicwest roof was integrated well into the concept of near zero-energy usage. Two thermal solar
heating collectors (on left) were mounted to the roof to heat the home’s water and radiant floor heat system. Also on the
right, 16 solar photovoltaic panels are mounted to convert sunlight into electricity.
w w w. m e t a l c o n s t r u c t i o n n e w s . c o m
JANUARY 2009
METAL CONSTRUCTION NEWS
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