The Story Behind Temple Metal Roofs: From Subcontractor to Industry Leader

Origins

Travis Ferguson, owner of Temple Metal Roofs Ltd., saw the market potential for metal roofing while working as a subcontractor years ago.

“We started as a subcontracting company doing installations for a local building contractor,” he explains. “We are now fast approaching our 25th year in business! Our services included sheet metal wall cladding and metal roofing.

I really enjoyed that part of the building process. I started taking on side jobs—metal roofs and repairs—for people. I saw the growing demand and realized the market potential. That’s when I put together a business plan and began marketing in the residential sector.

The business grew steadily, and I decided to focus exclusively on metal roofing. A few years in, my brother joined the company, which has been instrumental to our growth. Recently, my daughters have also started getting involved with some fabrication and administration. It’s been rewarding to see them grow up in the business.”

Growth & Challenges

Educating people about the value of metal roofing over traditional asphalt shingles was one of the early challenges.

“From the beginning, we’ve only offered metal as a roofing material,” says Ferguson. “It was important to differentiate ourselves from other roofing companies in Manitoba. We wanted to be known as metal roofing experts—not just general roofers.

Metal roofing has been around for centuries and is used on buildings worldwide. But in Manitoba, no contractors were solely focused on metal roofing. We were one of, if not the first to specialise. Many contractors offer metal roofing or siding, but it’s not their core focus—it’s not their specialty.”

It took about five years to firmly establish Temple Metal Roofs in the market.

“It was a challenge to educate potential customers about what metal roofing is and its benefits. The Metal Roof Alliance (MRA) was doing a lot of marketing in the U.S., which was gaining momentum. We capitalized on that and promoted the benefits locally. After 3 to 5 years of focused marketing and fair, honest pricing, we built a solid reputation.”

Benefits of Metal Roofing

Although metal roofing costs more upfront than asphalt shingles, the long-term benefits make it a worthwhile investment for both residential and commercial buildings.

“A metal roof is basically a roof for a lifetime. When properly installed, metal roofs can last 50 to 80 years—and often longer.” Ferguson explains.

“The initial cost is 2 to 3 times higher than asphalt, but the life cycle cost is much lower. Metal roofs are made from up to 80% recycled material and are 100% recyclable at the end of their lifespan. In contrast, most shingle tear-offs end up in landfills.

Metal roofing also reduces energy consumption. Coated metal roofs reflect light, reducing cooling costs and improving insulation. This feature doesn’t get enough attention, but it can make a big difference in energy bills.”

According to the MRA, metal roofing can:

• Save up to 40% on energy costs
• Reflect more solar radiation than asphalt
• Reduce heat absorption, lowering indoor temperatures

“Pre-painted or granular-coated metal roofing systems reflect solar energy and cool your home by re-emitting most of the absorbed heat. Some coated metal roofs can re-emit up to 90% of absorbed solar radiation.”

Human Resource Development

Temple Metal Roofs has over 40 staff members, including long-term employees and family members

“Our team is a tight-knit group,” Ferguson says. “We’ve created our own training programs since apprenticeship programs for what we do are lacking in Manitoba. We have our own ‘how-to’ manuals and run in-house workshops on proper installation methods and best practices. That’s on top of extensive hands-on training.”

Temple Metal Roofs is also COR-certified—a prestigious safety certification in the construction industry.

“We’ve been COR-certified for over 10 years now,” he adds. “It’s a demanding process, but our office manager, Kristen, has developed detailed safety policies and procedures, and our safety officer, Kristen, works with our staff to keep things running smoothly.”

Scope of Work and Future Growth

“Today, 85% of our work is commercial,” says Ferguson. “Commercial projects have been a big factor in our growth. We work across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwestern Ontario, and even Alberta on some large-scale projects.

In addition to metal roof installations, we offer a variety of metal siding, soffit, and eavestrough installation.”

Temple Metal Roofs also operates its own fabrication shop:

• Fabrication: The shop specializes in break-forming roofing and cladding flashings up to 10 feet long. The CNC bender allows consistent production of thousands of lineal feet of the same profile.
• Roll Forming: Portable roll formers allows them to produce roof and wall panels on-site in remote locations, eliminating shipping costs and delays.

“We produce most of our own parts for assemblies, flashings, and sheet metal fabrication,” says Ferguson. “We also sell direct to other contractors and trades.”

Major Projects

Notable major projects include:

• National Research Council Building at CentrePort (Penn Co Construction)
• Bayview Head Office on McGillivray Avenue
• Waterford Green School (Bockstael Construction)
• MMF Heritage Building (Former BMO building at Portage & Main)
• Desautel Hall (University of Manitoba)
• Fort Whyte Alive
• Amazon Hub

Core Principles

Temple Metal Roofs operates on four core principles:

• Trust and Honesty – Delivering on promises and standing behind their work.
• Discipline – Maintaining high standards and attention to detail.
• Service – Providing exceptional customer service and support.
• Strong Work Ethic – Hard work and dedication are at the heart of their success.

“Our vision is to make Temple the standard for quality and service in the metal roofing industry,” Ferguson concludes.

Final Thoughts

Temple Metal Roofs has evolved from a small subcontractor to a trusted leader in the metal roofing industry. Through expert craftsmanship, innovative solutions, and a commitment to service, Temple Metal Roofs continues to set the bar for excellence in Manitoba and beyond.