ENGINEERED MARITIME SPECIFICATION
The Complete
Roofing System.
5 Engineered Layers. Zero Water Ingress. Built specifically to withstand Atlantic hurricane gales, freezing rain dams, and salt air.
The Complete
TOTAL SUB-SURFACE ARCHITECTURE
Engineered from
the deck up.
Most Halifax roof failures happen under the shingle. A standard roof relies solely on paper and 4 nails. The Dufour system operates as a unified hydraulic shield engineered for Atlantic coastal extremes.
LAYER 01
Substrate & Fastening Deck
5/8" CDX exterior plywood or solid tongue-and-groove decking. Every roof starts with a 100% surface inspection: all rotted wood removed, gaps over 1/4" re-sheeted, and underlying rafters re-nailed with spiral ring-shank fasteners.
5/8" CDX
Substrate Baseline
LAYER 02
Corrosion-Proof Drip Edge
Heavy-gauge pre-bent aluminum perimeter flashing engineered for maritime salt exposure. Directs coastal runoff cleanly into gutters and halts capillary water wicking back under fascia boards and rafter tails.
100% Perimeter
Capillary Halting
LAYER 03 · PRIMARY DEFENSE
IKO ArmourGard SBS Shield
Self-adhering SBS modified asphalt waterproofing membrane. Applied a minimum of 72" (double code minimum) from eaves, valleys, and skylights. Fasteners penetrate into self-sealing elastic asphalt, creating an impenetrable barrier against winter ice dams.
72" Coverage
2x NS Code Minimum
LAYER 04
Stormtite® Synthetic Barrier
High-strength woven polypropylene synthetic underlayment engineered to replace obsolete #15 tar felt. 25x stronger tear resistance, non-absorbent, UV-stabilized, and will not buckle, rot, or degrade during extreme freeze-thaw shifts.
25x Tensile
vs Organic Tar Felt
LAYER 05 · IMPACT & DEFENSE
IKO Cambridge FastNail®
Architectural laminated fiberglass shingles with an extra-wide 1¼" reinforced FastNail nailing strip. Installed with 6 ring-shank galvanized nails per shingle for 130 km/h (81 mph) coastal wind ratings and dual-band sealant activation.
130 km/h
6-Nail Coastal Anchor
EXHAUST & VENTILATION
Continuous Attic Ridge Vent
Continuous baffled exhaust along the roof peak creates balanced thermal equalization. Eliminates heated air pockets that cause winter freeze damming while exterior wind deflectors prevent gale-driven rain and snow intrusion.
1:300 Ratio
Balanced Circulation
IKO COLOUR & PROFILE STUDIO
Select your
coastal aesthetic.
Explore genuine IKO architectural and designer profiles installed by J.L. Dufour across Halifax and HRM. Engineered with algae-resistant granules, high-contrast shadow lines, and heavy-gauge fiberglass mats.
ENGINEERING BENCHMARK
Code minimum vs.
Maritime engineered.
The Nova Scotia Building Code sets the legal baseline to prevent immediate collapse. J.L. Dufour builds to maritime longevity standards engineered to outlast Nor'easters, freezing damp, and high-velocity salt winds.
COMPARATIVE SPECIFICATION
Nova Scotia Coastal Defense Standards
| Critical Roof Component | Standard NS Code Minimum | J.L. Dufour Maritime Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Ice & Water Shielding |
⚠ 36" (1 Row Only)
Minimum 3 feet from roof edge. Leaves vulnerable roof planes over heated interior walls exposed to freeze damming. |
✔ 72" Minimum (2 Rows)
Self-adhered SBS membrane extended past interior wall line and full valley width to completely eliminate ice dam leaks. |
| Fastening & Anchor Density |
⚠ 4 Nails / Shingle
Standard builder application rated only for moderate 90–110 km/h winds. High blow-off rate during Atlantic gales. |
✔ 6 Nails / Shingle (Hurricane)
Engineered 6-nail high-wind pattern into solid deck. Full 130 km/h (81 mph) coastal wind warranty compliance. |
| Underlayment Material |
⚠ #15 Organic Tar Felt
Paper-based felt absorbs moisture, tears under foot traffic, wrinkles, and rots over repeated freeze-thaw cycles. |
✔ IKO Stormtite® Synthetic
High-tensile woven polypropylene. 25x stronger, impervious to moisture absorption, UV-stabilized, and tear-proof. |
| Perimeter Drip Edge |
⚠ Often Omitted / Light Gauge
Frequently skipped or improperly installed over paper, allowing runoff to seep back into fascia and rafter ends. |
✔ Heavy-Gauge Aluminum Interlock
Installed along all eaves and rakes with proper layering underneath ice shield to prevent capillary water draw. |
| Valley Waterproofing |
⚠ Single-Layer Cut Valleys
Standard shingle woven overlap without dedicated self-adhering membrane underlayment. High risk of channel overflow. |
✔ Full-Width SBS Sealed Valley
36" seamless SBS modified membrane lining, centered over the valley crook with precision cut and sealed shingles. |
| Attic Thermal Equalization |
⚠ Static Mushroom Pots
Spot vents create stagnant thermal zones, leading to localized snow melt and ice dam formation along eaves. |
✔ IKO UltraHP Continuous Ridge
Full-peak continuous ventilation with external aerodynamic baffles for balanced air circulation and zero snow ingress. |
| Installation Accountability |
⚠ 1-Year or Subcontracted
Piece-rate crews with limited direct warranty. Homeowner left to dispute claims with distant manufacturers. |
✔ 5-Year Dufour Direct Labour
Direct crew installation backed by our own 5-year workmanship warranty plus IKO manufacturer Iron Clad protection. |
WARRANTY ARCHITECTURE
Protection
in layers.
A warranty is only as strong as the contractor standing behind it. J.L. Dufour backs every full residential re-roofing project with our direct 5-year labour warranty, paired with IKO's manufacturer Iron Clad Protection.
5 yr
J.L. Dufour labour warranty*
IKO
Limited Lifetime Shingle Warranty*
*Coverage and duration depend on the written contractor agreement, selected IKO product and applicable manufacturer terms. Includes manufacturer non-prorated Iron Clad Protection period.
ENGINEERED FOR HALIFAX WEATHER
Your home deserves a maritime defense roof.
Schedule a comprehensive roof inspection with J.L. Dufour. We evaluate decking, ventilation, eave conditions, and shingle integrity — backed by 50 years of Halifax expertise.