The Auburn Hills retail development in Wichita, Kansas is home to several storefront businesses, including a dentist, a chiropractor and a branch of KANZA Bank. To give Auburn Hills an updated look, DaVinci synthetic shake tiles were recently installed.

"The previous concrete tile roof was installed in 2001," according to John E. Boyer, IV, chairman of the board at KANZA Bank out of Kingman, KS. "This community of businesses needed new roofing that would showcase the structures in a positive manner.

"We all did our homework before investing in DaVinci roofing. Heiland Roofing recommended the product and their referrals backed up the recommendation. The lighter weight of this polymer roof, matched up with the attractiveness of the product was a real win for us. They also had a variety of styles and colors for us to choose from and the 50 year limited warranty was very appealing."

For KANZA Bank and the other businesses at Auburn Hills, the durability of the roofing product was a key consideration. Midwest weather is never easy, and having a roof that can withstand high winds and snowfall means security and peace-of-mind for the business operators.

"Frankly, the attractiveness of the roof exceeded our expectations," says Boyer. "We've had numerous compliments on the roof from our customers, employees and other tenants. This DaVinci roof has really made the entire retail center stand out in the neighborhood."

TIP: Other banks have used composite roofing too ... click HERE to see how Tower Bank in Indiana used DaVinci polymer roofing!

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kronborg, Neb. has been through some terrifying weather in its 118-year history. After straight-line winds and large hail struck the church, parsonage and fellowship hall in 2014, the congregation went in search of new siding, windows and roofing.

"Danish churches like ours are known for our red and white roofs, which tie back to the colors of the Danish flag and the heritage of our church," says Gene Hansen, a member of the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. "Those colors identify us. We knew we needed to replace the roof with a product that could help protect the church more in the future but still had those special colors."

Congregation members voted to install Bellaforté Shake roofing from DaVinci Roofscapes in a custom red color on both the church and the Fellowship Hall in 2016.

"The durability and beauty of this roof really spoke to the church members," says Nick Paschke, president of Paschke Brothers Construction. "The composite roofing answers so many challenges for this project. We were removing old wood shingles, metal and other roofing products. As we tackled the steepness of the steeple, the lightweight nature of the polymer roofing really helped us."

This Nebraska church isn't alone in relying on synthetic roofing tiles from DaVinci. See more church stories at Churches Thankful for Roofs Overheadand Impact-Resistant DaVinci Roof Tops Kansas Church.

Last summer, loyal DaVinci Roofscapes installer Weatherguard, Inc out of Omaha, NE replaced the roof on the historic Nebraska Masonic Home in Plattsmouth, NE.

Established in 1903, this facility offers assisted living and nursing care to about 100 residents. In 2016, they replaced the original slate roof with an impact resistant Bellaforté Slate roof tile in the Evergreen blend. Weatherguard, who has installed hundreds of DaVinci slate and shake roofs on homes and business in Nebraska, also installed copper flashings to keep the original look.

John Higgins Weatherguard, Inc
402-510-3867
www.rooferees.com

Calling all roofing contractors! Today we want to talk to you about step flashing. Specifically step flashing with your Bellaforté Slate and Shake polymer roof systems.  A nuance of these products is that because of the way they are designed if you don’t use proper step flashing, which prevents water from running horizontally, the roof may not perform properly. From what we hear, a common hassle can be it is difficult to find step flashing with a return on it, or at the very least, a couple of bumps on it to assure that water doesn’t travel horizontally. To remedy this, DaVinci now sells step flashing just made just for Bellaforté!

You read that headline correctly. At DaVinci Roofscapes, we've done something few other companies have ever done: we've LOWERED our pricing.

During the fourth quarter of 2016, our leadership team determined that we were experiencing manufacturing efficiencies that allowed us to save money --- and we decided to pass on those savings to you!

The price reductions range from 11 to 16 percent on several of our popular synthetic slate and imitation shake product lines.  

"We're going 'outside of the box' by sharing our cost savings to make our composite roofing products even more accessible to roofers and homeowners across the country," says Ray Rosewall, president and CEO for DaVinci Roofscapes. "We're exceptionally conscious of what the market is telling us versus what our competitors are doing. For us, it's all about advancing the growth of our customer's business.

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

If you're thinking of investing in one of our designer roofs, don't let price concerns stop you. Just ask about the lower prices now available on our composite slate and synthetic slate roofing products! 

P.S. - Don't wait --DaVinci Roofscapes Predicts Demand to Increase in 2017 for Synthetic Roofing!

By Steven Randel, Houzz

What is a gambrel roof? Think of a shallow gable and a steep gable, then place the shallow atop the steep. Add dormers, often one long one, to the steep portion, and you have a configuration commonly referred to as Dutch colonial.

The gambrel structure allowed a wider roof span, which provided extra habitable space in the attic. This form evolved over several decades of adapting authentic 18th-century Dutch colonial architecture to the necessities of the time. Though simple gable roofs also sheltered some Dutch houses, the unique gambrel form became increasingly popular to the point of ethnic definition.

Limited to regions within and near New York's Hudson River Valley, colonial Dutch settlements eventually became outpaced by those of English colonists, who built their domestic architecture in Georgian and Adam styles. Dutch colonial houses we see today are actually revivals concurrent with colonial revival in general. Due to this, the gambrel roof has been shared and mixed across several styles, including shingle and Georgian. Conversely, classically inspired Georgian and Adam details often appear on Dutch colonial revival houses.

Siding & Windows Group Ltd, original photo on Houzz

You cannot venture too far before coming upon a house like this one. Dutch colonial revivals inhabit neighborhoods from coast to coast. They show up frequently, being a specific type among the long-lived colonial revival era that stretched from around 1880 until around 1955.

Focus on the quaint entrance here. An elliptical arch punctures the classically referenced pediment supported by decorative brackets. Sidelights extend halfway down, implying a halved Dutch door. Other traditional elements include clapboard siding, double-hung windows with shutters, window boxes and a frieze above each lower-level window. The defining roofline breaks apart the two-story house, giving it an intimate and human scale.

Siding & Windows Group Ltd, original photo on Houzz

Similar in scale and detail to the previous example, this home has a continuous shed dormer that's defined by the extension of the upper roof form and stretches across nearly the entire elevation. Unique here is the eyebrow porch cover, a detail found in many examples. It extends slightly forward of the adjoining eave and inconspicuously signals the entrance. Also notice the double-hung windows with a divided light sash on top and a single-pane sash on the lower half. This detail is also seen in shingle-style homes.

Westover Landscape Design, Inc., original photo on Houzz

Moving up in size, this New York–area Dutch colonial revival maintains the inviting human scale inherent in this style. In true colonial revival fashion, windows are grouped into sets and sunrooms flank the lower levels. Significant here is the flare to the lowest eave line. This detail surfaced in original colonial designs; it was likely brought directly from the Netherlands. Notice how the shape of the front porch follows the fan light above the entrance door with sidelights and contrasts appropriately with the other linear elements.

Related: Easy Home Project: Replace Your Old Mailbox

Intersecting formations and other even more complex configurations show up in other styles, especially shingle. Consider the contrast in symmetry from the previous examples, and you can understand the association to shingle style. Substantial brackets support an attenuated flared eave that creates a front porch cover.

Bill Ingram Architect, LLC, original photo on Houzz

Focus your attention on the primary gambrel roof section of this Alabama house. The stone body with parapet gambrels illustrates an important configuration in original Dutch colonial houses. Many Dutch colonists built with stone and likely brought the parapet design from the Netherlands. Contrasting hip roof appendages emphasize the prominent gambrel form here. Also note the bookend chimneys, another very nice allusion to Dutch originals. Independent shed dormers contrast previous examples.

Eskuche Design, original photo on Houzz

This comfortable new Minneapolis house has some contemporary twists on the gambrel roof theme. A large round arch set within a front-facing gambrel highlights the main entrance. The standing-seam metal roof of the wrapped porch and garage skirt contrast and emphasize the primary shingled portions of the roofs. Note the independent shed dormers and how the cross gambrel roof over the garage creates its own dormer impression.

Related: Make Your Home Glow With Updated Outdoor Lights

Tommy Chambers Interiors, Inc., original photo on Houzz

A gambrel roof establishes a focal point for this sprawling and elegant composition in Southern California. It has a complex balance of forms and elements blended unassumingly behind the gambrel. Notice the marvelously detailed lower-level triple window grouping happily topped by a Palladian window scheme, further emphasizing this focal point.

Whether modest or not so, the Dutch colonial gambrel roof shape has survived through several hundred years of American home-building fashions. The original gambrel provided extra habitable space, while contemporary versions are more flexible, offer greater visual interest and are a lovely homage to those pioneering Dutch colonists.

Project #1: Matching Roofs on House and Shed

For Dave and Jeannie Schwab, the effort of cleaning and applying shake oil to their massive real cedar shake roof every five years or so eventually wore them down. They loved the look of shake on their home, but hated the maintenance aspects. So they shopped for a new composite shake for their home and matching potting shed --- and decided on DaVinci Multi-Width Shake roofing in a Mountain blend.

"Our home was built in 1993 and there's a lot of roofing involved in its design. Eventually the roof really needed to be replaced. We liked how the natural cedar roofing looked on the house, but when we went shopping for a new roof we wanted a cedar shake alternative."

Dave Schwab

Project #2: Coastal Retreat

Most people would be envious of Robbin Torrey's home with sweeping Pacific Coast ocean views. The one blemish in her ideal home ... the original 51-year-old redwood shake tiles that were falling offer her roof. After doing her research, Torrey replaced her deteriorating roof with Multi-Width Shake from DaVinci Roofscapes in a Mountain blend color.

"The DaVinci roofing material was of the best quality of all the products I reviewed. I liked the durability and appearance of the shake. Since my house is right on the coast, the fact that this synthetic shake tile has a wind resistance of 110 mph was very important to me."

Robbin Torrey

Project #3: Energy-Efficient EcoBlend Roof

When it came time to move from San Francisco to Pebble Beach, California, the Hines family fell in love with an abandoned 31-year-old home. It needed many replacements, including a new roof. They listened to their roofer, Denison Roofing, and selected an energy-efficient EcoBlend roof from DaVinci Roofscapes in Castle Gray-EcoBlend color. The roof meets Title 24 requirements, is ENERGY STAR® rated and meets the approval of the Cool Roof Rating Council to reflect sunlight and heat away from the home.

"The old cedar shingles were in terrible shape. They were turned up like potato chips, falling off and rotting. We're glad we listened to our roofer. They did a terrific job and we love the new roof. Many of our neighbors have complemented it and we'd strongly recommend this good-looking, hard-working roofing product!"

Ray Hines

Project #4: Synthetic Slate On Stylish Home

Everyone knows the saying "Everything is Bigger in Texas" ... and the sprawling home of Jason Taylor is no exception. To complement his massive brick home and carport area, Taylor selected Bellaforté Slate roofing from DaVinci Roofscapes in Slate Gray.

"I liked the look and durability of the DaVinci product. The installer did a great job on the roof. If I had family members or friends looking for a new roof I'd highly recommend this roof and Huf Construction."

Jason Taylor

Project #5: Rebuilding After a Fire

Fire. A homeowner's worst nightmare. It happened recently to the Matthews family when a chimney fire caused by hot embers and ash that got through the spark arrestor and ignited the dry, combustible cedar shake roofing at the top of the chimney. Quick response by the fire department limited the damage, but a new roof was needed. The family chose a fire-resistant Bellaforté Shake roof from DaVinci Roofscapes in a Mountain VariBlend color.

"The lifetime limited warranty on the product plus the Class A Fire Rating are 90% of the reason behind our DaVinci selection. This synthetic shake roofing actually looks BETTER than real shake tiles. All of my neighbors were very anxious to see the finished roof and they have nothing but positive comments about it. I believe we'll see many more of these DaVinci roofs in our neighborhood in the coming years."

Ron Matthews

If you're a roofer installing Bellaforté Shake tiles, you are familiar with the "false break" that gives the synthetic shake tile the appearance of being several smaller pieces to resemble the look of real wood shake. You may have scratched your head a time or two if, when installing this product, the false break lines up vertically.

Not to worry ... we have a solution.

Our experienced Technical Service Manager at DaVinci Roofscapes, Tyler Storfa, has handled this question several times in the field. His recommendation is to use a setback pattern that can really speed up installation of Bellaforté Shake tiles.

"Bellaforté is installed from left to right," says Storfa. "The four-course repeating pattern runs up the left hand side rake. This can be cut on the ground and taken and applied on the roof."

Storfa says the first course (full course) is a full piece of field tile with the water channel or gutter removed. The second course (B course) is cut at approximately the letter "B" in the imprinted word "Bellaforté" on the tile (located in the upper left hand side of the tile) and then laid close to the edge of the tile. For the third course, repeat steps of first course. And the Fourth course (E course), take a new shake tile and cut at the last "E" in the word "Bellaforté at the top of every tile," discarding any waste product to the left of the letter "E." No "B" and "E" courses can be together without a "full" in between

Want an easy way to remember this installation pattern? Try this mantra: Full (with gutter removed), B, Full (with gutter removed), E. Yes, that's it: Full, B, Full, E!

Have other questions about installing Bellaforté products? See Bellaforte by DaVinci – Engineered to Withstand High Windsand DaVinci Solid Accessory Tiles.

Replacing a roof is often the first step in updating your home's exterior. If so, then the roof will set the direction for many other design decisions. It is worth taking the time to select a style and color that both you and your home will love for a long time.

Know What You Like And What You Don't Like

Look around at other homes to see what builders and homeowners have selected for houses similar to your own. Make note of the style, colors, and materials. Does the overall look of the home appeal to you? Do you love the shake roof with cream trim against dark siding? Perhaps a gray state above a traditional black and white exterior speaks to your sense classic design and timeless design.

The more you can see looks you like on homes that are similar to your own, the easier it becomes to imagine a new look for your own home. It is easy to snap pictures of the color schemes and materials you like and maybe even some you don't to remind you to make sure you don't make the same mistakes.

Start With Your Roof For A Fabulous Exterior Top To Bottom

Innovative roofing materials allow you to add the beauty and dimension of traditional slate or shake and the easy care, long-life and resilience of a beautifully engineered product. You can also find exactly the right color and know that it will stay that color for the life of the roof.

Gray continues to be a favorite for slate and why not. It goes with every scheme. With a variety of shades of gray available you are sure to find the perfect gray for your home. Check out our Best 50 Shades Of Gray Infographic.

For shake, Tahoe, Mountain and Autumn are all favorites. When you have a shake roof tones of warm brown are a natural choice.

Today's architects, designers and even homeowners are posting images of their completed home exteriors online so in addition to scoping out houses in your local area you can find home from just about anywhere. Check out Houzz or This Old House or even our own gallery.

Please keep in mind, however, that some home colors work better in particular regions than the same color does in other areas. For example, bright colors that are a hit in southern Florida might not fare as well in a Philadelphia suburb. 

Last, always keep in mind that while you want your home to have your personal stamp on it you also want it to fit into your neighborhood. I know I've created a great exterior design when the homeowners love the home and it stands out for its great design while still fitting in with the surroundings. 

One sure fire way to create a home exterior that fits in anywhere is to find colors that blend with your natural surroundings. One of nature's neutrals mixed with natural materials like stone and DaVinci Slate or Shake and you begin to forget where your home ends and the natural surroundings begin. Is it any wonder that nature-based colors are by far the most popular for home exteriors?

For help with choosing your exterior colors visit our color studio and try the color tool or download our FRESH Home Exterior Colors Guides.

At DaVinci Roofscapes we're offering a warm welcome to Michael Cobb, our new Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

Michael, who has more than 26 years of building industry experience, will lead the company's sales force, customer service team and marketing efforts. Most recently with Nichiha, USA, Inc. in roles involving sales, marketing and logistics. Michael has additional industry experience with Louisiana-Pacific, Nailite International, James Hardie Building Products and Velux-America.

In his new leadership role at DaVinci Roofscapes, Michael will build on all his previous experiences to allow him to manage the sales and marketing for our polymer roofing company. (look what's ahead this year for us at DaVinci Roofscapes Predicts Demand to Increase in 2017 for Synthetic Roofing)

"We're excited to bring Michael's industry expertise and insights to our team at DaVinci,"  says Ray Rosewall, president and CEO of DaVinci Roofscapes. "In particular, his sales leadership will support the sustained growth we've seen during the past decade for our simulated shake and imitation slate roofing products. With demand continually increasing for synthetic roofing products, we know Michael can lead us into new markets and support our enhanced sales efforts."

Michael and his family are based in Atlanta, where he enjoys boating, golfing and reading. He'll be making the commute to DaVinci headquarters in Kansas on a regular basis to focus on the growth of DaVinci and meeting the needs of our valued customers. 

What's going on in Heber Valley, Utah?

During the past several years we've witnessed a constant increase in DaVinci polymer roofing being specified and installed in this beautiful area of the country.

Where can you find synthetic shake and simulated slate roofing in Heber Valley? Everywhere.

Designer Kevin Price has specified our polymer shake roofing tiles on many of the homes in the Red Ledges community and is still going strong with DaVinci roofing products. (See Designer Shakes Up Utah Roofs) "Since the roof in this desert setting takes the most abuse from the sun and weather, it needs to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing," says Price, president of Kevin Price Designs. "Both the Multi-Width Shake and Bellaforté Shake lightweight roofing materials we've been using capture both desires perfectly."

On Top Roofing has also seen an increase in usage of DaVinci polymer slate roofing materials. The company has installed our products on many high-end multi-family homes in the area. The new construction projects are starting off right ... with Multi-Width Slate roofs in the Slate Gray color blend.

Head to the downtown Heber Valley Visitor Center and you'll also find a DaVinci tile roofing --- right on their building! (See Heber Valley Visitor Center)

Constructed in 1992, the alpine-style visitor's center was in dire need of a new roof. "When the team started pressure washing our wood shake roof, water began leaking into the building," says Rachel Kahler, marketing and events manager for the Heber Valley Visitors Center. "The original wood shake roof had deteriorated badly over time and had finally given out.

"After reviewing our options and budget, we decided the best solution was new Bellaforté Shake composite roofing from DaVinci Roofscapes in a Tahoe-VariBlend. These simulated shake tiles beautifully accent our peg-and-groove building. The tiles look extremely authentic. People now stop in our visitors center and ask us about the roof on the building!"

The DaVinci Roofscapes Technical Team is excited to share that we have completed the certification process that will allow us to offer ONE underlayment to achieve a Class A Fire Rating with ALL of our products! Yes, you heard that right! Previously, each product had its own requirements which could be cumbersome and difficult to remember, but just one layer of SOLARHIDE™ will do the trick across all of our product lines!

Made from raw materials, SOLARHIDE is produced with woven and non-woven fabrics as well as pure aluminum. According to Wayne Foster, VP Sales and Marketing for Eco Chief who distributes this product, SOLARHIDE is designed to act as a radiant barrier, that can reflect up to 97% of the radiant heat it encounters. The durable underlayment is 100 percent recyclable and exceeds Miami-Dade specifications. The rip-resistant SOLARHIDE product is now available from DaVinci Roofscapes in a 10 square roll (48 inches wide by 250 feet long) with 25 rolls per pallet.

The cool thing is, this energy saving underlayment can be installed with either the shiny side up or shiny side down. Shiny side down creates a more walkable surface and help keep your customer’s attic cool, and shiny side up will provide optimal performance as far as solar reflection.

At DaVinci, we will be working on doing our own testing, so we’ll be able to quantify the energy savings this will provide for our customers. Contact us today to learn more!   

Throughout the year, as contractors register their jobs, we are presented with so many good projects that we're excited to feature on our blog. What makes a project blog-worthy? Well, not only does it look amazing, but it comes from loyal contractors who are eager to provide DaVinci Roofscapes with feedback, awesome photography, and stories about how working with our polymer roof tiles impacts their business.

For the third year running, we have asked our loyal contractors to submit projects they believe should be chosen for Featured Project of the Year. Among other prizes at stake, the big opportunity is to have a banner featuring the contractor and the project displayed in our booth at the 2017 International Roofing Expo which starts tomorrow in Las Vegas! So, without further adieu, is the first of the three winners chosen as part of the 2016 Featured Project of the Year.

This project was installed by Sparrow Exteriors out of Woodstock, Georgia. Sparrow sent us this video as their submission, which detailed the tear off of an old shake roof in Rosewell, Georgia, and a replacement with a Bellaforté Shake roof. We loved the story the video told which showed a total transformation of the exterior of this home. Check it out and see for yourself!

   ​

Today, we kick off Day 1 of the International Roofing Expo in Las Vegas! We are excited to be here to educate contractors on our lightweight roofing tiles. We're also displaying the banners of the 2016 Featured Project of the Year Winners! Contractors from all over North America submitted projects to us late last year, and the 3 winners have an opportunity to show off their projects to their peers in the DaVinci Roofscapes booth (#2245)!

This project was installed by HUF Construction, who is located near Dallas. Last year, a series of storms went through the Dallas/Ft Worth area, leaving a lot of homeowners looking for roof replacements. Roofing contractors and insurance companies are strongly advising people to go with an impact resistant roof system, like what was installed on this project. Bellaforté Slate, as featured in this project, is Class 4 Impact Rated, which may earn a Texas homeowner a discount on their homeowner's insurance (along with being the awe of the neighborhood!). This project looks amazing!

Stop by and see us at Booth #2245. Our team will be here all three days, ready to talk to you about your next project!

Today is Day 2 of the International Roofing Expo. You still have plenty of time to swing by booth #2245 and let us answer any questions for you, or discuss details on an upcoming project. Also, while you're there, be sure to stop and take a look at the Featured Projects of the Year that we're promoting in our booth! This year we chose 3 projects, each submitted by a loyal DaVinci contractor, to feature with a banner in the DaVinci Roofscapes booth at IRE.

People ask us all the time if we're just a residential project or if we can be found on other types of buildings. We're excited to promote all our projects, but this one is a really good show piece for both us and for the contractor who installed it, Owen Enterprises. Prestwick Country Club, located in Frankfort, IL, has a massive roof (both steep and low slope) and last year decided to replace their current system with a Bellaforté Shake roof in the Tahoe Blend. A Bellaforté Shake roof will protect the country club from hail and wind damage that will inevitably occur in the Midwest. The tiles don't only look just like jumbo cedar shakes, but are Class A Fire Rated, Class 4 Impact Rated, and Wind Certified to 110 mph.

Congratulations, Owen Enterprises!

You've seen it before. Maybe while driving through your neighborhood. You look up at a house and your eyes fix on the roof. And it looks old ... or splotchy ... or just plain ugly.

Like any other aspect of a home, most roofs have a limited lifespan --- especially if it's an asphalt shingle or cedar shake roof. When roofing tiles curl, cup or break away, it's time for a replacement.

If you're examining your own roof and decide a replacement might be in your future, listen to what these professional roofing contractors have to say about their experiences with polymer roofing tiles from DaVinci Roofscapes and see How To Know When To Replace Your Roof.

"My client was looking for a synthetic slate roof that preserved the character of his house. He especially liked the authentic look of the DaVinci slate, the reflectivity and lightweight aspects of the product. I've installed more than 30 DaVinci roofs in the past 15 years, so I know it's a good product. Plus it's Made in America, which is important to us so we can support the U.S. economy."

     -Scott Owen, President, Owen Enterprises

“The humid environment we have in the North Carolina mountains works against natural cedar shake, giving them a lifespan of perhaps just 20 years. We’ve replaced about 15 of the original wood roofs in the StoneBridge community with the DaVinci polymer shake products over the past several years with widespread applause from all the homeowners. DaVinci gives the residents the look of cedar shake, but with a much longer life span. Also, the product is not combustible and provides better protection from fire than real cedar shake.”

     -Ken Bowman, Owner, Blue Ridge Roofing

“The Telecky roofing project really shows how the right man-made products can complement a historic home design. The Slate Gray color chosen for the DaVinci roof complements the strong Arts and Crafts lines of the home while subtly allowing the architectural details of the house remain the focal point."

     -Blake Gillette, Owner, Christian Brothers Roofing

“I’ve worked with the DaVinci product before in our area and felt the long-term value these polymer tiles would bring to the Animas Museum project would be ideal. Each tile has a refined cedar look, much like a machine-sawn shake shingle, so it blends in perfectly with our mountain setting. Plus, the tiles resist insects, fungus, algae, mold, cracking, fading and curling.”

     -Tony Whittle, Owner and President, TL Roofing

Soggy and saturated. That's a good description of the type of weather many areas of the country --- especially the West Coast --- have seen so far in 2017.

From record rainfall figures to wettest winter of record numbers, it's been a very wet year so far ... and homeowners are chanting the "Rain, Rain, Go Away" song every day.

Heavy rains mean heavy headaches for many people. The roof overhead that they thought was in good shape turns out to be a cylinder of water dripping inside the house. Or, the weight of all the significant snowfalls has damaged their existing roof tiles.

Either way, now is the time to take action. During National Procrastination Week, the team at DaVinci Roofscapes encourages homeowners to forget about playing ostrich. Take your head out of the sand and start by contacting a professional roofer to evaluate the overall condition of your roof and offer you options.

"A professional roofer can safely get on your roof, evaluate your shingles and make recommendations if a replacement roof is needed," says Tim Gentry, vice president of technical services at DaVinci Roofscapes. "Getting an evaluation now, as the Spring weather arrives, is a smart idea. Roofers can catch --- and oftentimes fix --- a leak problem before it spirals out of control. Plus your roofer can give you a feeling for how much 'life' is left in your roof and make recommendations for a new roof if needed."

If you find yourself in the position of needing a new roof this year, think about investing in a roof for the long-term. At DaVinci, our polymer slate and shake roof products have a lifetime limited warranty. These easy-care tiles are impact- and fire-resistant along with standing up to severe weather. For more details on composite roofing, see Roofing 101 for Homeownersand What to Look for in a New Roof.

At DaVinci Roofscapes, a large majority of our products are used for replacement roofs. Many of those are on homes, but there are a good number of our composite shake and synthetic slate roofs on historic projects across the USA. Here's a listing of where you can find some of our eye-catching roofs that now enhance time-honored projects:

• Salmon River Lighthouse - Constructed in 1838, the Salmon River Lighthouse in Pulaski, N.Y. was elected to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1979. After weather conditions took their toll on various roofing products, DaVinci Multi-Width Slate roofing was added in 2015.

• Carroll County Courthouse - Built in 1885, the Carroll County Courthouse in Carrollton, Ohio has seen its share of history. Now, thanks to the installation of DaVinci Roofscapes polymer slate roofing tiles, the old chipped natural slate roof that was atop the three-story courthouse is part of that history. In 2014, Bellaforté Slate roofing in the European-VariBlend color blend was added to the roof.

• Hotel Breakers - Opened more than 100 years ago, the 650-room Hotel Breakers is the original on-property hotel at the Cedar Point theme park in Ohio. In 2014, hotel management decided to invest in the European-VariBlend of Bellaforté Slate tiles to help stand up to the challenging winter weather off the shores of Lake Erie.

• DuSable Museum Roundhouse - After a proud history that includes serving as a horse stable during the 1893 World’s Fair, the Roundhouse at DuSable Museum in Chicago has now been restored. Originally built in the early 19th century, the structure’s round shape is made of Joliet limestone and is now topped by a DaVinci Roofscapes polymer Multi-Width Slate roof in a Castle Gray blend.

• Union Printers Home - Built in 1892 by members of the International Typographical Union to offer specialized health care to their union members, the Colorado Springs facility today serves the general public with a multitude of services including assisted living, nursing care, rehabilitation and hospice. After extreme hail damaged the structure in 2012 (which is a State of Colorado Historic Site) DaVinci Slate tiles were installed to help protect the structure.

• First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville, Oregon - Founded in 1881 in an old mining town, this church had the challenge of replacing decaying cedar shakes on its roof. DaVinci Shake roofing tiles in a Tahoe blend were added in 2008 to replicate the original cedar roof as an authentic-looking roofing material.

Learn more about howHistorical Sites Rely on Polymer Roofingand Refurbishing Historic Sites with Composite Roofing.

The Spring thaw couldn't come quick enough this year for Tim Carter. A New Hampshire resident, Tim and his neighbors saw lots of snow this past winter. At one point, they had about 42 inches of snow on the ground ... and around the edges of Tim's driveway snow was piled up to eight feet for several days.

That's a lot of snow.

Imagine if all the snow that accumulated on Tim's roof slid off, onto the ground all at once. That's a ton of snow and ice that could be damaging to things below.

Fortunately for Tim, he didn't have those troubles. When he installed his new DaVinci synthetic slate roof two years ago he added snow guards. (See Snow Guards Needed for Synthetic Slate Roof)

"This winter really showed that the snow guards performed extremely well," says Carter, of AsktheBuilder.com. "When the snow slid off the roof, the guards made sure that giant slabs of ice and snow didn't crash to the ground. The guards were especially beneficial where there are walkways beneath the roof overhang. They helped hold the snow and assure that it was safe to walk below.

"All around the house the snow guards did their job this winter. I had installed expensive Trex Transcend decking this past autumn. The snow guards ensured that the deck didn't suffer from a hit from a 'roof iceberg' at any point.

"From my perspective of really living through a major snowy winter, I urge homeowners and roofers alike to strongly consider adding snow guards during the roof installation process, and to make sure the roof structure can support all the snow that the guards will retain on the roof.

"Dealing with a qualified snow guard manufacturer is key to success. When I worked with Rocky Mountain Snow Guards they created a specific snow guard placement plan for my roof that I followed. That's a critical element in this process that has proved successful."