Whether you're building a new house or remodeling a cherished older property, the product choices you make are critical to the long-term enjoyment of your home.                 

"I advise consumers to 'start from the ground up' when thinking about the product needs for their home projects," says Mark Clement, professional contractor and co-host of MyFixitUpLife home improvement radio show. "Invest time to research products so you're comfortable with the final outcome."

Clement says a great starting point is the basement. "The foundation selection can determine if you'll be able to use the basement for simple storage space or as an active living area," says Clement. "By starting with energy-efficient precast concrete panels from Superior Walls, you can get a basement that is dry and comfortable for year-round use that also adds resale value to the home.”

Moving up the house exterior, the largest "holes" in the home need special attention. Of course we're talking about windows.

"When you think that a pane of glass is all that really separates you from the weather outside, it becomes very important as to what that glass and its frame are made of," says Clement. "For my money – and for my home – we selected Simonton windows with fusion-welded vinyl frames and Argon-gas fill to maximize energy efficiency.”

Other "holes" that need filling are the main entry door and secondary doors leading to your patio, deck or garage. Clement recommends fiberglass doors for the main entry due to their resilience to dents, dings and rot.

"I've seen many fiberglass doors in the Therma-Tru product line that either have a smooth finish for painting or have a realistic woodgrain that can be stained in oak, mahogany, walnut or cedar," says Clement. You can also “dress them up” with low-maintenance urethane and PVC trim pieces. "Decorative Fypon products I've worked with are easy to install, resist rot and insects along with adding curb appeal to the home,” he says.

Finally, Clement reminds homeowners not to overlook the roof. The right roof selection can last for 50 years, while a bad choice could be "gone with the wind" if severe weather strikes.

"We invested in a DaVinci Roofscapes polymer slate roof for our home and have never regretted the choice," says Clement. "This composite roof resists impact, fire and high winds.”

Need more tips? See Springtime Home Improvement Tips for Knowing When It’s Time to Replace The Roof on Your Home.

This home's transformation going from shingles to a polymer slate tile roof is remarkable. The original roof, a brown shingle, wasn't doing justice to this brick home which is loaded with curb appeal. In order to make their (very steep) roof truly one of a kind, these homeowners decided to customize a blend using our multi-width simulated slate roofing tiles. The blend created is Dark Gray, Light Brown, Light Purple, Green Stone, Dark Stone and Light Violet.

What is the process for customizing a blend? Typically, a homeowner would work with a Project Specialist here in our office. Our Project Specialists offer a true service of color and product advice, many times viewing images of the home in order to make suggestions. We also have other tools to help, our online Color Designer can help narrow down the choices, and we are always willing to send out product samples in any color as well as color chips. Once colors and percentages are nailed down, sample bundles are requested for final approval by the end user and then an order can go into production. Like we do with our standard color blends, we pre-blend the tiles here in our factory so there is minimal sorting at the jobsite. 

Interested in learning more? Click here to read more about this project, installed by Advanced Exteriors and located in Denver, Colorado. Click here to get in touch with a DaVinci Project Specialist. 

Happy Friday, Architects!

There's no better time than Consumer Awareness Week to learn about the many benefits of having a synthetic shake or slate roof on your home.

Whether you're in the market for a new roof right now or think a new roof may be in your future, we can help you get educated on the advantages of polymer roof tiles at the DaVinci Roofscapes website. This is the go-to site to find out important information on composite roofing, such as:

• Every DaVinci tile resists fire, high wind and high impact.


• DaVinci Shake roof tiles last 2-4 times longer, provide superior impact performance and maintain fire resistance over the entire product life when compared to cedar shake roofing.


• All DaVinci products have passed the accelerated weather ASTM 4798 test that replicates 4,500 hours of weather exposure (the equivalent of six months exposure to extreme temperature conditions, moisture and thermal shock).


• Color consistency organic colorants are infused throughout every DaVinci tile during the manufacturing process.


• Every DaVinci tile is 100% recyclable.


• DaVinci roofing products are backed by a 50-Year Limited Warranty


• DaVinci Slate costs less than installed natural quarried slate of a similar thickness.


• We have 49 standard colors ... and a multitude of appealing color blends. Or, you can have a custom color created for your luxury roof.


•  

Looking for more education? Check out DaVinci Roofscapes -1 ... Mother Nature - 0and DaVinci Roofscapes - Protects Your Roof For The Next Half Century!

Our home was constructed in 1908. We've heard it referred to an "arts & craft" home, California home and mission style home. Anyway, we're not sure what would look best. We recently changed the exterior colors more to brown family.

Thanks for your recommendations.
John

John Hoagland
Louisville, Kentucky
Product: Not sure

*****************************************************************************************************************************************

Dear Mr. Hoagland,

You have a lovely home. Since earthtones are colors that were traditionally used on your style home, going with a brown scheme was a good choice. I would recommend that you carry the color also onto your roof.

Historically, both shake and slate were used. In keeping with the style of your home you can go with whichever type of tiles you fancy. I like the size and style of the Bellaforté tiles but any of the products are suitable for your home.

If you prefer the slate tiles, I recommend the Cambridge blend. The variation in colors will work well with your main and trim colors plus add interest to the roof through the different tones.

If you prefer shake, I think the Espresso blend would be a nice choice. The color variations are more subtle but the shake style will add texture to the roof.

I hope that helps you to make a decision.

Sincerely,

Kate Smith
DaVinci Roofscapes Color Expert

Imagine this scenario. Terrible winds and hail hit your neighborhood in the middle of the night. Some of your roof tiles are gone and there's a hole the size of a basketball over your kitchen table providing an unwanted skylight.

Within hours of the storm, you get a knock on your door. It's a roofing contractor offering to get the hole repaired and your roof fixed immediately. Tempting, right? Not so fast. While it may seem appealing to get your roof fixed quickly, slow down. Take time to contact your insurance company first and then carefully select your roofing contractor.

"People sometimes panic after a storm and want to fix their roof immediately, but that can often be a mistake," says Tim Gentry with DaVinci Roofscapes. "Certainly you can take quick steps to get the hole plugged and the missing tiles covered, but research your options before committing to an 'ambulance chaser' type of roofing company."

Gentry offers these suggestions for post-storm roofing needs:

1. Take pictures of the roof damage and immediately contact your insurance company. They will want to get involved to assess the damage and determine what type of benefits they can assist with for your roof repair.


2. Try to interview at least two or three roofing contractors that are recommended to you by friends, neighbors or roofing material distributors in your area.


3. When talking to contractors, ask about the type of roofing products they recommend and request information on impact-resistant composite roofing shingles. Remember, the bright side of the storm damage is that you may be getting a new roof --- so take time to determine exactly what you want on your home.


4. Research the contractor. Look for someone with worker's compensation and liability insurance for every member of their crew, someone with at least three years experience and at least five references you can contact.


5. Get a proposal in writing from each contractor. Look for warranty information on the roofer's services (not just the roofing product), a written price estimate, payment methods, building code and permit information. Then, share the proposal you feel works best for you with your insurance company to make sure they approve.

For more ways to "weather the storm" see Protect Your Property from Roof Hail Damage.

Happy birthday to the Earth! Started in 1970, Earth Day is the largest, most celebrated environmental event worldwide.

In case you didn't know, Earth is the third planet from the sun and the largest of the terrestrial planets. The Earth is the only planet not named after a god and its name comes from the word "erda" which means ground or soil. Very appropriate since the Earth has the greatest density of all planets in the solar system.

During Earth Day the world focuses on the environment --- how to make it better, take care of it and reduce impact that can harm our planet. At DaVinci Roofscapes, every day is Earth Day. That's because our manufactured slate and shake roofing tiles are 100% recyclable and have an extensive lifespan --- backed by a 50-year warranty.

What makes our polymer roofing tiles earth-friendly? DaVinci composite roofing products are manufactured from a proprietary engineered polymer that includes multiple virgin resins, organic fire retardant, state-of-the-art color and UV stabilizers and inorganic pigments that are safe for the environment. Selecting synthetic DaVinci Shake roof tiles over wood shakes saves trees. Selecting synthetic DaVinci Slate roof tiles over natural slate saves labor and fuel and offers a smaller carbon footprint by reducing waste.

Here's another fact. DaVinci Slate roof shingles weigh one-third as much as comparable natural slate, so energy is saved in transporting our composite slate tiles. And, DaVinci roofing tiles contribute less to landfills and use less of the earth’s resources than asphalt roof shingles because they can be recycled.

Interested in more sustainable roofing information? See Why are DaVinci Roofs Green?

Predicting the hot interior and exteriors colors for 2014 begins with looking at the uber trends worldwide. These are the trends that impact what is going to be going on in housing market overall not just in color. What that means is that before I can focus on colors I need to research what else is going on in the US housing market.

To do this research I met with other experts in the industry at the CMG International Summit to discuss what we were seeing in store for home building and remodeling in 2014. Here is a summary of the top 10 trends we discussed along with links to more information from other authorities about each of these trends.

1. Open and Accessible
Ageless and open describe the floor plans most desired by the baby boom generation. Open single level, livable designs with lots of windows, hardwood floors, and beautiful materials. Naturally accessible house plans that don't say "elderly" or "handicapped" as they often have in the past. The best interpretations of this trend will result in universal designs for people of all ages and abilities. Better Homes and Gardens sees single-family homes as getting smaller, with fewer formal rooms and more casual living spaces for the whole family to enjoy. Business Week says builders say today’s draws are open floor plans and lots of storage.

2. Mid-Mod and Modest
The growing popularity of smaller homes with a mid-century aesthetic is influencing home design. According to realtor.com“midcentury modern design is thriving” and will continue to do so in 2014. Rather than direct translations of the original look what is being seen is a more casual and relaxed style. Natural materials--wood, stone, and metal--will still be part of the design but slightly rounded shapes will soften the hard geometrics seen in the original designs.

3. Earth-Friendly, Human Healthy
A continued sensitivity to the natural environment is influencing builders to incorporate sustainable, bio-degradable materials into green homes. More homes will be allergy-free or asthma-friendly. The importance of sustainability can be seen in how Element Building Co. is constructing The 2014 New American Home to the highest level of the National Green Building Standard.

4. Storm-proof
In response to the many communities that have been ravaged by tornados, hurricanes and earthquakes, homes are being designed to stand up to the elements. The Plan Collection agrees that storm-proof architecture is growing these days and Better Homes and Gardens also mentions storm resistant and energy efficient products as priorities.

5. Prefabulous!
Factory-made homes have desirable design elements inside and out. The ability to customize a home without the high costs make these homes an attractive option for many. Greener, Faster. Smarter. That is the tagline of the Modular Building Institute and describes what is found in today's modular homes.

6. Outdoor Rooms Are Heating Up
Outdoor spaces have become an extension of the home. Now to extend the time these spaces can be comfortably used, many homeowners and builders are adding fire pits, fireplaces and radiant heating under the concrete. Taking the chill off on a cool spring or fall day is all that is needed to enjoy the outdoors 3-4 seasons. The 2014 New American Home, now under construction for the International Builders' Show has an open layout that fuses the indoors with the outdoors and provides residents with many spaces to live and work outdoors. 

7. More Connected
Smart technology is becoming mainstream. Options currently are focused on convenience with appliances, lights and alarms being controlled via smart phone. Little extras like outlets with USB chargers built in or digital command centers are becoming more commonplace. Going forward appliances and systems will communicate with one another as well as directly with the utility companies to balance community demand and offer homeowners money savings options. A home that is easy to retrofit for technology is a priority among consumers, and especially millennials, according to Better Homes and Gardens.

8. Made in the USA
Consumers are placing more value American made products. Smart businesses will be touting their red, white, and blue roots hoping to connect with homeowners who prefer to buy made in the good ole USA, rather than from an overseas competitor. Consumer Reports is seeing "Made in the USA" as an important trend for 2014.

9. East Meets West
Eastern philosophies and zen lifestyles are finding their way into western homes according to Trendhunter. The health and prosperity principals of Feng Shui and Vástu Shástra are being incorporated more and more into home designs.

10. Self-Expression
You've heard me talking about this one quite a bit in the past few years as homeowners have become more confident in expressing their style and personality in the choice they make for their home. Whether with bold colors or upgraded exterior products homes are getting beautifully personal. Residential Building Magazine reports that trends, such as self-expression and the bold use of color suggest that homeowners and buyers are looking to personalize spaces. 

Now that you have an idea of what is hot in the home, stay tuned as over the next few weeks I share what colors are going to be most desired in 2014 and beyond.

There's a lesson for any contractor installing a new roof on a school: do your homework and select a composite roof that can stand the test of time.

On the University of Notre Dame campus, Senior Project Manager for Facilities Design and Operations Tony Polotto learned his lesson well.

“The residential style of the Sara Bea Learning Center for students with Disabilities couldn’t support the weight of traditional slate tiles so I looked into polymer slates,” says Polotto, LEED AP BD&C, RRC, RRO. “I reviewed many tile options but was most excited about the DaVinci Roofscapes Multi-Width Slate tiles. The appearance, features and benefits of the polymer slate was commendable. After the Learning Center roof was completed, I found myself so impressed with the product that I installed it on my own home.”

Polotto isn't the only roofer to give DaVinci sustainable roofing an A+ grade. In Sparta, New Jersey, roofer Chris Boyd replaced 100-year-old slate tiles on the Mohawk Avenue School with DaVinci composite slate roofing.

“I knew as soon as we replaced that roof it would completely transform the look of the school," says Boyd with CM Boyd Authentic Design. "I’ve been installing roofs for 28 years and the authenticity of the synthetic roofing tiles we used is one of the best advances I’ve witnessed in this industry.”

For the reroofing project, Boyd and his team installed 198 squares of DaVinci Slate synthetic roofing tiles in a European blend color that was specified by Gianforcaro Architects, Engineers and Planners out of Chester, N.J.

“This was our first experience specifying DaVinci products and it worked out so well we proceeded to include the roofing tiles in several other school projects we were designing,” says Anthony Gianforcaro, AIA, PE. “We’re extremely pleased with the lightweight yet durable nature of the synthetic slate and how it so closely resembles real slate.

We don't (typically) get a lot of interest on behalf of homes or buildings with flat roofs. Makes sense, as we manufacture a steep slope roofing product. Sometimes DaVinci Slate or Shake roof tiles can still be installed on overhangs which accent the building. We see this often with commercial buildings or strip malls, and DaVinci polymer roof tiles cap many projects like that. What we don't see as often is a flat roof with overhangs on a residential project. The project below, installed in Oklahoma, has our composite shake roof tiles as accents on this home. So architects, something to consider the next time your design incorporates something like this. Our products all come with a Class A Fire Rating, Class 4 Impact Rating, 110 mph wind certification and are a 50 year roof. Not to mention that they look great, and can compliment these types of projects in a very natural way. 

Happy Friday, Architects!

As Oklahoma residents gear up for tumultuous spring weather, these homeowners are ready with their Class 4 Impact Rated, 110 mph wind certified, Bellaforté Shake roof in Espresso blend. This roof was installed by DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor Program Member Jenco Roofing out of Oklahoma City. We all know what a high wind rating can mean, but what does a Class 4 Impact Rating mean? Being rated Class 4 is the highest impact rating that a roofing material can receive. This means that the material has passed a test where a two inch steel ball weighing 1.2 lbs is dropped from 20 feet onto an installation. The test is then repeated again and the impacts must be within a 1/4" of each other, after which the tiles can't crack or break. Interested in seeing a Class 4 Impact Test? Click here!

DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor Program Member
Jenco Roofing and Custom Metals
Oklahoma City, OK
405.720.9300

Your product looked amazing on this home I designed in Springfield, MO.

The best faux shake on the market!

Jason Thompson
Walnut Shade, MO

What happens when two home improvement experts take a flame torch and baseball bat to DaVinci Roofscapes polymer slate and shake roofing tiles? Click HERE to see the video of Joe Truini and Allen Lyle of Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford television show test our DaVinci composite roofing in their workshop.

Joe swings his baseball bat repeatedly at the plastic slate tiles with no impact damage. And, to make the challenge more difficult, he freezes our simulated slate roofing tile and then whacks away at it again ... with the same "no problem" results. His impression? That unlike natural slate that can become brittle and break easily, DaVinci fake slate tiles can withstand the pounding of his bat (and most hail storms!) along with frigid weather.

Next, Allen lights up his propane torch to try and set the DaVinci fake cedar shake tiles on fire. No go. As Allen learns, the flame won't easily spread on our fire-resistant composite shake tiles. Why? Because unlike natural cedar shake roof materials that almost instantly spread flames when a burning ember hits it, DaVinci shake roofing materials are manufactured to resist flame spread --- and they're backed by a 50-year Limited Lifetime Warranty!

For more details on imitation slate tiles, see Roof Check Recommended During Fire Prevention Week, October 6-12, 2013and March Winds and Hammers Don't Impact DaVinci Roofing Tiles.

The roof on the Woodland United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas has been replaced many times in the past 103 years. Most recently, hail damage in August of 2012 demanded a new roof be placed on the sanctuary, fellowship hall, steeple and portico.

"The Bellaforté Shake polymer roof tiles from DaVinci Roofscapes are a long-term roofing solution for this church," says Kendall R. Zielke, commercial estimator and project manager for Midwest Roofing Services. "We've installed this composite shake product successfully on other projects in our area that are also subject to our severe weather conditions and always have good results. Since this is an impact-resistant synthetic shake tile with a 50-year roof warranty, we believe this shake alternative is ideal for the church structure."

Church leaders selected the Tuscano blend of four autumn brown colors as the roofing color option that most resembled the previous wood shakes on the stone church. "This shake alternative so closely resembles our former roof that I don't think many members even know this is a synthetic shake roofing material," says Jim Brown, a member of the Board of Trustees at the church. "Unless you get very close, you can't tell that there are 'fake cedar shakes' on our roof."

Bellaforté Shake composite roofing tiles include a leading edge tab and a self-aligning ledge, which help reduce the installation time for the products. "The snap-fit aspect of the Bellaforté is a great feature of this product," says Zielke. "In addition, a square of Bellaforté tiles weighs just 190 pounds. This lower tile weight helps reduce our installation time and allows us to get the job done faster for our clients."

See Historic Church Gets High-Tech Polymer Rooffor another success story on DaVinci imitation slate roofs on churches.

No ... although we understand your mistake. That's the colorful Vineyard blend of DaVinci Roofscapes polymer slate tiles.

Why would you mistake this roof for a peacock? Just consider this --- the beautiful designer roof has been created with a combination of eight different colors including dark and medium tan, light and medium gray, dark stone, light and dark violet, and amber.

Many homeowners find such a colorful roof exceptionally appealing.

"We brightened up our home’s exterior by selecting the Vineyard blend," says Nancy Dye of Mill Mountain, Virginia. "This color combination fits the era of the home and complements our cobblestone driveway and sidewalk, the stone exterior of the house and our copper gutters and snow guards.”

According to Dye's roofer, Richard Miller of Miller Roofing & Guttering, the colors chosen for the roof united the exterior of the home. "The installation of the DaVinci product was flawless," says Miller. "As we laid in the different colors you could see the house exterior lighten up and come to life."

In northern Maine, the Fanjoy family also selected the colorful Vineyard blend of composite slate tiles from DaVinci for their roof. Looking for a strong visual interest to accent the home, the Fanjoys reviewed the “FRESH Home Exterior Colors” guide to learn about how to select the best color for their luxury roof.

“We went with the Vineyard blend because the reds were a little brighter than in the European blend, and there’s more brown and tan in this blend that gives the entire roof a little more ‘pop’ in appearance,” says homeowner Rob Fanjoy.

“Another consideration was the large, uninterrupted section of the front roof design. With the help of the Color Guide, we felt that a colorful blend would be very dramatic as people came up our driveway --- and we were correct. We’ve received glowing complements and lots of interest in our synthetic slate shingles!”

To read more about these colorful homes, see Colorful Slate Roof the "Second Star" on Mill Mountainand Maine Challenge.

Welcome to National Home Improvement Month. According to professional contractor Mark Clement, May is the ideal time to make improvements to the exterior of your home. By upgrading your home's curb appeal, you increase the value of your house and make a positive impact on visitors.

"According to Remodeling magazine's 2014 Cost vs. Value* study, home improvement projects involving curb appeal have very strong return on investment numbers for homeowners," says Clement, co-host of MyFixitUpLife home improvement radio show. "Their research shows that in a mid-range priced home, up to 67.8 percent of the cost of a roof replacement can be recouped when selling a home.

Clement points out that homeowners should start each May with a "top-down" evaluation of their home's exterior products. "Begin by checking out the appearance and functionality of your roof, siding, windows, trim and doors," says Clement. "Look for products that are worn out, need repair or re-painting, or simply should be replaced. Tackling these projects in May means you'll have more time to enjoy the results and a carefree summer."

Clement recommends the following checklist for checking your roof during National Home Improvement Month to make sure your home is in top condition:

1. Using either a ladder or binoculars from across the street, look for problem areas, such as missing or broken shingles, along with roofing tiles that may be “flapping” in the wind.


2. If you find problems with your roof, consult a professional roofer for their insights and recommendations.


3. Make sure to research the benefits of polymer shake and slate roofing tiles. These impact- and fire-resistant tiles come in a wide variety of colors. Some roofing tiles, like those from DaVinci Roofscapes that Clement chose for his home, are sustainable and recyclable. They also have a 50-year limited warranty.

For more tips for your home, see Ready for National Home Improvement Month?

The 2014 Remodeling Cost vs. Value study results can be found here. The Farnsworth Group, an online market research company, programmed and hosted the 2014 Remodeling Cost vs. Value web-based survey. REALTOR® Magazine and the National Association of REALTORS® distributed an online survey to more than 200,000 member agents, brokers and appraisers to obtain estimates of resale value. RemodelMAX, a publisher of estimating tools for remodelers, used Clear Estimates remodeling software to generate cost estimates for all 35 projects in the study in 81 cities.

May is finally here! The snow is melted (in most parts) and it is time to get inspired by what others have done. Below is my latest crop of featured projects showing off our composite slate and composite shake roofing material on homes and buildings across the United States. 

Featured Project - Weehawkin, NJ

Click here to see this amazing transformation of a temple located in New Jersey. 

Featured Project - Fort Worth, TX

Click here to learn more about how Bellaforté Shake has become so popular in Dallas/Fort Worth.

Featured Project - Oklahoma City, OK

Weather can get a little sketchy this time of year. Click here to learn how Oklahoma residents protect their homes with Class 4 Impact Rated roofs.

Featured Project - Irving, Texas

Think this birds eye view of this roof is impressive? Click here to read more. 

Happy Friday, Architects! 

Hungry? Then you've come to the right month! National celebrations in May are dedicated to salsa, salad and barbeque (and we do love our Kansas City barbeque) --- plus grapefruit and kiwi, carrots and cauliflower and even sweet Vidalia onions!

If that doesn't satisfy your cravings, then mark your calendar for May 16, which is National Pizza Party Day, May 22 for National Vanilla Pudding Day or end the month on May 27th with National Grape Popsicle Day. Still hungry? You can also celebrate raisins, vinegar or our favorite day, May 11, which is National Eat What You Want Day!

If you'd like less calorie-enhanced events to celebrate this month, try saluting the men (and women) in blue during National Police Appreciation Week from May 11-17 or members of the military on Armed Forces Day on May 17.

One week with a very serious nature to it is National Hurricane Preparedness Week, May 25-31. That's the time to carefully inspect your roof --- one of four of the most vulnerable aspects of your home --- to make sure it can withstand severe weather. See National Hurricane Preparedness Weekfor a roof checkup list from DaVinci Roofscapes to help you out.

Finally, here are a few extra dates we know you'll want to mark on your calendar ... just because they're so unusual!

• May 3 - Lumpy Rug Day


• May 4 - International Respect for Chickens Day


• May 8 - No Socks Day


• May 23 - World Turtle Day

The second week of May is National Historic Preservation Week --- and at DaVinci Roofscapes, this is a celebration we really support!

Many historic restoration projects nationwide feature green roofing options from DaVinci, including DuSable Museum, Printers Union Home, Animas Museum and St. Clement Church.

One of our favorite residential projects involves the replacement of a roof on a 111-year-old Queen Anne style home in Vinton, Iowa.

Homeowners Carol and Ray Knoff had previously found a 300-year-old roof tile from a historic home in Des Moines. They decided to replicate the red to gray roof coloring and came to DaVinci Roofscapes for assistance.

“We knew we’d need a top-quality roofing manufacturer to custom create the color for the slate tiles on our home so we started to research options,” says homeowner Carol Knoff. “All of our investigative work brought us to DaVinci Roofscapes. The team there worked with us to develop a color combination of Midnight Gray and Cottage Red that really ‘pops’ and gives a positive first impression of our home while helping define the roof lines and architectural style.”

For the complex, multi-pitch roof areas of their home, the Knoffs selected Bellaforté Slate polymer tiles. The tiles feature a patented fastening system for precise installation and superior wind performance. The 12-inch slate Bellaforté roofing tiles, which are backed by a 50-year limited warranty, have achieved some of the strictest testing ratings in the country, including the Miami Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) and Florida Building Code (FBC) qualifications.

A portion of the Knoff’s historical home features a three-story tower with a music and sitting room on the top floor, capped with an old-fashioned turret. DaVinci Multi-Width Slate was installed on the cone-shaped portion of the roof to both accent the turret and complement the single-width Bellaforté Slate used on the majority of the home.

“It’s wonderful to now have this new custom color polymer slate tile on our roof," says Knoff. "The bold custom colors created by DaVinci give the house a unified look that complements the detail work of the house trim, siding and stone pathways.”

DaVinci Faux Slate Roofing a Favorite for Historic Restoration Projectsgives you more details on designer roof solutions from DaVinci!

I just finished putting together the color schemes and product wish lists for the finalists in the Shake It Up Color Contest. All the while I was working on it I wondered if any of those lucky homeowners were apprehensive of just how much color I was going to recommend for their home. It seems that sometimes people think that just because I love color that I am going to give them something over the top bright or wild.

No need for them to worry. I know most people don't want to live in a brightly colored home even if they love looking at them online. What is it that compels us to share images of over-the-top colorful homes over and over again on Facebook or post and reposted on Pinterest?

I think it goes back to our childhood and the colorful houses and castles from storybooks, movies and our imagination. It is fun to enjoy a little eye candy and feel like a kid again. Even if you prefer to live in a plain vanilla home, admit it. There is that kid is still inside of you that would be smitten with a rainbow ranch or tutti fruti tudor. This post is for that kid.

One of the most popular painted places is the Rainbow House On Clipper St. in San Francisco, CA. I know I had this scheme in the pages of one of my color books. How about you?

The Polka Dot House is part of Tyree Guyton’s Heidelberg Project, which has assembled public art installations from discarded materials since 1986, inspiring Detroit communities beset by deep poverty. 

How about a real home inspired by the Pixar movie ‘UP’? According to designtaxi.com the movie may have been based on a real-life home that isn't quite as colorful as this one.

This builder combined reclaimed and new materials to build a colorful home in Seattle, WA that has taken on a name that seems a great fit - the Salsa House.

Jazzed Up New Orleans Style often includes lots of color and this over the top scheme is one that pushes the color boundaries in a city where just about anything goes.

Is this row of Brightly Colored homes where the M&M characters live?

Holy Hot Hues! I bet I know what this gal's favorite crayon colors were.

This town home spotted in Sweden is as colorful as soap bubbles in the sun.

The last home may be a bit more sophisticated but the colors on this Mondrian House are purely kid-friendly primaries.

Isn't it fun to look at these colorful homes? I had fun finding them for you and suddenly want to get out my big box of crayons. :-)

I think you'll also enjoy seeing the full color renderings of five finalists in the Shake It Up Color Contest so mark your calendar to visit DaVinci Roofscapes Facebook page between May 19, 2014 to June 1, 2014 to vote for your favorite.

CHALLENGE:

Almost 140 years after it was built, the chapel at the Dayton Veterans Administration Medical Center in Ohio needed a new roof. The original roof, constructed out of slate, boasted a large cross with a star-studded border in light colors on the background of black slate. The current roof structure of the chapel couldn't support the weight of real slate, so DaVinci Roofscapes synthetic slate shingles were specified.

SOLUTION:

Twenty-seven squares of medium tan imitation slate tiles and 67 squares of black composite slate tiles were ordered by Detroit Cornice and Slate Company in Michigan to complete both sides of the roof plus the steeple and vestibules.

“Working with a 7-1/2-inch exposure and 9-inch wide field tiles, it was important that the vertical and horizontal band dimensions come out looking the same width," says Dawn Hesse, project manager at Detroit Cornice and Slate Company. "The client also wanted the vertical line of the cross to be completely straight. However, it is not recommended to create a ‘slot on slot’ configuration with any roofing.”

To solve the challenge, Detroit Cornice blended together different widths of DaVinci polymer roofing tiles in 6-, 9- and 12-inch sizes to come as close as possible to creating the cross while maintaining the warranty. A chalk outline of the pattern was sketched on the roofing felt for the installation crews to follow.

According to Hesse, another big challenge facing the team on the chapel project was gaining a full understanding of the roof’s original design.

“We’re experts in slate and flashing details, and knew that this project would require careful pre-construction planning,” says Hesse. “Multiple layouts were created and reviewed by all members of the team. It was a time-consuming process that required patience and input from everyone involved. A variety of roofing tile colors, sizes and patterns were considered

"Overall, the coordinated efforts needed to make this project happen were a key to its success. Part of that success was due to the support we received from DaVinci, as well as providing one of the better looking synthetic slate products on the market today.”

To see another DaVinci project where lightweight roofing tiles offered a solution to a problem, visit SRA Architects Specify DaVinci Polymer Roof for New LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge.