Epic Roofing’s Role in Turning a Calgary Bungalow into a Retrofit Canada Case Study

How a 1970's Calgary Bungalow Became a Retrofit Canada Case Study

We’re proud to share that one of our recent projects has been recognized as a case study by Retrofit Canada. This recognition highlights the impact of thoughtful craftsmanship, sustainable materials, and strong collaboration in delivering energy-efficient home upgrades.

The project—a 1970's bungalow in Calgary—now serves as a national example of what’s possible through deep energy retrofitting.

Why Retrofitting Matters

In a country like Canada, where many homes were built before modern energy codes, retrofitting isn’t just a trend—it’s a necessity. Upgrading the building envelope plays a critical role in reducing energy consumption, lowering emissions, and making homes more comfortable and resilient in the face of changing weather patterns.

Retrofit Canada was created to highlight exactly these types of projects—homes that have been thoughtfully upgraded to meet new performance standards while maintaining their charm and livability.

A Collaborative Approach to a Smarter Home

At Epic Roofing & Exteriors, we approach every project with precision and purpose. For this home, our role was clear: help transform the exterior into a durable, efficient, and aesthetically timeless envelope. We worked alongside a committed project team and homeowners, ensuring each phase of construction met the high performance standards Epic expects.

This wasn’t just about installing siding and shingles—it was about contributing to a broader mission: building smarter, longer-lasting homes that can meet the demands of today and tomorrow.

Built for Performance—and Built to Last

This retrofit featured a comprehensive exterior envelope upgrade, combining high-performance materials with expert installation.

We installed:

• James Hardie Plank Siding in Navajo Beige, paired with James Hardie Shake accents in Timber Bark – delivering timeless curb appeal and the proven durability of fiber cement.
• Owens Corning Duration Shingles – a high-wind and class 3 impact rated shingle built for Alberta's weather.
• Building Envelope System- Fully taped Typar House Wrap with 2" IKO Ener-Air exterior insulation, and vertical strapping – enhancing thermal performance while managing moisture behind the cladding & structural integrity.

Each of these elements was chosen to support a deeper goal: boosting energy efficiency, improving air tightness, and ensuring the home is equipped to perform for decades to come.

Upgrades Beneath the Surface

What you don’t see at first glance is just as important as what you do. As part of this retrofit, Epic added air barrier, continuous exterior insulation, strapping, and custom flashing upgrades that significantly improve the building’s performance.

• First, the fully taped Typar House Wrap acts as the air barrier and weather resistive barrier - an essential layer for long-lasting protection. The house wrap was coupled with NovaFlash flashing tape to detail around all windows, doors, and other penetrations.
• Then, 2" Ener-Air insulation was installed helping to reduce thermal bridging and keeping the home better insulated year-round.
• Finally, before the James Hardie siding was installed, Vertical Strapping was utilized to create a structurally sound attachment to the buildings framing to support the new siding. It also creates a ventilated rainscreen gap behind the siding, improving drying potential and prolonging material lifespan.
• Integrated into all three systems was custom made 24ga steel flashing to ensure positive water dainage and full envelope continunity.

These upgrades were layered into a new exterior envelope system that’s now as smart as it is strong.

‍

Recognized on a National Stage

Now featured on Retrofit Canada’s Case Study Hub, this home is part of a growing movement of properties setting the bar for retrofit excellence. It reflects what’s possible when homeowners, builders, and contractors work together to prioritize quality, sustainability, and performance.

View the official case study here:

Retrofit Canada | 1975 Calgary NE bungalow: Better than expected

It also reinforces what we’ve long believed at Epic: when you do the work right, people take notice—not just in your neighborhood, but across the country.

Moving the Industry Forward

We’re proud to be part of projects like this—ones that don’t just improve a home, but help move the entire industry forward. As building standards evolve and sustainability takes center stage, we remain committed to doing the work that stands up to both time and the elements.