DaVinci Roofscapes

From the Architect's Corner - Homeowner Preferences

Friday, January 27, 2012 by Megan Stone

Every day I talk on the phone with architects who are trying to accommodate the wants vs. the needs for their clients with regards the exterior products for their homes. Whether you are researching plastic roofing materials or considering other options, it is helpful to know in a ranking order what is most important.

Yesterday Yahoo! News picked up a press release about a study we did to learn more about homeowner preference when it comes to exterior products and color. If you missed it, you can read the article here.

I'll share with you what we learned. Not surprisingly, durability was the number one factor when choosing a roofing material. These were the key factors that received the most mentions and hold the most influence when deciding on exterior building products, including steep slope roofing material:

Durability (88 percent)
Longevity (83 percent)
Low/no maintenance (72 percent)
Resistance to weather (71 percent)
Has a warranty (69 percent)
Fire resistancy (57 percent)
Material the roof is made of (55 percent)
Price (50 percent)

Have a great weekend!

DaVinci Study Focuses on Homeowner Preferences for Roofing and Exterior Home Features

Thursday, January 26, 2012 by Kathy Ziprik

At the end of 2011 DaVinci Roofscapes hired Harris Interactive, one of the world's leading market research firms, to conduct a comprehensive study on homeowner preferences for roofing and exterior home features.

The results? Overall, homeowners are eager to select durable exterior products for the home that complement their personalities --- AND --- color is important to them when deciding to replace those exterior features.

Some of the study's key findings include:

A vast majority of homeowners (88 percent) across all regions of the country see the exterior of their homes as one entity and not a sum of its separate components.
Color preference for exterior features on the home is driven mostly by homeowners' individual sense of style (45 percent) and their desire to blend in with their surroundings (42 percent).
One-third of surveyed homeowners (32 percent) indicated that they are restricted on the color palettes they are allowed to use on exterior features of their homes, usually by a homeowner association or by historical area requirements.
Curb appeal is considered extremely/very important to higher end homeowners, particularly those in the Northeast where one-third mentioned curb appeal as being "extremely important" to them.

"We discovered that color does play an important role when deciding to replace exterior features of the home," says Ray Rosewall, CEO and President of DaVinci Roofscapes. "At DaVinci, we offer 49 standard colors of polymer slate and shake roofing tiles that can be used to create a virtually infinite variety of color blends for a luxury roof.

"Hearing these study results confirm that we're on the right track with our color offerings on imitation slate shingles and simulated shake roofing. Homeowners are gravitating to companies that offer a variety of colors for the home exterior and DaVinci fits perfectly for those homeowners."

Color Trends 2012: Neutrals Get Colorful

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 by Kate Smith

The last home exterior color trend for 2012/2013 that I'll be talking about before heading off to present at the International Builders' Show, is neutrals. Now you may be thinking,

"What? Neutrals are a trend? Come on, Kate, neutrals aren't trendy. They are always used on home exteriors."

"And, colorful? Neutrals aren't colorful. What are you talking about?"

You're right, neutral colors aren't a trend. They are a staple for homes both inside and out. What is new about the neutrals is the materials and combinations we will be seeing going forward.

What you aren't so right about is that neutrals aren't colorful.

We have gone from asking, "What more can I acquire?" to "Would life be better with less"? A more streamlined life calls for design that employs modern technology, uncomplicated materials and natural colors that make our complex lives easier, or at least seem easier.

My current favorite neutral colors are not the earthtones used in decades past simply coming around again. Today's neutrals are sophisticated, complex colors that would never be satisfied to be called simply tan or khaki. They have more than a hint of color and are anything but boring.

I'm not the only one loving the complex neutrals so be looking for how designers are allowing neutrals to take center stage rather than using them as a foundation for other colors.

Gray with a touch of lavender sets this home apart

Any low chroma (think low intensity, less saturated) is considered a neutral and these are just the types of colors that are perfect for home exteriors. The home above looks light gray but when the sun hits the siding you can see the mauve undertones.

A home exterior with James Hardie siding in a neutral color that compliments the fixed features of this home

A neutral color James Hardie siding compliments the variety of fixed features on the facade of this home. For the siding that is exposed you want to have a color that will fade into the facade rather than compete with the many design details and architectural elements. Choosing a neutral with the same undertone as your fixed features is the perfect solution.

Going forward you will continue to see an interesting mix of materials in the permanent elements on home exteriors as buyers look for home constructed with more materials that have longer lifespans. Often the manufactured materials mimic natural materials but are a "greener", more durable product and can be offered in a wider variety of colors than is easily achieved in nature. This is true for the simulated slate and shake tiles that DaVinci offers.

DaVinci Roofscape Slate and Shake Color Fans

But even with 49 color and almost unlimited possiblities for color combinations for your lightweight roofing system, the colors are all based on the hues of nature. This means that they will blend beautifully with the many materials used on home exteriors and all of the many complex neutral siding colors that are so right for today's homes. This is true of most of the materials that will continue to be used on home exteriors.

With so many neutrals coming together to define the characteristics of your home it becomes more important than ever before to understand how to make the colors and materials work together. To help you know how to select your color confidently I put together an ebook (pdf) for you and DaVinci is making it available to you for immediate download.

FRESH Home Exterior Colors: 5 Steps for Finding the Perfect Hues for Your Home

A Final Thought About Color Trends
I have shared a glimpse into color trends over the past few weeks so that you will be aware of what is currently influencing design. I would never recommend that you use a color just because it is currently on trend. It is much more important that you choose colors that feel right to you, work well on your home and reflect your personality regardless of whether or not they are currently among the trending colors.

If you missed any of my previous post please pop over and take a look.

Color Expert Kate Smith lends her expertise to DaVinci Roofscapes

Fake Shake Shingles and Snowguards

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 by Watson Dean

“Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow” is a familiar line from a wintertime song heard during the

holidays, but when it comes to a rooftop, there are many homeowners dreading what Old Man Winter will bring when snow comes falling in real life. With icicles clinging to eaves and snow piled high and heavy on roofs, the material covering your roof needs to be built strong to withstand the possibilities of the damage snow and ice can bring during winter storms.

For our synthetic or fake shake shingles, we highly recommend the use of snow guards to keep snow and ice from shifting and thus creating hazardous conditions for those in its pathway, and from potential roof damage as well.

Alpine Snowguards from Vermont is a great resource for protective guards to keep snow in place and everyone below protected. Even if you already have a DaVinci roofs installed, the snow guards work well with our lightweight roofing materials and can be retrofitted to work with your existing structure.

Installation is easy and can be accomplished quite quickly by experienced roofing contractors. If you would like more information about finding experts in your area, give our customer service a call (800-328-4624) for assistance with finding the right snow guard installer for your building.

Protect Your Property from Roof Hail Damage

Monday, January 23, 2012 by Watson Dean

Impact resistance in roofing tiles is vitally important for those areas of the country that are

prone to hail storms and other inclement weather patterns. DaVinci synthetic shake and slate roofing materials have received a Class 4 rating for impact resistance for the type of natural forces that cause roof hail damage.

It only makes sense to investigate materials that will provide long lasting durability for the environment you live in. Having roofing materials that can withstand hail damage means less potential expense needed for repair and maintenance of roofs. Additionally, many insurance companies offer discounts in property insurance premiums when they are made aware of roofs installed using materials that are highly rated for impact, fire and wind resistance or tolerance.

Besides the natural beauty of our composite roofing product, installing roofing that protects your investment means also having assurance that your family or employees are living or working in a building with a roof that is strong enough to keep them safe.

For other reading options about the quality of our roof tile’s ability to stand up to hail storms, take a look at the following posts dealing with the same subject:

Have Patience with Hail Damage – Tim Gentry’s post about replacing roofs that have hail damage and how to plan for repairs or replacement.

Hail Damage and Your Roof – facts and statistics about hail storms in the U.S. along with great video showing impact testing of our tiles.

Have Some Fun on Twitter with DaVinci Roofscapes

Sunday, January 22, 2012 by Watson Dean

Can you say, or rather write, your roofing questions in under 140 characters of pure texting magic? If so, then you might consider stopping on by DaVinci Roofscapes Twitter page to read and share tweets with the rest of us.

Become a follower of our DaVinci tweets, and you’ll quickly stay apprised of everything happening with our environmentally friendly roof materials. Well, of course, they won’t be tweeting any messages directly, but our savvy Internet team will be there to answer all your roofing questions about our tile roofs and have some fun at the same time.

So, can you get all the information you need about our synthetic slate or shake alternative from just a simple tweet? Probably not entirely, but you can sure have some fun devising questions that are short enough on prose to get your point across, and we’ll have a blast trying to respond back with a condensed version of all the great specs our roof tiles offer to building owners considering installing a new roof.

And when you think about it, it’s pretty amazing that all this conversation can take place from a cell phone, blackberry, iPhone and other handheld techy gadgets at just about the speed of thought….or at least how fast you can punch in the keys on these small devices. Some of us are more challenged in typing than others….big fingers and everything, but follow us on Twitter today and let’s enjoy tweeting about roofs together.

Visit DaVinci Roofscapes on Facebook

Saturday, January 21, 2012 by Watson Dean

If you’re active online, then you surely know that Facebook will let you connect and share with the people in your life. But did you know you can also connect with DaVinci Roofscapes right on our Facebook page? All you have to do is become a fan by liking us on Facebook, and then you’ll have access to the latest news about our lightweight roofing solutions.

We are also working on building an online community. We invite you to share your experience and photos of your home or building after installing our Eco friendly roof. We would love to see your DaVinci masterpiece!

As well, if you are undecided on a color for your new DaVinci roof, our friendly color expert is available to review any home photos you submit and offer advice on matching colors to give you just the right curbside effect.

All existing DaVinci roof owners out there please feel free to share pics of your home or buildings along with comments on your experience with our tile roofs. Everyone benefits with a little commenting and picture sharing whether you are shopping for new roofing materials or already have a roof topped with our tile and want to show it off!

So head on over to our Facebook page, and remember to “Like” us so you’ll be able to follow all the action!

From the Architect's Corner - Recycling Tiles

Friday, January 20, 2012 by Megan Stone

Green roof construction is at the forefront of everybody's minds, and is the focal point of many upcoming conventions in our industry, including the International Builders' Show. At DaVinci Roofscapes, we take back scrap and waste of our plastic roofing materials for recycling.

Click here to learn more about our recycling program.

Share Your Story and Read Customer Testimonials about DaVinci Slate and Shake

Thursday, January 19, 2012 by Watson Dean

Were you aware of the Share Your Masterpiece area on our website? By visiting this section, you can share your story about creating your own DaVinci masterpiece with our slate or shake alternative roofing tiles. Not only can you share your masterpiece, but you can also submit up to five pictures to show everyone how beautiful this designer roof appears on your home, office or building.

When stories are submitted, they appear on our customer testimonial website page. So even if you don’t have your own personal DaVinci story to share you can read all about other customer experiences with using our roofing materials.

Some of the more recent customer stories you definitely don’t want to miss include the following:

Ready for Weather – any weather that is, this testimonial from Kathy Telecky in McKinney, Texas brings to light just how much our synthetic shake roofs are designed to withstand the rigors of inclement weather.

Icing on the Cake – when you see the Bradshaw roof top, you are sure to be impressed with the elegance and beauty of our Bellaforté tile that graces their Oklahoma home.

Medical Center Gets New Roof – proving that our synthetic slate is not just for homes, the historical building that houses the Dayton VA Medical Center replaced their roof with DaVinci tiles making this one building roof that will last many more years to come.

Recommended by Insurance Adjustor – the Oklahoma hail storms won’t be getting any satisfaction out of beating Dean Imel’s newly roofed home. This home experienced roof damage from hail, and when it came to replacement, they chose DaVinci. When you see the pictures, you’ll see why the functionality and beauty of our tiles are beyond compare.

Cedar Shake Alternative for Roofing

Wednesday, January 18, 2012 by Watson Dean

Cedar roof shingles are some of the oldest and most common traditional roofing materials for residential housing projects. They are used for both roofing and siding purposes, and because the material is made from natural wood, these shingles are vulnerable to environmental deterioration. That vulnerability leads to short term roof life and the need for frequent maintenance and repair. Such short comings have recently given rise to the search for cedar shake alternative roofing materials. Consumer demands for better roofing have led to the development of roofing materials that can survive storms, fluctuating weather cycles and emergency conditions.

For an environmentally friendly roof that provides sturdy reliability, DaVinci Roofscapes polymer roofing material is unparalleled in its beauty and protective qualities. Made from virgin resins, our synthetic, or fake cedar shake tiles, are low maintenance while also offering wind and fire resistance. We offer a 50 year warranty so our customers know when they install DaVinci roofing it will last for a lifetime.

Fortunately, technology allows our synthetic shingles to offer all the rustic appeal of traditional cedar without any of the issues common to natural wood. We offer many options in shake tiles to fit your project.

The Multi-Width Shake features premium quality tiles texturized to display deep graining and feel of natural wood. The Fancy Shake design appears like hand cut, smooth wood shingles while our Single Width Valoré provides affordable cedar looks without the expense.

All of our shake tiles are available in multiple colors and color blends so that our clients can customize their roofs in the exact shade desired. For more information about choosing just the right tile and color for your project, contact one of our project specialists today.

Class A Fire Rating Roof Options

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 by Watson Dean

When it comes to choosing a roof for your home or business, you will definitely want to consider the safety standards used in the product. Because a roof protects your property investment and those inside, knowing that it will hold up against wind, rain and fire is vitally important. While shopping for lightweight roofing solutions, you may often find terms that need a little defining to better understand what they mean.

One such term is Class A fire rating. Essentially, a roof that is Class A fire rated has undergone strict testing by a certified testing facility, one of which is Underwriters Laboratories or UL. These tests certify whether a product meets or exceeds some very strict fire testing standards, categories are assigned from A to C based on the product’s resistance to fire.

Our green roofing materials are Class A fire rated meaning they have attained the highest rating for fire resistance available. In addition, they also have the highest marks in wind and impact testing. What this means to you is that choosing DaVinci tiles for your roofing project means you will be using the highest quality materials available in the marketplace today.

So whether you choose our Valoré, multi-width or Bellaforté in slate or shake, you can count on the fact that the DaVinci roofing materials meet the most stringent of safety standards for your building.

Baby it's Cold Outside

Monday, January 16, 2012 by Tim Gentry

This is the time of year I’m most grateful that I work for DaVinci Roofscapes and spend most of my day in a nice toasty office. For many years I spent my winters outside installing roofs and don’t remember those days with fondness. I don’t think anyone likes to work outside when the temperatures are sub-freezing. The problem is the mortgage company doesn’t care if it’s cold outside and the family still needs to eat.

Putting physical comfort aside for a moment, special care needs to be used when working with steep slope roofing materials in freezing temperatures. Self-adhering membranes sometimes don’t stick, underlayments are hard to roll out or crack, caulking is impossibly stuck in the tube, and shingles become brittle and crack. Many manufacturers will not allow their materials to be installed when the outside temperature is below 40 or 45 degrees F. This is a big problem for roof installers throughout the country during the winter months. For those roofers who work in high mountain country where temperatures can reach 45 F at night in August, it is a big problem year round.

Thankfully DaVinci Roofscapes solves at least one of the problems. Our engineered resin system is designed so that the tiles remain flexible in cold temperatures and can usually be installed in temperatures as cold as 20 degrees F. When installing DaVinci Slate and our composite Shake in cold temperatures you must make sure that the tiles have been stored flat and are flat when installed. You must make certain that the space between tiles is at a very minimum 3/16”. If using a pneumatic roofing nail gun make sure that the pressure isn’t set too high.

I know as an old roofer I probably shouldn’t be quoting Friedrich Nietzsche, but, when you’re out there in the cold and your feet feel like stumps and you can’t feel your fingers anymore remember, “ That which does not kill us makes us stronger”.

Why Less Weight Matters in Lightweight Roofing Materials

Saturday, January 14, 2012 by Watson Dean

A lot of homeowners and building owners love the look of natural slate, however, most roofs are not set up to hand the weight of natural slate. So in order to solve that problem, many roofs are beefed up with trusses and more.

However, our lightweight roofing solutions are not only a better solution for your time, but also your money. You do not need to beef up your roof for our slate lightweight roofing systems.

Here's why:

DaVinci Slate per square = 240+ lbs
Natural Slate per square = 1200+ lbs

In other words, DaVinci slate is less than 1/4th the weight of natural slate.

Because of this drastic difference in weight, you will also find that our synthetic slate cost is considerably less.

The reason why less weight matters:

Less fuel needed to transport it
Less labor to haul it to the roof
Less expense in transporting it
Less material needed for your roof structure

Are you a roofer that likes to install our imitation slate shingles because they are so lightweight? If so, we would love to learn more reasons why less weight matters when it comes to roofing. Please feel free to leave a comment in the section below or please contact us directly.

From the Architect's Corner - ARCAT App Available!

Friday, January 13, 2012 by Megan Stone

This week our ARCAT representative dropped by to tell me about the new app they have that is currently available on iTunes (currently it is only available on iPhones, iPads, and the like, but I am told an Android version will be out soon).

It is FREE and you can use it to scout out the latest information on ARCAT. Be sure to check out DaVinci's profile page where you can download the specifications for our lightweight roofing systems.

This app is available for download at the App Store.

Have a great weekend, Architects!

Historic Barn in Vermont

Thursday, January 12, 2012 by Color Advice

I have a barn (circa 1845) in the mountains of Southern Vermont. I am considering a DaVinci roof for this historic structure and I wanted your help trying to decided on a color combination that is appropriate for the color (Red) of the barn and what would look best. I was able to look at your color combinations and I like the Milano 3 slate combo but I wanted your input as to what you and your designers think would look best on the barn. Would a lighter or darker slate look better? I have attached a photo of the barn that I hope might help you visualize what I am talking about. I look forward to your input. Thanks

Name: Matthew Misisco
Product: DaVinci Single Width Valoré Slate

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Matthew,

I love the idea of redoing this barn with our Milano blend. I think that the aged red will blend with the red/burgundy in the roof tiles and the color is overall still light enough to have a traditional look. Most roofs on barns are traditionally lighter so I would not go darker than a mid-tone color. Villa would be a good alternative for just gray. Going darker will be too stark a contrast to the silo making that the focal point rather than the barn itself. You can view all our blends by visiting the DaVinci color studio, select your product, and click on "View Standard Blends for this Product" button on the right.

Once you have made a color selection, you can order samples so you can see how you like the color against the barn. When you're ready to order samples, call in and talk to our Project Specialist, Crystal, at 1-800-328-4624.

I would love to see this one when it is completed. So charming.

Best of luck with your project,

Kate Smith
The DaVinci Roofscapes Team

Keep Roofs Watertight and Energy Efficient with Bellaforte' Tile Roofs

Thursday, January 12, 2012 by Watson Dean

Did you know that properly installed Bellaforté tile roofs work to keep your property water tight? Recently featured on the HOMETIME show, “Keeping a New Home Water-Tight and Energy Efficient,” viewers were treated to an introduction to the various benefits of using our Bellaforte' tiles on properties to protect from the elements and create energy efficiency for conserving resources and saving on electricity bills.

The show's crew discussed our polymer roofing material and how its resemblance to natural slate allows for property owners to have the textures and colors of hand split slate, but in addition to its beauty, it also provides resistance to mold, algae and fungus.

Additionally, our 50 year roof should be installed in conjunction with durable metal flashing that isn't subject to rust or corrosion. The crew used copper flashing as its properties allow it to last as long as the home. They applied butyl tape with a copper gutter apron to seal roof edges to keep any snow or ice from leaking through the roof fascia.

Another way in which these roof tiles help to make homes watertight is with specialty pieces for edges to further ensure against water, rain, snow or wind from getting under shingles to cause damage, and then with a specialty ridge piece that is installed after the ridge vent to help prevent overheating during summer or winter.

Learn more about the strength and durability of our Bellaforté tiles by watching HOMETIME's video, and then leave us a comment to let us know what you think.

Home Exterior Color Trends 2012/2013: Green's A Natural

Wednesday, January 11, 2012 by Kate Smith

As I have been looking at the 2012/2013 color trends for home exteriors that I'll be presenting at the International Builders' Show, I was reminded about just how versatile the color green is and wanted to share a few tips on how you might use green on your home's exterior.

“Going green” has become the norm and the movement continues to keep green on trend. Natural yellow-green might first come to mind when you think of natures influence but you will see an entire range of greens in 2012. From dark, and mysterious to murky, muddy greens and lush, leaf greens. The one characteristic that connects all of the variations of green is that they are all drawn from the unspoiled landscape.

A home exterior with James Hardie siding in two shades of green

Versatile green may stand alone, be seen in combination with just about any of the other color family or can be layered tone-on-tone. The home above has two tones of James Hardie siding in green that work very well to show off the architectural details.

If your home is surrounded by green in your landscape, then a shade of this hue that is draw from nature will usually work as a siding color. If your home is set in a dry or sandy area, green can work if it is very toned down or grayed.

Another option in either setting is to use green as the color for your front door. In warmer climates, the green is like an invitation to an oasis inside.

Green doors selected by designer Kathyrn Ireland for a spanish style home that was featured in House Beautiful magazine.

A green front door is inviting on any style home. Green was selected by designer Kathyrn Ireland for the unusual doors on this Spanish style home that was featured in House Beautiful magazine.

And don't forget about considering it for your roof. Look how fabulous Multi-Width DaVinci Slate in Weathered Green looks on this home. Even if you don't want a roof in green, all of the colors offered by DaVinci are environmentally green, so use the Color Designer to find the perfect color for a composite shake or slate tile to compliment your home.

Slate, Multi-Width DaVinci – Weathered Green

Green is what is called "nature's neutral" because green works with every other color found in the natural environment so don't shy away from using green on your exterior.

Does that give you some ideas for using green? Please stop back to learn about how some of the other colors that will be on trend for 2012/2013 and beyond can be used on home exteriors and which will work well with your synthetic shake or slate roofing system. Next up:

Color Trends 2012/2013: Neutrals Get Colorful 1/25/12

Take a look at my previous posts about Color Trends 2012/2013

Come See Us at IBS 2012

Tuesday, January 10, 2012 by Megan Stone

Are you heading to Orlando for 2012's International Builders Show? If so, be sure to stop by the DaVinci Roofscapes booth and see what's new with our composite shake and slate roofing materials. Also, meet one-on-one with members of our Sales Team and Technical Department to answer any questions you might have about our luxury roof products.

When: February 8-11, 2012
Where: Orlando, Florida, Booth # W3771

See you in Florida!

Is Cedar Shake Roofing a Good Choice in the Mountains?

Tuesday, January 10, 2012 by Watson Dean

There's no doubt that a cedar shake roof adds an appeal and charm to mountain homes. But while the beauty of natural shake may be beyond compare, the fact remains that in mountainous areas are prone to wildfires in the spring and summer and heavy snow storms in the winter, cedar shake roofs are not necessarily the best material to use for roofing.

But future mountain bungalow cabin owners need not despair. There is a cedar shake alternative that can safely top mountain homes and getaways without fear that property owners are subjecting their properties to added risk.

DaVinci synthetic shake roofing materials have all the authentic good looks of natural shake along with the ability of a Class A fire rating according to ASTM E 108 standards. That means our roofs are durable and resistant to those wildfires that each year seem to increase in their duration and effect.

And, our roof’s durability and protection don’t stop with just fires. They are also rated for wind resistance up to 110 mph along with Class 4 impact resistance for those pesky hail and ice storms that sometimes present themselves during colder months. Add to those performance standards the fact that our polymer tiles are also resistant to freeze and thaw cycles, and a mountain home or vacation property seems like a much more attractive proposition.

For more information about using DaVinci roofing tiles in your next project, give us a call or submit your inquiry online for contact with our Support Team.