Advanced Roofing Systems Celebrates 25 Years

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Gil Olson Raises the Roof: Advanced Roofing Systems Ltd. Celebrates 25 Years By Nerissa McNaughton

G

il Olson knows roofs. Before he founded Advanced Roofing Systems Ltd. in 1989, he was roofing under the direction of an employer. “Knowing him,” laughs Olson’s sales manager, Al Shaw, “he started Advanced Roofing because he has that entrepreneurial spirit. He wants to make things grow and develop.” Olson merely smiles in reply to this compliment, but the evidence speaks for itself. Advanced Roofing has indeed grown and developed, holding steady during times of economic downturn and never lowering the quality of their work during real estate booms. Olson certainly has that entrepreneurial spirit, and some of Edmonton’s most famous roofs proudly support this fact. Like most entrepreneurs, Olson launched his business from his house. Always one to think big, he wasn’t content to confine the business to a spare bedroom or corner of the garage. He converted the front of his house, the living room and the dining room, into his workspace. “I tell people I used

to live at the office,” Olson jokes about those early days. It wasn’t long, however, before Olson was able to reclaim his house space. The business grew quickly and he relocated the base of operations to a building that had office space, bays and a yard. At the present location, Olson had the foresight to purchase an adjacent building as they are rapidly outgrowing their existing space. Once the latest expansion is complete, Advanced Roofing will have more office space and a bigger yard, but thankfully the problem of the yard is easily solved for the time being. “We’ve been very lucky because all of our equipment is being used,” Olson points out. “We aren’t using the yard because all of our equipment is in the field.” Advanced Roofing roofs residential and commercial buildings. That is, when they are not bringing history back to life. In the late 2000s, it was Advanced Roofing that restored the iconic Iron Horse roof. For Olson, this is one of his favourite and most memorable projects to date.

Advanced Roofing Systems Ltd. • 25 Years • Page 1


The Iron Horse started its life as the Strathcona Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) Station in 1907 and quickly became a major hub for CPR’s Calgary/Edmonton line. It became a Canadian Heritage Railway Station in 1991, a municipal historic resource in 2003 (after being sold by CPR) and later a provincial historic resource in 2004. The old railway station has a sassy history. From 1998 to 2010 it was Edmonton’s Iron Horse; a massive nightclub known to attract over a 1,000 partygoers on an average night. When the roof of this historical and very beloved Edmonton institution fell into disrepair, Advanced Roofing was the one that saved it. This was not a simple reroof. This was a full restoration. “The method of the cedar roof installation we used was the same one used 100 years ago,” says Shaw as he explains how they strived for authenticity in every detail. “We used number 1 cedar shingles with 5.5-inch exposure. We had custom vents and accessories manufactured so it would look just like it did a century ago.” The result? A roof the original train station would have been proud to bear. “That roof will last another century,” says Olson with pride. The Iron Horse is not Advanced Roofing’s only major restoration project. The company is also responsible for the restoration of the Bellis grain elevator at the Ukrainian Cultural Village and numerous other historical buildings in the Greater Edmonton region. Other projects include ALCO Gas & Oil Production Equipment Ltd.’s flat roof along with many estate homes, commercial buildings and condominiums. A

roster of over 500 dedicated clients have Advanced Roofing on speed dial. Edmonton is known for its winters that seem to stretch from November to June and while most construction and roofing companies call winter their slow season, things get busier for Advanced Roofing when the snow flies. It’s that entrepreneurial spirit again; the spirit that compelled Olson to place an ad in the Yellow Pages many years ago advertising snow removal. The next year many other roofing companies took note and started advertising snow removal as well, but Advanced Roofing had, once again, proven their reputation as a leader in the roofing industry. “We were the first to advertise rooftop snow removal in the Yellow Pages,” reminisces Olson. “The next year there was 50 ads! But between January and the end of February we get over 25,000 calls a month. It’s because we educate our clients.” “We have a very educational page on our website,” Shaw agrees. “If you educate people, they will come to you.” Olson relates a story that happened during 2011’s unusually heavy snowfall. “I remember one time we had three television stations trying to interview us at the same time, and then I had a call from one of our crews that a building next on the list to have rooftop snow removal was collapsing! Everybody followed me over there. That was pretty crazy. We had to evacuate the entire building to do the snow removal, all the while being filmed by three news stations.” “The day prior, a roof at a senior citizen’s home had collapsed so there was a heightened sense of urgency,” Shaw adds, in the interest of full disclosure.

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house. They know they will get a job well done when they deal with Advanced Roofing Systems.” Advanced Roofing Systems Ltd. is located at 5448 - 36 Street. The company is proud of their A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, which they have maintained for over 22 years and through 60,000-plus roof projects. Advanced Roofing is a member of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Home Builders’ Association as well as the National Roofing Contractors Association. All wood used in their projects has been certified and inspected by the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau. They are approved installers of IKO, BP and Soprema roofing systems and offer cement tile, metal and rubber shingle systems.

Above: Owner Gil Olson and sales manager Al Shaw. Opposite page: Top: Laminate Architectural Shingle Roof System. Bottom left: Roof System and Cedar Roof System. Bottom right: Slate Rubber.

“Yes,” Olson nods, “but they always come to us.” Yes they do. Advanced Roofing’s clients know they can count on Olson and his team to do everything from a repair to a restoration. “We maintained our builders and contracts during the real estate boom and when the boom was done,” says Olson. “After the boom many company’s revenues went down. Ours didn’t. Ours went up. Our customers know they can expect the same high quality of service no matter what the economy is doing.” “We grew during the boom time, but there hasn’t been a single time when we went backwards in 25 years,” Shaw adds. Olson credits this steady growth to Shaw’s leadership, and Shaw quickly interjects that it was because of Olson’s foresight; because like all successful entrepreneurs, the leader(s) look to and appreciate the support of their team, clients and mentors. Another thing successful entrepreneurs do is invest in their community, and Advanced Roofing is no exception. Advanced Roofing actively supports Easter Seals, Hope Mission, and Habitat for Humanity. Olson also participates in the annual MS bike tour. It’s been more than two decades since Olson converted the front of his house to a commercial business space, but that entrepreneurial spirit hasn’t lagged one bit. “We always pride ourselves in doing work for someone and giving them what they need so they don’t have to worry about the work when we are done,” Olson concludes. “We sleep well at night knowing we did an honest day’s work. Every person’s home is their castle whether it’s a $100,000 house or $5-million

5448 – 36 Street Edmonton, Alberta T6B 3P3 (780) 450-0365 • email info@adroof.ca www.advancedroofsystems.com

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Congratulations to Advanced Roofing Systems on this 25 year milestone!

Barrister and Solicitor

David B Yesdresyski

www.BoralRoof.com

Congratulations “Congratulations

to everyone at Advanced Roofing Systems Ltd. for 25 years of quality service!”

David B. Yesdresyski Professional Corporation #2, 4716 - 91 Avenue Edmonton, AB T6B 2L1 Phone: (780) 469-0451 Facsimile: (780) 468-4389

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2014-06-18 12:24 PM

www.roofmart.ca Edmonton South 9355 62 Avenue Edmonton, AB T6E 0E1 Tel: (780) 435-3561 Fax: (780) 437-3619

Edmonton North 7804 Yellowhead Trail Edmonton, AB T5B 1G3 Tel: (780) 474-5491 Fax: (780) 477-7189

Acheson 601 53016 Hwy 60 Acheson, AB T7X 5A7 Tel: (780) 960-5007 Fax: (780) 960-5251

Congratulations to Advanced Roofing for 25 years of Business

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