As a shake alternative product, it would be difficult to fit in on a rustic style home without roof tiles that are extremely textured and realistic. This project features Multi-Width Shake in the Mountain Blend, which means the tiles come in 5 widths - 9", 8", 7", 6" and 4", in dark gray/brown tones. When you order a DaVinci Roof, all bundles are pre-sorted in our factory which makes it easy for the installer to create an even look. The tiles are also Class A Fire Rated, Class 4 Impact Rated, Wind Certified to 110 mph, as well as come with a Lifetime Limited Warranty. 

Canmark Contracting
Calgary, AB
403-931-1018

Click HERE  (or watch video below) to see how Tim Carter, with AsktheBuilder.com, explains his new DaVinci Roofscapes Single-Width Slate roof.

According to Tim, it's as easy as 1-2-3 ... first there's the starter shingle, then a DaVinci composite slate shingle and then hip shingles. Tim installed the synthetic roof shingles himself and he's proud of his journey from being an asphalt shingle roof homeowner to a composite slate roof homeowner.

"When people drive up to our house, the first thing they ask us is what kind of roof we added," says Carter. "This is a stunning transformation. This new polymer slate roof is attractive and eye-catching.  Best of all, I know it will last us for decades to come!"

See the first two videos on Tim's journey by clicking HERE and see what he has to say about DaVinci products at Roofing Dreams Do Come True.

Can you assist with Color choice?

Pat Hengen
Honey Creek, Iowa
Product: Bellaforté Slate - Castle Gray?

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Dear Mr. Hengen,

The Bellaforté Slate is an excellent choice for the style and size of your home.

Gray looks like a nice complement to your stonework on your home. I think you can go with the Castle Gray that you selected but just make sure that from a distance the color of your stone and roof do not appear to look the same or both have a distinct pattern. 

You want these two elements to have the same tones but you do not want them to look identical or very similar from a distance. You still want the two elements to stand on their own while coming together to create a cohesive look.

If you think the stone and Castle Gray are too close you could go with a color that has less pattern and more subtle color variations such as the Slate Gray-VariBlend or Smokey Gray-VariBlend. Either of these would also be a nice choice to top off your home.

I hope that gives you the information you need to make your final decision.

Sincerely,

Kate Smith
DaVinci Roofscapes Color Expert

The Red Ledges private mountain community near Park City, Utah showcases a wide variety of home designs from Kevin Price Designs. Many of the homes feature luxury roofs from DaVinci Roofscapes.

The stunning home designs in Red Ledges display the perfect blend of natural beauty and upscale amenities. Relaxing waterfalls, fire pits and spacious spaces have been incorporated into many homes, including #110 Red Ledges, Price's first design to incorporate more contemporary elements into a home in the community.

"This is one of my favorite designs in Red Ledges and I'm thrilled that the homeowners have DaVinci Roofscapes simulated shake roofing to top off the design," says Kevin Price. "The composite shake perfectly complements the mountain traditions of the Red Ledges design guidelines while providing a low-maintenance roof that the homeowners love."

Price has worked with various engineers and builders to design many of the custom homes in Red Ledges, with styles ranging from contemporary to rustic in architecture. (SeeUtah Homeowners Appreciate DaVinci Roof)

"Within the Red Ledges community I've designed homes with outdoor entertainment areas for one family that loves outside activities and then creating interior sanctuary settings for another client," says Price. "Everyone wants their ultimate dream home with minimal maintenance involvement. That's another big reason I repeatedly specify DaVinci roofs. With a lifetime limited materials warranty these roofs will last for decades.

"Of all the roofing materials I've reviewed in my 35 years of design work, the DaVinci product makes the most sense to me. It's visually powerful, durable for our environment and perfectly complements my designs."

Who has one of the most travel-intensive jobs at DaVinci Roofscapes? Definitely Chris Marshall. He's the Western Region Manager for our company, which requires him to travel from his home in Kansas City to all points west ... including the Pacific Coast and beyond!

With all his traveling, we were able to catch up with Chris so he could share some of his favorite composite roofing tips and projects with you.

Q: What are three of your favorite DaVinci polymer roofing projects you've seen?

A: It's easy to say "all of them" ... but if I have to choose just three, it would be Fleur du Lac Estates on Lake Tahoe (see Hassle-Free DaVinci Composite Shake Tiles) with beautiful Bellaforté Shake tiles, Utah State University with Fancy Shake synthetic shake shingles on various campus buildings, and Saint Mary Parish in Independence, Missouri.

Q: Why is Saint Mary Parish a favorite?

A: It's one of the oldest Catholic churches in the Missouri Valley, dating back to 1865. Father Matthew Bartulica spent much of his life in Europe. So, when it came time to update the aging slate roof on Saint Mary's, he helped the church chose DaVinci Multi-Width Slate for its towering steeple and DaVinci Single-Width Slate for the main church roof. The result is a stunning designer roof.

Q: What projects are coming up that you're excited about?

A: There's the small, historic Armour Chapel in Kansas City's Elmwood Cemetery that will soon receive a Multi-Width Slate roof plus there's a massive community college campus that plans to replace failing concrete tile with a custom blend of Bellaforté Slate lightweight roofing materials.  So many projects are on the horizon!

Q: What "ace in the hole" tip can you share related to installation of polymer roofing?

A: We've got a great team of experts at DaVinci that installers can call on for any assistance they need. Tyler Storfa (see On the Road with DaVinci's Tyler Storfa) our Western Technical Manager, shows a nifty trick with Bellaforté rake pieces that give it a perfectly uniform look for every edge. We can share those tips with any roofers!

Churches all across the country with eye-catching steeples often refer to themselves as "steeple people." These days the term should probably be changed to "synthetic steeple people."

That's because many churches, looking for attractive, low-maintenance coverings for their steeples, are turning to synthetic roofing material from DaVinci Roofscapes.

In Ohio, Seville Presbyterian Church is the latest place of worship to select composite roofing for their steeple. The 3,000-pound, 27-foot tall steeple sits atop a 15-foot, two-piece base. The refurbished steeple now boasts a white custom color DaVinci Multi-Width Slate roof, allowing it to remain a focal point in the community.

While impressive, the Seville Presbyterian Church steeple appears dwarfed when compared to the soaring 86-foot tall steeple at the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Centennial, Colorado. This steeple was recently refurbished with DaVinci Multi-Width Shake in the Autumn blend to complement the church's design and setting. (see Unique Design Uses DaVinci Roofscapes Shake on Top and Sides of Colorado Church)

"We selected the DaVinci products for the steeple and roof because of their aesthetics and resistance to impact and hail," says Jim Wolfe, a 30-year member of the church. "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."

From specialty "onion shaped" domes covered in simulated shake roofing atop the Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church in New York (see Polymer Shake Roof Accents Ukrainian Church ) to our imitation slate shingles on the chapel at the Dayton Veterans Administration Medical Center in Ohio (see Contractors Go to Church with DaVinci Roofscapes), at DaVinci Roofscapes we're definitely embracing the term "steeple people!"

The countdown is on ... and the elves are running behind. Santa has agreed to stop off and do some last minute Christmas shopping before making his deliveries. But the question is ... where should Santa shop?

"I'm not just looking for great gifts, but a place to safely land my reindeer and sleigh," says Saint Nicholas.

Lucky for Santa that he remembers his Christmas Eve trek a few years ago that introduced him to DaVinci Roofscapes polymer roofing tiles. (SeeSanta's Reindeer Add DaVinci Polymer Roofing to their Wish Lists)

"Those composite slate and synthetic shake tiles really held up exceptionally well under the weight of my overflowing sled," says Santa. "The reindeer had no trouble landing on them and we could see from the sky they had beautiful colors in realistic slate and shake tiles."

Now, where can Santa shop on December 24th?

According to the team at DaVinci Roofscapes, Santa has many options. There are polymer shake roofs in Santa's favorite color (a custom red) on many Bass Pro Shops across the United States along with a stunning composite shake roof atop The North Face store in Victor, New York.

And if Santa's in the mood to multi-task, he can stop at the Barrack Road Shopping Center in Charlottesville, Virginia --- home to Old Navy, Banana Republic, Chico's and Talbot's --- which also has DaVinci roofing overhead. Halfway across the country in Kansas City, Santa can reload on gifts at almost 100 stores at Country Club Plaza. There he'll find DaVinci roofing covering every store he needs from Baby Gap to Tiffany & Co. to Zoom Toy Store!

"I'm setting my RPS (Reindeer Positioning System) coordinates to hop-scotch across America looking for stores with DaVinci roofs," says St. Nick. "And next year, I ho-ho-hope that more stores will have these wonderful roofs overhead!"

Break out the popcorn and settle in for a double feature!

Tim Carter, founder of AsktheBuilder.com has completed the installation of his imitation slate roof using DaVinci Roofscapes Single-Width Slate tiles.  We've followed Tim through his headaches with his old aging and problematic asphalt shingles (see Roof Busters! and Roofing Dreams Do Come True) and now he's sharing his finished roofing project with us.

See video #4 that gives an overview of Tim's new slate alternative roof:

Having trouble viewing video, click HERE

And then, for your double feature viewing, check out the final video showcasing the completed project:

Having trouble viewing this video, click HERE.

"This is a stunning fake slate roof that I'm proud to have on my home," says Carter. "Everyone coming up our driveway stops and stares.  They can't believe it's not real quarried slate.

"We live in New Hampshire, which is nicknamed 'the granite state.' This slate alternative roof looks so perfect that it beats any real stone I've ever seen! And, we're thrilled that it comes with a lifetime limited materials warranty so we'll never have to worry about our roof again!"

Nestled amidst stunning mountain peaks and world-famous ski conditions, Fleur du Lac Estates near Lake Tahoe can experience heavy snowfall during the winter months. The property is just five minutes from Homewood Mountain Ski Resort, and the area usually sees snow in excess of 180 inches total. That's one reason why the community decided to incorporate snow fences and snow guards from Rocky Mountain Snow Guards into their newly-reroofed structures.

The previous buildings at Fleur du Lac Estates didn't have any type of snow retention system. When the community added DaVinci Roofscapes composite shake tiles this past year, they decided to make life easier for everyone by adding snow guards.

Rocky Mountain Snow Guards custom designed the snow retention system for Fleur du Lac Estates incorporating both their Drift III+ snow fences and the company's Rocky Guard RG10 snow guards. The system was developed to handle the 180 PSF snow load that can occur in this geographic location.

"The snow guards are attached in a pattern above the snow fence that creates friction to hold the snow 'slab' in place while the snow fence provides a barrier beyond which the snow slab won't slide," says Lars Walberg, president of Rocky Mountain Snow Guards. "Using the combination of snow guards and snow fences gives this project a balanced snow retention system that has the 'look' the owners desired."

Need more information on snow guards for synthetic roofing systems? Then check out Q & A Guide to Snow Guards and Snow Retention Insights from DaVinci Roofscape.

Patios. Walkways. Stairs. Flooring. To us, this sounds like a good use for real slate. But for roofs? No way.

As you might guess, real slate is very, very heavy. Plus, it has a tendency to be brittle and crack or break --- especially if hail pounds down on it or a tree limb crashes onto it.

So, before you ask a roofing contractor to bid on the back-breaking (and rafter-bending) project of installing real slate roof tiles on your home, think about a slate alternative.

DaVinci Roofscapes offers three different imitation slate shingles. Each one is Class A Fire Rated, resists impact and damage from hail and severe weather, and is backed by a lifetime limited materials warranty. Our simulated slate roofing also comes in a multitude of colors and color blends to complement the style of your house. Whether you prefer basic black or a blend of several colors, we have the polymer slate for your home! (See Which DaVinci Slate is Right for My Home)

Now available with even more realistic slate profiles, here are the slate lightweight roofing solutions offered by DaVinci:

DaVinci Multi-Width Slate: Our multi-width profile comes in 12", 10", 9", 7" and 6" widths. Bundles of the fake slate tiles arrive at the job site pre-sorted by color and size, eliminating on-site sorting and guesswork.

DaVinci Single-Width Slate: Single-width synthetic slate roofing tiles come in a consistent 12" tile width that provides the beauty of a clean, simple design.

Bellaforté Slate: Our 12" wide Bellaforté Slate tiles include a leading edge tab that helps secure every slate shingle to the next to improve wind performance. The snap-fit tiles also create a built-in rain gutter. 

Plan to stop by booth C2136 during the 2016 International Builders' Show in Las Vegas next month to view the full selection of newly-enhanced slate tiles from DaVinci Roofscapes.

From January 19-21 we'll showcase our popular Single-Width Slate 12-inch tile, Multi-Width Slate and Bellaforté Slate polymer roofing tiles in our expansive booth. 

"All three of our durable slate composite roofing profiles now boast a truly authentic quarried look," says Ray Rosewall, CEO and president of DaVinci Roofscapes. "The enhancement to the Single-Width profile was so positively received (see DaVinci Roofscapes to Launch New Profile at 2015 International Builders' Show) that we've taken the steps to offer all of our slate tiles with thicker, more realistic profiles that accurately replicate real slate.

"These new profiles offer exceptional curb appeal value to a home. When looking up at a roof with these tiles it's difficult for someone to differentiate between these synthetic slate profiles and real slate."

Details on the edges of the DaVinci slate tiles now have a more accurate quarried look that replicates natural slate. Deeper impressions in the tiles make them appear thicker, even though they're the same weight as the previous tiles.

"This is just one example of how we're continually refining our products and making improvements that enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of DaVinci polymer roofing products," says Rosewall. "As with all our polymer roofing materials, these three slate profiles resist impact, fire and severe weather conditions.

What roofing color would you select for a cabin and boathouse project if it sat near the shore of Lake Tahoe? Well, Tahoe-VariBlend, of course!

The story begins with Nancy and Tim Gilbert acquiring a 1929 cabin in the old summer community of Elk Point on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. Their goal was to renovate and restore the log cabin to the period. At the same time they built a new boathouse, also designed with a rustic look.

"Cedar shake roofs are no longer allowed in the Tahoe Basin as they are prone to fire," says Tim Gilbert. "DaVinci Roofscapes was the answer to our design concerns and fire prevention requirements."

Fire- and impact-resistant, DaVinci synthetic roofing material has been growing in popularity in recent years throughout California, Nevada and other areas concerned with wildfire spread. The Class A Fire Rated simulated shake roofing perfectly replicates real cedar shake roofing, yet has built in additives that allow the manmade product to give peace-of-mind to homeowners. (See also Playing with Fire)

"We wanted a roof that looked like cedar shake to complement the rustic architecture of the cabins," says Gilbert. "The roof is a major focal point of exterior design, so we're very pleased with our selection of DaVinci and the Tahoe-VariBlend. It looks like real cedar and fits into the environment nicely.

"Based on our initial experience with the composite shake product, we would recommend DaVinci to those who want the look of cedar shake without the fire hazard of cedar roof shingles."

Does a new year mean there's a new roof in your future? If that's the case, then DaVinci Roofscapes can help.

There's no better time to invest in polymer roofing from DaVinci. Why? Because we recently enhanced the profiles of all our simulated slate roofing products. The new refined profile has a more quarried look that closely resembles natural slate. You can choose from:

DaVinci Roofscapes Multi-Width Slate - Available in 12", 10", 9", 7" and 6" widths, bundles of the sustainable roofing product arrive at the job site pre-sorted by color and size, eliminating on-site sorting and guesswork. The composite slate is crafted to display rough edges and natural stone-like surface textures and comes at an impressive 1/2" tile thickness.

Bellaforté Slate - Includes a leading edge tab and a self-aligning ledge to help reduce the installation time for the composite slate products. A square of Bellaforté slate roof shingles (with 100 pieces per square) weighs just 190 pounds. This lower tile weight helps reduce installation time and transportation costs.

Single-Width Slate - Offers exceptional aesthetics and performance at a value-driven price point. These imitation slate tiles are available in a 12" tile width with a 1/2" thickness and are modeled after natural slate pieces.

If a synthetic shake roof is in your future, you've also come to the right place. Our fake cedar shake tiles have been created as an exact duplication of real wood shakes. Thanks to their authenticity, composite shake roofing is our best selling product. Just look at all the options we offer:

DaVinci Multi-Width Shake - Available in 9", 8", 7", 6" and 4" widths along with a virtually limitless color palette, the multi-width cedar shake roof features both wavy and straight grains throughout the blend for an authentic appearance. Multiple widths of the 5/8" profile on the tiles help create a more natural, non-repeating appearance that can be laid in either a straight or staggered pattern.

Single-Width Shake - 9" tile width offers exceptional aesthetics and performance at a value-driven price point.

Bellaforté Shake - Features a leading edge tab and a self-aligning ledge, which help reduce the installation time for the products. At a one-inch average tile thickness, Bellaforté Shake roofing tiles are reminiscent of natural jumbo shakes.

DaVinci Fancy Shake - Luxury roof tiles provide a more refined cedar look when compared to traditional hand-split shake. With the clean, smooth look of a machine-sawn shake, Fancy Shake is available in 12", 7" and 5" widths with a tile thickness of 7/16". Using multiple widths helps create a more natural, non-repeating appearance that can be laid at a straight or staggered pattern.

Need more help? No problem! See Shaking Up Your Roof with Unlimited Possibilitiesand Don't Panic! DaVinci Roofscapes Has The Answer.

Counting calories and headed to the gym this month? You're not alone. January is the post-indulgence month. It's also Diet Month, Fat-Free Living Month and Fiber Focus Month. So, it's only natural that it's also Oatmeal Month and Prune Breakfast Month!

If you get just halfway into the month and get fed up with a healthier lifestyle, then consider celebrating on January 17th --- Ditch Your New Year Resolutions Day.

Here's one 2016 resolution you'll want to keep. Don't let your roof go on a diet. If your asphalt roofing tiles are looking too "thin" and are shedding their granules faster than you're shedding pounds, then this is the year to invest in durable polymer roofing from DaVinci Roofscapes.

Our imitation slate shingles and cedar shake alternative tiles are long-lasting and beautiful. And, when you select EcoBlend composite roofing tiles you will also be able to save money on your long term energy bills ... which is a smart decision you can make on January 10th --- National Cut Your Energy Costs Day. Or, consider waiting for January 13th to invest in synthetic roofing material for your home --- Make Your Dreams Come True Day!

Need more details to make a 2016 polymer roofing decision? Then see To Slate, or Not to Slate ... That is the Questionand Save $$$ With an Eco-Friendly Roof.

In many parts of the country, almost balmy weather conditions made December a dream month for roofers. Forget about layering up ... many roofers from North Carolina to New York were still in t-shirts!

However, as January weather settles in, colder weather is inevitable. That means polymer roofing installers need to prepare for cold weather situations.

If the temperatures have gotten nippy in your area and you're forging onwards with roofing installs, here are some tips from DaVinci Roofscapes to warm you up through the next several months:

Tip #1 - Prior to installation in colder temperatures, make sure that synthetic shake shingles and composite slate tiles have been stored flat.

Tip #2 - DaVinci's unique formula allows our synthetic roofing material to remain flexible in colder weather. It's important that the roofing shingles are laid at a very minimum 3/16”.

Tip #3 - If using a pneumatic roofing nail gun for plastic roofing materials installation, the pressure should not be set too high. You may wish to hand nail pieces in if you're having trouble with your air compressor.

Tip #4 - Cold hands? Buy some "shake and use" hand warmers to slide into your gloves.

Tip #5 - When cutting imitation slate tiles or shake alternative shingles in colder temperatures, score the lightweight roofing tiles with a straight blade and break the tile along the score or use a saw blade with smaller and finer teeth.

Need more help for simulated shake roofing and plastic slate installations this winter? Then see Brrrrrisk Polymer Roofing Installations.

Spend time with Mark Hansen, VP of Sales and Marketing at DaVinci Roofscapes and you'll quickly find he has a favorite saying: Roofs Sell Roofs.

"When it comes to DaVinci, once people see our polymer roofing installed on a project, they start asking questions and it leads to another sale, then another and another, and so on," says Hansen, who joined the company in 2008. "We routinely hear from homeowners who have recently had a DaVinci designer roof installed on their home who tell us people stop by to ask them about their roofs.

"We end up selling the most product in geographic markets where we have been the longest, because those simulated shake roofing and imitation slate roof projects end up selling more roofs. It's a wonderful multiplier effect!"

Having traveled around the country regularly as part of his job, Hansen gravitates to residential projects where the selected composite roofing profile and color best reveal the character of a home. For example, he tends to like DaVinci Single-Width Slate on classic architecture while preferring multi-width slate or shake products on less formal home designs.

"DaVinci has a niche in the marketplace as one-stop shopping for lifetime roofing systems with amazing aesthetics," says Hansen. "Our roofing materials and color palettes are broad enough to allow us to accommodate almost any residential design."

When it comes to his favorite commercial projects, Hansen prefers the look of Bellaforté products. "Two of my favorites are the Fleur du Lac Estates and Hotel Breakers projects," says Hansen.  "They both used Bellaforté tiles in an amazing architectural fit to the properties. These Class A Fire Rated shingles are perfect for commercial projects. They have a strong warranty, resist impact and severe weather conditions, and perfectly complete a project."

It's a new year, and that may mean you're finally making the decision to invest in a new roof. We can help.

DaVinci Roofscapes has two free e-books available that are packed with tips and insights on selecting new composite roofing that will look great on your home.

Our FRESH Home Exterior Colors guide explains how to choose the right color for your roof based on five factors:

            Fixed Features

            Regional Colors

            Environment and Surroundings

            Style of Your Home

            Historic and Have-to-Use Colors

The companion e-book, FRESH Color Schemes for Your Home Exterior provides insights on selecting the right type of roofing product and best color for different styles of homes, including Colonial, Ranch, Bungalow, Victorian, Spanish Mission, European and New American.

Our color expert, Kate Smith with Sensational Color, has authored both these books. She's also available to answer your personal color questions to assist you in selecting the colors that will look best on your designer roof. Just "Ask Kate" and you'll get the one-on-one support you need to confidently add a colorful new luxury roof to your home in 2016!

Need more color help? See "Over the Roof” Options at DaVinci Online Color Studio  and New Videos from DaVinci Roofscapes!

One of our favorite church roof renovation projects at DaVinci Roofscapes took place in Johnson City, N.Y in 2011. That's when the Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church got new simulated shake roofing. (See Polymer Shake Roof Accents Ukrainian Church)

What makes this such a special project? The traditional Ukrainian design of the church structure. Topped by three 80-foot tall domes, the massive building looks like it's made completely of wood shakes on the siding and roof. But, look closer and you'll see that the roof is really made of our synthetic shake tiles.

Church leaders say that the architectural style of the landmark church mimics those structures found in the Ukraine. And, the composite shake roofing is a perfect match to the original cedar shake roof.

"The new polymer shakes look almost identical to the older wooden ones, but these will last so much longer," says Rev. Teodor B. Czabala, Jr. "The wood exterior of the church has been cleaned and stained, so now the structure looks perfect. We're both amazed and pleased that these man-made roofing tiles could have such a positive and beautiful impact on our facility.

"We searched for a product that would not need replacing for many years. Our research brought us to the DaVinci shake roofing tiles. We're thrilled with the 50-year limited warranty on the product and how these polymer tiles have already stood up to the weather conditions in our area."

In 2014 the Denver area had a major hail storm which left roofs damaged on many homes and buildings. Soon after homeowners were looking for products that were impact resistant, but would also afford them to have the look they want without breaking the bank. DaVinci Roofscapes is known for manufacturing some of the most impact resistant roofs on the market, and Bellaforté Shake fit the bill with its natural jumbo shake appearance and color options. The cost of material for Bellaforté Shake is comparable to natural cedar shake and also comes with a Lifetime Limited Warranty. 

HRTI out of Lakewood, Colorado has installed several Bellaforté Shake roofs in the last few years and offers these polymer roofing options to those searching for the look of natural cedar shake, but want to be sure their home is protected in the event of another storm. 

HRTI
720-981-8001
http://hrti.com/

Need color suggestions...

John Raudabaugh
Boise, ID
Product: Bellaforte Shake




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Dear Mr. Raudabaugh,

For your home I recommend colors Autumn or Tahoe. I like that the Autumn blend stands out a bit more but that is just personal taste. Either color would be beautiful on your home.

Both of these blends have a warm brown tone that blends in well with the surrounding landscape as well as the style of your home. I also recommend the Bellaforte profile or the staggered Multi-Width tiles to give your roof texture that adds an element of interest to your home.

Sincerely,

Kate Smith
DaVinci Roofscapes Color Expert