Forget the mistletoe, the boughs of holly and even the Christmas tree. If you want to truly make your home green this holiday season, think about replacing your roof with a DaVinci EcoBlend roof!

Made in America of virgin polymers and 100% recyclable, EcoBlend polymer roofs reflect sunlight and heat away from the home, making them energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Approved by the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC), the synthetic shake and slate roofs come in six color blends: Tahoe-EcoBlend, Mountain-EcoBlend, Brownstone-EcoBlend, Slate Gray-EcoBlend, Weathered Gray-EcoBlend and Castle Gray- EcoBlend. (see DaVinci Roofscapes Introduces Four New EcoBlend Colors for Cool Roofs)

In Narragansett, Rhode Island, the Hageman family embraced the EcoBlend roof when constructing their Green Life Smart Life home several years ago.  “The house is proving to be warm and comfortable,” said homeowner Joe Hageman. “We have received numerous compliments from family and guests on the design aesthetics that DaVinci has added to the roof’s architecture. It has been highly coveted.           

“The house has already gone through a nor’easter with no damage, thanks in part to the Class 4 rating of the roofing tiles. The winds are really harsh along our coast and we truly appreciated the fact that these roofing tiles have been straight line wind tested at 110 mph.”

Across the country in Pebble Beach, California, the Hines family also values their green EcoBlend roof. When selecting a Bellaforté Slate roof in Castle Gray-EcoBlend to meet Title 24 requirements in California, Ray Hines bought himself both a new roof and peace-of-mind.

"The team at Denison Roofing did a terrific job and we love the new roof," says Ray Hines. "Many of our neighbors have complimented it and we'd strongly recommend this good-looking, hard-working roofing product!"     

Homeowner David Edelman did his research back in 2012 and decided to replace his old asphalt shingle roof with synthetic slate tiles from DaVinci Roofscapes.

Being in the construction industry and having visited the DaVinci booth during the International Builders' Show, Edelman knew the company was capable of creating custom color blends. And that's exactly what he wanted for his English-style home in Texas.

"The team at DaVinci was great in helping me achieve just the look I wanted," says Edelman. "Katie Theole and I were on the phone at least a dozen times. She would send me different color samples to determine the perfect blend. With her help we got it right."

What was the custom Multi-Width Slate blend that appealed to Edelman? A unique blend of Slate Gray, Dark Tan, Green Stone and Dark Stone.

"This is such a pretty blend that I believe DaVinci should package it!" says Edelman. "Friends and family really like it and I'm happy to recommend the product to others. I'm so pleased with this roof that I'm going to add it to a new covered pavilion I'm building along with a swimming pool."

Being in the construction industry gives Edelman a unique view on his experience with DaVinci. "Sometimes you finish a construction project and go, 'Wow, we spent a bunch of dollars and did not get the results we had hoped for.' That's not the case with my DaVinci roof.

"I drive up every day and think 'Wow, I am so glad we went the extra mile and invested in DaVinci!' Even four years later, I love the way this roof looks and gladly recommend it to others!"

For more colorful details on DaVinci plastic roofing materials, see: Colorful Custom Roof Projects - Part I and Colorful DaVinci Roofs Help Businesses Stand Out.

This is a tale of two coasts.

Talking with roofers separated by more than 2,000 miles, you might expect to get different answers when they're asked about composite roofing. But, read on and you'll find out that there's not much difference between an East Coast and a West Coast roofer when it comes to DaVinci Roofscapes!

Q: What would you tell a family member who asks your advice on a DaVinci roof versus asphalt, real wood shake, slate or stone coated steel?

"DaVinci has a natural look that comes with lightweight aspects and durability. It experiences a very small amount of fade from sunlight."

Hogan Hammarstrom
Absolut Roofing, Inc.
Huntington Beach, California

"DaVinci roofs look great. This will be the last roof you will ever need!"

Ken Bowman
Blue Ridge Roofing
Boone, North Carolina

Q: Compared to installing other types of roofing products, how does DaVinci rate when it comes to installation?

"Installation of the DaVinci product is no harder than any other product ... actually it's easier than tile or real shake."

Hammarstrom

"Easier than most in the same category of roof, plus much easier than standing seam and slate. A bit more challenging than asphalt shingles or metal."

Bowman

Q: What are the three top reasons you would give someone to invest in a DaVinci synthetic slate or composite shake roof?

"Natural look, durability and ease of walkability."

Hammarstrom

"Looks, longevity, and cost over the life of the product."

Bowman

Interested in what other roofers have to say about our polymer shake and synthetic slate roofing materials? Then check out Roofers Applaud Lifespan & Looks of DaVinci Roofs and DaVinci Composite Roofing Sparks Confidence in Roofers .

Recently, a DaVinci contractor gave me a call to let me know that he loved installing DaVinci Bellaforté Shake. He said that the one suggestion he had, was that because of the very high profile of the DaVinci Bellaforté Shake, there were some situations where a solid tile would be helpful. One example of where a solid tile would be beneficial is in a situation where Bellaforté Shakes are installed in a closed valley in an area where there are a lot of messy trees, especially pine trees. In these instances, pine needles and leaves can catch on the ribs of the Bellaforté shakes where they are cut. While this doesn’t usually cause a performance issue it can sometimes detract from the overall look of the roof. Another example of where a solid tile can be helpful is in flashing situations where the cut edge of the tile may be exposed. While this is not a performance issue if it is in an area visible from the ground, it may not have the “finished look” that some customers would like.

I discussed this request with our design team and they worked quickly to develop a Bellaforté solid shake tile. These solid tiles can be used where tiles are cut around flashings, on flared rakes (gable ends), straight gable ends, and even valleys. It should be noted that these solid tiles are not the answer from an aesthetic point of view for a true open valley. The reason for this is when the solid tiles are cut for use in valleys, there is an occasional small void in instances where the tile cut crosses the gutter of the tile. These tiles also have occasional visible bubbles where the tile is cut, that may be objectionable to some customers. We recommend that when using Bellaforté Shake solid tiles the installer still use the closed valley or double w valley system.

Dream a bit. Think about the "McMansions" you've seen over the years, or the retreat compounds that make you envious. Now, think about the roofs over those luxury homes ... and think DaVinci Roofscapes.

Our company has been fortunate to provide polymer slate and shake roofing for town homes to cabins to villas to getaways. Our versatile imitation slate and composite shake roofing products complement all styles of homes, including these luxurious properties:

- French Manor Estate in Camden County, New Jersey ... featuring 16,500-square-feet, the Alton Manor boasts six bedrooms, an in-law suite and a three-story pool house connected through a tunnel to a dedicated Man Cave. The 5,000-square foot entertainment area includes a 42-stool bar, dance floor, professional DJ equipment, gaming area and a 12-seat movie theater. Topping it all is a Bellaforté Slate roof!

- Red Ledges private home in Park City, Utah ... with relaxing waterfalls, fire pits and spacious spaces. Designed with minimal maintenance demands and topped with a DaVinci simulated shake roof. (See Designer Shakes Up Utah Roofs)

- Luxury home in Traverse City, Michigan ... expansive and homey, yet luxurious with lake views and lots of room for family and friends. This home was re-roofed with DaVinci polymer slate tiles and within a few months withstood a freak storm with hail up to four inches in size and 100 mph winds. The roof survived without any problems.

- Historic home in Roanoke, Virginia ... this mountaintop home sits just below the famous illuminated Mill Mountain Star, and has sweeping views of downtown Roanoke. Built in 1929 the homeowners decided to replace a dark, black slate roof with DaVinci Multi-Width Slate in the Vineyard blend of eight different colors to complement the home, the cobblestone driveway and sidewalk. (SeeColorful Slate Roof the "Second Star" on Mill Mountain)

For more details on simulated shake roofing or synthetic slate roof tile on luxury homes, see Pass the Popcorn ... and the Roofing Tile Possibilities.

Sunshine and warm weather. That's reason enough to travel to Florida in early January. But, we've got an even better reason: the 2017 International Builders' Show (IBS)!

From January 10-12, thousands of industry professionals will gather in Orlando to see all the newest products, gain insights in seminars and unite to find the "hot products" for 2017.

DaVinci Roofscapes will be at the show again (in the West Hall, in booth W6871) with hot products that are pretty cool.

We're showcasing our DaVinci EcoBlend polymer roofing tiles and the four recently-introduced colors approved by the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC). What's so hot about these cool composite roofing tiles? EcoBlend tiles reflect sunlight and heat away from a home or commercial structure ... and the four new color blends all meet Title 24 requirements for California.

Visit us at IBS and see for yourself our newest EcoBlend polymer shake and slate roofing tiles:

- Tahoe-EcoBlend: Light Tahoe, Medium Light Tahoe and Medium Tahoe blend

- Mountain-EcoBlend: Light Mountain, Medium Mountain and Dark Mountain blend

- Brownstone-EcoBlend: Light Brown, Dark Stone and Dark Tan blend

- Slate Gray-EcoBlend: Slate Gray                                               

You can also see our original  EcoBlend color blends previously accessible from DaVinci Roofscapes that meet the stringent requirements to receive ENERGY STAR® designations, and still available from the company include:

- Weathered Gray-EcoBlend: Light Weathered Gray, Medium Weathered Gray and Dark Weathered Gray blend

- Castle Gray-EcoBlend: Light Gray, Medium Gray and Dark Gray

While you're at our booth, check out the full line of DaVinci products ... from Multi-Width to Single-Width to Bellaforté synthetic shingles. We've got the right composite roofing tiles for YOUR next project!

Need more reasons to cool off at IBS? Check out Sunscreen for Your Designer Roofand  Green Roof Systems are Cool and Energy Efficient.

Does snow slide off of a DaVinci roof?
Snow tends to slide off all roofs, but is more likely to slide off metal, natural slate, glazed tile, and polymer tiles (like DaVinci roofs).  This is due to some of the same physical characteristics that help to make DaVinci such a long lasting beautiful roof.  DaVinci roofing products have smooth surfaces and don’t absorb water. This means that snow and ice have no place to “grip” as it might with some other roofing products. When snow begins to melt from a warm attic underneath, the snow blanket on top may slide off the roof all at once.

What is the solution?
Installing a pattern of snow guards or attaching snow fences near the eave can reduce or eliminate snow slides. Snow guards work by adding friction to the roof. Snow fences on the other hand, create  a barrier to prevent snow movement.  Snow guards are the preferred product for most areas while snow fences are used in very high snow areas like ski resorts.

Who should consider snow guards?
Snow guards should be considered in parts of the country where accumulating snowfalls occur. Many roofs or parts of roofs may not need any snow guards at all. In fact, some structures are designed so that snow will slide off of the roof, reducing the stress on the structure.  

Does my house need snow retention?  
It all depends on what the snow may fall on as it slides off of the roof. The installation of snow guards should be considered on roof areas where sliding snow might land on people or property. Decks, walkways and driveways are obvious examples of such areas.  
 
What snow guards should I use?
There are many different types of snow guards. Snow guards for use on DaVinci roofs must have an attachment strap and be manufactured of long lasting- non-corrosive metals. The best types to use with DaVinci products are manufactured of copper, stainless steel or coated aluminum. Plastic snow guards, typically used on metal roofs, are not recommended for DaVinci roofs.  
 
What if my roof is already installed without snow guards?
The best time to install snow guards is when your DaVinci roof is being installed. But if your DaVinci roof is already installed, don’t worry. There are snow guards available that are specifically designed to be installed after your roof is on.  These are known as retro-fit snow guards and this type of snow guard won’t compromise the integrity, warranty or longevity of your beautiful DaVinci roof.
 
Ask your contractor if you need snow guards.  The final decision on whether or not to install snow guards rests with you and your contractor.
 
For more information, a good resource for snow guards on DaVinci roofs is Rocky Mountain Snow Guards.

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

After spending long winter months indoors, many people feel "pale" when they finally feel the sun's warm summer rays. The Wisconsin home of David and Kirsten Gaskin had a similar feeling.

The home was "pale" in many ways. It had a faded greyish brown cedar shake roof and a pale yellow exterior paint color.

This past year the Gaskins decided to bring some color to their family home. They started by replacing their roof with a Tahoe-VariBlend roof (featuring four tones of brown) in the Bellaforté Shake product line. Then they worked from the "top down" to change out the light yellow siding with a custom blue-gray stain for their cedar panels. The Gaskins chose a rich cocoa color for their front door, porch and steps, with the risers of the steps painted white. (See From Nondescript Neutral To Bold And Beautiful Color)

"We're so happy with the transformation of our home and love driving up to the house every day," says David Gaskin. "We've received many positive (and envious!) comments and inquiries from our neighbors about the roof and our color selections.

"Many people are surprised to find out the roof is not real cedar, since cedar is a requirement of our area. We were able to petition for a waiver in our community, which was approved after our neighbors reviewed samples of the DaVinci product. They agreed with us that it has a natural look. For us, the best part is the maintenance-free aspect of this composite roofing.

"This polymer roof selection was a real winner for us. It looks so authentic, yet it's more durable and has a longer lifespan than real cedar. It perfectly complements the rest of our exterior. Now we have a show home that's the talk of the neighborhood!"

Increased homeowner interest in cool roofs and authentic-looking slate and shake roofing products will continue to spur the growth of polymer roofing products in 2017. That's the prediction of our roofing industry leaders at DaVinci Roofscapes.

"We set new sales records in California in 2016 as people prepared for the launch of Title 24 requirements in 2017," says Ray Rosewall, president and CEO of DaVinci Roofscapes. "West Coast residents are clamoring for energy-efficient roofing products. Fortunately we were ahead of this surge by launching four new DaVinci EcoBlend® cool family colors earlier this year." (SeeDaVinci Roofscapes Introduces Four New EcoBlend Colors for Cool Roofs)

The EcoBlend polymer roofing color options have all been approved by the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) to reflect sunlight and heat away from a home or commercial structure, helping the building or home stay cooler in the summer and helping to lower energy costs. The new color blends all meet Title 24 requirements for California.

"We expect this trend will accelerate in 2017 as people across the country learn the value of energy-efficient synthetic roofing products," says Rosewall. "People are quick to invest in our polymer roofing when they see the authentic look of the slate and shake tiles and then learn about the fire-, impact- and high-wind resistance of these tiles.

"Most importantly, we've heard from distributors, roofers and builders that these polymer products are becoming more preferred to natural roofing materials. People desire the expected look of shake and slate, but they truly want the benefits that a man-made product offers. We've achieved that goal by creating realistic-looking products with exceptional features."

Nothing lasts forever. And, for many homeowners with cedar shake shingles, they find that time runs out far too quickly on their roofs.

Real shakes simply don't last as long as homeowners would like. That was the case at Regent Villas in Northfield, Illinois. After just 17 years, the cedar roofs above three buildings were already failing and started leaking and rotting, providing ideal conditions for insects to thrive.

Earlier this year homeowners in the community of 33 condo units decided enough was enough.Tired of the problems with their roofs and frustrated by the cost and life expectancy of a new cedar roof, they did their research. While the master association's covenants required all roofing to be replaced with real cedar shakes, they found a better solution from DaVinci Roofscapes.

Homeowners got an amendment to the covenants and determined that an investment in Bellaforté Shake roofing in a Chesapeake-VariBlend color would be their best solution.

"The realistic appearance of the DaVinci tiles plus the 50-year warranty were very helpful in our decision making process," relates Lee Flanagan, CMCA, AMS, vice president and property manager with Braeside Condominium Management, Ltd. "We're pleased with the results of the reroofing and I'd tell any condo or homeowners association that wants to either create or preserve the appearance of cedar shingles that the DaVinci product is a valid option. The cost is somewhat higher, but the benefits are considerable in terms of pleasing aesthetics, longevity and durability.

"There's another property I manage with 112 townhomes with cedar roofs. The roofs are in bad shape and we're already considering the DaVinci synthetic shake as a valid material option."

The team at D-Wing Construction tackled the re-roofing of the Regent Villas. "We tore off and removed the existing rotting cedar shake roof down to the wood deck," says Keith Weber, commercial sales director for D-Wing Construction. "We rebuilt the substrate installation with multiple courses of ice and water shield, leak barrier membrane at all of the gutter edges, up through the valleys, along all walls and around all the roof penetrations, and covering the entire roof with an acceptable synthetic felt.

"The transformation was incredible --- beautiful but subdued. Those roofs went from looking shabby to having a clean, up-to-date shake appearance that will last far beyond the life of a real new cedar roof. This was my first experience working with the Bellaforté product. Given the results, our client's satisfaction, and that we have already received a referral through this project, I'm confident we will be using the DaVinci product again in the future."

Learn how other multi-family communities gained by adding DaVinci composite roofing at Condo Community Chooses Impact- and Fire-Resistant DaVinci Polymer Roofing Tilesand Bellaforté Shake Roofs Top 207 Covington Creek Condos. 

Last spring and summer a couple of roof busting hail storms rolled through the Dallas, Texas area causing homeowners to reach out to local contractors for their advice on impact resistant roof replacement options. Asphalt, natural cedar shakes, and natural slate are just too prone to sustaining damage during these types of storms. Roofing contractors like SPC Construction & Roofing like offering the polymer roofing options by DaVinci Roofscapes because of the impact resistance and also the high end look. Also, these products are approved by the Texas Department of Insurance which means many homeowners will find they can get a discount on their insurance premiums for going with a Class 4 Impact Rated Roof.

SPC Construction and Roofing out of Euless, TX installed this Bellaforté Slate roof in the European Blend in Plano, TX.

SPC Construction & Roofing
817-684-1088
www.spcgc.com

They came, they saw, they were IMPRESSED!

Thousands of builders and show attendees visited our DaVinci Roofscapes booth at the 2017 International Builders' Show this month in Orlando. They held samples of our synthetic shake and slate roofing pieces, asked questions about the durability of our tiles, and walked away with new insights on how polymer roofing can help out their residential and commercial projects.

"There were many builders and contractors here from the southeast due to the location of this trade show," says Tim Gentry, vice president of technical services for DaVinci Roofscapes. "Because of the type of weather conditions experienced in Florida and throughout the southern states, we were answering a lot of questions about the high wind and impact resistance features of our tiles.

"Fortunately, DaVinci products are truly 'made' for the adverse weather conditions faced in the southeast. They resist moisture, sea spray and salt air, so there's not corrosion of the tiles. Plus, they can also stand up to the toughest winds and rains Mother Nature throws at them!"

In case you missed the show (or, heaven forbid, our booth!), here are some pictures of all the action in Orlando!

Noel Etzel had a "do it once, do it right" philosophy he followed when making product selections for his family's custom home last year in Topeka, Kansas. That theory led him to select Bellaforté Shake roofing to top off his 6,400-square-foot contemporary mountain style home.

"We wanted a roofing product that would look like real shake without the issues associated with shake roofs," says Etzel. "To that end, we wanted to make a roofing selection only one time, so the DaVinci product was ideal. After seeing some local installations of the synthetic shake product, we were sold on it.

"For us, the fact that there is color variation between the individual polymer shake shingles adds to the 'realism' of the roof and makes it look very natural."

Designed by NSPJ Architects, the Etzel home boasts real stone pillars and wood planking on the exterior. The custom home was designed by Timothy Homburg, AIA, NCARB, Principal Architect and Co-President at NSPJ Architects, to include a four-season room with a fireplace, steam room, theatre, dumbwaiter from the main floor kitchen to a walk-out summer kitchen and outdoor pool.

"My favorite part of the exterior design of the home is the screened porch that opens up the entire back of the house to the lake view," says Homburg. "Our custom residential designs are well thought out and evoke our client's personality and lifestyle. As in the case of the Etzel family, we listen and are attentive to our client's needs. So, when the Etzels said they wanted an easy-care, authentic-looking faux cedar shake roof, we thought of the DaVinci product. We've used this synthetic roofing product successfully on other projects for our firm and believed it would be a good match for this home design."

To gain a "top down" flow of cohesive color on the home exterior, the Etzels worked with Appelhanz Roofing to select the Mountain-VariBlend color combination of varying tones of browns for their Bellaforté Shake roof. "After comparing several DaVinci color samples to our stone work, cedar siding and trim, the Mountain-VariBlend was the best fit for our home," says Etzel. "Overall we're extremely happy with the exterior of the house and we can't think of anything we would change.

"While some might think it's hard to get excited about something as simple and necessary as a roof, we feel otherwise. We routinely receive positive feedback on the roof and are extremely pleased with our decision to invest in the DaVinci product."

Interested in a custom color for your custom home? See 3 Reasons A Custom Color Could Be The Best Choice For Your Project.

By Bud Dietrich, Houzz

After you've installed your foundation, put down your floor structure and erected your walls, it's time to build your roof— one of the most important architectural elements. In fact, from the colonial home with its gable roof to a Prairie-style home with its hip roof, from a modern home with its low-sloping roof to an elegant mansard on an urban townhouse, we can't imagine a house style that doesn't have its associated roof configuration. Aligning the roof shape and configuration with the overall aesthetic you're after is essential to getting the look you want.

Related: Design Dictionary: The Lingo of Rooftops

A roof also has an impact on the interior. Simply put, if all of the interior rooms have a flat ceiling of the same height, you can save time and money and have the roof built with manufactured trusses. If you're looking for some ceiling height variety and a vaulted ceiling in some rooms, you'll likely go with a stick-built roof that allows for this kind of flexibility. Or you can combine these two approaches to save time and money where possible while getting those special spaces you want.

Here are the different parts of a simple roof structure, how they come together and how they impact the interior spaces.

A simple, stick-built triangular roof structure has three main components.

First, there's a ridge board, which is a horizontal wood element at the peak of the roof, establishing the apex of the roof's triangle.

Next are the rafters, which are fastened to the ridge board and slope downward to the exterior walls. The rafters do the heavy lifting for a roof structure. While resisting the downward force of gravity, the sloping rafters also provide the means by which the house sheds water, keeping the interiors dry and habitable.

Last are the ceiling joists, which also act as ties. While the rafters resist the downward force of gravity, the ceiling joists will resist any outward thrust. Just think of it like this: The rafters, having stood up to gravity, want to take a rest and lie down. But if they were allowed to, they would push the exterior walls outward — not a good thing. The ceiling joists won't let this happen; they just keep pulling the walls back in.

An important design consideration is where to locate the ceiling joists, or rafter ties. These don't have to be set at the top of the exterior wall; they can be set higher up, allowing for a taller ceiling.

What's important is that the rafter ties be placed in the lower third of the overall roof structure height. This makes sense, as most of the outward thrusting action these ties are designed to resist is located lower in the roof structure, closer to where the rafters meet the exterior walls.

Setting the ceiling joists higher like this is, with the addition of some framing at the room ends, also the method used to create a tray ceiling.

Let's say you want a really tall vaulted ceiling for a large great room. If this is the case, you'll want to get rid of the rafter ties altogether and replace the thin and light ridge board with a heavier and stronger ridge beam.

The rafters will get securely fastened to this ridge beam so that the whole assembly will resist the outward thrust of the rafters. And because these ridge beams can be quite massive, they become a distinctive architectural element in their own right.

Another roof element, though not a common one, is the purlin. This is a board that spans rafters, or trusses, providing a way to fasten the roof sheathing and subsequent roofing materials.

Purlins were traditionally used when the rafters were placed farther apart to save on materials in utilitarian buildings such as barns. But purlins have become popular in residential construction because of their unique architectural look. In fact, using purlins will create the illusion that the actual ceiling floats above the rafters, something that can be architecturally distinctive.

Last but not least are manufactured trusses made of 2-by-4 (sometimes 2-by-6) lumber and metal connecting plates. Trusses such as these are used quite often on large tract developments due to the efficiency of their repetitive design.

But these trusses are also used in custom construction too, as they can be a great way to save time and money. Even with a complex roof shape, trusses can be engineered and built on a made-to-order basis. And because of the efficient use of material and less waste generated when they're built in a factory, manufactured trusses can be a more sustainable way to build.

Related: 7 Steps in Building a New Home

One caveat about a house built with these types of trusses: A roof built with manufactured trusses is more difficult to modify than a comparable stick-built roof. So if your home has ceilings all the same height and a truss-built roof, you'll find it more difficult to open rooms up and get that tall ceiling you want for that new great room. Be sure to get help from an architect or engineer before you modify the roof structure.

In the Chestatee community (a golf and lake neighborhood in Dawsonville,Georgia) just north of metro Atlanta, custom homes are designed and constructed specifically to create an "ease of living" lifestyle.

For homeowners Dave and Karen Compretta (and Edie Nichols, Karen’s mother who has an English cottage on the property), they wanted that easy lifestyle to start at the roof and go all the way down their home façade. That's why they selected manufactured stone for their home exterior along with composite shake siding accents. And, for their roof, they chose authentic shake shingles from DaVinci Roofscapes. (See also Bellaforté Shake Shingles = Peace of Mind)

"Basically, we're done with outside maintenance on our home," says homeowner Dave Compretta. "There's a lifetime limited warranty on this roof ... and we expect it to well outlast our lifetime! Let the grandkids deal with the warranty someday in the future. Right now, we're enjoying our no-maintenance style of living!"

Constructed in mid-2016, the Arts-and-Crafts style home the Comprettas moved into was roofed by Braswell Construction. Originally the subdivision leadership restricted roofing materials to natural cedar or pine shakes ... until they saw the genuine-looking polymer shakes from DaVinci.

"This product sold itself," says Compretta. "We knew the cost would be slightly higher, but with no maintenance (and, in our opinion this actually looks better than real wood shakes), it was a no brainer."

The Comprettas are so pleased with their new roof that they invite others in the neighborhood and north Georgia to visit and see the roofing product up close. According to the Comprettas, "We're confident that when people see our home with mother's in-law cottage and then understand the long-term benefits of the DaVinci roof, they'll make the smart decision to invest in a similar roof for their lifetime of easy living!"

If you have a farmer in the family, you come to expect the best selections of vegetables and fruits on the dinner table. If your spouse is a travel agent, you may get some excellent deals on cruises. And, if you have a roofer in the family and find yourself in need of a new roof, you're certainly going to call the expert in the family for advice!

We recognize that everyone doesn't have a roofer in their family, so we're helping you out.

At DaVinci Roofscapes we sent this one question to several roofers and asked for their honest response. Here's the question ... and their answers.

Question: What would you tell a family member who asks your advice on a DaVinci roof versus asphalt, real wood shake, slate or stone coated steel?

"Asphalt will only last 20 years. Wood shakes look great for five years, then start to weather and grow algae. 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 slate roof. Natural slate is very durable, but it will become brittle over time and more susceptible to hail impacts.

DaVinci roofing is priced between asphalt and slate. It has a higher fire rating than natural shakes and is more resistant to impacts than slate. And, DaVinci is hands down more aesthetically pleasing than stone coated steel options."

-Joe Whitmore, VP of Operations, Century Slate and Solar

"DaVinci will be the last roof you ever need ... it looks great!"

-Ken Bowman, Owner, Blue Ridge Roofing

"Roof installations most always come down to budgets. If your budget allows you to purchase a more expensive roof system that will outlast a lower costing roof by two to three times, a DaVinci roof is a great choice. It will give you longevity --- and actually at a lower cost than other expensive roofs --- as the lighter weight will save on structural framing costs.

Depending on your individual home and roof design, over time a DaVinci roof system can cost less than the two or three asphalt shingle roofs or the two cedar roofs that would need to be replaced over the lifespan when compared to DaVinci."

-Mark Dalrymple, President, Butcher & Butcher Construction Co., Inc.

"DaVinci has a natural look that comes with benefits of being lightweight, walkable, durable and having a very small amount of fade from sunlight."

-Hogan Hammarstrom, President and Founder, Absolut Roofing, Inc.

Interested in more roofer insights on synthetic slate roofing and synthetic shake shingles? See Roofers Applaud Lifespan & Looks of DaVinci Roofs and "Uncle Joe" Tells You About Roofing.

At this time of year, who wouldn't want to escape to Hawaii, Jamaica or the Cayman Islands? Devin Hansen and his team at Sunflower Travel make those dreams come true.

Established in 1969, the Sunflower Travel location in Wichita, Kansas is ready to celebrate its first year anniversary with a Bellaforté Shake roof overhead. Installed in February of 2016, the Tahoe-VariBlend roof with four shades of brown, brings peace-of-mind to the team at Sunflower Travel --- both during winter weather and when the Kansas hail and winds kick up later in the year.

"The previous real wood shake shingle roof we had was 18 years old and in terrible shape," says Hansen, owner and president of Sunflower Travel. "We're part of an office complex with eight buildings so we needed a roof that would match up closely with the other roofs.

"When we first started exploring our re-roofing options there was a restriction in place that allowed only wooden shake shingles. The features and benefits of the DaVinci roof won over the Board that picks the roofing materials so we were able to invest in our first choice --- the Bellaforté Shake polymer roof.

"We chose this DaVinci product because it was the closest match to the existing roofs. The warranty was impressive and the low maintenance aspect very appealing to us."

While Sunflower Travel is currently the only building with a DaVinci roof, others in the complex will seek replacement roofs in the future --- and they're most likely to also select the Bellaforté Shake.

"Our new synthetic shake roof looks awesome," says Hansen. "Almost all the other building owners have remarked how close in color and style the new polymer roof looks compared to all the other structures that still have wooden shake shingles.

"By investing in this DaVinci roof we got exactly what we wanted: a product that looked like a real shake shingle but is more up-to-date and durable."

Want to learn more about polymer roof products and receive a AIA credit for it? DaVinci Roofscapes is back to offering face-to-face continuing education. The course available, The Design Advantages of Synthetic Roofing Solutions, is an hour long presentation and is worth one HSW credit. During this course you will learn:

• List the green features of virgin-engineered polymer synthetic roofing materials.
• State the design and architectural benefits of specifying a synthetic roofing solution including how synthetic products can contribute to LEED® point certification.
• Compare the advantages and disadvantages of traditional roofing materials versus synthetic products.
• Discuss the durability and long life cycle of synthetic roofing materials including the various testing methods and approvals related to roofing materials.

If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with your local sales representative, contact me and I will put you in touch.

What's for lunch? If you're a termite or insect in the vicinity of a real cedar shake roof, a bountiful buffet awaits you!

While homeowners may like the "charm" of having a real cedar roof on their homes, these roofs come with many challenges. Cracking. Splitting. Growth of moss and algae. Fading. Shrinking. Curling. And, worst of all for some homeowners --- mold and insect infestations.

"I wanted something that looked like real wood shakes but performed better," says homeowner Thomas Meyers of Prior Lake, Minn. "I was tired of our older wood shakes deteriorating with different weather conditions. Plus, mold would accumulate on the wood shakes and the shakes were fading. Overall, dealing with this roof was a huge headache.

"After doing research on DaVinci Roofscapes and discussing the product with our contractor, we decided our best option was the Bellaforté Shake product that resists impact, wind, algae and mold."

Meyers isn't alone in his search for a "better" cedar shake. After severe hail damaged all 35 condo roofs at the Catawba Shores lakeside community, the homeowners association vowed not to let costly storm damage impact their homes again.

“The hail damage caught us by surprise," says Jim Packard, president of the Catawba Shores Homeowners Association in Port Clinton, Ohio. "But we quickly learned that real wood shakes just don’t hold up against Mother Nature. The damage was so bad that our insurance company subsidized the cost of all the replacement roofs.”

After researching the community’s options, the Catawba Shores community committed to the man-made Bellaforté Shake roofing tiles and never looked back. Now on the community for five years, the synthetic shakes look as good as the day they were installed --- and there are no free lunches up on the roof for termites!

For more on the Catawba Shores project, see A New Roof ... Times 35 and Why You Should Care that DaVinci Polymer Roofs are Used on Condo Communities.

Hats off to the talented people at John Higgins Weatherguard Inc. out of Omaha, Nebraska. During the past 14 years, this company has registered more DaVinci Roofscapes roofing projects than any other roofing installation team in the country.

"I saw the DaVinci product for the first time at a trade show and loved the authentic look of the synthetic slate and shake roofing tiles," says Trent Lovewell with John Higgins Weatherguard Inc. "I love it even more now that we've had the opportunity to install it on hundreds of projects."