With St. Patrick's Day celebrations just a few days away, everyone is thinking green. That's great ... especially if you have a real love of green and need a new roof!

First, you can "save green" by investing in a 50-year roof from DaVinci Roofscapes. These eco-friendly (dare we say "green roofing systems") also come in the color green --- as in light green, medium green and dark green polymer slate tiles or in green stone, light, medium and dark greens in composite shake. Check out all the colors at the DaVinci Color Selector site and feel free to play with our Color Designer tool to create a colorful blend that best suits your style.

And, while inside the Color Studio site, don't be afraid to stray from the color green ... there are 49 available colors for luxury roofs available from DaVinci, plus you can create your own custom color. So, whether your colorful soul tells you to personalize your composite roof with a blend of robin's egg blue, bluejay feathers and ocean blue ... or even heart-stopping red or shamrock green, we can make the colors for your luxury roof that make you fall in love with your home over and over again!

For more colorful tips for your next imitation slate or shake roof, visit Shaking It Up with Color Blends. 

Here's a fact of life: as a homeowner, sometimes you forget about your roof overhead. Unless you have a gaping hole, storm damage or messy leaks, it's easy to take your roof for granted.

Fortunately, your roof doesn't forget about you. It usually protects your home and its contents for many years before needing to be replaced. But how do you know when it's time to replace your roof? Start first by determining the age of your roof. Every product in your home has a life cycle ... and usually 20 to 25 years is about the length of time you can get out of an asphalt shingle roof.

Next, think about your geographic location. Does your roof get subjected to searing sun, heavy snows or hail? If so, that may shorten the roof's lifespan.

To get a good idea of how your roof is holding up, climb a ladder and look around ... or, go to a high spot in the area and look at your roof through a set of binoculars. If you see curling, splitting or missing shingles, that's a clear sign there's damage to your roof that needs to be addressed. Don't be afraid to call in a roofing expert to do a professional evaluation of your roof. Getting the insights of someone who deals with roofs for a living can be a valuable asset.

Need some good, practical reasons to invest in a new roof even if there's no apparent damage? Consider this ... by adding a new roof you can increase the resale value of your entire home. Or, if your area has seen changing weather conditions in recent years, it's a good idea to invest in a strong, low-maintenance polymer roof with a 50-year roof warranty.

When it's time to replace your roof, look no further than DaVinci. Our synthetic roofing tiles are made with state-of-the-art UV stabilizers embedded throughout the polymer to create a durable synthetic roofing tile which resists mold, algae, fungus and insects, with virtually no curling, or cracking so they’re headache-free. And, all DaVinci imitation slate and shake roof tiles have a Class A fire rating available, are Class 4 rated for impact resistance, and have passed wind tests at over 110 MPH. Just imagine having beautiful, virtually maintenance-free polymer roofing slate or shake synthetic roof that adds value to your home while protecting it from severe weather conditions!

You can Say Goodbye to Poor Weather Roof Wear with DaVinciby checking out this additional blog post!

In marketing we often use phrases like, "Give your home a total makeover!" and things along those lines. We aren't alone, you often hear this phrase from other exterior product manufacturers (even those that manufacture smaller items). The truth is for most of us our roof is the largest fixed feature on our home. So when it is replaced, it truly does makeover the entire exterior. The below project photos show a roof where the homeowners took off an old wood shake roof and replaced it with a polymer, luxury roof tile. See for yourself how this multi-width slate roof, in Slate Gray, transformed the look of this home.

Happy Friday, Architects! 

If you're considering adding a new roof to your home, check out the "consumers" section on the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) website.

DaVinci Roofscapes is a proud member of NRCA, one of the construction industry's most respected trade associations and the voice of roofing professionals. Founded in 1886, NRCA is a nonprofit association representing all segments of the roofing industry and also provides homeowners with valuable information.

What type of helpful data will you find on the NRCA website? You can find a Roof Checkup Guide for Homeowners along with Consumer Natural Disaster Information and details on Attic Ventilation. There's also an "FYI - Buying a New Roof and Getting Your Money's Worth" section plus a Homeowner FAQ area.

The NRCA site includes tips on maintaining your roof, a search location for finding a roof contractor and a technical questions area. This one-stop website provides valuable resources.

Remember, when shopping for a new roof, make sure to consider all the benefits of polymer slate and shake roofing tiles. The lightweight roofing systems from DaVinci have a Class A Fire Rating, resist hail and impact, and are ideal for creating a designer roof --- all the essentials of a worry-free, reliable and high performance sustainable roofing product!

For more guidance when shopping for a roof, visit Check Out Polymer Slate Roofing Options.

Oh, what wicked winter weather the country experienced this year. Now, as the snows melt away and ice dams dissolve, it's time to evaluate the condition of your roof.

What to look for? The experts at the Chicago Roofing Contractors Association (CRCA) recommend making the investment to have a professional roofing contractor inspect your roof. Why use a professional? Because many steep sloped roofs require the proper safety equipment to accurately inspect and can be dangerous for nonprofessionals to tackle. Plus, there's the possibility that a homeowner on a roof could do unplanned damage to the roof, voiding the warranty. And, let's be honest ... do you really know what to look for?

Sure, anyone can tell when roofing shingles are missing, but a professional roofing contractor can also look for signs of early wear on specific roof areas and repair minor problems. They know how to look for animal and rodent damage on the roof and around chimneys, along with evaluating and clearing out your gutters before spring rains start.

At DaVinci Roofscapes, we believe that investing in a professional roofing contractor to inspect your roof is a smart homeowner decision. Another smart decision is investing in a 50-year roof made of composite slate or imitation shake that resists roof hail damage, fire and other problems. Ask your roofing contractor about lightweight roofing solutions from DaVinci when you have your roof evaluated this spring!

The experts at DaVinci provide more homeowner advice at Repair or Replace… Know When to Say Whento help you and your home get ready for the spring of 2014.

Sometimes the best way to share information, is to proudly offer a list. That's what we're doing today with this blog posting.

At DaVinci Roofscapes, we know it's important to provide you with a reliable lightweight roofing system. Don't be fooled though, even though our polymer shake and slate tiles are lightweight tiles, they're extremely durable. So, here's the impressive list of what our simulated shake and slate products have achieved:

All DaVinci products:

• are Class 4 impact rated, meeting the UL 2218 Impact Test (tested by Intertek)
• are rated Class A for fire retardance in the ASTME E 108 fire test
• have the highest ratings for straight line wind testing at 110 mph in the ASTM D3161 test (same as UL 997 Wind Uplift)
• passed the TAS-125 certification test for wind uplift resistance in High Velocity Hurricane Zones
• passed the TAS-100 certification test for wind driven rain
• tested in accelerated weathering in accordance with ASTM G 26 for 4,500 hours. The average loss in tensile strength was 2.6%. According to people in the weathering business this accelerated exposure is equivalent to many months or even years of actual exposure
• passed the freeze-thaw ICC-ES Test (Acceptance Criteria AC07, section 4.9) with exposure to temperatures from -40 F to 180 F in 22 hour cycles for approximately a month
• passed the ASTM D 3462 nail pull through resistance at 32 F and 72 F test
• have the following Building Code Approvals: ICC-ES ESR-2119, Miami Dade County, FL (see product pages for NOA number), and TDI

For more impressive details on designer roofs from DaVinci, visitSevere Weather Worries? Not With A DaVinci Roof!

Watch out as those strong March winds blow ... they could bring loose limbs and trees down onto your roof.

Many areas of the country had too much rain last year and an abundance of snow this past winter. That means root systems and branches could be especially vulnerable to falling when those heavy March winds kick in!

If you're looking for a way to help protect your home, consider an impact-resistant DaVinci Roofscapes polymer slate or shake roofing system. Pennsylvania-resident Mark Clement, host of MyFixitUpLife radio show and a professional contractor, installed a DaVinci imitation slate roof on his home two years ago and now sleeps worry-free below his eco friendly roof.

“My DaVinci composite slate roof has achieved Class 4 ratings for impact resistance along with the Miami Dade County Acceptance (High Velocity Hurricane Winds) and the Texas Department of Insurance, showing that the roofing tiles can withstand hurricane-force winds," says Clement. "In addition, DaVinci imitation slate and shake roofing tiles are rated Class A for fire retardance and have achieved the highest rating for straight line wind testing at 110 mph. The roof also has a limited 50-year warranty for added peace-of-mind for myself and my family."

Want to see just how durable the composite slate and shake roofing tiles from DaVinci are as compared to other types of roofing products? Then click HERE to see a video of Mark swinging a hammer at various roofing products --- including synthetic roofing materials!

Looking for more details on the resilience of DaVinci green roof systems? Check out this story:DaVinci Resin Slate and Shake Roofing. 

From calming grays to soothing purples, national color expert Kate Smith believes 2014 will be the year of "quiet elegance" for roofing colors across America.

"Our homes provide us with a haven to satisfy a craving for a place to think and renew," says Smith, president and chief color maven at Sensational Color."Having all five of our senses continually bombarded in daily life has created a deep desire for a home environment that conveys harmony and calm.

"We get that sense of silence and contentment in the tones of deep gray, smoky plum and even muted teal. These are the 'top down' color shades we'll see gaining in popularity on home exteriors in 2014."

Smith, who works with DaVinci Roofscapes to provide color expertise, offers insights and advice to homeowners eager to create cohesive exterior home color palettes.

"The roof carries so much visual weight on the home exterior that I always recommend starting there and working your way down with cohesive colors," says Smith. "A popular grayish purple color on the roof, like DaVinci's European blend of light, medium and dark gray mixed in with light and dark purple slate tiles pairs beautifully with gold, bronze or deep plum on the rest of the home's key exterior features."

For those homeowners looking for a more reserved color combination with timeless elegance, Smith recommends focusing on neutral exterior tones. "Try colors with depth such as mid-tone sage green and deep, rich brown," says Smith. "This type of combination gives the home an updated personality right for today.

"Roofing colors of stone, autumn and Tahoe accent brick, stone and stucco equally well on home exteriors. Then, if they choose, homeowners can add in a pop of warm red or orange on the front door or a deep green for the shutters to make a stand-out impression."

Smith, who authored the "FRESH Color Schemes for Your Home" and “FRESH Exterior Home Colors” e-books available free from DaVinci, encourages homeowners to connect exterior colors on the home with their internal needs. And, for more colorful tips, visit Home Exterior Shines with Colorful Roofand Roofs with "Cool" Home Exterior Personalities.

It's back! After a truly successful launch year in 2013 that saw more than 170 homeowners entering for a chance to win $5,000 cash to add color to their home exterior, DaVinci Roofscapes is now ready to launch the 2014 "Shake it Up" Exterior Color Contest.

Mark your calendar for the contest start date of March 21, 2014. That's when you can go to the DaVinci Facebook page and "Like" us to get more details and enter.

After "Liking" DaVinci on Facebook, it's easy to enter. Just submit a digital photo of your home exterior along with up to a 250-word description stating how you'd like to “shake up” the exterior of your home with color and colorful products.

National color expert Kate Smith will again help judge the contest to determine five finalists. She will then work with a professional artist to create renderings and product wish lists of how the five finalists can transform their home’s exteriors by adding color and colorful products manufactured by the contest sponsor and partners. The original photo submission and the artist’s renderings for the five finalists will be posted on the contest site for two weeks of online public voting from May 19, 2014 to June 1, 2014. The finalist with the most online votes will receive the $5,000 grand prize.

"This is the second year we're doing this fun contest to showcase how easy it is to add 'top down' color to the home's exterior," says Smith, president and chief color maven of Sensational Color. “The timing is perfect to launch the contest on International Colour Day. Just as we did in 2013, we’re going to help people turn ordinary home exteriors into extraordinary, color-coordinated showstoppers!”

The contest sponsor, DaVinci Roofscapes, offers polymer slate and shake roofing tiles in 49 standard colors with the option to custom create any color a homeowner desires. Contest partners Therma-Tru® doors and Fypon® urethane and PVC trim products also offer product options that allow homeowners to enhance their home’s exterior in colorful ways.

Check out the 2013 winning entry from Dennis and Pat Hodkinson at Tennessee Homeowners Win “Shake it Up” Exterior Color Contest.

"Back to school" is the motto at Danker Roofing, Inc. The roofing installation team has spent so much time at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas during the past six years that they should enroll in classes. The roofers have been on campus to install DaVinci Roofscapes Multi-Width Slate polymer roofing systems on three major university buildings.

"We value the opportunity to complete a variety of roofing projects at Washburn University," says Dallas Little, president of Danker Roofing out of Manhattan, Kansas. "This school was started in 1865 so there are many structures that need re-roofing on an ongoing basis. The school's investment in the DaVinci products, with their 50-year limited warranty, means Washburn University officials won't have to worry about new roofs on these buildings for many decades."

Originally covered with architectural asphalt shingles, the roofs on the Bradbury Thomas Alumni Center, Whiting Field House and the Mulvane Art Museum now have long-lasting synthetic DaVinci simulated slate roofing. The art museum, which is the oldest art museum in Kansas, was the first DaVinci re-roofing project Danker Roofing undertook on campus in 2008. The designer roof features DaVinci's European blend of five roofing colors including Light, Medium and Dark Gray combined with Light and Dark Purple.

"After the success of the Mulvane Art Museum re-roofing project we were asked to tackle the Whiting Field House in 2011," says Little. "For that project the Castle Gray blend of three shades of gray was used. This project also included the reroofing of 11 additional roofs connected with the structure where modified bitumen was installed. Then, in 2013 we completed the reroofing of the alumni center, again using the European blend."

Nelda Gaito, RA, is the university architect at Washburn University who has specified the DaVinci manufactured slate roofing tiles on the three structures. She first learned about the slate alternative products when doing research for the Mulvane Art Museum re-roofing project and has stayed with the product because of its similarity to real slate plus the product's strength.

"The best way I can explain why our school appreciates DaVinci products is to relate a storm story from May of 2011," says Gaito. "A freak hail storm hit our campus and most of the southwest Topeka area. The hail was the size of a small fist. More than half the campus roofs were damaged and needed replacing. The DaVinci roofs showed no damage at all. To me, that's the sign of a good product.

"We expect to continue specifying DaVinci on additional projects because this is a roofing product we believe in. For us, the bonus is that we can proudly say these durable polymer slate tiles are made in our state!"

To learn more about green roofing options used at colleges and universities, visit New Polymer Roofs at The College of New Jersey, "Fighting Irish" Fan of DaVinci Polymer Slate Roofand Lynchburg College Gets New DaVinci Roof.

The story of choosing a roofing product for a commercial or residential project can be told from many perspectives. In the past, we have pretty heavily focused on the perspective of the home or building owner's and also the roofing contractor's. Lately, we have become more involved with the architects and designers who work with our products and featuring the stories they tell on our blogs, project profiles and press releases. This perspective has opened up a new avenue that we can use to educate not just our customers but ourselves with, and really answer the question, "Why does the design professional like to work with our company and our slate and shake tile roof products?" 

So, with that said, this blog is calling all architects, designers, spec writers, engineers and roof consultants. Contact us and share your story on working with our products. We would love the opportunity to feature you and your job in one of our many avenues that we use to share information. 

Happy Friday, Architects!

In Voorhees, New Jersey, just a short drive from Philadelphia, sits a grand home unmatched in many ways. Built in 1990, the 16,500-square foot custom "Alton Manor" is an executive estate boasting resort quality recreation facilities.

After a recent renovation, a new DaVinci Roofscapes Bellaforté Slate polymer roof tops this massive complex which features six bedrooms, an in-law suite and a three-story pool house connected through a tunnel to a dedicated Man Cave. A 5,000-square foot entertainment area includes a 42-stool bar, dance floor, professional DJ equipment, gaming area and a 12-seat movie theatre.

"This French Manor Estate is located in a secluded wooded setting in Camden County," says Gerard Ferro, founder and CEO, Free For All Incorporated. "We've completed the renovations and have it available for sale.

"Top-quality products like imported Italian marble and ceramic flooring were used in this house. When it came time to decide on a roof, we wanted the best possible product to replicate real slate, so we chose DaVinci's synthetic slate roofing tiles."

The roof on the expansive estate is highlighted by copper window coverings and snowguards. "The entire complex has a unified look because of the roof," says Ferro. "The realistic look of the DaVinci products complement the high-end design of this property which includes three large Koi ponds, four waterfalls, two bridges, an elevated sundeck and a custom pool.

"This is a top-of-the-line estate that was built using only the best products available to create an opulent living experience. The DaVinci Slate roof is the ideal complement to this impressive property."

Visit A New Roof Overheadfor another story of a successful New Jersey DaVinci reroofing project!      

No matter what the reason --- a leaky roof, hail damage or just old age --- when it's time to add a  new roof make sure to do your research before purchasing a replacement roof.

Take a tip from homeowners John and Joyce Mastronardo, who own a 1920s English Tudor style home outside of Philadelphia. "We didn't make the roofing decision lightly," says John Mastronardo. "We completed extensive research before making the decision on what to put on top of our 2,600-square foot home.

"We wanted to preserve the look and feel of the original slate roof along with the overall character of the home. But, as with most people, I had a budget. The cost of a synthetic slate roof from DaVinci Roofscapes was much more affordable than using real slate.

“The more I learned about the synthetic DaVinci roofing tiles, the more I liked them. The product perfectly complements the stone, brick and stucco features of our home. As an added benefit, the product comes with a 50-year roof warranty. Even if the costs were equal, I’d still choose this DaVinci product because of all the inherent benefits of synthetic roofing tiles.”

For the Mastronardos, the re-roofing experience for their home went so well that they decided on the spot to move ahead and have their garage, pool cabana and patio roofs redone with the slate alternative roof materials.

In Minnesota, homeowners Barbara and Thomas Meyers also relied on solid research before purchasing their Bellaforté Shake shingles from DaVinci.

“I wanted something that looked like real wood shakes but performed better,” says homeowner Thomas Meyers. “I was tired of our older wood shakes deteriorating with different weather conditions. Plus, mold would accumulate on the wood shakes and the shakes were fading. Overall, dealing with this roof was a huge headache.

“After doing research on DaVinci Roofscapes and discussing the product with our contractor, we decided our best option was the Bellaforté Shake product that resists impact, wind, algae and mold. I’d definitely recommend the roof to family and friends, and I believe the Bellaforté Shake product is a sensible long-term investment for our home.”

Start your own roofing research today by visiting www.davinciroofscapes.com and visit Invest in Your Rooffor more research insights.

When, oh when, will it stop snowing?

For many areas of the country this has been one of the snowiest and coldest winters we can remember. And, for those homes without snowguards on their roofs, this was probably an "avalanche" kind of winter.

To prepare your roof against future snow slides, the warmer months are an ideal time to retrofit your roof with snowguards.

If you have DaVinci Roofscapes steep slope roofing products on your home, ask your roofer to come back for the retrofit application. They'll need to apply sealant to the top of the DaVinci polymer roof tiles where the snowguard will be placed ... and it's recommended that snowguards are placed in a pattern so that two inches of strap is showing between the face of the snowguard and the butt end of the shingle above.

The next step is to drive two 2.5-inch self-tapping fasteners with gaskets through the snowguard strap, approximately a half-inch below the butt end of the slate or shake shingle above. The fastener should go through the synthetic slate or shake shingle and substrate until tight.

A tip to remember is that snowguards used on DaVinci composite slate or shake roofs must have an attachment strap and be manufactured of long-lasting, non-corrosive metals. While snowguards can definitely be retrofitted to a roof, if you're planning on getting a new DaVinci roof in the future, it makes a great deal of sense (and will save you time and money in the long run) to have the snowguards installed at the time of the roof installation.

Still not convinced... watch this video of snow slides (or roof avalanches)...

Having trouble viewing the video, click here.

For more snowguard insights, visit Don't Forget Snowguards - Even in the Summer!and What All Is Involved In The Installation Of DaVinci?

Just one year ago Dennis and Pat Hodkinson, of Paris, Tenn., won the $5,000 cash grand prize in the first nationwide DaVinci Roofscapes"Shake it Up” Exterior Color Contest. Will you be this year's winner?

The Hodkinsons were named the 2013 contest winner after receiving more public votes than four other finalists out of 757 online votes cast.

Dennis Hodkinson submitted his contest entry under the title of “Facelift Needed!” He explained how the 100+ year-old home’s black-and-white exterior made the house look like an “old maid” rather than one of the “grand old ladies” of the neighborhood.

“The historic charm of this home reached out to captivate the judges,” says Wendy Bruch, marketing manager for DaVinci Roofscapes. “The transformation suggestions from national color expert Kate Smith on this house included the addition of a Bellaforté Slate polymer roof from DaVinci in Slate Gray. Then, she recommended Decorum by Simonton vinyl replacement windows with Bronze exteriors and grids that are enhanced by the addition of Fypon louvered shutters with center rails painted in a deep Britannia Blue color.                          

“For the lower entry door, a Therma-Tru Classic-Craft Collection fiberglass door painted in a blue French Beret color was suggested. The door is flanked with both Granite privacy sidelites from Therma-Tru and with Fypon urethane fluted pilasters with plinth blocks. A crosshead over the door adds more ‘grandness’ to the main entryway. For the upper floor porch area, the same color was added to a Therma-Tru Classic-Craft Canvas Collection door with Granite privacy doorlight. This top porch area --- and the lower porch --- would also receive a Fypon Classic 12” Balustrade System. The main color on this house is Brandon Beige and the trim is painted Ballet White.”

Both Pat and Dennis Hodkinson expressed enthusiasm for the idea of adding balustrade systems to the home’s exterior. “We have a home inspection business, so we know quality products when we see them,” says Hodkinson. “The ideas presented in the artist rendering became our ‘wish list’ of what we’d like to do with our home in the future.”

For your chance win the $5,000 grand prize in this year's contest, visit our Facebook page. And, for more details on finalists in last year's contest, see Before & After Home Makeover: Russ Wade Of Hoover, AL “Shake it Up” Exterior Color Contest Finalist and Before & After Home Makeover: Marquis Cayce of Nashville, TN “Shake it Up” Exterior Color Contest Finalist.

It can often be time-consuming, and sometimes even a bit awkward, but checking on references for roofing installers is a key element to selecting the best person to do work on your home.

After you’ve done your research and narrowed your choices down to several contractors, don’t be afraid to connect with every reference on the potential installer’s list. Past customer experiences that you learn about can be very beneficial in helping you decide on which roofer is the best to install your polymer shake or slate roofing tiles.

The experts at DaVinci Roofscapes recommend you have a list of questions handy to ask reference referrals. This makes it easier for you to cover key topics that are important to helping you decide on which contractor to hire. Consider asking these questions as you select the right roofer to install your eco friendly roof:

• Did the installer and his workers show up on time?


• Did the installation crew keep the jobsite clean?


• Did the crew remove all trash in a timely manner?


• Would you recommend this installer to family members?


• What made you happiest about using this installer?


• What made you unhappy about using this installer?


• Was your project completed in the timeframe quoted?


• Did the installation crew respect your home and your property?


• Were you satisfied with the completed work?


• Were there any unexpected costs? If so, what were they?


• Would you personally use this installer again?


• What one thing would you change about this roofing experience if you could to make it easier on yourself?


• Can I visit your home to see the completed job?

 

For more help finding a roofing contractor, please visit Be Picky When Picking a Roofing Contractorand The Hunt for a Qualified Roofing Contractor.

Want to get attention for your business? Try a colorful DaVinci roof!

Whether you select a custom red like the folks at Bass Pro Shops® did for some of their stores, or a custom blend of polymer shake roofing tiles in light gray, light weathered gray, medium weathered gray, medium dark weathered gray and dark weathered gray like The North Face® retail store in Victor, N.Y., you can "make a splash" up on the roof!

“Show us a color on a scarf, a candle, a company logo or a painting and we can replicate it for the roof,” says Ray Rosewall, CEO and president of DaVinci Roofscapes. “We can even match the color of your favorite pet’s fur, a bedspread or a paint sample. This ability to custom create precise colors allows us to creatively support the exterior marketing goals for many businesses."

In Atlanta, the roof of Paces 88 American Bistro is adorned with dark green DaVinci polymer slate tiles while Yesterday's restaurant in Hazlet, N.J. chose a slate gray for their synthetic roofing material. Another restaurant, Captain George's Seafood Restaurant on the North Carolina coast selected the Mountain Blend of three brown shades of composite shake to top off their 12,100-square-foot building.

Restaurants and retail stores aren't the only commercial projects adding colors to their roofs. The 48-room Beach Terrace Inn hotel in Carlsbad, Calif. has an Aberdeen blend of stone, gray, brown, green and purple shades for their low-pitch DaVinci fake slate roof. That's the same color blend selected by Tower Bank in Indiana for their DaVinci imitation slate roof.

If you need help selecting colors for the roof, see Colorful Custom Roof Projects - Part Iand No Blender Needed.

Need color? Enter the 2014 "Shake it Up" Exterior Color Contest by "liking" the DaVinci Roofscapes Facebook page for a chance to win a $5,000 cash prize to add color to your home exterior!

Bellaforté in Slate Black

All you have to do is submit a picture of your home along with up to 250 words on how you'd like to improve the look of your home’s exterior. To get you inspired I’m going to show you some ways you might "shake up" the look of your home.

When choosing colors for your home’s exterior begin by looking at the roof. The color you choose for you roof needs to blend with what I call fixed features on your home. These include:

• Foundation materials: brick, stone, stucco, concrete, etc.
• Roofing shingles: style, color, and material
• Chimney structures: brick, stone, or stucco
• Porch, steps, retaining and walkways: brick, stone, cement.
• Decks and patios: wood, brick, concrete, composite, etc.

Your features may be constructed of different materials but they will usually have a common color or color cast. Once you identify that common color, it is a sure bet that another element that has the same color, color cast or undertone of that fixed feature color will work well for your home’s overall color scheme. If you’d like to understand more I think you will find my post What Is Colorcast & Why Is It Important? helpful.

Notice how the Bellaforté Slate Gray and the colors in the steps, pool surround and retaining wall all have the same colorcast. By coordinating the colors of these elements these homeowners now have an unlimited number of colors that will work for their siding color. This makes it so easy to update the paint color in the future.

But what if your home is mainly brick or stone? I recommend you use this same thinking and choose a roof color that blends or contrasts. In either case the overall colors in both the roof and brick or stone should have a similar tone.

Multi-Width Gray Slate contrasts with the brick on this stately home but, as you can see, the brick color is muted or “grayed down” allowing the two colors to harmonize.

Valoré in the color blend Abruzzo blends perfectly with the stone on this stone home. If stone is one of the fixed features on your home you may want to pop over to my post Roofing Tile Color To Compliment Stone for more examples of colors that work with stone.

For most homes it is best if the roof color doesn’t stand apart but marries with the other colors to create a cohesive color scheme. There are times, however, when the roof color should take center stage. 

On this Spanish style home Multi-Width Slate in a custom blend is the standout color. Could your roof be the focus of your color scheme?

If a new roof isn’t in your plans for ”shaking up” your home exterior, you will still need to take a good look at the color of your existing roof. The roof color is important so make sure to refer to it along with the other fixed features as you come up with the dream exterior scheme for your home.

For more tips on how to find the perfect colors for your home exterior download my two free ebooks:

• FRESH Home Exterior Colors
• FRESH Color Schemes For Your Home Exterior

Now head on over to the contest page and tell us how you’d spend the $5,000 grand prize to spruce up your home exterior!

Before you check into to your next hotel room, check out the roof overhead. You may be surprised to discover it's made of DaVinci Roofscapes polymer roof tiles.

While guests checking into the 48-room Beach Terrace Inn hotel in Carlsbad, California may initially be drawn to the oceanfront views, their gaze soon wanders to the fully-renovated hotel itself. And, that’s when they’re likely to notice the structure’s unique design and low-pitch roof covered in imitation slate.

When renovating the oceanfront hotel, the owners searched for a low-maintenance roof that could hold up to both the salt air and the harsh rays of the sun. They also wanted an eco friendly roof that would add to the overall design of the structure. After extensive research, they selected a DaVinci synthetic slate roof in an Aberdeen blend of stone, gray, brown, green and purple shades. The fake slate was ideal for the hotel since it resists fire, impact and high winds sometimes found in California.

Across the country in Atlanta's prestigious Buckhead section is the five-star St. Regis Hotel. And, sitting atop the roof of the hotel’s famous Paces 88 American Bistro restaurant are weather-resistant simulated slate roofing tiles from DaVinci Roofscapes.

“We got the call in early 2009 that the St. Regis wanted to add a small one-story addition to the front of its property to house a café-type restaurant to the right of the main entrance,” says Todd Spencer, president/architect at Spencer Roofing & Construction, Inc. in Kennesaw, Ga. “The goal was for the roof addition to complement the roof on the main section of this prestigious hotel. This desire immediately brought DaVinci products to mind.

“We installed 15 squares of 12-inch DaVinci Dark Green authentic slate tiles in a mansard application on this restaurant roof. The match is ideal. When the doors opened to the 26-floor hotel in April of 2009 the roof and the entryway looked perfect.”

To discover more uses of composite slate and shake tiles on commercial structures, visit Commercial Projects Rely on Polymer Roofing – Part Iand Commercial Projects Rely on Polymer Roofing – Part II.

A product's sample in the hand is about the best thing you can provide your clients when choosing colors for the exterior of their home. It is important to remember to take your samples outside and put them in the natural light. Be sure to leave them there for a day or two and view them in all different lights and shadows. This will allow you to have a better idea of what the color will look like once the products are installed.

Click here to read more FRESH tips for choosing exterior color from our Color Expert, Kate Smith.        

Happy Friday, Architects!