Have you ever wondered what a color expert would tell you if you asked the question, "What order should I go in when selecting exterior colors for my home?"

According to Kate Smith, DaVinci Roofscapes' color expert, the correct order is roof, siding, windows, front door, trim then garage door. Unless the home is brick or stone, the largest fixed feature is probably the roof, so you will want to start there. 

Interested in learning more? Are you a professional in need of a continuing education credit? Jump over to AEC Daily's website to take our course, The FRESH Approach to Choosing Exterior Colors. It is free and available online 24/7.

Happy Friday, Architects!  

While folklore has it that Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked over a lantern that started the tragic Chicago fire of 1871, it was never proven that the cow was at fault. However, the October 9 fire was indeed the key reason that this is national Fire Prevention Week.

Since 1922 Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the week in which October 9 falls, as a way to remember the importance of fire safety.

Actually, not a great deal has changed in the basic construction of barns, buildings and other structures since Mrs. O'Leary's day. Most are still made out of wood, which of course, is very flammable. What has changed are the options people have for topping off their homes.

At DaVinci Roofscapes we're proud that our impact-resistant polymer shake and slate roofing tiles can all help a roofing system achieve a Class A fire rating when installed with the proper underlayment. This means that fire won't spread on a roof if a flame touches it ... and it makes the roof system more resistant to burning (see it for yourself by clicking HERE).

These days it's not a potential cow kicking over a lantern that homeowners have to worry about. It's Mother Nature.

Severe wildfires across our dry country have destroyed many homes during the past several years. High winds that fuel the fires also carry flames toward structures. That's where having a fire-resistant roof can help. While certainly any structure --- including its roof --- will burn when fully engulfed in a fire, it's comforting to know that wind-carried flames from a wildfire simply won't "catch hold" and cause a building to ignite.

At DaVinci, we think that keeping families safer with fire-resistant roofing is not just a great idea ... it's something to moo about!

For more on the 2016 campaign "Don't Wait: Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years" sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association, click HERE. Also, learn more about simulated shake roofing at It's Fire Prevention Week - How Important Is a Strong Fire Rating for a Roof?and Roof Check Recommended During Fire Prevention Week, October 6-12, 2013. 

October 3, 2013 ... 23.1 inches of snow in Rapid City, South Dakota.

October 17, 1984 ... 18.4 inches of snow in Salt Lake City.

October 26, 1997 ... 19.3 inches of snow in Goodland, Kansas.

Think it's too early to think about snow guards? Think again!

Don't be surprised by an early snow fall. If you live in a geographic area where accumulating snow fall is possible and have a synthetic roof, then now is the time to call your roofer. (See Winter Forecast: Get Snow Guards! and On Guard for Winter Weather ... with Snow Retention Systems)

Snow guards can be retrofitted fairly easily to composite slate or shake roofing products, and it's best to be prepared for potential bad winter weather. To install the snow guards, your roofer can use self-tapping, self-sealing Woodbinder Screws that have coated heads to match the color of the snow guard. These are enhanced with sealant between the snow guard strap and the roofing shingle. Snow guards are even available in unique styles or custom colors to match your DaVinci Roofscapes roofing (see Stylish Snow Guards)

Once installed, snow guards help "break up" the melting snow or ice from a composite roof so snow slides or "avalanches" don't occur. By breaking up the snow as it falls, there's less chance of it damaging landscaping or blocking your home's entryways.

Remember, October isn't too early to get prepared for snow. Just ask the folks in Minneapolis. They had a surprise "Trick or Treat" snowfall of 21 inches on October 31, 1991!

**Snow guards should be considered in all geographic areas where accumulating snow fall is possible.**

Yuk. What IS that? Would you believe it's a real wood roof? Under all that green mold, lichen, algae, fungus and "furry stuff" lies a decaying wood roof.

While a very few people might call this roof "charming" or say that it has "character," smart homeowners know that this roof is trouble. Mother Nature's elements have taken over the roof, making it a hazardous problem.

It's fine to love the look of a real wood roof, but be sensible when selecting your roofing product.

The realistic-looking shake roofing materials manufactured at DaVinci provide peace-of-mind for homeowners. Backed by a lifetime limited warranty, our fire- and impact-resistant composite shake tiles come in 50 different colors and a wide assortment of color blends.

For more details on our easy-care shake shingles that maintain the look of cedar shake roofing for decades to come, visit Simulated Shake Roofing Without the Hassles of Real Cedar Roofingand Composite Roofing Resists Mold.

By Kelly Porter, Houzz

As summer comes to an end, keep in mind that fall can be a great time to paint the outside of your home. The weather is cooling down and you’ve got a few short months before the holiday season. This is when you’ll want to make sure your cool-weather curb appeal is in tip-top shape for visits from family and friends. While white is a very versatile interior color, it’s also a great choice for the exterior of your home. White is crisp and clean, and it will give your home a classic, timeless look. Here are some ideas for using white to make your house a standout.

For a house with great architectural features, consider using a dark hue for the main color and white on the features you’d like to showcase. The contrast will add a whole new dimension to the entire exterior. In addition, unique elements such as unusually shaped shutters and arched doors will really stand out.

Color to try: Popped Corn from Behr

Farmhouses and barn houses are often steeped in tradition and history. Therefore, it makes sense to use a traditional barn red and white color palette for these types of homes. But stay away from the brightest whites. The best shade of white will be one that’s slightly gray and has cool undertones. This will help soften the look and reduce the harshness of the strong red and white combination.

Color to try: Cool Gray from Valspar

If you prefer a more modern look for your farmhouse, use white as the main color. Create a clean look by forgoing shutters, and choose black shingles for the roof. I love the stained wood entryway on the house shown here. It provides a traditional element with a contemporary twist.

Color to try: Moonlit Snow by Olympic

Scores of traditional, Colonial-style homes can be found in the Northeast region of the U.S. Many of them are painted with a classic black and white paint combination, which has stood the test the time. I think any house in any region would look gorgeous painted with such a tried-and-true duo. And don’t forget the white picket fence. This is an elegant color scheme that takes away all of the guesswork.

Color to try: Ultra Pure White from Behr

Hunter green and white is another classic combination you’ll see on traditional and cottage-style homes. Hunter green has a masculine feel to it, so if that’s not your style, pairing it with off-white is one way to lighten up its appearance, especially on a large home.

Color to try: Alabaster from Sherwin-Williams

For a house that offers guests a more subtle welcome, pair a warm white with a light, understated accent color. If you have a grassy front yard and trees, a pale, light green accent is a wonderful way to tie in the natural scenery. A soft green and white combination is very organic and serene, and it will look great for years to come.

The main color used here is Pure White from Sherwin-Williams

For more cool weather curb appeal ideas, read:

Ask a Local Painter for Advice
Are Plantation Shutters the Right Choice for Your Windows
Add White Rocking Chairs to Your Front Porch 

When the leaders at Prestwick Country Club decided to invest in a new roof, they had three requirements: maintenance-free, aesthetically-pleasing and rot-resistant. Synthetic shake tiles from DaVinci Roofscapes met all those needs, and then some.

"The real cedar shake roof overhead we had was more than 25 years old and deteriorated badly in recent years," says Stefan Sperlich, general manager of Prestwick Country Club in Frankfurt, Ill. "There was rot and mold damage, plus it was starting to leak. We were more than ready to invest in a solution to this roofing problem."

Fortunately for the club's almost 350 members, the House Chair of the country club, Art Reichert, had experienced his own roofing challenges two years prior. A tornado raced through the community ripping off most of the real slate from his home's roof. (See After the Storm ... Synthetic Roofing)

Fast forward two years and Reichert heads up the team working on remodeling and repair for the full-service Prestwick Country Club and golf course. His immediate thought was to contact his roofer, Scott Owen with Owen Enterprises Inc., and see if the DaVinci composite roofing could be used on the country club.

The team at Prestwick Country Club decided to replace the siding on the club house with cement board at the same time as replacing the roof. The Board selected the Tahoe VariBlend of four brown tones in Bellaforté Shake so that the roof would complement the club's new exterior.

"Everyone here is excited that we now have a truly a maintenance-free roof and structure," says Sperlich. "Club members feel the new roof has depth and mass that stays in line with a cedar roof without all the issues of cedar at a remarkably good cost."

Don't you wish you could sometimes "take a mulligan?" If you're looking for the right time to have a "do over" on your roof, then today's your day --- it's National Mulligan Day!

This is the day to give yourself --- and your roof --- a second chance at making each other happy.

Whether you're considering a new roof because your old one has failed and is leaking, or if it just doesn't help the curb appeal of your home, now is the time to research options ... like synthetic roofing from DaVinci Roofscapes.

Sometimes in life you're forced to have a "do-over" on your roof. That's what happened to Harry Leist, owner of Olde Liberty Station restaurant in Virginia. When a fire destroyed his renovated 1890 train-station-turned-restaurant, Leist decided to rebuild -- and do away with the heavy slate tiles that were on the original structure.

The fire in 2009 had Leist thinking that man -made polymer slate tiles with a Class A fire rating would be a good option for the rebuild.

"This roof is terrific --- it looks the same as it did the day the job was finished," says Leist. "Our Bellaforté imitation slate roof has held up extremely well despite some really high winds of more than 50 mph along with some truly deep snowfalls we experienced here in Virginia during the past seven years.

"There are no leaks or any other problems with our roof. If I had to make this decision all over again, I would do the same thing. The DaVinci composite slate roof looks terrific and does what it's supposed to do."

If you're ready to "take a mulligan" on your roof, contact us at DaVinci Roofscapes. And, to learn more about other successful re-roofing products, see Condo Community Chooses Impact- and Fire-Resistant DaVinci Polymer Roofing Tilesand Out of the Mouths of Contractors.

You've heard the old saying all your life: There's no such thing as a stupid question. It's true; if you don't ask, you won't know the answer.

At DaVinci Roofscapes we get LOTS of questions from homeowners preparing for a roof replacement. We've heard it all.  

Here are the top five questions our customer service team members get most frequently:

#1 - How much does your composite roofing cost?

Answer: We manufacture the product, and the final installed price is based on factors very specific to your project ... such as the roof pitch, how high your home is, tear off of the original roof, etc. Only a local roofing contractor can give you an accurate estimate after reviewing your home.

#2 - How can I find a local contractor?

Answer: Easy. We can help you identify a roofer in your area. We'll even reach out to the contractor first to make sure their schedule is open to meet with you and send your project information to them in advance. Plus, we'll send samples ahead of time to the contractor so they can show you the colors you're most interested in.

#3 - Can you send me samples?

Answer: Yes, we can do that, but first let us check with the local DaVinci representative in your area to see if he has some colors you're interested in on hand. Perhaps he can drop them off and answer any additional questions you have. If not, we can send samples to you via FedEx or UPS Ground.

#4 - Can you send me a list of homes in my area with DaVinci Roofscapes products on them?

Answer: Absolutely. However, keep in mind these are private residences and not show homes. Please take care to view the installations from the sidewalk only so as not to disturb the homeowner's privacy.

#5 - Will the polymer roofing fade over time?

Answer: All outdoor building products fade to varying degrees, but DaVinci's imitation slate and composite shake roofing products are designed to perform in the most challenging conditions. Our roofing tiles have color throughout each piece and we include ultraviolet (UV) inhibitors to assure that our products weather better than most other natural or synthetic roofing products.

Need more answers? Then check out It's "Ask a Stupid Question Day"and Have Questions - Talk to Us - We Have Answers.

It takes both courage make a bold color change on your exterior but as these brave homeowners prove it can be worth making the change.

When their home was built 24 years ago adding color in the eaves added color to an otherwise neutral home. It also was a different look than had been widely seen at that time and buyers were attracted to the look. Today, homes are being constructed with a whole mix of materials and the two-color look isn't quite as interesting as it once was.

In this case, the Gaskins decided to give their home an updated look by going for a few strong elements that would stand out.

Starting At The Top
The pitch of the roof allows a large part of the roof to show. The porch roof and interesting turret draw the eye making it important that the roof looks great.

The cedar shake roof had faded to a greyish brown, was worn and starting to splinter and crack. They wanted a maintenance-free, alternative cedar-like roofing materials. They chose DaVinci Roofscapes Shake in Tahoe because they loved how it looked like natural cedar yet was far more durable and long lasting.

As you can see in the photo above, the Gaskins home is already begin looking better just by replacing their old split and curled shakes with the a DaVinci roof in the right color and style.

Fewer But Stronger Design Elements

These smart homeowners also decided to enlarge the dormer over the garage before replacing their roof. The original dormer was there but didn't stand out as a strong element on the front facade of their home. The dormer was small and competed with the green dormers cause the eye to jump around rather than land on one strong element. 

Now the two dormers work together, balance the design and make a strong statement.

Commit To Color

In the before photo you can see how the contrasting color around the base of the home was distracting. It drew the eye away from where you want to focus it. The idea may have been to "ground" the house by using this darker color but it took away rather than added to the overall look of the exterior.

The  front door had been green. The same color had been used in the dormers and to paint the floor of the porch and steps. The door, porch and tops of the steps are now all a rich cocoa brown.  

The white trim was repainted but look at how much more it stands out now which leads us to the biggest change - the main color!

From nondescript neutral to a bold and beautiful blue/gray.

What a spectacular change!

After sampling many colors and Mr. and Mrs. Gaskin chose an acrylic solid stain from Hallman Lindsay, a Wisconsin-based company for changing the color of their home, which is primarily cedar panels.

The color is a custom blue/grey blend that the selected after sampling about a dozen slight variations of the color they had in mind. I love that they did this because I always advise homeowners to take this step but not all of them follow that advice even though often they later wish they had.

Sampling the color is the fastest way to know you're going to love your color before your home is painted. It gives you a chance to see the color on the actual surface material and in the right light. It is almost impossible to know just by looking at a small swatch what exactly the color is going to look like once your home is painted. Sampling the paint can give you a much better idea.

The back of the back of the Gaskin's garage was a colorful canvas during the sampling process but the effort to get the color exactly right paid off. They couldn't be happier with the finished project and love driving up to their house every day.

Upgraded Exterior

Mr. Gaskins says, "We have received a lot of very positive (and envious) comments and inquiries from our neighbors about the roof and the paint. Most of the house colors in our area are a very conservative/neutral tan or white."

Indeed the neighbors are envious.

By focusing on three key elements -- roof, dormer, and color -- the Gaskin upgraded the look of their home and added thousands of dollars worth of curb appeal. Best of all they the way their home looks.

This has been one of our favorite remodeling projects and we think the results are sensational.

Do you need some help with your exterior makeover? We're here to help you get your own 5-star results.

You know you need a new roof, but who do you turn to for reliable information? Usually if you have a family member that's in the construction business, you turn to them first. And, if there's a roofer in the family, then you've hit the jackpot.

But what if you don't have a valuable resource in your family? Don't worry. We're going to share "Uncle Joe" with you!

Joe Whitmore is the Vice President of Operations for Century Slate and Solar, an expert roofing company.

Here's the question we posed to Joe: What would you tell a family member who asks your advice on a DaVinci Roofscapes roof versus asphalt, real wood shake, slate or stone coated steel?

And now, here's the answer you've been looking for:

"Asphalt will only last 20 years. Wood shakes look great for five years, then start to weather and grow algae. In our part of the country, most shake roofs are only lasting 15-20 years and are requiring extensive maintenance and repairs. There is also a safety issue of having wood for roofing.

"Nothing compares to the look of a natural slate roof. They will last for 80 years but you will pay for it up front --- almost double the cost of installing a DaVinci roof. The slate are very durable but will become brittle over time, and more susceptible to hail impacts. You will also need to account for the weight of the slate when you design and build your building.

"Stone coated steel is a good lightweight option. It's fairly easy to install and has a fire and impact rating, along with a lifecycle comparable to DaVinci. It looks good from the road. If you're any closer, you can tell it's stone coated steel. It's a good option for tall buildings.

"DaVinci is priced between asphalt and slate although it's closer to asphalt in weight. It has a higher fire rating than shakes and is more resistant to impacts than real slate. DaVinci is hands down more aesthetically pleasing than stone coated steel options."

Looking for more insights on DaVinci roofing? Then check out Interview with Shawn Bellis of Epic Exteriorsand Interview with Brad Van Weelden of the Brad Van Weelden Company in Des Moines, IA.

It's always nice to see new construction happening, especially when it includes a luxury roof like Bellaforté Shake by DaVinci Roofscapes. This project, located in our home state's capital city, Topeka, Kansas, features a roof installed by Appelhanz Roofing, also out of Topeka.

Polymer roofing options are a popular in the Midwest because of their high impact rating and natural look. In Kansas, we see a lot of natural shake roofing damaged by storms, so we offer homeowners an alternative to the yearly maintenance and premature roof replacement with an impact and wind resistant option.

Appelhanz Roofing
785-246-0006
www.appelhanzroofing.com

If you live in an area with cold weather conditions, or strong freeze/thaw tendencies, do your research before purchasing concrete roofing tiles.

"We've seen significant failure due to freeze/thaw with concrete products at our elevation of 6,000+ feet," says Trevor Cannon with Umbrella Roofing, Inc. in Colorado. "Some high end concrete products experience this problem less, but those products are very expensive."

In really cold climates like northern Ontario, concrete roofs have never been a popular choice according to homeowner Barry George, who recently had a DaVinci Roofscapes synthetic slate tile installed on his home. "In all honesty, I've never seen concrete tile used in these parts," says George.

Why don't cold weather conditions and concrete  mix? First of all, concrete tiles are heavy (weighing up to 1,100 pounds per square depending on the style). Second, those heavy tiles have a high water absorption rate of about 13%. Water (or ice or snow) absorbed into the already heavy tiles puts pressure on the roof structure and can result in cracking of the tiles.

Just imagine a crisp winter day in Chicago ... or Colorado ... or upstate New York. Now think of an installed concrete roof with melting snow being absorbed into the tiles. Nighttime comes and the moisture stays in the concrete and freezes. This makes the concrete potentially more brittle and heavier on the roof structure. And, the trapped moisture can form mildew over time.

If you live in a cold climate and you're considering concrete roofing, do your homework. SeeCold Weather? Bring on the DaVinci Roofing Tiles!and Things to Think About for Cold Weather and your Roof.

Between strong winds, heavy rains, and threats like fire and natural disaster, simply having a roof over one’s head is not always enough.

When choosing a strong roof designed to protect your home and its occupants, here are some things to consider:

Fire Prevention

Real wood shake roofs can be extremely combustible and serve as kindling for wildfires. If you live in an area with even a remote possibility of wildfires, consider investing in a roof that resists flame spread. While no roof will resist a “ground up” fire that engulfs the entire home, polymer roofing tiles that are installed with proper underlayments can help protect a home from wind-driven embers that can ignite the roof.

Impact Resistance

Whether you live in an area prone to direct or indirect threats of tornadoes or hurricanes, or you simply live in a region that experiences strong storms, take note: flying debris associated with severe weather can become dangerous in high winds. Damage from airborne tree branches and flying loose items can be devastating to a roof not equipped for impact. Having a synthetic shake or composite slate roof that has achieved the highest ratings on impact resistance tests can help protect your property.

“Even if your roof has stood up to strong weather conditions in the past, it’s important to make sure it’s still in shape before the next round of bad weather hits,” says Mark Hansen, vice president of sales and marketing for DaVinci Roofscapes, which makes high-performing polymer roofing products that have achieved the highest grades possible on multiple industry tests.

Examine the roof yourself or have a professional roofer assess for damage you may not be able to see from the ground. They can make repairs or recommend a new roof replacement.

Durability

No matter where you live, it’s important that roof tiles can handle wear and tear. Ideally, roof tiles should resist curling, fading, cracking, mold, algae, fungus and insects. Roofing products that come with a strong warranty can offer you peace of mind.

Other Considerations

Protecting your home and family should be your number one consideration. Luckily, durable composite roofing options abound that offer the authentic look of real cedar roofing or natural slate beauty, as well as environmental sustainability. For the benefits of an eco-friendly roof, it’s a good idea to seek out products that are completely recyclable and meet standards set by organizations like the Cool Roof Rating Council and the U.S. Green Building Council.

For more roofing insights, see Roofing 101 for Homeowners.

The townhome community of Chelsea II at Jacaranda in Plantation, Florida is about a dozen miles from the ocean. But that is still close enough for salt air, humidity and high winds to play havoc with the real cedar roofing tiles on the 24 buildings in the community.

Earlier this year, after researching replacement roofing products for at least three years, the board of directors for Chelsea II took the leap and invested in polymer shake roofs from DaVinci Roofscapes.

"The decision to replace our existing roofs was accelerated since we could no longer get insurance companies to bid on our association because of the cedar shakes over our 96 units," says Carol Sachs, president of the board and a resident at Chelsea II. "This year in order not to pay $150,000 for insurance we were forced to go with an unadmitted insurance company. That spurred us to action and the new roof started going up in January."

Once on top of the structures, the roofing crew discovered the existing cedar shakes were at the end of their lifespan. In some cases they were leaking badly.

"Those shakes were curled, cracked and rotted," says Jerry Lowenstein, vice president of operations for North Star Contractors. "There simply wasn't much life left in them and they were actually becoming a hazard for the community.

"We've installed the DaVinci roofing product before at the Hialeah Race Track here in Florida. In my opinion the composite roofing is a major improvement over metal and a far superior option than shingles."

As each Chelsea II building gains its new roof, homeowners are expressing their excitement over the composite shake tiles.

"We selected the Bellaforté Shake in a Mountain VariBlend color because it's an almost exact match to our existing roof," says Sachs. "Homeowners here love the new roofing tiles, as do residents in our sister communities. We can all breathe a bit easier now with these roofing tiles overhead."

Chelsea II isn't the only community to select DaVinci roofing materials. See Condo Community Chooses Impact- and Fire-Resistant DaVinci Polymer Roofing Tiles and DaVinci Roofs Crown Condo Communities.

We are so lucky to have a group of contractors we work with who like to show off their completed work! Reports from the field about completed projects give us opportunity to show off not only our products, but promote the contractors who install them regularly. This project is the second project this year that we have featured by Braswell Construction Group out of Covington, GA. Like the project previous featured, they also installed a Bellaforté Shake roof on this home in the Tahoe Blend.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

The reason Bellaforté Shake polymer roofing systems are so popular with contractors is because they are a self-aligning system. Once the first few tiles go in, the rest line up and snap fit together with no additional course lines needing to be chalked. Also, most of the tiles installed have two shakes stamped on the 12" wide piece, so the homeowner can get the look of smaller shakes, but the installers aren't working with as many pieces. Thank you for sharing this project with us, Braswell Construction!

Braswell Construction Group
678-283-2551
www.braswellconstructiongroup.com

​

Imagine a grown up version of Halloween where you purchase a beautiful new home ... only to find out a few months later that the "quaint" shake roofing tiles you thought added character to your home are infested with insects.

Trick or Treat.

Or, where you invest in a new slate roof for your traditional style home ... and then less than a year later a limb breaks off a nearby tree and cracks those beautiful slate tiles.

Trick or Treat.

You get the idea. Being a homeowner can be scary. When evaluating a replacement or new roof --- or even a new home purchase --- you have to mentally dress up like a super hero or wizard to make sure you're making the best roofing decision for your home.

Here are some fast tips from the experts at DaVinci Roofscapes to use when evaluating a roofto assure you don't get tricked in the long run:

Tip #1 - Determine the age of the existing roof, the material it's made of and any manufacturer warranties.

Tip #2 - Invest in having a professional roofer do a comprehensive evaluation of the roof to determine any potential issues -- especially those you can't see from the ground, such as missing tiles, weak spots and damaged areas.

Tip #3 - Look in the gutters. If there are asphalt shingles on the roof and you find lots of loose granules in the gutters this can be an indication the roof is starting to fail.

Tip #4 - Think about your geographic location. If you live in an area with the potential for wildfire spread, high winds, sea air or severe weather, know that the roof takes the brunt of these conditions --- and you should have a roof overhead that will help protect your home.

Tip #5 - Do your research. If it's time to consider a new roof, synthetic slate and shake tiles should be tops of your list. Investing in these impact-, fire- and insect-resistant tiles can save you maintenance hassles for decades to come ... plus can potentially help lower your homeowner insurance.

For more tips on roofing materials and how to evaluate your roof, seeTips to Determine if You Need a New Roofand Save $$$ with Imitation Slate and Synthetic Shake Roofing.

Located 34 miles from downtown Chicago, the Village of Lincolnshire is a hidden gem in Illinois. Incorporated in 1957 with a population of 237 people and covering just .4 miles, the Village now boasts 7,275 residents and 4.58 square miles.

The mayor and six trustees set policy and run the small municipality from the sprawling Village Hall in downtown Lincolnshire. When constructed, cedar shingles were used to cover the structure. Over time --- and subject to Illinois winter weather conditions --- the shingles failed.

In the summer of 2016 All American Exterior Solutions was hired to replace the worn out shingles with Bellaforté Shake tiles from DaVinci Roofscapes. A Tahoe-VariBlend color was selected to complement the brick exterior of the building and its new lead-coated inlay copper gutter system. (See Hassle-Free DaVinci Composite Shake Tiles)

The re-roofing project took several weeks to finish, due to its size, different elevations and pitch changes. A 50-foot showpiece tower also proved an interesting challenge for the roofers. Now complete, the durable synthetic cedar shake roof sits atop the town's government structure and is ready to help safeguard the building as the Village of Lincolnshire continues to grow. 

Putting your personal stamp on the colors for your home takes a good dose of confidence with a bit of courage. For many people it is far easier to follow the latest trends than create their own scheme. I say to do both.

Think of the color trends as you would the menu at your favorite restaurant. You may choose items exactly as they are suggested or you can "have it your way" by making changes so that your meal suits your taste exactly. Browse the colors currently on trend for inspiration or as a starting point. Then choose colors to substitute or add on to those suggested to create your personalized look.

With 2017 quickly approaching I have put together three of my favorite tips for using color trends to boost your confidence as you choose the colors for your next decorating or remodeling project.

Tip #1 Know the difference between a fad and a trend

FAD: People often refer to fads and trends as if they are one and the same. This is not the case. There is a difference between a fad and a trend.

A fad is a here-today-gone-tomorrow color, design or style. Fads rise fast. They seem to explode onto the scene out of nowhere. They are often mainly popular at first with a particular age group or type of person and then grow from there. Remember Day-Glo colors, anyone?

Fads are fun and create followers. They are relatively short lived and fade from the mainstream within two years or less. Still they are often long remembered after they are gone because so many people shared the experience of the fad even if they didn’t participate in it. 

TREND: A trend comes about as a result of myriad cultural, political, social and economic factors that interact to influence our preferences. Trends respond to human needs and emotions. Trends become trends because they address an unspoken need or desire that many people share at a particular time.

Currently looking to our lineage gives us feelings of strength and stability. Out of this comes the trend of reinventing classic and historical designs rather seeking something completely new. This also signals that the trend of placing importance on neutrals for for both home interiors and exteriors will continue.

People notice trends slowly and are usually unaware of a trend at first. As it becomes more prevalent, it crosses into different groups of people, expands into more geographical areas and types of products, which is how it gains strength, power, and longevity.

Tip #2 Don't jump on or off a trend too quickly

In the past, a typical trend would last centuries or at least decades. Today, a trend generally last for four to seven years.

Many people think that a color trend lasts about a year and that by the following year that color is no longer on trend. That might be what many retailers and manufactures would like you to think because it can boost sales but it isn't exactly true.

Certainly talking about color trends and naming trend colors annually has become an effective marketing tool but trends evolve rather than change completely from year to year. Anything that comes into favor and disappears just as quickly is a fad.

A typical trend curve looks like this. Keep in mind the timeline is usually from four to seven years:

A trend life cycle and the designs it inspires can differ in lengths. For example, you might remember how popular "Tuscan colors" were for home interiors at one time. At about the same time grapes and anything wine related were popular design motifs seen in these colors. Both arose from the influence of our fascination with Italy and specifically, Tuscany. The life cycle of the colors was seven or more years while the motif of grapes or wine peaked after two years and only was around for about four.

As trends change, colors shift warmer or cooler and become more or less intense. For example, recently the grays we favor have become warmer and beige (sometimes called greige.)  Also, darker brownish grays emerged followed by a return of truer brown to the color trends palette.

It doesn't mean that gray has fallen out of trend. What is means is that as things in the world have changed so have our emotions and thus the colors we want to surround ourselves with but it usually isn't a big change. It is a subtle change from year-to-year. In four or more years you will be able to look back and see a more drastic shift in what is now popular versus what once was on trend.

With all of the variety of colors available your style can evolve from one year to the next just as trends do. The great news is that if you are looking at home exterior trends they last far longer than most trends and the DaVinci Roofscapes Slate and Shake colors are timeless.

A key tip is to follow your instincts. Always select an exterior roof, siding or trim colors that you love and look best for your home. That's a true way to always be in style. If however, you just love one of those colors that is very hot right now my last tip will tell you how to keep it from looking passé.

Tip #3 Keep your colors from looking dated by avoid these combinations

Is there a color that you once loved, but today would seem outdated in your home? Some of the answers I get for that question are avocado and gold, gray and mauve as well as chocolate brown and aqua. At one time, these color combinations were all very trendy.

Do you notice anything about those popular responses?

Something they all have in common?

All of the examples are pairs of colors. Rarely does someone reply with a single color.

That is because it usually isn't a particular color that puts a time stamp on your design. It is a combination of colors that were so popular that you began seeing them everywhere. You might have even chosen them for your own scheme.

At one time, a combination of chocolate brown and aqua was so wildly popular that I started calling it "Choc-qua." Today when you see a room in these colors you can pretty accurately guess when it was decorated. 

Brown with a color other than aqua ... or even aqua with another color such as gold or navy blue or green, would be harder to know just by the colors alone. Keeping that in mind, the best way to use a trend color is to come up with your own color scheme rather than using it in the same combinations as everyone else. This is the best way to keep your color from feeling either trendy or outdated.

Using a trend color you love more creatively than other people makes your scheme a true reflection of your taste and style ... and that is always on trend!

Many paint companies have their trend forecast for 2017 online and you might enjoy seeing what is in store:

• Pittsburg Paints | Voice of Color
• Sherwin-Williams
• Benjamin Moore

Then follow my three tips and you will be well on your way to using this year's hottest hues in a scheme that sizzles with style all your own.

Contractors and roofers can be a valuable source of information for consumers. While a homeowner may replace their roof only once or twice in their lifetime, roofers and contractors can replace up to 50 roofs a year! That means they know their business ... and they know roofs.

When we asked some roofers across the country what aspects of synthetic shakes and slate tiles from DaVinci Roofscapes they like most, lifespan and appearance topped the list.

Listen to what they say ...

"The look, the lifespan and how the tiles increase the value of the home are the three reasons I would give a potential customer as to why they should buy a DaVinci synthetic shake or slate roof. We've been installing this roofing product since 2005 and it's a roof a homeowner would never have to worry about again."

Barbie Copp
Copp Roofing & Construction, Inc.

"The eye-catching aesthetics of a DaVinci roof will greatly improve the look of your home. Key benefits of fire resistance and wind uplift resistance will give you security living under a DaVinci roof. And, the longevity and lower maintenance costs of a DaVinci roof, compared to asphalt and cedar, make this roof a smart investment decision for your home."

Mark Dalrymple
Butcher & Butcher Construction Co., Inc.

"Putting budget aside, DaVinci polymer roofing performs and looks better than asphalt shingles, wood shake and stone coated steel. The DaVinci product represents the closest match to real slate that we've seen in the current roofing market. The appearance, lifespan and weight of this product versus real slate are the top three reasons I recommend composite roofing."

Tony Polotto
University of Notre Dame

"DaVinci is a great lightweight product. It's more durable than slate as far as hail impact, and it has a higher fire rating and lasts longer than real wood shakes."

Joe Whitmore
Century Slate and Solar

The demand for luxury retirement living is on the rise, and these developments are looking for long lasting, good looking, low maintenance products to use as building materials for their multi-family assisted living facilities. Recently, the Village of Bedford Walk, located in Columbia, MO installed a new, Single-Width Slate roof on their project. Our polymer single-width slate tiles offer the look of traditional slate, but at a fraction of the weight. It is also an impact and wind resistant product, which is crucial when you live in an area prone to nasty spring and summer storms.

This project was installed by EnRich Construction, also out of Columbia, Missouri. Thank you so much for sharing!

EnRich Construction
573-886-8494
www.enrichconstruction.com​