The signs of autumn are everywhere --- pumpkins, scarecrows and barns with DaVinci Roofscapes polymer roofing!

Yes, that's correct. In Canada there are several beautiful old red barns being refurbished with polymer roofing from DaVinci, showing another unique use for our simulated shake roofing tiles.

In Ponoka, Alberta, a homeowner decided to have Woodchuck Roofing Ltd. replace her worn out cedar roof shingles with Bellaforté Shake tiles in a Weathered Gray blend. "Alberta is notorious for massive hail and crazy storms as well as harsh winters and hot, dry summers," says Charles Busque with Woodchuck Roofing. "DaVinci roofing materials are ideal for this environment."

Bellaforté Shake is also the choice of another homeowner in Bentley, Alberta who is replacing the cedar roofing on her 100-year old barn.

"This barn was previously used for housing Chuck Wagon thoroughbred horses and has now been turned into a workshop," says Corey Rosta with Monarch Siding & Roofing Centre. According to Rosta, the Autumn blend of synthetic shake roofing was selected for this historic barn.

No matter which way the winds blow this autumn, these barns are now ready for the chill to set in thanks to the durability of Bellaforté Shake. At a one-inch average tile thickness, these polymer shake shingles are reminiscent of jumbo shakes. For more details on impressive shake alternative roofing products from DaVinci, see Invest in Your Roof.

Break out the pocket warmers and the heavy-duty work gloves. Temperatures are dropping and that means getting yourself and your crew ready for cold weather polymer roofing installations!

The good news is that, even if the temperatures drop below freezing, you can still install DaVinci Roofscapes simulated slate roofing and composite shake tiles. Actually, synthetic roof materials from DaVinci can usually be installed in temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

While you might resist installing other roofing materials in temperatures this cold, bundle up, because our products can handle frigid weather.

DaVinci's carefully-formulated imitation slate and shake alternative roof tiles aren't brittle (like plastic roofing materials are thought to be). They're actually made to remain flexible in very cold temperatures. Even in bone-chilling cold temperatures, you don't have to worry about excess breakage of the designer roof tiles due to cold weather conditions.

Of course, we do have a few tips to share. First, if you're using a pneumatic nail gun for installing our roof tiles, make sure the pressure isn't set too high. Second, make sure that our DaVinci shake alternative and slate roofing tiles have been stored flat, and are flat when installed. Third, You must make certain that the space between tiles is at a very minimum 3/16”. And, most importantly, use extra personal care when working in cold weather conditions. That means staying focused, keeping those pocket warmers handy and making sure to stay safe up on the roof!

Need more tips on installing synthetic roofing material in cold conditions? Check out Freeze/Thaw No Trouble for DaVinci Polymer Roofingand Winter Roofing Installation With No Worries.

Here's a riddle for you. When does a roof not look like a roof? The answer ... when it's a mansard roof application!

Mansard roofs run vertically instead of horizontally. While they could be confused for siding on a structure, they're really an extension of the roof ... just in an "up and down" fashion.

At DaVinci Roofscapes we've seen our polymer shake and simulated slate roofing product used on several unique mansard applications over the years on college dormitories, restaurants and other applications. (See Towering DaVinci Roofs at SUNY). The latest project is a unique house being created in upstate New York.

The "Suplina Home" was designed by architect Andrew Geller fifty years ago. His granddaughter Nancy and her husband Andrew are building the home (with some up-to-code changes) to mark the golden anniversary of the design.

The house was inspired by a sailboat, so one of the design features is mansard-type roofing applications.

"After thoroughly investigating current roofing materials on the market, we feel that the DaVinci cedar shakes (outside of real cedar) are the only material her grandfather would have approved of and actually embraced for this design," says Scott Adams. "Geller was as much an artist as he was a designer and architect, so we can't help but think he'd approve of a product named DaVinci!"

The Autumn blend of DaVinci Single-Width composite shake tiles are now being installed in the mansard application --- and on the roof --- of this unique home. Stay tuned for updates on the Suplina Home and more pictures as we share with you this exciting home design using our synthetic shake roofing!

Color is a fundamental component of curb appeal and can make your home either stand out from the pack or blend in nicely with its environment. But you’re not alone if you’re unsure how to incorporate color to make your home look its best.

“Many homeowners are afraid to add color to their home exteriors because they don’t want to make a mistake,” says Kate Smith, chief color maven of Sensational Color. “No one should feel locked into blah or standard colors though.”

The roof is the best place to start when considering color for your home. Consider opting for colors that complement the home’s architectural style or give a nod to a particular era in design. (See 50 Shades of DaVinci)

A blend of two to eight colors in composite shake or simulated slate roofing is a great way to shake things up. At DaVinci Roofscapes you can find a variety of colors to choose from. We offer 50 standard colors including diverse hues like dark amber, smokey gray and light violet. Plus we offer ways to customize personalized color blends! Just check out the DaVinci Color Designer Tool. 

DaVinci Roofscapes is all about COLOR. From their color studio to the 50 colors in unlimited combinations they offer and all of the color insights and advice they have allowed me to share as their color expert over the years their appreciation for color shows.

National Color Day is also all about COLOR. October 22nd is a day set aside for celebrating the color-filled world we live in. It is also a day to learn how colors influence our mood, productivity and behavior in our everyday lives. So rather than talk about how to choose color for your roof or other elements of your home exterior I wanted to give you a glimpse into the meanings that colors convey.

The psychology and symbolism of each color has a profound impact on the choices you make consciously, unconsciously and subconsciously. Below is a quick look at some of the most common associations for each color.

Yellow shines with optimism, enlightenment, happiness and carries the promise of a positive future. Yellow can instill optimism and energy, as well as spark creative thoughts.

Orange sparks more controversy than any other hue and true orange elicits a stronger “love it” or “hate it” reaction. Fun and flamboyant orange radiates warmth and energy.

Red is inherently exciting and the amount of red is directly related to the level of energy perceived. Red draws attention, and a keen use of red as an accent can immediately focus attention.

Pink combines the passion of red with the purity of white. Bright pink has the same high energy as red; softer pinks are associated with romance, sweetness, and a desire for the more carefree days of childhood.

Purple embodies the balance of red’s stimulation and blue’s calm. With a sense of mystic and royal qualities, purple is a color often well-liked by very creative types.

Blue is the overwhelming “favorite color.” Blue is seen as trustworthy, dependable, and committed. The color of ocean and sky, blue is perceived as a constant in our lives.

Green is the pervasive color in the natural world and we are so used to seeing it everywhere. The natural greens, from forest to lime, green is tranquil and refreshing. Green is the color of peace and ecology.

Brown says stability, reliability, and approachability. It is the color of our earth and is associated with all things natural or organic.

Gray is the color of intellect, knowledge, and wisdom. It is perceived as long-lasting, classic, and often as sleek or refined. It is a color that is dignified, conservative, and carries authority.

Black is authoritative and powerful; because black can evoke strong emotions, too much can be overwhelming. Black represents a lack of color but also is associated with prestige, high quality and sophistication.

White projects purity, cleanliness, and neutrality. Doctors don white coats, brides traditionally wear white gowns, and a white picket fence surrounds a safe and happy home.

I hope you enjoyed this short color break. If you want to learn even more about color psychology, symbolism and meaning I invite you to visit my website SensationalColor.com. Now back to our regularly scheduled blog post about color for your home.

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Here is a round up of the latest residential project featured on our blog. Enjoy!

Featured Project - Little Rock, AR

When deciding on a roof color did you know that the first step is to take the fixed features (in this case the brick and siding) into account? Click here to read more about this project. 

Featured Project - Birmingham, MI

New Construction is nice to see! Click here to to read more about this two side by side polymer slate projects. 

Featured Project - Avon, CO

Did you know that you can use solar panels with our synthetic slate roof shingles? Click here to read more about this project located in Colorado.

Featured Project - Fort Scott, KS

Have you ever liked something so much you've bought another one? Click here to read how this homeowner first bought a DaVinci roof for her main house and again for her lake cabin.

Happy Friday, Architects! 

Our newest product, Bellaforté Shake, was made to fit in with the terrain of Victoria, BC. Aesthetically, the look of jumbo cedar shakes and natural color blends fit in with the surrounding buildings and homes. Performance wise, being near the water has virtually no effect, and problems that plague natural shake shingles won't affect our polymer shake roof tiles, namely algae and mold growth, and premature deterioration. 

Just ask Custom Roofing out of Victoria, BC what products they would recommend for your home on Vancouver Island and they will tell you DaVinci Roofscapes. They recently installed this Bellaforté Shake roof in the Tahoe blend. 

Custom Roofing
250-882-8357
http://customroofing.ca/

Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Centennial, Colorado needed help. Their roof, steeple and sides of the building complex had all suffered hail damage and needed to be replaced.

During the search process the church committee met with Francis Ruesta, a sales consultant and estimator for Horn Brothers Roofing out of Denver, Colorado. Having completed 22 DaVinci Roofscapes composite roofing installations within the past eight months, the company was quick to recommend the company's product as a solution for the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church.

"We install so many DaVinci roofs because the product is so impressive," says Ruesta. "With this project it made sense for the Bellaforté Shake to be used on the roof and for the Multi-Width polymer shake to be used on the steeple and for the siding.

"The logistics of working safely on the 86-foot high steeple were amazing. We hired a 110-foot lift to make that part of the project go smoothly. We also needed to work around several pieces of stained glass, custom skylights and old copper fittings. Now that it's done, the church complex looks just remarkable. We could not have achieved that look with any other roofing/siding product on the market."

From the church's prospective, the finished project is a stunning success. With snow fences and snow guards added above all key pedestrian walkways and landscaping, the church is ready for its first round of winter weather.

"We got the sense right from the start that the goal from everyone at DaVinci and Horn Brothers was that they planned to do this project right," says Jim Wolfe, a 30-year member of the church. "This polymer roofing product looks very close to the original wood shake we had, which was a major goal of ours. However, we know this composite roof is going to perform better than real cedar shakes.

"It's especially fun to watch the reaction of our church members as they see the roof. It's so realistic looking that half of them believe we used true cedar shakes. Because we invested the time to research all the roofing options available we're convinced we selected the very best product for our church. Now we're set for future generations."         

We don't like to brag ... but ... it IS Self Promotion Month ... and Let's Talk Month. So, this is the perfect time for us to point out that DaVinci Roofscapes Single-Width Slate was named one of the top 100 products by readers in the August 2015 issue of Professional Builder magazine!

What makes our slate product such a stand-out winner?  We think builders are taking notice of our new slate profile with a more authentic quarried look.

"A significant amount of time and energy has been invested in design improvements to create slate tiles with thicker, more realistic profiles that accurately replicate genuine slate," says Ray Rosewall, president of DaVinci Roofscapes. "The edges of these composite slate tiles now have a more quarried look to them.

"Deeper impressions in the fake slate tiles make them appear thicker, even though they're the same weight as the previous imitation slate tiles. This is just one example of how we're continually refining our products and making improvements that enhance the overall aesthetical appeal of DaVinci polymer roofing products."

The refined profile is produced in eight unique 12-inch slate tile variations and are included in DaVinci's blended bundles, including all color and blend options for Single-Width Slate. And, stay tuned, because our Multi-Width Slate and Bellaforté Slate roof tiles  (see DaVinci Slate Profiles) will all soon have this terrific new look!

Like a grown-up dollhouse, Victorian-style homes are created of steep-roofed turrets, grand entry porches with decorative trim, arched windows and ornamental shutters --- and lots of color.

According to our color expert Kate Smith in FRESH Color Schemes for Your Home Exterior, the colors historically found on Victorian homes were inspired by nature. "These colors ranged from light browns, tans and greens to darker, muddier colors," says Smith with Sensational Color. "Today's Victorian homes are known for brighter color combinations. Using contrasting colors allows the many decorative elements in a Victorian style home to be visually separated from one another.

"Starting with slate roof tiles, Victorian-style homes tend to break color rules ... yet in doing so they stand out for their whimsy and beauty."

Smith points out that one of the easiest ways to add colorful roof accents is by selecting fake slate shingles, like those offered by DaVinci Roofscapes.

"A custom red and gray blend of composite slate tiles on a home that has siding and trim in brick red, sage green and even accents in refined turquoise may look like trouble on a home --- but for a Victorian-style house they're a perfect fit," says Smith. "The famous 'painted ladies' in San Francisco are a great example on how colorful, attractive and exciting the exteriors of Victorian homes can be for a neighborhood.

"Every little element and decorative detail on a Victorian exterior is an opportunity to add color. With all home styles I always recommend a 'top down' approach. Start at the roof and work your way down adding color. With a Victorian-style home this means you can let your imagination go wild with tasteful colors that combine to create a 'wow factor' on the exterior!"

Can't get enough of Victorian-style homes? Then see this story:Vintage Home Gets Custom-Color Roof

October is Self Promotion Month ... and at DaVinci Roofscapes we've got a lot to promote!

Along with our incredible Lifetime Limited Warranty, we've got test results that show our polymer roofing product is exceptional at resisting severe weather, impact, hail and fire. Our composite shake and imitation slate roof tiles are ideal for all areas of the country, on both residential and commercial projects.

And here's a big bonus --- we have synthetic roofing material to fit the needs of every project and wallet.

Here's a fast overview of our full product offering: 

DaVinci Multi-Width Slate: Our multi-width profile is available in 12", 10", 9", 7" and 6" widths with 1/2" tile thickness at butt and 1/8" thickness at tip.

DaVinci Single-Width Slate: Available in 12" tile widths, the 1/2" tile thickness of this slate is twice the thickness of other synthetic slate tiles. Our VariBlend technology is used when creating this tile to form slightly varying shades from tile to tile for an authentic slate look.

Bellaforté Slate: A high performance, interlocking shingle that has superior wind resistance. Bellaforté tiles are 12" in width with 1/2" tile thickness at butt and 3/8" thickness at tip.

DaVinci Multi-Width Shake: Available in 9", 8", 7", 6" and 4" widths that can be installed in a non-repeating fashion in either a straight or staggered pattern. A deep 5/8" profile has both wavy and straight grains throughout the blend to create enviable shadow lines.

DaVinci Single-Width Shake: 9" shake alternative tiles resemble hand-split cedar shake roofing. The 5/8" profile deepens shadow lines replicate real cedar roofing.

Bellaforté Shake: The 12" tile width with multiple profiles simulates a multi-width, staggered rough hewn wood shake. And, at 1" average tile thickness, Bellaforté Shake designer roof tiles are reminiscent of natural jumbo shakes.

Fancy Shake: With a clean, smooth look replicating machine-sawn shake, these 7/16" thick shake shingles provide a polished beauty for your roof. Available in 12", 7" and 5" widths with bundles arriving at the job site pre-sorted by color and size, eliminating on-site sorting and guesswork.

Need more details on sustainable roofing? See 2015: Are There Polymer Shakes in Your Future?

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! 

This week's TV line up is chalk full of all of our favorite shows' Halloween episodes. If you're a cable junkie (as I am) you've probably noticed that every channel is turning spooky for the week and running mystery shows, ghost stories, and featuring other strange or scary places or events

So, in that spirit, today's post is going to feature the spookiest DaVinci Shake installation I know about Jean Bonnet Tavern - in Bedford, Pennsylvania. A 1760s historic landmark, the tavern is said to be haunted. Several ghost sightings and odd events have taken place in this tavern. If you are willing to be a little creeped out, click here to read some of the folklore surrounding this tavern!

Back in 2006 the owner of this establishment, Melissa Jacbos, contacted me about putting a composite shake roof on the gift shop and (a few months later) the tavern she owned. She was interested in something that was Class A Fire Rated and was easier to maintain than natural shakes. The building is a registered national landmark so complete authenticity was required. A synthetic cedar shake roof, in the Weathered Gray blend, was purchased and installed without any interference from the ghosts that frequent the restaurant (so they must approve)!

Happy Halloweeen everyone!

End-of-year bills getting you down? Here's a way to save ... invest in durable polymer roofing and you may be able to save significantly on your yearly homeowner's insurance premiums. (SeeNew DaVinci Roof = Cash in Your Wallet)

“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 Andrew Marenin, a resident of Centennial, Colo. “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!”

Homeowner Kathy Bradshaw had the same positive experience when she and her husband decided to invest in composite roofing. "Because these tiles are fire resistant and can stand up to severe weather conditions, we’re able to save on our homeowners insurance,” says Bradshaw. “And, one of our neighbors was so impressed with the look and quality of the roof that they’ve scheduled to have Bellaforté tiles installed on their home this month.”

With a lifetime limited materials warranty, DaVinci synthetic shake and imitation slate roofs bring more than beauty and reliability to your home --- they may also bring extra savings to your wallet!

Need more incentive? SeeHappy Insurance Awareness Day!

How sweet it is!!!! Our beloved hometown Kansas City Royals have won the 2015 World Series with an impressive extra-innings rally that brought us a royal win with a score of 7 to 2.

In just five games the Royals brought home to us what loyal Royal fans have dreamed of for almost three decades --- a memorable, impressive and overwhelming win on the field.

Kansas City fountains have been spouting blue water for several weeks now since our team won the American League Series. So, how do we top that? We're thinking blue champagne is quite fitting ... along with us creating a royal blue polymer roofing color at DaVinci Roofscapes for any die-hard fans that are interested! (SeeLoyal to Royals)

This is a day of celebration throughout our city. Gone are the sleepless nights of anticipation and extra innings. With the dawn of November 2, 2015 we're proudly celebrating our Kansas City Royals as the World Series Championsthat we always knew they could be!

You only get one chance to make a first impression ... that's why builder Tim Aalders with Handcrafted Homes decided to use a Bellaforté Shake designer roof on a show home in Salt Lake City.

"This is the first time we've used composite roofing from DaVinci Roofscapes we're very impressed," says Aalders, owner of Handcrafted Homes based in South Jordan, Utah. "People visiting this home love the cedar shake alternative roof. They are constantly asking about the type of material it's made of and what the color is of the polymer shake roofing tiles. We have to answer questions about the roof all day long!"

The realistic looking Bellaforté Shakes have a natural hand-split cedar shake look with sawn edges and staggered lengths. Each one-inch thick tile is 100 percent recyclable and meets exceptional testing standards.

According to Aalders, the different seasonal weather and high winds experienced in Utah make the simulated shake roofing a good choice for their homes.

"The Tahoe blend of roofing colors looks very authentic and complements the overall style of the house design," says Aalders. "We've been pleasantly surprised at the response to the roof. Some show home visitors have specifically asked if we could reroof their homes with this product! We were able to refer these people to area roofers and we already know of three homes that have the new DaVinci roofs as a result!"

Wondering what other builders have to say about DaVinci lightweight roofing systems? See First-Time DaVinci Installer Sold on Polymer Shakesand Out of the Mouths of Contractors.

Back in the early 1900s the American movie industry first started glamorizing eclectic Spanish architectural styles. Since that time homeowners across America have gravitated to the Hollywood versions of Spanish Mission style homes.

Known for their strong Latin influence, older Spanish-style homes were generally built with thick stucco walls and clay tile roofs.

"Toned down and neutral colors reminiscent of sand, wood and clay work well on this style of home," says Kate Smith, chief color maven at Sensational Color. "The exception is the roof. These homes boast warm red tile roofs or orangey combinations of faux slate roofs. The terracotta and clay color shades in the Sonora blend of composite roofing colors from DaVinci Roofscapes are the perfect accent colors for a Spanish-style home."

To complement the Spanish-style home exterior, Smith recommends in her free e-book, FRESH Color Schemes for Your Home Exterior, to start by first selecting the polymer slate roof color and then working down to select other exterior colors.

"A color scheme of a Sonora roof blend of synthetic slate roof shingles looks great with window frames in a milky off-white and a door in a green tea leaf color," says Smith. "Then the exterior can be a lighter version of the door color in a pale grayish-green. This color combination connects with nature and creates a classic Spanish-style home."

Ask Emilio Ricci why he selected composite shake tiles to re-roof his Tahoe City, Calif. home and his one-word answer comes swiftly. Wildfires.           

“Our insurance company basically told us to get rid of the original cedar shake roof or they would drop us,” says homeowner Emilio Ricci. “We did some research and liked the functionality and long life span of the DaVinci synthetic shake roofing tiles. In our area, it was extremely important that the roofing tiles have a Class A Fire Rating. These tiles achieve that by meeting the ASTME E 108 fire test.”

Since the roof on Ricci’s 960-square foot A-frame home covers the vast majority of the exterior, he paid special attention to the roofing tiles selected. “We found that the synthetic roofing tiles were within our budget and added a strong visual appeal to the home,” says Ricci. “Now we’re counting on the warranty of the product so that we don’t have to replace the roofing tiles again for decades.”

Another West Coast homeowner depending on synthetic shake shingles is James Brinton in Glenbrook, Nevada.

“Our mountain-style home needed the extra protection offered by synthetic shake roofing tiles,” says Brinton. “The combination of the durability, look and safety features of the roof convinced us this was a solid investment for our home’s future.”

For more details on simulated shake roofing that can stand up to wildfires, see Class A Fire Rated Polymer Roofing Eases Worries for West Coast Residents

Are you a member of the Texas Society of Architects? Today is the last day at the Texas Society of Architects Expo - be sure to swing by booth #738C and see what is new with DaVinci Roofscapes. 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! 

November is all about food. Of course there's the mega-eating celebration at Thanksgiving, but there are numerous food-dedicated days leading up to the holiday.

If you're hungry, go ahead and celebrate Sandwich Day on the 3rd, National Candy Day on the 4th and National Nacho Day on the 6th. Or, just binge on the 15th, which is National Clean Out Your Fridge Day!

Whether you're a daring diner and choose to celebrate Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day on the 8th or if you're a lazy cook and indulge in National Fast Food Day on the 16th, one thing's for sure ... make sure to celebrate Use Your Common Sense Day on the 4th.

At DaVinci Roofscapes, we invite you to work off all that food by taking a stroll around your home's exterior. Look up at your roof. Now's the time of year (before the snow falls!) to check out your roof for loose or missing tiles, worn out areas or clogged gutters.

In between celebrating Donut Day on the 5th and National French Toast Day on the 16th, call a licensed contractor if you see damage to your roof. (We can help --- click HERE for tips on selecting a contractor and see DaVinci Advice: Call the Pros)

Getting your roof fixed before winter weather hits may just earn you an extra slice of pie on November 29th --- National Lemon Creme Pie Day!