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From the Architect's Corner - Come See Us Next Week at Construct 2015!


Featured Project - Nichols Hills, OK

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Let's say you wanted a new, wood shake roof. So off you go looking for a product that will meet your needs. You live in an area susceptible to storms so these shakes have to have a high wind and impact rating. Also, one of your friends pointed out that wood shakes are sort of a fire hazard, so you'll need to find something with a high fire rating. Come to think of it, you don't like the way your neighbor's shake roof has faded and curled and has what looks like little patches of moss growing on it, and wait!? Didn't they just install it a few years ago, isn't it supposed to last longer? After all this, you realize...these features just don't exist with natural cedar.

The folks over at McRay Roofing already know this and they are likely to recommend that you go with a composite shake product by DaVinci Roofscapes. The product shown here is just a small part of an enormous roof where McRay Roofing out of Oklahoma City, OK installed Multi-Width Shake in the Mountain Blend. They will tell you that polymer roofing products, like Multi-Width Shake by DaVinci, are Class A Fire Rated, Class 4 Impact Rated, Wind Rated to 110 mph and come with a Lifetime Limited Warranty. Also, the polymers used are resistant to mold and algae growth, ensuring your roof isn't the eye sore of the neighborhood. 

McRay Roofing & Exteriors, LLC
405-692-4000
www.mcrayroofing.com

 

For DaVinci Composite Roofing, Remember the Membrane!

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Autumn nights are just starting to offer cooler temperatures, but it's already time to start thinking about how your roof will handle weather conditions this winter.

If you're having a new roof installed during these comfortable months prior to the start of ice and snow season, and live in an area where your temperatures can fall below freezing in the winter, then remember to select a premium self-adhered membrane. This "protective layer" helps prevent the buildup of potentially damaging ice dams on your roof and overhang areas.

At DaVinci Roofscapes, we require self-adhered membrane be installed from the bottom edge to two feet above the exterior wall line on all eaves in areas where ice dams are possible. DaVinci requires a self-adhered membrane in all valleys regardless of temperature. For Bellaforté products DaVinci requires self-adhered membrane on all gables and all around roof projections Tim Carter with AsktheBuilder.com, who recently installed a DaVinci manufactured slate roof on his New Hampshire home, says he chose the Grace ice and water shield® product because it was a premium matchup for his new luxury roof from DaVinci.

Our recommendation is to review your options and select the self-adhered membrane that works best for your designer roof project --- but don't eliminate this necessary step. Ice dams can cause serious damage to a composite slate roof or simulated shake roofing, so you should take every step to avoid their creation.

Installing a premium self-adhered membrane is one good step toward eliminating this concern ... and another step is to keep the attic well ventilated and insulated. The attic temperature should stay as close to the outside temperature as possible.

For more information on installing composite roofing products for cold weather areas, see Common Winter Weather Roof Woes.

When the Winds Blow ...

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Al and Pam Ruggirello were away in Europe on vacation when a freak storm hit Traverse City, Michigan --- and their home --- on August 2.

The National Weather Service reports 28 severe weather warnings issued on that day in the area, with winds reaching 100mph. Hail up to four inches in diameter was recorded in one part of the city. Straight-line winds accompanied by severe thunderstorms resulted in thousands of downed trees and power lines.

"Our neighbors called to tell us about the storm and how some shingles had blown off their roof," says Al Ruggirello. "We had just had our DaVinci Roofscapes polymer slate roof installed earlier this year, so we had confidence that our home would be protected.

DaVinci SlateSlate Roof"We had trees down on the property but our roof held up exactly as I thought it would. Hail, high winds and driving rain didn't impact the composite roof at all.

"I feel that I've made the right choice having the DaVinci roof installed. It not only looks great, it also is doing its job in helping protect our house from the most significant storm this area has ever seen."

Ruggirello isn't the only homeowner to enjoy the benefits of imitation slate roof materials during severe weather. See Homeowner "Lucky" to Have Roof Hail Damageand Hail Bounces Off DaVinci Synthetic Roofs for more homeowner insights!

 

Go Ahead ... Ask Us a Question!

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You've heard it before .... "there's no such thing as a stupid question."

Well, just in case you didn't believe that statement, then today is YOUR day. It's officially "Ask a Stupid Question Day" and we're ready to help.

At DaVinci Roofscapes, we've heard it all: "do you bring the roofing tiles in with a helicopter and drop them on the roof?" and "will your polymer roofing tiles melt in the sunlight?" are two questions that make us smile. The answer to both is a firm no. And, before you ask, no, we don't melt down crayons to get our beautiful 50 different roofing colors! (See DaVinci Crayons for the Roof)

In case you have questions (which you consider stupid or otherwise) about composite roofing from DaVinci, click HERE to be connected with our website's FAQ page. And, because we know selecting the right color for your designer roof is important, we also have a dedicated Color FAQ page that you can connect with 24/7.

You'll find that DaVinci has the answers to all your questions related to synthetic roofing material. From imitation slate tiles to composite shake to details on how to create an eco friendly roof, we're here to help. So, go ahead and ask us a question. We've got the answers!

Save $$$ With an Eco-Friendly Roof

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One of the many celebrations taking place in October is Energy Awareness Month. It's a time to look closely at your energy bills and figure out how you can make changes to your home that will help reduce costly monthly bills.

Here's a hint: Start at the top of your home.

Eco Friendly RoofBy selecting EcoBlend polymer roofing tiles from DaVinci Roofscapes for your designer roof, you're choosing tile roofing that is ENERGY STAR® compliant. (See DaVinci Roofscapes Products Earn ENERGY STAR® Rating) These hard-working tiles can actually help reflect sunlight and heat away from your home, which can help increase the energy efficiency of your entire structure.

EcoBlend polymer roof tiles come in eight color options in simulated shake roofing and imitation slate tiles. These include Weathered Gray (in Medium, Medium Light, Medium Dark, Light and Dark) and Gray (in Dark, Light and Medium) colors.

The truly great news about this composite roofing product is that EcoBlend roofing shingles can help property owners improve the comfort of the structure and mitigate global warming.  

Now let's talk savings. According to the Cool Roof Rating Council, homeowners can recognize an average energy savings ranging from seven to 15 percent of total cooling costs by using a cool roof that helps reduce temperature fluctuations inside the home.

Celebrate Energy Awareness Month this year by becoming more aware of how green roof construction using EcoBlend composite roofing can help you save on your energy bills.

Still have questions about green roofing options? Then check out our  What is EcoBlend? story.

When Hurricane Joaquin Comes Knocking, DON'T PANIC

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From the Carolinas up to Maine, the East Coast is bracing for the unknown path that Hurricane Joaquin will take when it greets the United States in the next few days.

Severe Weather

No matter which route it takes, one thing is for sure --- there will be plenty of RAIN. Some areas are getting forecasts for feet of rain projected instead of inches. If you're in one of those areas, don't panic.

Start by listening to your weather forecast and taking the precautionary safety advice of local officials. Then, click HERE for a listing of other storm prep considerations from Tim Carter with AsktheBuilder.com.

When it comes to your roof, DaVinci Roofscapes also has a few other pieces of advice:

  • If your roof is damaged in a storm, try to note the date and exact time that the damage takes place. Your insurance company will need this information.

  • Take pictures of the damaged roof and then get it covered immediately to prevent water from entering your home.

  • Contact your insurance company quickly. Share the pictures with them. Don't hire an outside contractor or roofer to make repairs until your insurance company gives approval to do so. In many cases an adjuster must come to your home to make an evaluation before any repairs can be made.

 

One of the major concerns during a hurricane is damage from flying debris and tree limbs as a result of strong winds. (see Prepare Your Home for 2013 Hurricane Season) While it's too late to get new impact-resistant composite roofing in time for this storm, do consider making the investment soon --- especially if you have an older roof that won't hold up to severe weather conditions. 

From the Architect's Corner - "Do You Have Any Examples of _________________"?

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The great thing about this blog is that we can regularly feature projects so that we almost always have a project to point to when somebody calls and says, "Do you have any examples of ____________ (fill in the blank) that you can show me?". So we can definitely check the next four Featured Projects off the list - a historic clock tower, a residential project using the very colorful Vineyard Blend, a roof in Oklahoma that needs to stand up to the highest wind and impact standards, and a Bellaforté Shake roof that was a natural cedar shake tear off project. 

Featured Project - Vail, CO

Polymer Roof Tiles

Click here to read how this luxury roof tile has transformed the Vail Village skyline. 

 

Featured Project - Des Moines, IA

Composite Slate

Click here to read about this project and the phases it took to complete the job. 

 

Featured Project - Greenwood Village, CO

Fake Cedar Shake

Click here to read about this natural shake tear off and re-roof project in Colorado. 

 

Featured Project - Oklahoma

Fake Slate

Click here to read about this impact resistant roof in Oklahoma. 

To see more of our projects, visit our media room and browse through our project profiles.

Happy Friday, Architects! 

 


Shopping for a New Roof? Check out this Video!

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Need helpful tips on selecting a roof? It doesn't get any easier than this! Just click HERE to see a short four-minute video from Allen Lyle of Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford as he offers tips to matching up the right roofing tile with your needs.

Allen's a pro at understanding roofs. He brings years of contractor experience to this video and offers questions you can ask yourself when selecting new roof tiles. He also provides options for roofing systems, including polymer roof tiles from DaVinci Roofscapes.

"The polymer slate and composite shake tiles from DaVinci are so reliable that many insurance companies offer homeowners a discount when they use these lightweight roofing systems," says Lyle. "If you're shopping for a new roof, then you should definitely consider polymer roofing."

For more tips, see the Unlimited Possibilities video and How to Find a Contractor.

National Do Something Nice (For Your Home) Day

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October 5th is National Do Something Nice Day. It serves as a reminder to us all, as it is easy to get caught up with hectic schedules and fast paced lifestyles, to stop for a moment and do something nice. Most of us are nice everyday so today get a little creative and do something extra nice. You never know what a big impact a small act can have in someone's life. 

But why limit your thinking to just someone when you could also include something as important as your home to be nice to. Doing something nice for your home is also doing something nice for you and your family. These are five nice things you can do:

1. Choose the right roof. Your roof places a major role in the overall appearance of you home. The right roof not only protects your home but also adds to its style. If you need help on selecting the perfect product and color we are here to help you find the right roof for your home.

2. Update the front door. A door of a different color or replacing it with a style can go a long way in improving the look of your home. Match the door to the architectural style of your home. Then give it personality by selecting a color that blends with the overall looks but pops as a focal point for the front of your home.

3. Give you entrance special treatment. Place flowers or furnishing near your entrance so that it says, "welcome" to your guest before they even enter your home.

4. Add lighting or update your light fixture. Again find fixtures that match your home's style. By lightening up your exterior you make your home more inviting and safe plus you accentuate the architecture and give your home more dimension at night.

5. Improve the look of your garage doors. In most cases I recommend painting the garage doors to match the main color of the house rather than the accent color to help them blend in rather than overwhelm the front of a home. Investing in updated doors can do wonders for a home with a garage that is a big part of what you see.

For even more ideas see my 20 Sure Fire Ways To Create Curb Appeal infographic and guide for you to download.

Also grab your free copy of FRESH Home Exterior Colors: 5 Steps for Finding the Perfect Hues for Your Home. It will walk you through how to "Do Something Nice (For Your Home)!" today and everyday!

Sleep Secure with Composite Shake Shingles Overhead

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"Burn, Baby Burn" is definitely NOT the theme song for the 2015 Fire Prevention Week. Instead, it's a very sensible message of "Hear the Beep Where You Sleep."

Fake Shake RoofWhile the National Fire Protection Association focuses primarily on fire safety within the home and the strategic placement of smoke detectors, it's important to also think about keep your home exterior safe from the spread of fire.

If you have real cedar roof shingles, you should be extra cautious. Wood shake roofs tend to have a faster flame spread than simulated shake roofing. The video showing fire testing of cedar shake roofing compared to composite shake roofing materials from DaVinci Roofscapes (click HERE to see video) shows that in less than 15 minutes, a real cedar shake roof can completely go up in smoke ... whereas a Class A Fire Rated DaVinci  fake cedar shake roof doesn't tolerate flame spread.

Here's the important message during Fire Prevention Week: composite shake roofing from DaVinci looks like natural cedar shake, but it has a Class A fire rating that proves it resists burning. That's especially important if you live in drought-stricken areas of the country where wildfires are prevalent.

For more details on composite roofing that refuses to burn, see Help Deter Wildfire Spread with DaVinci Class A Fire Rated Polymer Roof Tiles.

Colorful Ranch-Style Homes

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Known for their long and low architectural style, Ranch homes can be sprawling masterpieces just waiting for the right colors to showcase their design. Kate Smith, chief color maven with Sensational Color, recommends starting with the roof tiles to add color to these sometimes rectangular-shaped homes.

"The roofing systems really dominate most L-, U- or asymmetrical Ranch-style homes," says Smith. "That means a homeowner has a large palette just waiting for color. Multiple colors combined in a composite slate or synthetic shake roofing blend, like those I've seen from DaVinci Roofscapes, can help set the overall color tone for a Ranch home."

Because many older Ranch homes are made of brick, Smith recommends identifying the colorcast of a brick exterior before deciding on the color for the roof. (See Try "Top Down" Approach to Unify a Home's Exteriorfor more hints!)

Fake Slate
 

"If a home has brick siding, that's really a fixed feature to play off of," says Smith. "A classic red brick works well with Black simulated slate roofing, while bricks with brown tones can be accented strongly by Brownstone blend of imitation slate tiles. For bricks that have a more grayish tint, a Slate Gray blend composite shake roof would be ideal. The same considerations should be taken if you have a walkway or pavement in these colors."

Working down from the top of the home, Smith suggests that, since there are usually an abundance of windows in one-level Ranch homes, that trim around the windows and shutters are the opportunity to add color to the exterior. "A mid-tone from the main color, like a deep green or harbor brown, can help windows pop," says Smith. "Generally shutters that are as dark (or darker) than the roof color will also move the eye vertically upward, making a single-story home feel taller."

Smith notes that for many Ranch-style homes the front door does not really stand out. To draw attention to the door, consider adding a contrasting color that fits with the overall color scheme. "This is a great time to paint a door burnt orange or red velvet," says Smith. "That type of subtle bright color will catch the eye."

Unique Design Uses DaVinci Roofscapes Shake on Top and Sides of Colorado Church

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Soaring 86 linear feet into the air, the steeple for the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Centennial, Colorado is just one of many impressive features of the sprawling church complex. Built in three stages starting in 1980, the contemporary style church has an interior design like the center of a rose, stained glass windows and a roof system that dips down along the sides of the building.

Real cedar shake shingles were originally installed on the roof, steeple and sides of the structure. These were replaced in 1990 after receiving extensive roof hail damage. Now, after an extensive product search that included "looking at every type of roof material possible," Bellaforté Shake and DaVinci Roofscapes Multi-Width Shake create a united look on the church exterior. An Autumn blend of brown tones was selected to complement the church's design and setting.

"We learned our lesson and were not about to put cedar shakes on our structure again," says Jim Wolfe, a 30-year member of the church. "Our committee of nine people now understands every potential roofing product on the market after our exhaustive search.

"We selected the DaVinci products because of their aesthetics and resistance to impact and hail. Because our previous roofs were destroyed in hail storms we placed special emphasis on finding a top-quality roofing product that would have a 50-year limited warranty. We don't want to deal with this issue again in our lifetimes."

To learn more about other churches relying on polymer shake and synthetic slate roofing from DaVinci, see Historic Oklahoma City Church Gets Fire Brick Red Polymer Roofand Praying for a New DaVinci Roof.

 

From the Architect's Corner - Come See Us at the Texas Society of Architect's Design Expo

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Are you a member of the Texas Society of Architects? On November 5th and 6th be sure to swing by booth #738C and see what is new with DaVinci Roofscapes. This year we have our new Single-Width Slate and Bellaforté Slate profiles on display as well as the rest of our lifetime roof options. Hope to see you there! 

Stylish Snow Guards

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Function and style combine on the new roof at the U.S. Post Office in Tahoe Vista, California.

When it came time for the owner of the building to replace deteriorating cedar shake roofing, he turned to DaVinci Roofscapes for a long-lasting solution. Class A Fire Rated Bellaforte Shake composite shake shingles in the Tahoe Blend (what else for this Lake Tahoe area?) were installed on the roof along with a variety of snow guards.

Fake ShakeSince the Tahoe area routinely receives 170+ inches of snowfall each year, making sure snow didn't avalanche off the roof of post office and fall on customers was a top priority. Durable snow guards from Rocky Mountain Snow Guards were installed around the entire perimeter of the structure. However, at key entryways, golden eagle snow guards from Sieger Snow Guards were added to give a distinct patriotic style to the structure.

The sturdy snow guards on the post office help evenly distribute melting snow and reduce the chance of snow accumulations sliding off the roof as a "sheet of snow." (Need to know more? Check out On Guard for Winter Weather ... with Snow Retention System)

While the eagle snow guards are the perfect touch for this government building, there are also a variety of other designs that can be purchased from snow guard manufacturers across the nation. Old World styles and fleur de lis designs, the maple leaf and sunbursts are also popular decorative options used in conjunction with synthetic roofing material.

No matter what style you select, the important thing to remember is that if you have composite roofing and live in an area prone to snowfall, make sure to order snow guards. They can help break up melting snow and protect your landscaping, walkways and foot traffic.


Selling Your Home? Start with Curb Appeal!

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Designer RoofIf you're selling your home, look outside before focusing on the interior. That's the advice of realtors who say that many home buyers won't even get out of their cars unless they like the way the house looks from the street.

“Today, buyers can be choosy. Overgrown bushes, peeling paint or faded shutters are enough to stop some people from even getting out of the car,” says Joanne Meredith-Nolan, real estate sales agent with Laffey Fine Homes.

DaVinci Roofscapes. Offered in 50 standard colors and a multitude of color blends, these hardworking composite roofing products are impact- and fire- resistant and are backed by a lifetime limited warranty.

Working your way down the home, make sure the siding, shutters and trim are in very good shape, making these upgrades before putting your house on the market.

“No buyer wants to look at a home and think that the first thing he or she will have to do is paint, or replace rotting wood trim or deteriorating cedar shakes,” says Meredith-Nolan. “Low-maintenance products like vinyl or fiber cement siding, polyurethane trim pieces and polymer roofing all look great and have salability that can be passed on to buyers who don't want the hassles of long-term maintenance.”

Check out 20 Sure Fire Ways To Create Curb Appealfor more curb appeal tips!

Restaurants and Retailers Rely on Dependable Composite Roofing

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Polymer SlateWhat do the retail stores Old Navy, Banana Republic, Chico's and Talbot's in Charlottesville, Virginia have in common? They're all in the Barracks Road Shopping Center --- and they all rely on the DaVinci Roofscapes polymer roofing overhead to help protect them from severe weather!

From restaurants to banks to shopping centers, thousands of consumers each day walk into retail facilities and never realize there's a designer roof overhead from DaVinci.

In Chesterfield, Missouri, the upscale Edgewild Restaurant and Winery boasts DaVinci composite roofing, as does The North Face store in Victor, New York. Westwood Plaza in Omaha, Nebraska features 70 stores and dining experiences ... all housed under a DaVinci Multi-Width imitation slate roof in the Vineyard blend of colors.

 

Fake Cedar Shake RoofA variety of specialty dining locations across America are also topped with lightweight roofing materials from DaVinci. Captain George's Seafood Restaurant on the Outer Banks of North Carolina selected simulated shake roofing in a Mountain blend when it was constructed several years ago because of the ability of DaVinci synthetic shake to stand up to severe weather conditions, salt air and sea spray. Further inland, Yesterday's Restaurant in New Jersey selected Class A Fire Rated synthetic slate roof shingles when the owners rebuilt after a devastating fire in 2010.

From the Ole Liberty Station restaurant in Bedford, Virginia to Paces 88 American Bistro at the St. Regis Hotel in Atlanta, commercial project owners and builders are selecting imitation slate and shake alternative roofing materials from DaVinci. They've discovered what savvy homeowners already know ... that these sustainable roofing products bring beauty, peace of mind and easy care to their retail projects from coast to coast!

Looking for more unique commercial projects with lightweight roofing tiles? Then see Colorful DaVinci Roofs Help Businesses Stand Out and Condos, Churches and Colleges ... Oh My! 

Say Farewell to Scary Energy Bills with an Eco Friendly Roof!

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Composite RoofingBoo! There's plenty to be scared of in October. After all, this is Bat Appreciation Month, October 25th is Mother-in-Law Day (and also Sourest Day!) and we close out the month with Halloween.

One thing you don't have to be frightened of this month ... the possibility of getting your roof replaced before winter weather sets in. That's not scary at all ... in fact, replacing your old, worn-out roof with an EcoBlend roof from DaVinci Roofscapes can actually help you cut down on daunting high energy bills this winter.

Since October is also Energy Awareness Month (and International Magic Month!) we wanted you to know that you can make your energy bills magically drop when you get an EcoBlend eco-friendly roof installed. That's because EcoBlend polymer roofing tiles have achieved the Cool Roof designation from the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC).

Our EcoBlend composite roofing tiles help reflect heat and light from the sun away from the home to help reduce the amount of energy it requires to keep the home cool. The roof literally stays cooler and reduces the amount of heat conducted to the structure below. That translates into improved energy efficiency and helps your HVAC unit doing a better job of heating and cooling the entire home. (See What is EcoBlend?  and Save Energy with Cool Roof Colors)

According to the CRRC, homeowners can recognize an average energy savings ranging from seven to 15 percent of total cooling costs by using a Cool Roof that helps reduce temperature fluctuations inside the home. And, that's a treat no matter what the season!

Loyal to Royals!

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Blue champagne? Absolutely! That's what we believe should be flowing in our famous Kansas City fountains today after the Kansas City Royals beat the Houston Astros last night in Game 5 of the American League Division Series.

KC RoyalsOur hometown team now advances to the American League Championship Series on Friday to play the Toronto Blue Jays. (Sorry Jays ... we laid claim to the royal blue color first!).

The 7-2 victory last night tasted sweet to loyal Royal fans, including all of us at DaVinci Roofscapes. Since our manufacturing and headquarters location is located in Lenexa, Kansas (just an easy baseball throw away from downtown Kansas City for pitcher Johnny Cueto), we're all solid Royals fans at DaVinci.

When similar excitement reigned over our city last year, we offered to add a new Royal Blue color to our impressive array of polymer shake and composite slate roofing tiles if our team won the World Series. (See Blue October in Kansas City!) We're making the same offer again this year! If our Royals go all the way and win the World Series in 2015 we're ready to add Royal Blue synthetic roofing tiles to our lineup.

Go Royals!

From the Architect's Corner: Utilize Your Local Support

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I work with architects every day, offering all the support I can over the phone or via email, all from my office inside the DaVinci Roofscapes manufacturing headquarters. In most markets in the US and Canada I work in tandem with a local DaVinci Sales Representative as well. His or her job also includes working with the design professional on the specifications for your projects, assisting with sales presentations to your clients or design review boards, and providing product education. Aside from that, knowing your local luxury roof expert will ensure you have accurate pricing information, referrals to local contractors, and up to date samples and materials for your library. Contact me today to set up an appointment with your local DaVinci representative.

Happy Friday, Architects!

Bellaforte Shake
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