Up on the roof, shades of gray attract the attention of homeowners nationwide year-after-year. How does DaVinci Roofscapes respond to that desire for gray? By offering an abundance of polymer roofing options in shades of gray!

"Fourteen of our 50 standard composite roofing colors reflect a shade of gray," says Mark Hansen, vice president of sales and marketing at DaVinci Roofscapes. "That's because so many people request gray colors for their designer roofs. We continue to add shades of gray to meet the demand of homeowners nationwide.

"The Smokey Gray color we introduced in 2015 has become an instant favorite. Slate Gray, our number one seller, comes in a refined gray, like a grey wolf.

"However, Smokey Gray is more charcoal in nature with a deep richness. Some of the best custom blends we've seen recently include both of these popular gray colors plus a Medium Gray or Light Chesapeake."

Can't get enough of gray? See our stories on The Power of Grayand Don't Hide Your Gray!

Recently I was asked to provide color consulting services for a very special client, The Easter Bunny. Mr. Bunny needed to put a new roof on his home. After researching all of the options, he wanted a luxury roof from DaVinci Roofscapes. But, like many homeowners, he wasn't sure how to choose just the right color. They asked me to give him my color advice.

With good reason I thought that Mr. Bunny would want a custom blend that was as bright and colorful as the eggs he dyes each year. I explained that we could make a special color roof or roof tile blend in any color his warm and fuzzy heart desired. I even showed him a couple of examples of a beautiful blue and perfect pink that we had custom blended for two princesses living in Florida to spark his imagination. Much to my surprise that wasn't what he had in mind at all.

One of the things that had attracted him to DaVinci, in addition to its resistance to impact, hail and fire, was that all 50 polymer roofing colors were inspired by nature. Rather than a brightly-colored storybook roof, he wanted one that would blend in with the surroundings. While he likes his egg dyeing studio to be bright and attention-getting, for his home Mr. Bunny wanted to create a hideaway that insures that after the busy Spring season he will be able to rest and relax undisturbed. Now that I understood, I was able to go in a different direction with my recommendation. I narrowed it down and had the awesome DaVinci customer care team send out samples for him to look at on his roof.

Because it was so close to Easter I decided to send him a little surprise that would drive home the point of just how natural the synthetic slate and shake roofing tiles look. I dyed a very special dozen eggs in a variety of DaVinci colors. The eggs arrived with the roofing samples and a note challenging Mr. Bunny to hide these eggs around his home and hold a special egg hunt to see if his friends could find these eggs. I felt confident that these special eggs would be camouflaged so well that they would be hard to find, if they are found at all.

Luckily after the special egg hunt, as I expected, even his color specialist had a difficult time finding the eggs hidden among the stones, soil, grasses and other colors of the natural landscape. Eventually those with the most discerning eye for color were able to find most of the eggs but there are still two or three yet to be located.

The Easter Bunny is satisfied. He confidently selected the mix of colors I had recommend in Bellaforte Slate. Now when Mr. Bunny hops down the trail to his burrow after a long season he will be welcomed to his own private hideaway. With a solid roof overhead in a color that blends with his natural surrounding he can relax into a much-deserved rest.

It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it.

DaVinci Roofscapes sales team members Chris Marshall and Royce Kuntz stepped up this past winter and agreed to represent DaVinci at builder trade shows in Hawaii and Puerto Rico. So, while temperatures were in the teens back in Kansas, they found out what it's like to be in warm weather locations in the frigid winter months.

Chris and Royce also discovered key construction trends in these tropical paradise locations. In Hawaii, Chris reports the challenge is high UV exposure to roofs and extreme humidity. Buildings must also be constructed to withstand occasional hurricane and typhoon conditions.

"On the roof, natural cedar shake is beginning to fail after just five years with signs of curling and blackening," reports Marshall. "Hawaii really benefits from polymer roofing. The distributors, contractors and architects I met with were amazed at the aesthetics and durability of the DaVinci product line. Being in a tropical environment, they really seem to appreciate that our synthetic roofing materials resist humidity and mildew --- conditions they're very familiar with in their geographic locations. There's already a DaVinci shake roof on the University of Hawaii (Oahu campus) and I think we're soon going to see more DaVinci composite roofing used there in the future."

In Hawaii, Marshall reports that solar power is very popular to offset high electric costs. Since many roofs are sloped, this opens up the door for solar panels incorporated into DaVinci roofing projects.

Not so in Puerto Rico. Kuntz reports that almost all construction done there is concrete. This includes walls and roofs... which are traditionally flat to combat frequent hurricanes.

"Even if you see sloped roofs in Puerto Rico, they're mostly covered with Spanish S tile or fired clay tiles ...and even those roofs usually have a concrete base," says Kuntz. "The concrete helps Puerto Ricans combat the mold in such a high humidity area. This is an island that gets brutally attacked by hurricanes and tropical weather, so they build to brace against both elements."

While Kuntz doesn't see a large market for polymer roofing in Puerto Rico, he did meet with several builders interested in DaVinci's ability to create custom color composite shake and imitation slate tiles. "Colorful roofs are very desirable in Puerto Rico," says Kuntz. "Builders were interested in our ability to provide roofs with red tones and blue shades."

Where will travels take Kuntz and Marshall next? Their bags are always packed and waiting. Kuntz believes Cool Roof colors from DaVinci may be popular on other Caribbean islands, so he's getting ready to fly out again soon. At the same time, Marshall is heading to colder climates. He's hoping to travel to Alaska soon to educate builders there on the all-weather advantages of DaVinci synthetic roofing material!

Can't get enough of the adventures of Chris and Royce? See Ask the Expert - Royce Kuntzand Catching Up with Chris Marshall.

When it comes to rain water collection, owners of the Absolute Green Home have their neighbors over a barrel. Literally.

There are four rain water collection barrels dangling from key roof slopes on the beautiful home in South Salem, New York. Each barrel encourages water to slide gently into it from the Bellaforté Slate roof via a chain. Once filled, the unfiltered water in the barrels can be used for watering plants and gardens, or even to wash cars.

The idea behind rain water harvesting is to save rain water that would normally flow off a roof and down the drain.  But, with a DaVinci Roofscapes polymer roof (which does not leach chemicals or pollution into the water), you can save those April showers ...and those throughout the year too!

Along with helping save on water bills, rain harvesting is good for the environment. Whether collected in barrels or going directly into cisterns for use and storage, rain water gathered from synthetic roofing material can have a big impact. According to RainBarrelGuide.com, for every inch of rain that falls on a "catchment area" of 1,000 square feet, you can expect to collect approximately 600 gallons of rainwater. That's a lot of water!

At the Absolute Green Home (which won the "Best Renovation of the Year Award" in 2015 from Green Builder Media), the rain water collection system was just one of many strategies Sylvain Coté, project architect and coordinator with Absolute Green Homes, Inc., incorporated into the home. Starting from the top down with a composite slate roof, the 1932 beach home has earned three green designations: ENERGY STAR® Certified Home, LEED Platinum Certified Home and Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Certified Home.

To learn more about this impressive environmentally positive home renovation project, see DaVinci Black Slate Roof Helps Keep Home Green. 

Anticipation in Kansas City is high. This is the weekend our beloved Kansas City Royals come home to launch the 2016 baseball season.

After their spectacular win against the New York Mets at the 2015 World Series (see In It to Win It!), it's sheer luck that our team gets the chance to open the season at Kauffman Stadium against the Mets. This is a match-up not to be missed!

At DaVinci Roofscapes we're "Forever Royal" fans. Our manufacturing operations are just outside Kansas City and we're convinced there's blue running through our veins. 

During recent trade shows, we proudly displayed samples of Royal Blue composite roofing tiles we created at the request of some uber Royals fans. The blue tiles generated lots of attention and several positive comments for our favorite baseball team.

Danny Lipford, with Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, was so taken with the blue tiles that he posted pictures of himself "going blue" in our booth!

What is it about April that makes people go a bit crazy?

Maybe it's being unleashed from the indoors after a long winter, or perhaps it's the warm breezes that entice us outdoors.  Whatever the reason, April has been designated as National Landscape Architecture Month and National Garden Month ... which will certainly get us outside!

In case you've got some pent-up energy from being cooped up all winter, mark April 2 on your calendar --- it's International Pillow Fight Day! Or you could celebrate Big Wind Day on April 12 (definitely some leftover March winds!).

Don't worry if all this outdoor activity wears you out. Just plan to relax on April 16th and enjoy National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day!

At DaVinci Roofscapes, we love the springtime.

As the weather improves, roofers can get back to a full installation schedule. That means we'll be busier than ever making our composite roofing products ... and celebrating April as International Customer Loyalty Month.  A time when we issue heartfelt thanks to all the contractors and roofers who bring repeat business to DaVinci and make us want to sing our thanks ... because, after all, April is also National Karaoke Month!

April 2nd is an important anniversary date for residents of the Harbor Isle community in Wichita, Kansas. One year ago on that date a microburst struck their neighborhood. Winds up to 100mph created major damage in the area --- and sucked off many roofs.

Which roofs survived? Those made of synthetic roofing material from DaVinci Roofscapes.

"The majority of concrete tiles sustained very serious damage, with many others demolished," says Mike Heiland, president of Heiland Roofing and Exteriors in Wichita, Kansas. "Of the three DaVinci Roofscapes composite roofs we installed in this community, one home had zero damage. Another home had one missing ridge cap. The third home needed approximately ten feet of ridge replaced. That's absolutely nothing compared to the devastation that all the other homes in that neighborhood experienced."

Homeowner Donna Westhoff, whose DaVinci composite shake roof was less than six months old at the time, recalls her amazement after the storm. "To our joy and surprise, the new DaVinci Roofscapes synthetic shake roof, had only one end cap gone from the winds," says Westhoff. "Many of our development neighbors had major shingle loss and some had structural roof damage. We have a beautiful roof, but more importantly we have peace of mind. Our DaVinci composite shake shingles came through and held up when we needed them most."

Another homeowner, Paul Dugan, has similar recollections of the storm ... and then he took action immediately afterwards to gain his own peace of mind.

"Concrete roof tiles were thrown through neighbor's windows, into vehicles parked along the streets and in driveways," says Dugan. "Every home with a concrete tile roof was missing large sections while a couple of the homes that had been recently re-roofed by Heiland Roofing with DaVinci shake roofing tiles had every single tile in place and no visible damage to the property. I was very impressed and called Heiland Roofing the next morning.

"I now have a Bellaforté Slate roof that looks exactly the same as the previous concrete tile roof but has the highest impact resistance in the industry. The impressive interlocking system allows for installation with securing the tile in all four corners so we're not going to worry about tiles peeling back and blowing away in future storms."

Avoid Severe Hail Damage with Impact-Resistant Roofoffers more insights from Mike Heiland. 

When it comes to choosing a color for a stucco home three blends of composite slate are selected time-and-time again by homeowners Canyon, Brownstone and Sonora.

Once that decision is made most homeowner turn their attention to selecting the main color for the body of their home.

Tan is a traditional color that works well on stucco. My recommendation is to go a bit lighter rather than darker when selecting a nice neutral tan. A color like PPG Pittsburgh Paints FLLW840 Wright Grey Tan would be a good choice.

Yellow is another color that is often used on stucco. Finding the perfect yellow or gold can be a bit tricky so take your time and always test out a large patch before giving the painters the go aheand. Yellow visually expands very quickly as you go from the color that looked just right on the small swatch to a large wall on your home's exterior. Suddenly your color may seem way too bold or bright. Look for a toned down golden yellow or wheat rather than a true yellow. One that I like is PPG Pittsburgh Paints Turning Oakleaf PPG1107-3

White is color for stucco. Sherwin-Williams Alabaster or Benjamin Moore Simply White are popular choices. Take a good look at the white you choose by comparing it to other white paint chips. This will help you to really see the color and its undertone. Some whites are bright and clear, others grayed down a bit and still others are a bit pink or blue or yellow, etc.

Most homeowners prefer a true white or one that is slightly yellow. White that is slightly grayed down is another type of white that works well. Steer clear of any whites that have a pink or blue undertone when you compare them with other whites. The reason that this is important with stucco is that the textured nature of the stucco tends to make subtle undertones of the color you choose stand out as the light of the day changes. For example, even a hint of yellow or gold in your white paint can make your home take on a slightly golden glow at sunrise or sunset. This would be very nice with your roof color whereas a bluish cast would not be as attractive. 

As for accent colors, use one color on your stucco banding, and trim (soffits, fascia, door trim, garage doors etc.). Use a second color on the front door to create a focal point. A stained front door is a nice choice while a paint door will have more contrast. Traditionally blues, blue/green or greens were used although just about any color could work. Why not go non-traditional with a color you love. Just find the right tone so that it stands out while fitting into your overall scheme. 

Do you want to step out and try a non-traditional color for the body of your home? Green, pink or just about any color could be a possibility. It is important to remember that a little color can go a long way. Go too bright, bold or strong and your color will feel overwhelming. It also may not go over well with the neighbors. A hint of an unexpected color may be all you need to give your stucco home a big personality.

We're entering the time of year again when severe storms can pop up, bringing chunks of hail down from the sky to damage your roof.

Hail can range in size from tiny pea shapes to golf balls to soft ball sizes. But, the size isn't as important as the impact hail can make --- on cars, landscaping and, your roof.

Just imagine a baseball being dropped from an airplane at about 30,000 feet. As it falls to the ground it gains speed and can hit a roof at about 120 mph. That’s the kind of impact some hail storms can have on roofs.

Hail deserves our respect ... and your home deserve a Class 4 impact-resistant composite roofing from DaVinci Roofscapes to help protect your home. (SeeRoof Hail Damage No Fun)

Here's what roofers think of our imitation slate and composite shake roofing:

"The peace of mind that comes with an impact-resistant roof of the quality made by DaVinci is dramatic for homeowners. In the 11+ years I've been installing DaVinci polymer roofing, we've never had one of their roofs totaled by hail."

            Mike Heiland, president of Heiland Roofing and Exteriors in Kansas.

"There were grapefruit-sized hail and 60 mph winds that pounded our area. A DaVinci Aberdeen simulated slate roof we installed a few weeks beforehand in Nichols Hills received minimal damage --- especially compared to the concrete tile roof next door that was totally destroyed."

            Jim Hofegartner, president of Central Roofing and Construction Co. in Oklahoma

"Every ceramic, concrete, metal, asphalt and composite roof I’ve seen in this area has been damaged by the hail storms. However, the synthetic slate DaVinci roofs we’ve installed over the past several years on homes in the same area are completely unaffected. It’s like a Superman roof that nothing can touch. The synthetic roofing material looks like it was just installed yesterday."

            Thad Jennings, president of Jenco Roofing in Oklahoma 

Are you planning on heading to Philadelphia May 19-21st for the 2016 American Institute of Architects Convention & Expo? We'll be there too! Swing by Booth # 2523 and check out what's new with our environmentally friendly roof systems.  

Want to get a head start on your continuing education? Jump over to AEC Daily and take one or both of our online learning courses! 

Hope to see you next month! 

Dynasty Roofing, out of Fort Worth, TX, recently tore off and replaced old wood shakes with Bellaforté Shake on a historic home located Edgecliff Village. Polymer shake roof tiles are increasingly used on historic properties, as you can get the look of shakes without all the hassle of routine maintenance, yearly treatment, and early replacement due to wood deterioration or storm damage. Which, according to Dynasty Roofing, is exactly the reason that the homeowners on this project chose Bellaforté Shake on their historic, salt-box style home. It looks amazing!

Dynasty Roofing
817-423-0880
www.dynastyroofing.com

Throughout the mountainous areas of Nevada and California, home designs go far beyond simplistic. They capture incredible views while blending effortlessly into the landscape.

Geometric-shaped homes, A-frame getaways and multi-level vacation homes bring the focus clearly on the roofs of these mountainside retreats. “In our area, the roof is an integral part of the home design,” says Mike Hudson, a roofing installer in Nevada’s Incline Village area. “With so much exposure to our sometimes severe weather conditions of snow, winds and heavy moisture, selecting the right roofing tile is a critical decision for homeowners, architects and builders.”

For more than 35 years Hudson has installed every type of roofing product imaginable. Ask the founder and president of Class A Roofing what his preferred type of roofing material is, and you’ll find that he’s a fan of composite roofing from DaVinci Roofscapes. (See what other roofers have to say about DaVinci roofs atOut of the Mouths of Contractors)

“Without a doubt, I really like synthetic roofing tiles for project work,” says Hudson. “The advantages of these tiles over original slate or shake roofing are substantial. Ever since being introduced to these tiles I’ve had tremendous success with them. Installation is fast and easy. Best of all, synthetic roofing tiles allow us to create beautiful, lasting roofs that combine Old World techniques with New World technology.”

Multi-Level Homes

From a small A-frame to a sprawling lakefront home with surrounding mountain views and multiple rooflines, Hudson works on projects of all sizes. One roof installation on a South Lake Tahoe project left the contractor with a new appreciation of synthetic roofing tiles.

“We had the custom Green and Gray Blend Slate roofing tiles created especially for this home,” says Hudson. “The ability to get custom blends is just another reason I like synthetic roofing tiles. I was able to offer this homeowner a roof that perfectly complements his home’s overall design and natural setting.

For the multi-level home project, there were four different roof pitches. Even with last minute design changes, Hudson was unflappable about the roofing installation.

 “The DaVinci slate requires no special engineering for added weight, so changes to the design structure present no problems for us,” says Hudson. “Even though we had virtually 15 roofs to apply on this one house, the work went quickly and easily. The starter tiles and accessories that come with synthetic roofing make it possible to customize any application.”

Let's face it ... some people are in love with heavy, old, real slate roofs. They think the algae growing between the slate tiles is "charming" and that the broken-off brittle pieces of slate add "character" to the roof.

That's fine if you're touring historic homes in Europe, but if it's on your house, who wants the never-ending problems of real slate roofs?

DaVinci Roofscapes to the rescue. To mimic the charm and character of slate roof tiles, DaVinci creates the molds for our imitation slate tiles by using real pieces of slate. (See Realistic Profile Imitation Slate Tiles)

A multi-width or single-width composite slate roof from DaVinci enhances the beauty of a home while protecting the earth's natural resources. The slate polymer tiles are made of virgin resins to guarantee a sustainable product, and each piece is crafted to display rough edges and a natural stone-like surface texture.

Polymer slate from DaVinci comes in three profiles:

Multi-Width - comes in 5 different widths - 12", 10", 9", 7" and 6" widths with natural stone appearance on tiles that are 1/2" thick
Single-Width - a 12" tile width with each tile being a 1/2" thick
Bellaforté - a 12" tile width featuring interlocking leading edge tabs for increased wind resistance; each tile is 1/2" thick

Go ahead ... have a love affair with "the look" of real slate tiles. But when it comes to what you'll put on your home, opt for lightweight tiles that replicate slate tiles, but have the advantages of a man-made product.

When it comes to home exteriors, gray is a true neutral that "plays well" with all other colors.

Color expert Kate Smith relates that neutral gray can set the stage for creating a cohesive color scheme for the many materials used in a New American house and other home styles.

"Traditional homes are appealing for tones of medium or deep gray, accented with lighter trim and strong accent colors," says Smith, with Sensational Color. "Ranch style homes benefit from going with two tones of gray --- one for the designer roof and one for the siding --- to give the illusion of height to balance the strong horizontal design of a Ranch.

"You'll also find that gray can balance the multi-color schemes found on Victorian homes. And, on any style home, gray is an appealing alternative to white or off-white as a trim choice."

Inside the home, Smith says that homeowners are requesting gray in everything from cabinetry to flooring to furniture. "Gone are the days of matching metals," says Smith. "Today, incorporating different metals and finishes is the way to go. People are mixing the gray of silver, pewter and chrome with the warm tones of gold, iron and copper. These are unique ways that gray proves its staying power as a stable color both inside and outside our homes."

For gray polymer roofing color options from DaVinci Roofscapes, see Don't Hide Your Gray! 

Back in 2011, members of the St. Clement Eucharist Shrine in Boston decided to tackle a big project --- installation of a Bellaforté Slate roof on top of their historic church.

After removing heavy, old slate shingles from the roof, the talented church volunteers installed the imitation slate tiles from DaVinci Roofscapes in a Slate Gray. We revisited the church recently to see how our synthetic slate roofing was holding up ... and we got rave reviews!

"We've had no problems with the roof," says Father Peter Grover. "We've had lots of wind, snow and rain in the past five years. We've never had a leak and it looks just as great today as the day it was installed.

"We consider the DaVinci roof a good investment. The roof accents the church. A real slate roof would have been too costly; asphalt would not have given us the visual appeal that the composite slate gives us."

Looking back at the project, we asked Father Grover if they would have changed anything about the re-roofing installation.

"Our only regret is that we didn't have snow guards installed when we had the roof done," says Grover. "We ran out of time and it was a secondary thought. Now, when there is heavy snow, it falls off into the parking lot and we end up shoveling twice. Once we had a broken windshield from the snowfall."

Given his experience, we recommended retrofitting snowguards (see Can I Install Snowguards After My Roof Is Installed?) to help control the snow as it melts in the future. For more information on this church projects using polymer roof tiles, see Churches Thankful for Roofs Overhead.

A common question from the architects I speak with is, "Can these products be used over curved roofs?". The answer, mostly, is yes. There are several factors to consider, like what products you are interested in and also what the grade of the curve is, but many contractors are able to curve our products around just about anything. Below are some photos of our polymer slate and shake roof tiles on a variety of structures from residential, to a barn, to a church building. 

While you're working on your design, or you are considering our Lifetime Roof products on a current home/building, be sure to check with us on if our products will work on your project. You can email me your roof designs or a current photo, and I'd be happy to get our Technical Department involved and get their blessing on your project. 

Happy Friday, Architects! 

"Can your products be installed over a curve?". This is a question that we get often. The answer (generally) is probably. There are many factors we consider before answering yes or no, including the grade of the curve and the product being used, but apply a little heat to the products and you can likely make them curve around whatever you want. (Click here to read my earlier blog on this topic). 

Apex Exteriors, Inc out of the Chicago area recently installed a cedar shake alternative on this home in Chicago. They used Multi-Width Shake, which is one of the better products to use when you have a curved roof structure. The reason for this is the tiles are 22" long and are cored out in back with a rib structure. The designs of the ribs allow for easier pliability if the product is warmed up a little. The home featured here used the Tahoe Blend and is Class A Fire Rated, Class 4 Impact Rated, Wind Certified to 110 mph, and comes with a Lifetime Limited Warranty. 

Apex Exteriors
847-531-8960
www.apexext.com

Spring weather often means phones are ringing with new business for roofers. Sometimes the calls are about roofs installed last year ... when the homeowners are reconsidering their decision not to put snow guards on their new composite roofing.

If you're a roofer getting those calls, we can help. Lars Walberg, President of Rocky Mountain Snow Guards, says roughly two-thirds of the snow guards his company sells are for retrofit applications. Here are his insights on what you need to know when you get the call from a homeowner ready to commit to snow guards.

Q: Which snow guards to you recommend for retrofit applications?

A: For DaVinci Roofscapes synthetic roofing material we recommend the SnowTrapper ST11 for all slate profiles, single-width and multi-width shake up to 9/12, and Bellaforté Shake up to 7/12. For Bellaforté Shake over 7/12 and slate profiles over 9/12, we recommend the RockyGuard RG10. (Click HERE for more product details)

Q: How are snow guards retrofitted to DaVinci synthetic shake and composite slate roof tiles?

A: Sealant should be applied to seal between the snow guard strap and the shingle. Snow guards are attached with two or three Woodbinder Screws. These screws are self-tapping, self-sealing and have coated heads to match the color of the snow guard.

Q: What tips do you have for installers regarding retrofitting snow guards?

A: It’s easy. The most important things are to place the snow guards so there is a significant space between the butt end of the shingle above and the pad face so the snow guard can “grab” the snow.  We recommend that the strap is showing equal to three times the thickness of the butt end of the shingles on pitches up to 6/12, and six times the thickness on pitches over 6/12.  It’s also important to mark the placement so the pattern is uniform.

For more insights from Walberg, see Ask the Experts: Snow Guards.

Philadelphia. Las Vegas. Anchorage. San Francisco. Those are just some of the many cities where DaVinci Roofscapes will participate in trade shows in the coming weeks.

Our polymer roofing products have become so popular that we've cloned our booth! Now we have displays of our impressive imitation slate shingles and synthetic shake roof tiles "on the road" to several locations constantly to keep up with demand.

While many of these shows are limited to the members of professional trades (and it's like alphabet soup figuring out which group event you can attend!) there are some shows open to the public.

Here's a listing of where you can find our designer roof products in the coming weeks:

May 9-12: ALFA 2016 in Denver, booth 843

May 19-21: AIA Show in Philadelphia, booth 2523

May 22-26: ICSC Reconstruction in Las Vegas, booth N1768

June 3-4: ECHO Show in San Francisco, booth 106

June 12-14: Western Roofing Expo 2016 in Las Vegas, booth 115

June 16-18: FRSA in Orlando, booth 920

June 26-28: BOMA 2016 in Baltimore, booth 930

If you live in any of these cities, stop by to see our products in person. Or, if you'd like more details on our products, visit our YouTube site to see videos on how we make our products and how they're used in different residential applications.

The historic Tuscarora Academy Museum in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, which was founded in 1836, boasts a long history. The recently-reroofed structure is the only surviving building of the Tuscarora Academy, the site of the first secondary school in Juniata County.

The interior of the museum hosts an old walnut post office, a doctor's office, a typical boarding room for students and timber belonging to the David H. Wilson GAR Post 134. But, it's the outside of the structure that is causing some added interest these days.

"Our team was brought in to remove 50-year old asbestos shingles on the roof," says Philip Mead, estimator with KLA Roofing & Construction, LLC of Everett, Pennsylvania. "They needed to get the asbestos removed and sought a low-maintenance product that could withstand our harsh winter weather."

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission researched several roofing alternatives before selecting Single-Width Slate synthetic tiles from DaVinci Roofscapes.

"We had a four-man crew install the composite slate roof and they liked working with the product very much," says Mead. "I actually heard one person say that they wish we would get more projects like this one because it went so smoothly!"

The KLA Roofing & Construction team installed the Smokey Gray roof during the summer of 2015. The company, who works on many commercial roofing projects across Pennsylvania, specializes in historical restoration.

"Roofing requires an understanding of a structure's form, how it bends and how water will flow over it," says Mead. "If a certain area of roof will take on a high level of rain-flow, it might be wise to spend a little extra time sealing that particular area. Another area of the roof might need extra wood to support it. A crucial piece of properly laying a roof is understanding nuances like these. That's what we brought to the Tuscarora Academy project that helped make the re-roofing projects such a success." 

Tuscarora isn't the only historic museum to feature DaVinci's composite roofing. SeeMuseum Rooftops and Happy National Museum Day!for more insights.