Crown Your Castle

Unlike a new wood shake roof, which deteriorates over 15 to 25 years, your FirstShake roof looks great well beyond this time frame. Why is that?

FirstShake is formed from Galvalume®.

Galvalume is the process of coating steel in aluminium-zinc alloy, developed in 1972. Galvalume is specified by architects, building owners and many others due to its versatility, ease of use, aesthetics, and long-term performance. Research^[i] conducted by the Metal Construction Association projects that bare, unpainted Galvalume roofing will last over 60 years without any extreme signs of corrosion.

FirstShake is coated with the number one, most durable metal coating available, PVDF.

PVDF (short for polyvinylidene difluoride) is the gold standard in the metal coating industry and is recognized by engineers and architects^[ii] alike for its many enduring virtues including:

• • Extreme weatherability and UV resistance – Excellent resistance to fading, chalking, chipping, cracking and peeling, and very high retention of gloss and colour.
  • Excellent chemical resistance – it protects from the various pollutants it might be exposed to and provides resistance to stains.
  • It is highly resistant to the growth of lichen and moss (like a ceramic non-stick pan).

FirstShake’s flared keyway design helps to keep debris from accumulating, allowing it to more easily flow off the roof.

Stock colours are Red Cedar FirstShake, Black FirstSlate and Silverwood FirstShake. [See the gallery]

Want something different? We’re also able to provide you with custom colours and metals. Yes, if you can imagine it, we can create it!

Installed in over-lapping courses like a shake roof, VanGalee FirstShake has a very high wind tolerance, easily handling wind speeds of  180 km/hr (110 mph).

FirstShake is rated as a Class 4 roofing product. With its 24-guage metal jacket construction, it provides superior protection, being 20% thicker than other Class 4 rated metal roofing systems. Its hail resistance is further strengthened by the shape and size of each FirstShake tile, providing more tensile strength compared to large metal roofing panels. See VanGalee FirstShake weather a real hail storm.

With a solid track record of proven performance and durability, you can be certain that your investment provides you with an absolutely stunning roof today and years into the future. FirstShake has one of the lowest amortized costs over time and provides these financial benefits:

Insurance savings

Most insurance companies offer favourable rates to homeowners who have products and systems that reduce the possibility of claims or secondary damage to the home or its contents.

Insurance premiums may be reduced when you choose to have a permanent VanGalee FirstShake Roofing System installed on your home or commercial building.

The protection provided by the durability of your FirstShake roof saves you from potential insurance claims with their accompanying increases in premiums and deductibles if you were to have a less resilient roof.

One and done

Asphalt shingle roofs must be replaced every 20-30 years, at inflating costs.

By comparison, the VanGalee FirstShake Roofing System protects your building 3-4 times longer (and quite likely even longer than that), protecting you from future inflated re-roofing costs.

Increased property value—great curb appeal that lasts

Not only will you love the look of your new FirstShake roof, but years from now, your roof will still look beautiful.

With a transferable warranty to potential buyers, the value of your FirstShake roof is passed along, adding to your selling price or borrowing collateral.

Who doesn’t want a beautiful permanent roof with all these benefits?

VanGalee FirstShake® is only sold to select roofing contractors who meet our criteria and who have received our training and certification.

This ensures your FirstShake roof is installed correctly, to our specifications.

Short term roof systems are short-sighted, risky, and come with a high amortized cost.

Too easily damaged by the elements, they expose you and your valuables to damage or loss.

With the advantages of a VanGalee FirstShake Roofing System there’s no need to worry about the next extreme weather event that may occur. With a VanGalee FirstShake Roofing System you’re covered.