Hail and high wind events in Calgary might be isolated events, but can produce significant, high-cost impacts. According to climate projections, we expect to see larger hailstones in the future, and it’s more likely that hailstorms will occur throughout more of the year. With a changing climate, we will also continue to experience high wind gust events.
Calgary is located in “hail alley”, the epicentre for hailstorms in Canada. Depending on the size of hailstones, the wind speed and the duration of the storm, hail can cause significant damage to your home’s roof, exterior walls, doors and windows, and outdoor structures like porches and decks. This type of damage to your home can allow water in, leading to even more damage.
For information on how to climate proof your home against hail and high winds, check out the following on the City of Calgary’s website: https://www.calgary.ca/development/home-building/hail.html.
In light of last month’s hailstorm, the KRA wanted to pass on some best practices to households that require replacement of siding and roofs. The continuity of community aesthetics has been the primary comments from the Kincora community. For example, an east coast colour theme would not pair well with existing homes. including alternate roofing materials, for example, clay tile or wood shingles. There are more architectural controls documents for the earlier developed parts of Kincora (2002’s) than the later built areas (2004’s and onwards). Restrictive Covenants (alias RCs) are the documents that would have this information, which are referred to on the Land Title. Most RCs are concerned about overland drainage – soffit/facia/gutters and the cement troughs along backyards (swales), as well as fencing types, shapes, materials, and colours.
With the variety of housing exterior finishes in the community (stone, siding, and stucco), an upgrade to cement siding (like Hardy Board) would not be an issue. Some rebuilt homes have slight differences to them than the original architectural designs of their neighbours.
If you are looking for a new roof, siding, windows, repair, or inspection, it’s important to be cautious of scams. These individuals often target homeowners who are trying to manage their home repairs on a budget. They also tend to focus in on neighbourhoods with a high number of senior citizens, or areas that have recently experienced major storms. These companies may use low-quality materials that can cause more damage to your property and rush the job. In some instances, they may simply take the money and vanish. To protect yourself from these scams, it’s important to take your time, do your research, and listen to your instincts. If a door-to-door salesperson is pressuring you or you feel uncertain about the information they’re providing, it’s okay to decline their offer and seek out other options. Don’t feel obligated to make a quick decision or sign a contract before you’ve had a chance to fully understand the terms and conditions. Also consider the following:
• Is the individual or company bonded and insured? For example, covered by Worker’s Compensation Board (WCB).
• Accredited with an association or organization? Alberta Allied Roofing Association website: https://www.albertaroofing.com.
• Registered with the Better Business Bureau? https://www.bbb.org/ca/ab/calgary.
• Provides recent references.
• Contracts are put in place to protect you from price increases and no-show jobs. Your agreement should always show the full scope of work, payment terms, timelines, and warranty information. Without a contract, you have no legal recourse if the roofer doesn’t follow through on the agreed-upon work or if they use subpar materials.
By being cautious and following your intuition, you can avoid falling victim to fraudulent home repair scams “If in doubt…check it out!”
As residents of Treaty 7, it is important to acknowledge September 30, as Truth and Reconciliation Day, also known as Orange Shirt Day. Information on this day, can be found at: https://orangeshirtday.org/.
A friendly reminder to obey speed limits in our community, schools are back in session, we thank you in advance for taking care of our school-aged Kincorains.
Until next time, take care of yourselves and each other.
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