In my FRESH Home Exterior Colors e-book, there are several references to choosing colors for your home that reflect your personality.

This is because over a couple of decades of speaking to homeowners about color and helping them select colors, I know that they want a look that not only fits their home perfectly but also says something about who they are. During this process I have also discovered that certain colors seem to be preferred by certain types of people.

A traditional green front door with Bellaforté in the classic colors of the standard blend Sedona

Since the front door is the item on a home that offers homeowners the most flexibility in color choice, it is a good place for their personality to shine through. So here is my just-for-fun, non-scientific assessment of what your front door color says about you.

• Black says I'm consistent, conservative and am reserved in my manner as well as my approach to color. My preferred design style is timeless rather than trendy.
   
• White says that I prefer things that are organized, neat and clean. Even if my home isn't always that way, I wish it were.
   
• Red tells the world to "look at me!" I am not afraid of standing out or saying what is on my mind. If your door is red but you are someone that is not as outwardly as bold as this color, you may wish you were.
   
• Blue says you are naturally at ease in most situations and people are attracted to your charming personality.
   
• Green tells the world you have traditional values and enjoy being a member of a community.
   
• Yellow says you have a personality similar to green but is a bit less traditional and likely someone who is a leader or organizer of the group.
   
• Orange says I'm friendly, fun-loving and enjoy a get together.
   
• Purple reveals a free spirit who is comfortable with taking risk, thinking differently and dreaming big.
   

The timeless good looks of a black front door and Bellaforté Slate Black roofing tiles

So how'd I do? Does your front door match my predictions of your personality?

Natural shakes are timeless materials that add a beautiful touch to any home or building. But they also have a down side. Regular maintenance, high costs and susceptibility to rot, cracking, bugs, and more (especially in wet climates) are just some of the factors that transform them into less appealing alternatives. Furthermore, with tighter environmental laws, cedar shake roofing is not always seen as an eco-friendly solution. This is where polymer shake alternatives come in.

Polymers are high performance materials with superior characteristics that outmatch natural alternatives. When made of the appropriate blend of materials, they can last for many years and require very little maintenance. Depending on the type used, polymer tiles are also eco-friendly materials that can be re-introduced into the supply and demand chain without weighing heavily on the Earth’s eco-system.

DaVinci Roofscapes is a leader in polymer roofing materials with a wide range of products to meet specific needs and project specifications. Our polymer tiles are resistant to insect attacks, impervious to freeze-thaw cycles and can easily be selected based on your favorite color preferences. Unlike natural shakes, our products when installed correctly, come with a 50-year warranty and require very little maintenance during this period.

Our materials also come with a Class A or Class C Fire Rating (depending on underlayments used) to help protect your building during a fire. As well, you will not have to treat our polymer shake with toxic substances used on many natural products to improve their fire and pest resistance.

To learn more about our polymer roof materials, email us or give us a call at 1-800-328-4624.
 

When we go to the tradeshows, people are always walking by our booth, doing a double take and then coming over to touch our tiles and see what they feel like. If they aren't familiar with our company, they are surprised that the tiles are not natural slate or wood shake, but polymer tiles. They look so real even in the hand, the next question is, "What do they look like up on a roof?" Our answer, "Even better!". Check out these photos below, provided by DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor Program Member Advanced Exteriors in Denver, Colorado.

So what do you say, can you tell the difference between Bellaforté Shake (pictured in the Espresso blend) and natural jumbo shakes?

During installation, the old shakes are on the left

Completed

Happy Friday, Architects!

We've featured this project before, but the roof is complete, and it's too nice not to show off again! DaVinci Slate in the Vineyard Blend was first installed on the addition built on a couple of years ago and for a while the home had both natural slate and synthetic slate tiles on it. Last fall, the remainder of the slate roof was torn off and our multi-width slate tiles were installed by DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor Program Member Brad VanWeelden Company out of Des Moines, IA. Click here to read an interview with Brad and find out what he has to say about DaVinci.

DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor Program Member
Brad VanWeelden Company
515-979-4772
www.bradvanweelden.com

We need to replace part of the roof over a "mudroom" entrance. We are trying to blend to existing roof and could use your advice regarding color and type of product.

Thanks,

Jeffrey S. Garrett, MD
Pittsburgh, PA
Product: Slate

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Hello Dr. Garrett,

Thank you for the pictures of your home and the current material you are replacing. It does help to give me an idea of your project however I am not completely clear about what part of the home you will be changing the roof on so I am giving you my best match overall.

It appears that the closest roofing tile profile to what you have now is the Valore product.

I have shown two colors in a three-color mix. Dark violet in position #1 and #3, with light violet in position #2. You can see this on the color studio and even play with the mix yourself.

While with the online tool these colors look like the best match, I don't believe they are exactly the right colors to match your existing roof.  I do think they will give you an idea of what the roofing would look like compared to your existing roof since you are going to be seeing the two side-by-side on the home.

In order to find the best two colors to use please compare the sample to the existing roofing materials on your home. I think they are actually more red than our violet and the representative can send you samples to look at against your existing home so that you see it in the position and lighting you will view the roof in everyday. The texture and material is different so you will not get an exact match but you should be able to find something close so it is not too apparent that it is different.

The home is an attractive style and has the kind of detail and look that so many people appreciate. If you decided to redo the entire roof so that you do not have two different materials co-existing on your home it seems it could pay off in the value added and you'd never have to think about the roof again.

I hope that helps you as you work through the process.

Sincerely,

Kate Smith
DaVinci Roofscapes Color Expert

It can be a challenge to select the best colors for the exterior of your home or commercial building.  Factors such as fixed features, regional colors, obligatory colors, environment and surroundings must be taken into consideration to ensure that your choice does not override any existing architecture. How you apply each factor will depend on whether you are working on an existing building or if you are building from the ground up. If you are doing repairs to slate roofs, for example, and want to preserve the current look, color and texture, then you will have to find a material that offers the same qualities.

DaVinci Roofscapes specializes in synthetic slate roofing that is beautiful, fade resistant and durable. Our tile roofs give you the design advantage because with our VariBlend technology we can easily replicate a wide variety of colors to meet your project specifications and personal preferences. Our current slate models include Single-Width Valoré, Multi-Width DaVinci and Bellaforté.

The Single-Width Valoré and Bellaforté slate models are available in the following standard colors: Cambridge, Milano, Sabino, Sedona, Slate Black, Slate Gray, Verde and Villa. The Multi-Width DaVinci is available in Aberdeen, Brownstone, Canyon, Castle Gray, European, Evergreen, Slate Black, Slate Gray, Sonora, Vineyard and Weathered Green. However, you may choose to use any of our standard blends on any of our profiles. Don't see the blend you want? No problem! Visit our online color studio to create your own blend from our 49 standard colors - or send in your own custom color. There is also the possibility to choose from a wide range of Cool Roof colors to reduce your heating and cooling costs while getting Class 4 Impact Rating and Class A fire rating from our products.

If you still have any doubts, then Kate, our color specialist will happily assist you. Send in a picture of your home along with your thoughts and she will provide expert color advice to make your home the masterpiece you are dreaming about!

Roof fire ratings are established by test methods to ensure that certain standards are formalized to protect human life and property. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard E108 is one such test method and materials are classified as a Class A, Class B or Class C Fire rating through this method. Class A is the highest, whereas Class C is the lowest. A roofing product that has Class A Fire rating meets all three requirements which are: ability to resist spreading of flames on surface, ability to resist fire penetration from the exterior to the underside of the rock deck and ability to resist recurring intermittent flame. DaVinci Roofscapes offers manufactured slate tile that has Class A or Class C Fire Rating according to ASTM E108 specifications.

Only materials that will guarantee your safety and the safety of your property and surrounding properties during a fire should be used for roofing. This will help to avoid lawsuits and frustrations from choosing the wrong type of materials. It is also important to be fully aware of specific state laws and see how they apply to different types of buildings and your roofing project.

DaVinci uses polymer roofing materials in our line of products which are: Fancy Shake, Multi-Width Shake, Multi-Width Slate, Valoré Shake and Valoré Slate. The Valoré shake and slate, Fancy Shake and Multi-Width Slate have a Class A Fire rating, whereas the Multi-Width Shake has a Class A or Class C Fire Rating depending on the underlayments used in installation of the product. All products have outstanding performance to guarantee a 50 year roof service life or beyond.  

Know what causes traffic to stop in Thunder Bay, Canada? Homeowner Barry George recently discovered that it was the installation of a new DaVinci Roofscapes polymer roof on his home!

“This product literally caused traffic issues on the main road that fronts our home,” says George. “During the installation process of the Bellaforté Slate roofing we had a steady stream of people stopping as they drove by, plus people just camped out on our front lawn asking questions about the product while it was being installed."

“Today we are the only home within hundreds of miles with this polymer roofing product. However, after all the excitement it’s generated, I’m certain more Canadians will be requesting it soon.”

George selected the DaVinci Roofscapes man-made roofing materials after searching the Internet and doing research for a durable roof that could withstand the tough winter weather of Thunder Bay. His 1938 Tudor-style home previously had cedar shake shingles that were deteriorating.

“I’m extremely pleased with this impressive engineered product,” says George. “It’s got everything we need here in Canada --- a 50-year limited warranty that means I’ll never have to replace the roof again in my lifetime, incredible fire-, impact- and insect-resistance, and the aesthetic look that perfectly fits our neighborhood.”

The Sabino blend of Bellaforté Slate product George selected for his roof features Dark Mountain and Dark Autumn colors that complement the brown tones of his home, including the red/brown brick and brown fascia accents. Bellaforté roofing tiles have all the appearance and beauty of natural slate roofing tiles but with a higher level of durability thanks to the company’s proprietary-engineered polymer roofing formula.

For more information on DaVinci Roofscapes products, email us or call us at 1-800-328-4624.

Turn the calendar page and we’re now in May, which is National Home Improvement Month.

With so many home projects to tackle, where do you start? According to Mark Clement, a professional contractor and host of MyFixitUpLife home improvement radio show, start at the top of the house!

 “National Home Improvement Month in May is the ideal time to shine the spotlight on projects that can make a big difference to both the aesthetic appeal and functionality of your home’s exterior,” says Clement. “Start by looking ‘from the top down’ on your home to determine what projects need to be tackled first. It may be time to add a new roof, replace your windows or door, or even spruce up your home’s exterior with new shutters or trim. All of these projects can add to the curb appeal and overall value of your home.”

According to Clement, checking out the roof should be the top priority for homeowners each year during National Home Improvement Month.

“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,” says Clement. “These are all indications that a new roof may be in your future.

“If that’s the case, research the newer products on the market, such as polymer shake and slate roofing tiles from DaVinci Roofscapes. I selected these impact-resistant tiles for my own home. They’re man-made in a wide variety of colors, are fire- and hail-resistant and have a 50-year limited warranty.”

For more home improvement tips, visit www.myfixituplife.com.

Click here to read full release.

At an 8100 foot elevation the residents of Vail, CO know a thing or two about what the climate can do to the exterior of their homes and businesses. Under a solid blanket of snow in the winter and exposed to some pretty strong UV rays in the summer, choosing a roofing material that can withstand this cycle year after year is crucial.

DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor Program Member Plath Construction of Eagle, Colorado has completed several DaVinci projects over the last several years in Vail (one may call Downtown Vail a "City of DaVinci Roofs") and more recently replaced the roof on the iconic Clock Tower in Vail Village. “The Clock Tower roof might not have made it through another winter with the existing roof,” says Alberto Ortega, vice president of Plath Construction, Inc. in Eagle, Colo. “We got the new DaVinci Multi-Width Slate roof installed in late November just before the start of snow season. These polymer slate roofing tiles resist extreme weather conditions and are basically maintenance-free, so they should last for decades.”

DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor Program Member
Plath Construction
970-328-5515

Does hurricane season find you worrying about your roof? You don’t have to fret so much if you’re using the right types of materials and take the necessary steps to upgrade your roof’s structure. If you live in an area where high winds are an issue, these two factors should be taken into consideration whether you are roofing or retrofitting.

During a hurricane, high speed wind, hail, water and falling debris can damage your roof. Taking steps to ensure that your roof’s truss is adequately built and that (if you have a gabled roof) the appropriate cover vents and bracings are used. The local codes in each state vary where hurricane ready roofs are concerned so getting a qualified contractor to assess the structural outline of your roof can help to prevent unpleasant surprises. Check with your local contractor to get more information about the types of high speed winds and damages that are most common in your area to avoid making the same mistakes.

Many homeowners are now using imitation slate tiles or polymer shakes instead of natural tiles to get longer service life and enhanced structural performance during a hurricane. DaVinci offers composite roof materials that will resist winds of up to 110 mph. Our roofing tiles adhere to the standards of ASTM D 3161 for wind testing and classification. They are also receive Class 4 Impact Rating and Class A or C Fire Rating (with the proper underlayments).

You won’t need to worry about excess roof weight with our materials. With our lightweight roofing materials you can confidently upgrade your roof to get ready for hurricane seasons. If you are building a new home, extra foundations costs caused by a heavy roof are also dispensed with our composite tiles.

 

Planning to attend the annual AIA National Convention and Expo in Denver June 20-22? We are too! Swing by booth #1764 to have all your questions answered, obtain literature and view and order samples of our synthetic slate and shake roofing products. I look forward to seeing you there!

Since its launch last summer, Bellaforté Shake has offered many homeowners exactly what they are looking for - the realistic look of natural shake with the durability of a polymer shake or slate product. This roof, installed by Advanced Exteriors out of Denver, CO, was a shake tear off and replacement. The homeowner chose Bellaforté Shake in the Espresso blend, giving his home a subtle, but noticeable make-over.

Why replace your roof with Bellaforté Shake over natural cedar shake? It's:

• Class A Fire Rated
• Class 4 Impact Rated
• Wind certified to 110 mph
• Mold and algae resistant
• Virtually maintenance free

DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor Program Member
Advanced Exteriors
303-756-7663
 

We are in the process of roof replacement on our 18 year old home. Our intention is to upgrade over our existing material (asphalt).

I have attached a couple photos of our home and hope you can help us determine a pleasing blend to coordinate to the home's body. The current color is Sherwin Williams color: High Tea. The gutters and fascia are black. The window trim is almost a mahogany color.

While we would like some color to our roof, we don't want an extreme contrast, or busy look as well. FYI....we have been somewhat favoring blends such as Aberdeen, Milano, Cambridge. We're just not sure if these make sense.!?

We think the Bellaforté slate's 12 inch format with a 12 inch exposure might look best with this home, but are listening to your recommendations as well.

We appreciate your feedback and look forward to your assistance.

Thank you for your help,
-Bruce
Lawrence, Kansas
Product: Bellaforte slate

    

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

Hello Mr. Byers,

What a neat home you have. I like the details and your color choices. For your roof I am recommending the Bellaforté Shake in the standard blend Abruzzo. I think this color works in well with your High Tea main color and is in keeping with your current style.

While I like the darker scheme of your home I just want to mention one detail that seems to stand out as not flowing with the entire look. That is the stonework around your steps. They seem very light against the home. Possibly it is just that they are in the sun and the rest of the home is very shaded and the two are more the same tone than they appear in the photo. I guessed that they were similar to SW Rice Grain. If this is correct, as you can see that color is in strong contrast to your main color. While some might recommend taking this color to the trim, I think it will change the look and not work for the style you are going after. Instead to soften the contrast you could consider putting some landscaping on each side of the steps so that the contrast is reduced.

Overall the home has a look I think many people will find appealing and even more so once you have your new roof installed.

I hope that helps.

Sincerely,

Kate Smith
DaVinci Color Expert

We are preparing to have a DaVinci cedar shake roof installed. I understand that you will recommend a color. This our home. its a brown stone with gray shutters, but I will likely change the color of the shutters. Than you for your help.

Sherry McNeely
Product: Shake

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

Hello Mrs. McNeely,

It is difficult for me to see the exact colors in the stone of your home but from what I can see and based on you describing them as brown here is what I recommend.

For your home I would suggest the Bellaforté Shake profile. The DaVinci Single -Width (Valoré Shake) profile is too similar in width to your stone.

I also suggest going with a single color tile with natural variations in the color coming from the technology rather than using more than one color tile in your blend. Look at your stone and choose a color that is in the same tone as the darkest stone. The color should be a medium to dark shade. Dark Stone or Dark Tahoe look like possibilities but work with your rep to get samples to look at against your stone to find exactly the color that is a closest match to that dark stone.

For your shutter color you could go with the same tone as the roof only darker or another color entirely. By coordinating your stone and roofing colors you open the door to a whole range of accent colors allowing you to pick one that best fits your personality.

I can already see your home topped with its new roof. I hope my advice helps you to select the perfect color for your home..

Sincerely,

Kate Smith
DaVinci Roofscapes Color Expert

In my FRESH Home Exterior Colors e-book, there are several references to choosing colors for your home that reflect your personality.

This is because over a couple of decades of speaking to homeowners about color and helping them select colors, I know that they want a look that not only fits their home perfectly but also says something about who they are. During this process I have also discovered that certain colors seem to be preferred by certain types of people.

A traditional green front door with Bellaforté in the classic colors of the standard blend Sedona

Since the front door is the item on a home that offers homeowners the most flexibility in color choice, it is a good place for their personality to shine through. So here is my just-for-fun, non-scientific assessment of what your front door color says about you.

• Black says I'm consistent, conservative and am reserved in my manner as well as my approach to color. My preferred design style is timeless rather than trendy.
   
• White says that I prefer things that are organized, neat and clean. Even if my home isn't always that way, I wish it were.
   
• Red tells the world to "look at me!" I am not afraid of standing out or saying what is on my mind. If your door is red but you are someone that is not as outwardly as bold as this color, you may wish you were.
   
• Blue says you are naturally at ease in most situations and people are attracted to your charming personality.
   
• Green tells the world you have traditional values and enjoy being a member of a community.
   
• Yellow says you have a personality similar to green but is a bit less traditional and likely someone who is a leader or organizer of the group.
   
• Orange says I'm friendly, fun-loving and enjoy a get together.
   
• Purple reveals a free spirit who is comfortable with taking risk, thinking differently and dreaming big.
   

The timeless good looks of a black front door and Bellaforté Slate Black roofing tiles

So how'd I do? Does your front door match my predictions of your personality?

After roof hail damage destroyed the 80-year-old clay roofing tiles on his home in 2010, homeowner Dean Imel described the storm as "tennis balls of ice" that pounded his community.

While meeting with his insurance adjuster after the storm Imel learned that the only roofing product in his area untouched by the massive hail storm was the polymer roofing tiles from DaVinci Roofscapes.

"I wanted a product that would provide us with security from future storms while at the same time mimic our original Ludowci Roof Tile," says Imel. "I found both with DaVinci's multi-width Slate tile in a Vineyard color blend of grays, tans, violets, green and amber.

"My wife and I felt that the color blend we selected matched up well with our English Tudor style home. We're exceptionally pleased with the results and I believe there simply is not another product out there that  provides the durability, hail resistance and appearance that can touch the DaVinci roofing product."

Read full story

Hail damaged roof

New DaVinci Slate Roof

Over the past 3 years of working with Bellaforté and inspecting various installations I have observed the following common mistakes.

• Starters installed without a gap: There must be a gap between the starters. While 3/8" is optimal, 1/4" to 1/2" is fine. I constantly see installations where the starters are installed "tight" or without a gap.

• Transition tiles not used: Transition tiles must be used at all metal transition points or where courses need to be adjusted. These can be tiles that are modified on site or purchased specifically from DaVinci. When transition tiles are not used, and the ledge remains on the back of the tiles at these transitions, the underlying materials will cause tiles to appear lifted.

• Incorrect alignment of underlying tiles: The self aligning ledge must lie correctly along the top of underlying tiles. Installers must insure that the tiles are lying correctly. If this is not watched, unsightly gaps and or broken tabs can result.

As well, this video offers some great installation tips and techniques.

By following these tips, your installation will be much easier and look great!

McRay Roofing and Construction out of Oklahoma City knows a thing or two about nasty weather and storm damage. So when they had a client with a tri-laminate roof damaged in a hail storm last year, showing them a Class 4 Impact Rated roof was a no brainer. The homeowner loved the texture of the Valoré Slate roof tiles and chose Slate Black. They installed some copper valleys, copper vent pipes and other copper details and the look was complete. When asked how the roof turned out Jeff McRay, president of McRay Roofing and Construction responded, "It came out beautiful! Here at McRay Roofing & Construction we are just as passionate about bringing out as much beauty to the roof as we are performance and the ability to withstand the Oklahoma weather. DaVinci makes that process a whole lot easier!"

DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor Program Member:
McRay Roofing & Construction
405-692-4000

When we go to the tradeshows, people are always walking by our booth, doing a double take and then coming over to touch our tiles and see what they feel like. If they aren't familiar with our company, they are surprised that the tiles are not natural slate or wood shake, but polymer tiles. They look so real even in the hand, the next question is, "What do they look like up on a roof?" Our answer, "Even better!". Check out these photos below, provided by DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor Program Member Advanced Exteriors in Denver, Colorado.

So what do you say, can you tell the difference between Bellaforté Shake (pictured in the Espresso blend) and natural jumbo shakes?

During installation, the old shakes are on the left

Completed

Happy Friday, Architects!