— The shop, Burnaby
About the founder
A craftsman's roof, from a craftsman's hands.
Zdenek "Zed" Sychrava trained in architectural sheet metal in Europe — where copper and zinc roofing isn't a specialty but a tradition, passed down through apprenticeships measured in years, not weeks. He immigrated to Canada and founded ZS Enterprises in 1996, bringing the European approach to a Vancouver market that, then as now, was hungry for craftsmen who could work in solid metal rather than off-the-shelf systems.
Twenty-nine years later, ZS still operates on the same philosophy: every panel brake-formed in our own shop, every flashing measured on the building itself, every detail soldered or seamed by hand. The work is slower than systems-built roofing. It also lasts a hundred years longer.
We work directly with architects, with builders, and with homeowners who understand that the right roof is the building's quiet center of gravity — and that the right roof is built, not assembled.
1996
Founded
29
Years in trade
2
Continents of practice
Private Residence · West Vancouver · Zinc shingle & standing seam · Stuart Howard Architect
Where craft meets architecture.
For nearly thirty years we've worked alongside many of the Lower Mainland's most respected architects and custom home builders — translating drawings into hand-formed copper and zinc that fits the building it sits on.
Every panel and flashing is brake-formed in our Burnaby shop from sheet stock. Nothing arrives precut from a distributor. The result is a roof whose geometry, seams, and details are tuned to one project and one building only.
Three decades on a single category of work has its own compounding effect. The detailing improves. The crews stay. The roofs last.
Six reasons architects and homeowners keep our number.
29 years, one specialty
We've focused exclusively on architectural copper, zinc, and slate roofing since 1996. No siding crews, no commodity asphalt, no subcontracted metal work.
Hand-fabricated in our shop
Every panel, flashing, finial, and ornamental piece is brake-formed at our Burnaby facility — no off-the-shelf systems, no compromises.
European-trained craftsmanship
Founded by master craftsman Zdenek Sychrava, trained in traditional European architectural sheet metal. Techniques largely no longer practiced in the trade.
Architect-trusted across BC
Past collaborations with Stuart Howard Architect, Discussion Designers, and other Lower Mainland firms specifying premium architectural roofing.
100-year service life
A properly installed solid copper or architectural zinc roof outlasts the building beneath it. The most cost-effective roofing decision over the lifetime of a home.
Free consultation, no pressure
Every project starts with a no-obligation on-site visit to discuss materials, scope, and a transparent line-item quote. We respond to every call personally.
Ready to discuss your project?
Call (604) 307-5985
Built for the conditions
Durable roofing for the Lower Mainland.
Heavy rainfall, salt air, coastal humidity, dramatic temperature swings — the Lower Mainland is one of the more demanding roofing climates in North America. Custom copper, zinc, and slate are uniquely suited to it.
Corrosion resistance
Solid copper and architectural zinc develop protective patinas that resist coastal salt air and moisture indefinitely.
Superior drainage
Standing seam, batten seam, and properly engineered flashings shed Vancouver's heavy rainfall without standing water.
Structural reliability
Hand-fabricated to your building's exact geometry — no off-the-shelf system gaps that compromise long-term performance.
Architectural integrity
Materials that age into the building rather than against it — copper, zinc, and slate complement both heritage and contemporary design.
Start your project
Let's talk about your roof.
Free consultation. Transparent quote. Personal call answering Mon–Fri 8am–5pm PST. The same number reaches Zed and the shop directly.