The Sexsmith grain elevator is a symbol of Alberta’s heritage. Since preserving our heritage is vital for all of us at Heritage Roofing, we found a way to take part in its restoration.

The original shingles on the grain elevator were cedar. To match its original design, we custom ordered specific cedar shingles. These shingles – classically beautiful and durable – provide a quality finish for the grain elevator, one that will last several decades.

We started the project working in coordination with the Canadian National Railway (CN) and the Town of Sexsmith. Our team met several times with both parties, planning the project to ensure safety and security for everyone involved. These meetings also provided necessary information to our team to properly structure the project with respect to public safety.

Once the project started, so did the rain. We revised our plan to work around the rainy summer weather, as it could compromise the quality of our work. The elevator is tall, designed with multiple steep slopes, so we carefully coordinated with our employees to ensure we had the proper safety resources, tools, and equipment to complete the job.

We began with restoration process by stripping away all the old cedar shingles and the sheet metal roofing. As with all our jobs, we disposed of the used product safely and conscientiously. Once the original product was removed, we began installing the new cedar shingles with a 2½-inch shake nail to ensure stability during windy seasons.

The final result is a gorgeous, traditional cedar shingle roof on this historical landmark. You can see our handiwork here, or you can always drive by the real thing in Sexsmith.

For more information on the Sexsmith grain elevator restoration project, click here.