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

In Todd, N.C., roofer Ken Bowman has been busy. Bowman, a member of the DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor program who installs roofs at the Stonebridge Log Home community in Todd, finds that homeowners appreciate the authenticity of the polymer cedar shake roofs he installs.

“We’ve replaced about 15 of the original wood roofs on homes in this community with the polymer shake DaVinci products over the past several years with widespread applause from all the homeowners,” says Bowman, owner of Blue Ridge Roofing. “The humid environment we have in the mountains here works against natural cedar shake, giving them a lifespan of perhaps just 20 years.

“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.”

Each DaVinci Shake roofing tile is made of virgin resins that include fire retardants, state-of-the-art color and ultraviolet stabilizers and inorganic pigments that are safe for the environment. Each tile is completely recyclable and selecting the polymer roof tiles over wood shakes helps save trees.  

Cheery yellow, bright red and crisp white have their place as exterior colors, but classic black might be just the color if you want to really stand out from your neighbors.

A DaVinci Roofscapes slate black roof can be a great choice or maybe you prefer the front door or shutters painted black.

 But, would you ever consider it for your entire exterior? Do you think that sounds spooky or haunted? Then think again.

Any style home is a candidate for a deep black exterior but on small homes it can really turn them into something special. Lauren and Kiby Zerbey, two architects chose black when renovating their 1910 fixer-upper in Seattle.

Modern and sleek buildings really speak out loud when you paint exterior black. Maybe that is why it was the color chosen by Swedish Architect Peter Sahlin for his winter weekend home.

A hot–colored door really pops against a black backdrop. The door on this home designed by r.o.i. stands out and says, "welcome!"

Even an older home can be brought into contemporary life with dramatic tones of black richness.

Black is a wonderful heat absorber and can be a great green choice for reducing heating costs. This residence built in Kansas City, KS by Studio 804 was built for energy efficiency.

So, are you still scared of the dark? I hope not because even if a black exterior isn't right for you it is always very beneficial if you can put aside your color biases and be open to all of the possibilities when choosing the colors for your home.

Improving your home not only increases its market value, it also enhances curb appeal and the likelihood of getting attention of potential buyers quickly if you decide to sell in the future. You may be able to manage simple changes on your own, but it is highly recommended that you get a remodeling professional or a contractor to guide you in the more serious endeavors, like a roof.

Here are some helpful steps you should take into consideration:

• Plan:  Starting a home improvement project without any clear plan is a recipe for disaster. Planning allows you to find the best materials and see home trends that are being used. It also helps to keep a lid on your budget by knowing how much of your resources will be allocated at different stages of the project. Always look into different designs and products to see how your current home can be adapted to implement these changes.

• Examine: Does your home need minor or major improvement? A trained professional eye can guide you to the right answer for this question. You need to carefully examine all the major areas of your house: roof, walls, siding, windows, doors, garage and gutters to see where need to be improved. You should also take the interior of your home into consideration when doing a home improvement project.

• Adhere: Maybe you want to use shingles or go for a cedar shake roof, but are these allowed? Check with your Homeowners Association (if you have one) to see which improvements are permitted. You will avoid many frustrations if you do.

DaVinci Roofscapes is excited to see all the improvements you make to your home in May! Be sure to share your projects with us - we would love to see all the new DaVinci composite slate roof on your rooftops.

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

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

Happy Friday, Architects!

Can’t seem to find a contractor for your roofing and siding needs? Don’t worry, we can help! Simply click on the option “locate a contractor” at the top our website, complete the form and submit it to us. Our team will help you find a member of the DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor Program to install our imitation slate tiles or shake alternative. We work with professionals that fully understand the unique qualities of our products and are dedicated to providing top quality service to home and building owners.

Our blog also features regular interviews with contractors who have used our products. You can read their feedback and get more details about their project profiles to identify similarities with your project and professionals you can hire. If you can’t seem to find the right contractor, then our support team will gladly help you in your search for a qualified contractor that can install our polymer roof tiles.

Most contractors that have experience with synthetic roofing materials or with installing natural cedar shake will be able to install our product. You can take the time to review the product brochure we send to familiarize yourself with our products until you find a contractor. Our website also has customer reviews. You may be able to find a contractor by yourself after you read customer stories. Helpful details from these stories will make it easier to build confidence in a contractor.
 

As a home or business owner, one of the most important aspects of your home or building is your roof - it protects everything underneath it. And a roof that has been damaged and is in need of repair or replacement is never welcomed.

But how do you know whether the roof just needs a repair or when it needs to be completely replaced. To help you determine to repair or replace, here are 4 things to consider when making your decision:

1. Weather: How is your roof holding up to the elements? Are you experiencing leaking water on the inside of your home or business? If you have recently experienced a hail storm, hail damage can cause enough damage that your entire roof needs to be replaced. Or sometimes just a few tiles need to be replaced. Think about the recent weather in your area and contact a local roofing company to inspect the damage.


2. Type of Roof - What sort of roof do you have on your home? Asphalt shingles and cedar shakes usually do not last as long as slate roofs, for example. So depending on where you live, what the product is, etc, you will want to consider the age of your roof when making your decision.


3. Curled or Cracked Shingles - Sometimes with weather, shingles can curl and crack - if this is happening all over the roof, then it's time to replace it, whereas if it is only happening here and there, then you can have the individual shingles replaced. A licensed professional roofer will be able to help you make that determination.


4. Look - You hate the look of your roof - you're trying to make the home of your dreams and the roof just isn't cutting it. Whatever your luxury roof dreams are - it's up to you whether or not you'd like to replace it.

DaVinci is a great alternative to natural slate and shake roofs - and with a 50-year warranty, it will probably be one of the last roofs that you put on your house!

Did you decide to replace your roof with our DaVinci composite roofing?  We want to see photos and here your story - please submit it here.

Even a good idea can sometimes go wrong. Matching your roof color to your brick is certainly a good idea. Trying to match the color too closely is a good idea gone wrong. While the roofing color might have seemed like the right choice, it overwhelms this home and is keeping the homeowners from showing their true colors. Time to get the red out!

These homeowners wanted to create a storybook cottage starting from the top down with a DaVinci Roofscapes Multi-Width Slate in the standard color blend Aberdeen. They liked the variety of subtle colors and could begin to imagine the look of a home in the English countryside with all of the technological improvements of American-made products.

Their essay pulled me into the dream and I knew that I could make it come true. First I crowned this cute home with the DaVinci Roofscapes slate tiles they desired … and that was just the beginning.

Next I added an updated front door. I chose a Therma-Tru Classic-Craft Canvas Collection door with Lucerna glass doorlite. A full doorlite or solid door could also be nice choices. For the color on this smooth, paintable fiberglass door I picked out a color from the roof tiles and turned up the intensity just enough to stand out but not fight with the color of the brick.

The windows on each side of the door were the same but not symmetrical on the facade. Rather than seeing this as a problem I considered this an opportunity to add a bay window on the left to balance the front of the home and add an element that I thought would fit with the homeowners vision of their remodeled home. Both picture windows were replaced with Simonton vinyl windows with white frames and colonial grids added to the double hung windows on each side.

I replaced the windows on the dormers with similar Simonton casement windows that also had the colonial grids. To give the dormers more presence I added the Fypon dormer kit to each of the dormer windows. Around the entry door, Fypon pilasters enhance the appeal of the entryway to the home.

The colors I chose for this home need to be subtle and blend with both the brick and roof tiles. A neutral color is the perfect background when you want to have other features take center stage as I did with this home. A neutral color can also downplay a feature you don't want to have stand out as much, like the chimney. In white it drew too much attention away from the facade of the home. In a neutral hue that blends with the darker tones in the roof it adds to the look rather than distracting from it.

This was the same reasoning behind painting the garage door neutral to match the body of the home rather than the trim. The bright white big door was competing for attention from the front entrance. Plus, to continue the storybook look I added a Fypon Smooth White Trellis System over garage and this stands out much more now that the garage door isn’t white.

Another finishing touch was to place a white garden trellis against the left side of the home. I can already imagine it covered with beautiful, colorful blossoms.

I'm enjoying the results of this renovation. Isn’t it the perfect happy ending to the homeowner's dream for a storybook cottage?

Paint colors from Sherwin-Williams:
SW6973-Perfect Greige
SW6070-Heron Plume
SW6027-Cordovan
SW6005-Folkstone

Come back tomorrow to get the inside story on another of the makeovers of the “Shake it Up” Exterior Color Contest Finalist.

If you watch the news, then no doubt you have seen the horrific images of wild fires terrorizing people's homes in California recently. Unfortunately, it seems like every year we see such images from more and more.

If you live in a wild fire prone area, then you might be interested in finding a roofing product that has a great fire rating, like a DaVinci roof.

If you like the look of shake, for example, but know that wood is probably not one of the smarter materials to put on your home because of where you live, you might be interested in our cedar shake alternative. Made to look like the natural version of wood shakes or shingles, our shake product is not made of wood at all. In fact, it is completely made out of 100% virgin polymer or a plastic.

In the video below you can see a 15-year old cedar shake roof deck tested to Class A Fire Test standards against DaVinci Roofscapes synthetic hand-split shake.

Our shake product isn't our only product that has these kinds of results - if the slate look is more your thing, then you'll love our imitation slate tiles that also have the same fire rating.

What are some of your concerns when it comes to wild fire season and your roof?  Please feel free to leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts.

It was love at first sight and this homeowner didn't hesitate to take the plunge with her Old Kentucky home. The first blush of admiration unfortunately wore off as the realities of living with an older home set in. Time for renovation to step in and rescue this relationship!

The homeowner dreamed of a classic slate roof, windows that didn't let the in cold winter wind and a front door that would warmly welcome her home. I knew just how to bring the spark back and give her the classic look she desired. Here’s how I turned this relationship from high maintenance to one of pure joy.

I began by replacing the roof with a Bellaforté Slate polymer roof by DaVinci Roofscapes in Slate Black. The size of the tiles are the right proportion for the scale of her home and the 50-year warranty means she won't have roof problems plaguing her relationship ever again. I bet she is going to love knowing she has a secure roof over her head.

Then to keep the cold from getting between them I replaced the windows with energy-efficient Simonton replacement windows. I chose the white exterior frames and white colonial grids. Designed to let in the maximum amount of light while keeping the cold air out, these premium vinyl windows are a much-needed improvement to this home.

A Therma-Tru Classic-Craft Canvas Collection front door with sidelights and transom with Longford glass style is what I chose to replace the existing front door. There is no need for the storm door with this energy efficient fiberglass door so the full, eye-catching color of the front door invites you inside.

At this point the Old Kentucky home was already regaining its charm but I wanted to make sure that the “wow factor” never wore off again. Adding Fypon urethane Louvered Shutters with Center Rails added just the contrast this facade needed to give it a more stately appearance.

To woo this homeowner back completely the pièce de résistance was the portico. I knew it would capture her eye and warm her heart every time she looked at her home. It was created with PVC sheet and board products from Fypon, which resist rot, moisture and insects, so it will look as good years from now as it does today.

Who wouldn't fall in love all over again with a home that promises to keep you comfortable every day and looks this good?

Shown with Valspar Paint Colors:
Black Tie-J100-4D 
Rich White 30022A
Cocktail Dress ar126 Signature

Come back tomorrow to get the inside story on another of the makeovers of the “Shake it Up” Exterior Color Contest Finalist. And if you missed yesterdays inside story you can see it here.

If you're a roofing installer and think you've seen it all and tackled the craziest jobs imaginable, then visit Europe!

While on a recent trip, I took these pictures of some very unique roofing projects that I wouldn't have wanted to be involved with. From onion-shaped domes to an all-roof barn in Holland, these projects make me very glad for simple, everyday roofing projects.

While my inclination was to start tearing apart the tar paper and wood board roofs (coated in green algae) I saw by the waterside, calmer heads prevailed and I simply took these pictures ... happy the entire time that when I got home to my polymer Bellaforté Slate roof in the United States I'd be certain to find no algae and no headaches!

John Lennon and Paul McCartney might not agree, but I thought this home’s rendition of “Help” was worthy of a renovation.

Here is what I heard this home singing loud and clear in its best off-key voice,

“When I was younger, so much younger than today, I never needed anybody's help in any way. But now those days are gone, I'm not so self-assured. Now, I find it's time to change my windows and need to open up the doors.

Help me if you can, I'm feeling down and I do appreciate you being round. Help me, get my millwork all around. Won't you please, please help me, help me, help me ... and our house!”

It wasn’t the age of this home that had it feeling down, it was a case of the wrong style covering up the authentic beauty of the arts-and-crafts exterior.  Time to strip this home of those mismatched pieces and give it a look that was true to the home’s style. I wanted to give this home a reason to change its tune.

I started by removing the “over-wrought” white front door. In its place I chose a Therma-Tru Classic-Craft American Style Collection fiberglass entry door stained in cedar with a doorlite and sidelites in the Villager decorative glass style.

Then off came the shutters and it was as if the home breathed a sigh of relief because it would no longer have to try to be something it wasn’t.  I smiled as I saw the life coming back into this home.

Decorum by Simonton vinyl replacement windows with Chocolate exterior frames along with new urethane timber square pot shelves beneath each window from Fypon had the look of what would have been used originally on this home. Urethane Timber Stained Brackets above the door and near the dormer window added another arts-and-crafts accent to the home.

The columns on the front and side porch were a detail I wanted to highlight so I gave them a new look with Fypon’s popular Column Wraps. I also replaced the privacy lattice on the side porch with a stained grid work that complimented the other elements of this home.

The DaVinci Multi-Width Shake roof in New Cedar that includes a combination of five shades of cedar colors was the perfect choice to connect the colors in the door, windows, brick and trim. The “top down” color added to the home by the roof made it the ideal selection for this structure.

I thought about keeping the overall scheme tonal because it has a simplicity that was becoming but I thought that after wearing the wrong “wardrobe” for so long it needed some color. The muted teal accents over the door and window areas was all that was needed to complete the exterior and got this home belting out its own pitch-perfect version of, “Love, love me do!”

Come back tomorrow to get the inside story on another of the makeovers of the “Shake it Up” Exterior Color Contest Finalist. And if you missed the Monday or Tuesday inside story, click here for Monday and here for Tuesday.

Exorbitant roof maintenance costs can really dig a hole in your bank account. Added to this is the worry and stress of knowing that your roof may not be giving you the protection it should.

You won’t have this problem with DaVinci polymer roof tiles and here’s why:

• Durable: Backed with a 50-year warranty and made from a high grade polymer, your roof will stand the test of time. As well,  you certainly won’t need to worry about roof hail damage with our Class 4 impact rating. Designed to resist winds of up to 110mph, your roof will stand up to harsh weather conditions without showing glaring signs of wear and tear.

• Eco-friendly: DaVinci polymer roof tiles are 100% recyclable and are available in Cool Roof colors to boost energy efficiency.

• Insect Resistant: Unlike wood that cannot withstand insect attacks, our Multi-Width, Fancy, Bellaforté and Valoré tiles do not rot and are not susceptible to insects.

• Fire Resistant: With a Class A fire rating, your roof will safely resist fires without causing harm.

Not to mention a few added bonuses:

• Beautiful: Yes, they are pretty to look at! Our roofs will complement all the fixtures and fittings of your home or building without being burdensome on the structure. They blend well in any community setting whether with modern or older architecture.

• Flexible Coloring: We have 49 standard colors and also give you the option to send us your own color. This makes it easy to align your decor, building or renovation plans with what works best for you.

• Easy to Install: With our easy to follow installation guides, any professional roofer can install DaVinci tiles.

DaVinci takes pride in our composite roofing products and we're confident with our roofing tiles many features, you really can’t go wrong .
 

Self-described as the “white sheep in a family of tied-dyed sheep” I had a hunch that this finalist in our “Shake it Up” Exterior Color Contest, who usually opted to play it safe with neutrals, was ready for color on the outside of his home. I also thought he would have an easier time moving out of his neutral color comfort zone by seeing the rendering of his new look before the first change was made.

With that in mind, I jumped right in with changes I thought were needed to shake up his home knowing that once he saw the end result as a completed scheme, adding color wouldn’t be intimidating.

I couldn’t replace the roof fast enough. That dark, dingy color was weighing down the whole home. Without changing anything else, a new Tuscano color blend of Bellaforté Shake from DaVinci that includes a combination of four shades of autumn colors would change the entire feel of the home. Then I added some brown metal roofing as an accent over the porch.

The new roof alone improved the looks of this home considerably. I could almost have stopped there. However, this “white sheep” deserved to see other options for adding color to his exterior.

I traded his “same-old” windows for Decorum by Simonton vinyl replacement windows with Chocolate exterior frames that coordinated with the roof color. The windows were enhanced with Chocolate grids to unite the colors, which is a great way to add color especially for those who are a bit hesitant with hues.

A Therma-Tru Classic-Craft Canvas Collection fiberglass entry door with sidelites in the Rainglass privacy glass style was an update for the entry. The current door with contrasting trim seemed almost dwarfed by the windows and porch roof. To counteract this illusion I painted both in Black Spruce to help the door stand out more.

Several new low-maintenance urethane pieces from Fypon added architectural details to make the home more distinctive. I started with a new balustrade system and then added raised panel shutters to accent the windows. Finally, dormer trim kits were added to enhance the windows on the second story.

I stayed neutral for the body and trim color of the home --- not because I thought the homeowner would shy away from color --- but because it was the best choice as a backdrop of all the other changes.

Call it my color intuition but I feel confident that just below the layer of white that this homeowner has tie-dye colors just waiting to emerge.  In fact, I don’t think he’s even waiting for the renovation to show his new colors. Is that Jimmy Buffet music I hear coming from the backyard?

Come back tomorrow to get the inside story on another of the makeovers of the “Shake it Up” Exterior Color Contest Finalist. If you missed the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday stories, just click the day you missed - happy reading!! 

Are you a building or design professional in need of a continuing education credit? Look no further! We have two courses available 24/7 and free to take at your leisure.

The FRESH Approach to Choosing Exterior Colors

The course provides an overview of the FRESH Approach, as laid out by Color Expert Kate Smith. The 1 hour course gives designers a strategic method used for the selection of colors for the exterior of buildings. The course focuses on both residential and commercial design considerations, and details the steps to follow in the color selection process to achieve a harmonious design. It is worth 1 HSW credit.

The Design Advantages of Synthetic Roofing Solutions

The more technical of the two courses, this course provides an overview of the features and benefits of slate and shake synthetic roofing products, including a discussion on the testing methods used to rate specific performance characteristics. It is worth 1 Sustainable Design (SD) credit.

Happy learning (and Happy Friday), Architects!

Giving their “old maid” a new look befitting a southern lady was what this homeowner had in mind. Perfect! I knew just how to give this old gal’s façade a more youthful appearance.

The existing high contrast of the black and white was not the most becoming choice. I wanted to soften the contrast starting right at the top. Rather than a black roof I opted for Bellaforté Slate roof from DaVinci in Slate Gray.

Decorum by Simonton vinyl replacement windows with Bronze exteriors and grids were added to enhance the exterior and complement the roof. These energy-efficient windows will also keep this lovely lady from feeling too hot or too cold.

I chose Brandon Beige as the main color for the home’s exterior because it added warmth and helped hide any imperfections that come along with age. The white trim was kept  to show off the architectural details. Rather than bright white for the trim, I decided on Ballet White because it was slightly muted and has the same undertones as the main color. While there is still contrast between the colors it isn’t as stark as the original black and white found on the exterior.

I wanted the most noticeable contrast to be on the lower entry door, a Therma-Tru Classic-Craft Collection fiberglass door. It was painted a lovely shade of cool blue called Britannia Blue and flanked with Granite privacy sidelites from Therma-Tru and Fypon low-maintenance urethane fluted pilasters with plinth blocks. A crosshead over the door adds more ‘grandness’ to the main entryway. This combination of color and detail will draw the eye and give focus to the façade.

For the upper floor porch area, a Therma-Tru Classic-Craft Canvas Collection door with a large Granite privacy doorlight was specified to add light into the second floor. This top porch area --- and the lower porch --- will also receive elegant Fypon Classic 12” Balustrade Systems.

Lastly I selected Fypon louvered shutters with center rails painted in Westcott Navy to accentuate the new windows. This blue is similar to what was used on the front door but several steps darker. This carries the color across the front of the home but doesn’t upstage the front door.

The slate gray, bronze, warm beige and cool blue were just the combination of colors needed to turn this older lady into the belle of the neighborhood. No doubt the former Governor’s place and the home of Davy Crockett’s son down the street are going to notice that this gal has still got it!

If you missed the Monday, Tuesday,  Wednesday, or Thursday stories, just click the day you missed. Now you have seen all five finalists... Who will you vote for?

As a homeowner you are heavily vested in keeping your home beautiful and increasing its market value for an eventual sale. Often, special attention is paid to curb appeal by investing in the right materials, the right colors, and spending a lot of time to enhance the exterior of your home. But how do you know which products to choose to add that value to your home? This is a challenge most homeowners face because the different features of products on the market are often times confusing and hard to follow and understand. DaVinci Roofscapes polymer roofing simplifies the whole process!

We manufacture an easy to install luxury roof system that adds value to your home.  Our slate and shake products include single-width Valoré, multi-width DaVinci and Bellaforté profiles. There are 49 standard colors and multiple color blends to get your preferred eco-friendly roof. Simply put, the sky is the limit with your imagination when it comes to our roofing product.

Can’t find the roof color you want? No problem! Our color specialist, Kate Smith, will simplify the whole process for you by using the revolutionary FRESH approach to select the best color for your needs. This is a simple five step process where key fixed features, regional colors, environment and surrounding, style of home and have-to-use colors are carefully analyzed to choose the best hues.  

We also have an online color selection tool to mix and blend your preferred colors. And finally, contact one of our Project Specialists to help you find a qualified contractor and get additional assistance in creating your Masterpiece!  
 

This product literally caused traffic issues on the main road that fronts our home. During the installation process 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.

I’m extremely pleased with this impressive engineered product. 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.

It seems that we’ve started a trend in our neighborhood!

Barry George
Thunder Bay, Canada
Bellaforté Slate - Sabino Blend
 

Having a career in the design field, I always appreciate the input of other design professionals. Along with making recommendations for the roof, Kate’s suggestion for changing the color of our main entry door validated that the entire home exterior needed to be cohesive. Now we’re working on final touches like lighting sconces and softscaping, and then we’ll have an entirely fresh exterior for our home!

I’m not sure anyone has ever created this custom blend of grays and purples before, but it’s perfect for our home. I wouldn’t change a thing about this experience. We now have a roof we can depend on to resist future severe weather along with colors that embrace the full aspect of our home. Thanks to that one hail storm, our house looks better than ever before!

Mercedez Tylock
Multi-Width Slate in TX
 

Back in the days when I was still a roofing contractor I spent a big part of my day measuring jobs for re-roofing. By the time I drove to a location, inspected the roof, and measured it I could spend a lot of time. Now days of course there are several different satellite measuring services that are very helpful. Their accuracy is typically very good and they give you a lot of very excellent information. This service usually costs somewhere between $60 and $90 and well worth the money. Obviously there is some information you can’t get from these services. For example, you can’t tell whether there are multiple roofs that need to be removed, whether ventilation is adequate, or whether the decking has problems.

There is another service that you can get for free if the job is an easy roof, you’re in a hurry, and only feel like you need to be reasonably close in your estimate. Here’s how:

Get on your computer and pull up Google Maps. In the lower left-hand corner there is some text that says “maps labs” which you should click on. When the Google Maps Labs Screen pops up enable the Distance measurement tool. Once it is enabled press save changes. With that done you should pull up an address of a house in Google Maps. Then you should zoom into the location as far as you can. Down in the left and corner of the map there is a little ruler. Click on the little ruler and then you can click on one spot and when you click on another spot you have a measurement. Make sure you have the measurement in feet and not meters.

I’ve checked this on a few houses and found this technique to be reasonably accurate. You can get a street shot by clicking on the little man and that lets you determine whether you think the roof is walkable or not.  Whether you’re measuring for a designer roof or another material, I certainly wouldn’t rely on this technique for all jobs, but in a pinch it is useful.