Attention AIA members! If you plan on attending next week's American Institute of Architects Convention and Expo in Chicago, be sure to drop by booth #3545 and see what's new from DaVinci Roofscapes! I hope to see you there!

The Haines House, located in Waukegan, IL, is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Lake County. Formerly the home of past Chicago mayor John C. Haines, it currently houses the Waukegan History Museum and services as the headquarters for the Waukegan Historical Society. DaVinci Shake shingles were chosen for the museum as a maintenance free way to keep the historical look of the building. The polymer roof tiles were installed by DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor Program Member All American Exterior Solutions, located out of Lake Zurich, IL. 

This luxury roof system, not only looks just like natural cedar shake, but it comes with a 50 Year Warranty, Class A Fire Rating, Class 4 Impact Rating, and a 110 mph wind rating. 

DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor Program Member
All American Exterior Solutions
847-438-4131

To see more featured projects, please visit:

• Historic Peterson House Gets DaVinci Polymer Roof 


• From the Architect's Corner - Historic Projects


• From the Architect's Corner - Museum Rooftops

Purchasing a new DaVinci Roofscapes synthetic shake or slate roof can be a wise investment for any homeowner. Now there's proof that your sustainable roofing choice can have a positive impact on your wallet!

Along with the 50-year roof limited warranty from DaVinci, homeowners are also reporting they're saving on their yearly homeowner insurance premiums thanks to selecting lightweight roofing solutions from DaVinci.

For Sally B. and her family, American Family Insurance reduced their yearly premiums by $1,000 after they selected an imitation shake roof after roof hail damage mandated a change. In Kansas, the Buscher family happily discovered a similar discount situation after installing a DaVinci composite shake roof. Their homeowner premiums were reduced by 40%!

Homeowner Andrew Marenin in Colorado found himself in a similar situation. He replaced his 22-year-old natural cedar roof shingles with a Bellaforté Shake shingle roof and got a discount on his homeowner's insurance from State Farm as a result.

“After my roof had hail damage, my independent adjuster told me we’d save 25 to 30 percent on our annual homeowner’s insurance because the DaVinci Roofscapes polymer roof we purchased resists severe weather, hail and fire,” says Marenin, a resident of Centennial, Colorado. “After seeing my new roof, he was so impressed by its quality and reasonable pricing that he told me he was seriously considering getting this product for his own home!”

Contact your insurance carrier and ask what kind of discount YOU could get from having a designer roof from DaVinci installed on your home. Make sure to tell them that DaVinci lightweight roofing tiles resist hail, severe weather, high winds, insects and fire!

Need more proof that you should invest in an eco friendly roof? See Hail Bounces Off DaVinci Synthetic Roofs.

Look! Up in the sky and on the roof ... is it a bird? Is it a plane? No ... it's SNOW GUARDS!

In many ways snow guards share some of the same powers as the Man of Steel. While they can't leap buildings in a single bound, they can help prevent avalanches of snow falling off your roof and help save shrubbery.

Even during the sizzling days of summer, it's important to remember to add snow guards to your roof. Whether you're investing in a new roof this summer or remembering the snowfalls of last winter, now is the time to make sure snow guards are a priority for your roof!

Fitted snuggly on the lower portion of the roof --- especially over shrubbery and entry doors --- snow guards prevent snow and ice from suddenly sliding down in one large heap. They allow snow to melt slowly so that anything (or anyone!) below is not in danger when the snow melts.

The experts at DaVinci Roofscapes recommend asking your roofing contractor this summer about snow guards. They can be installed easily by a roofing contractor and on almost any roofing material including polymer roof tiles, steep slope roofing, rubber slate roofs, and fake slate roofs.

Made of materials that are designed to endure the cold months (metal or polycarbonate) snow guards come in an array of shapes and colors, so as to match any type of roof.

For more details see Q & A Guide to Snow Guards, Stopping The Snowand What Are Snowguards And Why Do They Matter?

What has 172,000 square feet of space, 16 silos and a train track attached to it? Give up? It's our new DaVinci Roofscapes manufacturing facility in Lenexa, Kansas!

That's right ... we recently moved to a larger location to accommodate the growing demand for our synthetic shake and composite slate roofing products.

Our new location at 13890 W. 101st Street in Lenexa boasts larger office spaces and 15 transportation docks to quickly move out our lightweight roofing materials. Plus, we've made upgrades to the facility (which used to be home to a plastics manufacturer) including a motion sensor lighting system, energy-efficient lighting and a security system.

Our move coincides with our 15th year in business, the move to Lenexa was made possible due to the increased demand for DaVinci manufactured slate and shake alternative products. Steady growth and repeated use of our plastic roofing materials by contractors across the country has led to this expansion.

So, while we say "happy anniversary" to our team, we also offer a huge "thank you" to everyone in the industry who specifies, installs and requests our luxury roof materials. And, CLICK HERE if you'd like to see how we manufacture our synthetic cedar shake and imitation slate shingles!

Dreaming of picturesque outdoor spaces and have no idea where to begin? If you are looking for color inspiration as a starting point, look no further than your rooftop. There are some gorgeous roofing materials that offer a seamless look and great color that can be translated into a wonderful cohesive design for your entire outdoor space top to bottom.

DaVinci Roofscapes offer a wide array of color combinations and textures for your home. Here are some tips to pull together DaVinci’s Multi-Width Slate in Vineyard blend as your starting point for your outdoor spaces.

Vineyard slate blend is a combination of colors reminiscent of beach escapes like one would find on Martha’s Vineyard or out on the Hamptons. Establish this upscale look with a focus on comfort.

Using a soft color palette of creams, tans or buttery, soft yellows you can easily create a Vineyard inspired outdoor space you may never want to leave. Furniture in this motif should be durable with relaxed and weather-friendly materials like wicker or teak. 

Let a lush garden or clear sky-blue pool become that extra pop of color in your space. For additional splashes of color think about adding classic stripes in blue or red to your seating cushions or sunny yellow as an end table.

Amazing Vineyard-inspired outdoor spaces can also have a bit of fun or whimsy. Consider a beautiful wicker hanging chair in either brown or crisp white. This would be appropriate for kids or adults alike and fit in with your color scheme when you add a coordinating cushion.

Focusing on your top to bottom Vineyard-inspired look you can add a great stone bed in your color scheme. This look is best achieved with small pebbles in a carved out area of your space. It sets the tone for seating and creates a sort-of natural outdoor ‘rug’. You could translate this look into a pebbled patio if that better suits your taste.

The Vineyard slate tile roof combined with a palette that complements the look, you can create a timeless, effortless feel that will bring you to the beach days of Summer every time you enter your outdoor space.

For more inspired ideas for you outdoor living spaces see 8 Sure-Fire Ways To Create A Colorful Outdoor Space Part 1 and Part 2.

Taking a lesson from homeowners in wildfire-prone western states, the Stonebridge Log Home community in Todd, North Carolina now requires either DaVinci Roofscapes Shake roofing products or pre-approved wood cedar split shakes for both new construction and re-roofing projects.

“The push towards polymer roofing made sense due to long-term maintenance and safety concerns,” says Shawn Gentry, the developer of Stonebridge. “The wood cedar roofs on our one-of-a-kind homes are vulnerable to fire, decay damage and weather conditions.

“We did our research and found that the DaVinci composite shakes are an excellent alternative to real wood. They have the tile thickness we needed plus the profiles that accurately replicate real cedar. But, most importantly, they resist weathering, insects and decay. The Mountain Blend and Weathered Gray Blend colors we’ve specified for our community perfectly replicate real cedar shingles.”

Another added benefit of the synthetic shake shingles for homeowners at Stonebridge is the peace-of-mind that comes with having lightweight roofing solutions with a low-maintenance luxury roof. “Many of our homeowners don’t occupy these homes during the winter months,” says Gentry. “When they’re away from their homes for such a long amount of time they’re less likely to worry about maintenance needs on the DaVinci roof versus the natural wood shake roofs.”

According to roofer Ken Bowman, a member of the DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor program who installs eco friendly roofs at Stonebridge, the designation of DaVinci shake shingles has been a true success story for the community. “The humid environment we have in the mountains here works against natural cedar shake, giving them a lifespan of perhaps just 20 years,” says Bowman, owner of Blue Ridge Roofing.

“DaVinci gives the residents the look of cedar shake, but with a much longer life span. Also, the product is not combustible and provides better protection from fire than real cedar shake. Since every home in Stonebridge has at least one fireplace that they use actively, it’s not worth the gamble to keep real cedar wood shakes on a roof when the DaVinci product is available.”                 

See Roofer Sees Preference Shift in Roofing Productsfor more insights from Stacey Stines.

If you're like me you hate the thought of jobsite waste. This morning I searched the web to see exactly what the percentages are on both a new home build and a renovation project for waste material. The statistics vary (from the articles and blogs I read anywhere between 20%-35% material waste), but any way you look at it the amounts are staggering. So what happens to the waste? Some of it is recycled, some is free-cycled, but the majority of it ends up in a landfill. The material that a home or building owner has paid for ends up in a landfill. When talking to contractors I often hear a 20% waste reference when it comes to roofing material, but when it comes to DaVinci Roofscapes' lightweight roofing systems, that just isn't true. 

A few weeks ago our VP of Technical Services, Tim Gentry, put out a blog that addresses how to install a designer roof with LITTLE TO NO WASTE (yes you read that correctly).  I think it is important for all architects and designers to read this blog because it highlights not only a major benefit of our products (that you do not need to order 20% extra material per job), but education of ourselves and our customers is key to making an informed purchase. Clickhere to read Tim's blog. 

Happy Friday, Architects! 

After severe hail damaged all 35 condo roofs at the Catawba Shores lakeside community in 2012, the homeowners association vowed not to let costly storm damage impact their homes again.

“The hail damage caught us by surprise," says Jim Packard, president of the Catawba Shores Homeowners Association in Port Clinton, Ohio. "But we quickly learned that real wood shakes just don’t hold up against Mother Nature. The damage was so bad that our insurance company subsidized the cost of all the replacement roofs.”

After researching the community’s options and meeting with a contractor from Industrial Tech Construction and a representative a DaVinci Roofscapes, the Catawba Shores community committed to the man-made Bellaforté Shake roofing tiles.

“We’re all extremely pleased with the authentic appearance of these synthetic shake tiles and how they’ve given a fresh, new look to our condos,” says Packard. “More importantly, we feel we made the right selection with DaVinci since these roofing tiles are impact-, hail-, insect-, algae- and fire-resistant. We estimate that we’re saving more than $10,000 per year on the ongoing maintenance costs from our old roof, and we’ve got the peace-of-mind that these roofs will help protect our units from fire and hail.

Bellaforté Shake composite roofing tiles have a multi-width appearance replicating hand-split real cedar shakes. The tiles feature slanted sawn edges and staggered lengths.

The 12-inch Bellaforté Shake tiles feature multiple profiles that enable roofing contractors to create a staggered appearance that simulates a natural rough hewn wood shake roof. Just as with other DaVinci luxury roof products, the Bellaforté Shake lightweight tiles are 100 percent recyclable and come with a 50-year limited warranty.

See Bellaforté Shake Tiles Generate Four Times More Sales than Anticipatedfor more great news on Bellaforté Shake products!

A better method to use when installing DaVinci tiles in a staggered application is to snap lines on the underlayment and the lay the tips of the tiles to those lines as illustrated below.

In all roof applications regardless of where you are placing your lines, blue chalk is a better choice than red or black. Even though blue chalk can sometimes be hard to get off as well, if and installer drops a red chalk box and red chalk falls out you can have a major disaster on your hands.

Do you have installation questions? Or want more information about DaVinci products? Please contact us via email or call 1-800-328-4624.

Lois Phelps knows how it feels. So does Martha Zechman. Would YOU like to know how it feels to win $25,000 of FREE DaVinci Roofscapes synthetic cedar shake or composite slate roofing tiles for YOUR HOME?

If you'd like to be a winner --- like Lois and Martha were last year --- then check out the August 2014 issue of This Old House magazine and The Great TOH Giveaway. You can register to win a DaVinci Roofscapes Bellaforté Slate or Bellaforté Shake roof.

And, the best news of all is that DaVinci has INCREASED its prize package! This year there will be THREE lucky winners to receive prize packages of polymer roofing products.

This Old House magazine is offering the chance to win more than $727,000 worth of prizes overall in their annual giveaway. Just download the free Blippar app at iTunes to scan the pages of the magazine to enter to win. Or, you can visit www.thisoldhouse.com/win and enter online.

Act fast … you can enter the contest daily between July 1 and September 1 to increase your chances of winning a designer roof from DaVinci!

To learn more about Lois and Martha's exciting FREE green roof systems from DaVinci, see And, the DaVinci Roofscapes Winners Are ...

If you're a regular DaVinci Blog reader, then you've seen stories from Kate Smith of Sensational Color offering inspiration and ideas for adding color to your roof. (Hint, if this is the first time you're hearing about this, then check out New Color eBook Now Available!and The Many Colors of DaVinci Roofs.)

At DaVinci Roofscapes, we appreciate Kate's color insights ... but we also recognize that some people may not feel comfortable with the decision to select a colorful roof. If you fall into this category, then check out these roof pictures from Europe, where colorful roofs abound.

Adding color to roofs isn't a new concept! These pictures show that slate roof colors have a long history in Germany, France and even Switzerland.

Fortunately you don't have to move overseas to get your own colorful designer roof. Just visit the DaVinci Color Studio to use our custom color tool and get started with "painting" your new imitation slate roof or synthetic shake roof from DaVinci. And, if you need more of Kate's assistance and colorful thoughts, check out her blog section of Roof Rap!

We're in the "thick" of summer heat and all around us we're surrounded by picnics, barbecues and poolside parties. No wonder July has been designated National Grilling Month ... along with being National Hot Dog Month and National Ice Cream Month!

While these summer food items get a full month of celebrations, pity the poor French Fry. It only gets a designated day --- July 13 --- for its holiday. But don't despair. National Beans and Bacon Days are July 2 - 6 and National Lasagna Day closes out the month on July 29.

If you eat too much in July, there's always National Hammock Day on July 22 to rest up. And, if you get lazy with food preparations, plan now to celebrate National Drive Thru Day on July 24 and let someone else get your food ready!

At DaVinci Roofscapes we're especially fond of July 6 -12 ... Be Nice to New Jersey Week (because we have some great polymer slate roofing projects in the Garden State) and Everybody Deserves a Massage Week, which is July 20-26. But, overall, we think the winning day for the month is July 27 --- which is Take Your Houseplant for a Walk Day. Go ahead, we dare you!

Last week DaVinci Roofscapes wrapped up another year exhibiting our eco friendly roof systems at the National AIA Convention and Expo located in Chicago. I love the opportunity to work at this show and educate architects and specifiers on the products. So what was on the minds of those who stopped by our booth? Here were our top 3 questions (and our answers!):

1. What are your products made of? This was definitely an expected question and I would say almost everyone (if not everyone) who stopped by to chat at our booth asked this question in one form or another. All our products are made of 100% pure virgin resin (polyethylene) also embedded with UV stabilizers, fire retardants and polymer stabilizers. 

2. Where is this made? Did you hear? Buying things made in America is sort of a big deal (okay a lot of a big deal), and our products are all made here in the USA. In fact, we just moved to a new 172,000 square foot manufacturing facility located in Lenexa, Kansas. In a world where many manufactured goods are imported, people are relieved to hear that we aren't one of them. Click here to take a virtual tour of our plant! 

3. Do you offer continuing education? While most of the credit hours an AIA member needs for the entire year can be obtained through the seminars located at the convention, there was still a lot of interest in what we have to offer. We have 2 courses, available online 24/7 (and for free!) for architects and specifiers. Click here to learn more.

See you next year in Atlanta, Architects!

As the nation celebrates Independence Day, DaVinci Roofscapes is also celebrating. This marks the 15th year of growth for the polymer slate and composite shake roofing company that manufactures all its products in Kansas.

"We've grown a good deal since we launched this company 15 years ago and have recently moved into larger facilities in Lenexa, Kansas," says Ray Rosewall, President and CEO of DaVinci Roofscapes. "We had a good problem --- we outgrew our original Kansas City synthetic roofing materials manufacturing location. Now we've expanded our polymer roofing operations to fulfill the growing requests for our impact- and fire-resistant roofing products."

Started in 1999, DaVinci Roofscapes manufactures award-winning synthetic shake and imitation slate roofing products that are installed on residential and commercial projects. The company offers a wide spectrum of 49 colors in shake and slate roofing tiles along with a variety of unique eco friendly roof color blends. Each roofing tile resists insects, fungus, algae, mold, cracking, fading and curling.

"We're extremely proud that all of our designer roof products are made in the United States and that we can support the economy with the taxes we pay and people we employ," says Rosewall. "We're part of the multiplier effect because our 'Made in America' commitment also means we purchase from suppliers located only in the United States. So, with every sustainable roofing tile we sell we're helping our economy's growth in many, many ways."

May 30th dawned sunny and mild ... the perfect day for our annual community yard sale. Signs were posted, balloons rose above mailboxes indicating which homes were participating in the sale, and our tables were lined up with hundreds of "must have" items for shoppers.

As the initial garage sale groupies arrived at 7:30am to snatch up the "steals and deals" of the day, we were surprised by the first question we got: "What's that roofing material you've got on your house?"

We explained about our relatively new Bellaforté Slate roof and the advantages of synthetic roofing material ... and then calmly pointed the shopper to the sales items.

Less than 20 minutes later we had another person ask us about the roof ... and then another, and another. Soon I was pulling out a few of our leftover imitation slate tiles from DaVinci Roofscapes and handing them out as samples. Every time someone walked up the driveway with their head tilted skyward I'd reach for another lightweight tile and start talking about Things To Consider Before Replacing Your Roof.

During the day we had a woman bring her husband back to see the designer roof (but she didn't buy anything in the sale) and another man ask to take pictures of the manufactured slate roof. At the end of the sale we were $159 richer and had more room in the garage for storage --- especially since we had also given away 23 Bellaforté roofing tiles as samples to our garage sale visitors. Next year we'll make sure to put a price tag on the roof!

How do you know if it's time to replace your roof? How do you find a qualified roofer? And, how do you find a roof that resists fungus and algae? National RoofingWeek from July 6-12, 2014, is the ideal time to gain insights and answers to these roofing questions and so many more!

Organized by the National Roofing Contractors Association, National Roofing Week helps increase homeowner awareness about maintaining and replacing roofing systems. "The roof is one of the most important physical features of the home," says Ray Rosewall, president and CEO of DaVinci Roofscapes. "It's vital for homeowners to routinely evaluate the condition of their roof and make smart decisions on when it's time to replace their roof."

Working with DaVinci Roofscapes, home improvement expert and contractor Mark Clement with MyFixitUpLife has developed several roofing tips for homeowners.

Tips for Evaluating Your Roof

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. These are all indications that a new roof may be in your future.

2. If you have a steep sloped roof or a roof with multiple valleys, hire a professional roofing contractor to inspect your roof. They have the proper safety equipment to accurately inspect your roof and know exactly how to look for rodent and animal damage around chimneys along with worn out areas of the roof.

3. Check the sides of your roof. The southern exposure weathers significantly faster than the other sides of the roof, so make sure to carefully examine this area. Also, shallower pitches weather faster than steeper pitches. So again, if your roof has a shallow pitch --- like a shed dormer --- make certain you can clearly see it to get a true indication of the condition of your roof.

4. If you have a real cedar roof, consider your geographic location. Many West Coast homeowners are proactively replacing these wooden roofs with fire- and impact-resistant polymer shake roofs. Along with helping protect the home from potential wildfires, these roofs oftentimes come with a homeowner insurance discount.

   "If a new roof is in your future, strongly consider one made of composite products that resist impact-, fire- and even insect infestations," says Clement. "For my home, I chose a polymer slate roof from DaVinci with a 50-year limited warranty. This roof will be around longer than me.

   "When you select a polymer roofing product, you're investing in long-term security for your home. In addition to the great look, the roof requires minimal maintenance over the years. An added bonus is that these roofs are so impressive that many insurance companies offer discounts on homeowner insurance to people who have them."

"If you’re thinking about replacing the roof on your home, make sure to invest as much time in finding a qualified roofing contractor as you do in selecting the right roof for your house," says Clement.

Need more tips? See Be Picky When Picking a Roofing Contractorand Who Can Install DaVinci Polymer Roofing?

The popular musical team from the 1970s, Earth, Wind & Fire, were known for songs like "Boogie Wonderland" and "Shining Star." But, with a group name like Earth, Wind & Fire, you have to wonder if they might have really been "wanna-be roofers" in disguise.

After all, this singing team sang about "Reasons" and "System of Survival" which tie in perfectly with the desire of many homeowners for impact-, high wind- and fire-resistant DaVinci Roofscapes polymer roofing tiles. (See DaVinci Roofscapes -1 ... Mother Nature - 0)

Since homeowners these days must deal with severe weather conditions no matter where they live, it's understandable that they'd say "I've Had Enough" and switch to composite roofing. And, when considering the benefits of DaVinci manufactured slate or synthetic cedar shake, those same homeowners may break out into "Got to Get You Into My Life."

Homeowners quickly discover that "After the Love Has Gone" with their older roof products, DaVinci's benefits come shining through, and, dare we say, are a "Shining Star" in the marketplace. The Class 4 impact rated tiles are also rated Class A for fire retardance in the ASTME E 108 fire test. These same durable tiles have the highest ratings for straight line wind testing at 110 mph in the ASTM D3161 test (same as UL 997 Wind Uplift), have passed the TAS-125 certification test for wind uplift resistance in High Velocity Hurricane Zones and passed the TAS-100 certification test for wind driven rain.

Want more reasons to "Keep Your Head to the Sky" and consider DaVinci eco friendly roofing products? These impressive synthetic roofing materials have passed the accelerated weather ASTM 4798 test that replicates 4,500 hours of exposure (the equivalent of six months exposure to extreme temperature conditions, moisture and thermal shock) and have 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.

So, if you're concerned about earthly conditions such as wind and fire that could negatively impact your roof, take a tip from the famous band and sing another refrain of "Got to Get You Into My Life."

Designing an outdoor space that drips with warmth all year round is simple to achieve when you think Sedona style. Mixing the Arizona laid back feel of soothing sunset oranges and muted reds with the bold yellows and turquoise blues of the Southwest creates a space that is both vibrant and relaxing at the same time.

Inspired by elements taken directly from nature and infused with pattern and bold color choice – Sedona style is a perfect selection for any outdoor area.

Create a unified look to your entire home, taking a top-to-bottom approach incorporating one of DaVinci Roofscapes' color blends. DaVinci’s unique color collection Sedona, becomes a complementing palette that will finish off your look and enhance the selections you’ve made for your outdoor space.

Bellaforté Slate in Sedona blend mimics natural clay in oranges, reds and browns – a color palette that would transform your entire space into a warm, visually interesting and inviting spot.

Bellaforté Slate in Standard Blend Sedona

What works so beautifully about this design style is the light and airy sense earth tones create. Accented by lush green or colorful gardens it is perfect for creating vignettes or one large, relaxing area.

Some tips for creating a Sedona style that works:

• Pay attention to the colors of your wood tones in fences, furniture or other areas. Natural elements from stone or earthenware are also welcome additions in this style. It would be perfect to include pots or vases throughout the area.


• Color pops are easily achieved with a Sedona design plan, when you include additional turquoise or greens for added vibrancy. Take note of the little details, like pillows or plantings for an authentic look and feel. This would be the perfect space for that copper or metal fire pit you’ve been eyeing.  Furniture in rod iron or even black painted woods would help to properly anchor your space.


• To keep the warmth glowing year-round, think of installing a beautiful fireplace, if space allows. Soft outdoor lighting and adobe red cushions against warm teak woods will make your space feel intimate, inviting and never boring.

Sedona style is built upon a minimalist approach. Less in more in this genre of design, so select pieces that make a statement – but not too loudly. Going full on southwest with natural stone or stucco walls can be stunning. Be careful not to overdo your ‘theme’ as you don’t want your space to become kitschy – you want subtle hints of this style, not an overpowering feel. Stick to smaller details using chevron pillows or an outdoor rug, rather than full-on pattern and color everywhere.

Colored cushions on your outdoor furniture is a must in this style, as this is your place to infuse brightness and personality. I prefer oranges and reds, but yellow or green could work just as well in this motif. If you decide to use wicker as your texture, stick to dark tones like black or brown. Whites or creams will be too stark for this look.

Sedona style, inspired by the fantastic color palette of the Sedona rooftop, will create on outdoor space that calls you in to sit, relax and stay awhile. When done well, this is a timeless style that will remind you of sunsets, warm fireplaces and nature’s best.

For more inspired ideas for you outdoor living spaces see Outdoor Inspiration From the Top -- The Vineyard Look and 8 Sure-Fire Ways To Create A Colorful Outdoor Space Part 1 and Part 2.

We know you might think of our designer roofs as being used primarily on homes, but at DaVinci Roofscapes we're proud that commercial projects across the country --- from hotels to museums to banks --- also are topped with our polymer roof tiles.

To manage the special needs of architects, builders and roofers dealing with commercial projects, we have a superstar behind the scenes at DaVinci --- Mike Ward. With more than five years experience with our company, Mike is tasked with sharing the DaVinci "value proposition" with commercial project leaders and to support their needs when it comes to finding lightweight roofing solutions.

Want to learn more? Then read on for insights into Mike's commercial world ...

Q: What are several of the most interesting and unique commercial projects DaVinci has been involved in?

A: The State University of New York (SUNY) in Canton, New York immediately jumps to mind. They used DaVinci Multi-Width Slate in mansard applications to update some of their student dorms. (see Towering DaVinci Roofs at SUNY) And, the Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church in Johnson City, New York used our shake alternative materials for their large "onion domes" which are prominent features of the roofing architecture. (see Praying for a New DaVinci Roof).

Q: From a budgetary standpoint, what do developers and commercial project experts need to know about DaVinci synthetic roofing material?

A: One of the best values for commercial projects is the Bellaforté product line. These composite shake and imitation slate roofing products typically fall in line with the installed cost of standing seam metal and stone coated steel products. However, the aesthetics of our sustainable roofing is much warmer and less industrial than the look of metal.

Q: What should architects in particular know about the kind of support they can receive from DaVinci when specifying commercial projects?

A: There's an on-line architectural toolbox on the DaVinci website. It includes product profile photos and descriptions, technical specifications, testing, installation guides and sustainability information. Our local DaVinci reps are also happy to schedule product training sessions for architects at their convenience.

Q: Finally, where can people find you if they're interested in DaVinci products for commercial projects?

A: That's easy. Call 1-888-362-4957 and I'm happy to help!