Builders in Alberta are racing to adapt to increasingly harsh weather, with two new projects in the Calgary region testing hail- and wind-resistant construction materials.

The goal is to create a blueprint for storm-ready housing across Canada.

Last August, a devastating hailstorm swept through Calgary, causing nearly $2.8 billion in insured damage — the second-costliest weather event in Canadian history, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada. That disaster has pushed builders and insurers to rethink how homes are constructed.

Chris Williams, president of Avalon Master Builder, says the pilot projects are focusing on materials designed to withstand extreme conditions.

“The products that you can see on the outside of the homes are the siding and the shingles,” Williams explained.

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