simcoetradesjournal/README.md

Simcoe Trades Journal

A high-quality Jekyll blog & contractor directory highlighting verified construction trades, roofers, and timber framers across Barrie, Orillia, Severn, Simcoe County, Muskoka, and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

🏗️ Featured Contractors

• Midhurst Roofing: Commercial flat roof repair, TPO membranes, and industrial roofing in Barrie & Simcoe County (midhurstroofing.ca).
• Severn Roofing & Contracting: Steep-slope architectural shingle replacements, custom copper flashings, and waterfront cottage roofing in Orillia & Severn Township (severnroofing.ca).
• Sean Pro Contracting: Custom heavy timber framing (Douglas Fir), cedar ceilings, and outdoor deck pavilions (instagram.com/seanprocontracting).

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🛠️ Stack & Architecture

• Static Site Generator: Jekyll 4.4
• CSS Framework: Tailwind CSS (via CDN) + Custom Trade Tokens
• Templating: Liquid HTML5 Layouts & Components
• Hosting: DigitalOcean App Platform (Static Site Service)

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🚀 Local Development

1. Install Dependencies:

   bundle install
   

2. Serve Locally:

   bundle exec jekyll serve --port 10101 --host 0.0.0.0
   

   Open http://localhost:10101 in your browser.

3. Build for Production:

   bundle exec jekyll build
   

   Output HTML will be generated in _site/.

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☁️ DigitalOcean App Platform Deployment

This repository is pre-configured with .do/app.yaml for automated deployments on DigitalOcean App Platform:

• Build Command: bundle exec jekyll build
• Output Directory: _site
• Environment: jekyll
• Automated CI/CD: Pushing to the main branch automatically triggers a fresh build and global CDN rollout on DigitalOcean.