What Our Ratings Mean

Thursday, July 29, 2010 by Watson Dean

When you are looking for roofing products, you might stumble across several different ratings that gauge their quality. But what exactly do these ratings mean? Once you understand the significance of these ratings, it will be easy and clear to determine which products are the best. DaVinci Slate  Vineyard   Blend

DaVinci Roofscapes is proud to claim its high ratings from outstanding agencies and boards. One of these codes is the Florida Building Code. Associated with the Florida Department of Community Affairs, the agency makes regulations and codes for all home market products so that they comply with the safety requirements of the state's wet and windy weather.

The Florida Building Code lists specific requirements in the area of performance. Because the Sunshine State witnesses so much torrential rain and strong winds, Floridian roofs must be able to endure winds that can sometimes be even 175 mph! All of our DaVinci Roofscapes products are tested on impact. The Florida Building Code has approved our products as ones that can not just stand the harsh weather but ones that will also protect you from the rains ahead.

Interested in knowing all the ways how a DaVinci manufactured slate tile roof can protect your home?  Please contact our customer service department with any questions you have.




 




 

Composite Shake Featured Project - Todd, North Carolina

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 by Megan Stone
Three years after the homeowner first contacted us at DaVinci Roofscapes regarding our simulated shake roofing material, the roof has finally gone up on this project!  All color options of our composite shake were considered, but eventually the homeowner chose DaVinci Shake in the Mountain Blend.  The blend is part of our multi-width line of shakes and is Class A Fire Rated, Class 4 Impact Rated, and Wind Rated to 110 mph

The luxury roof was installed by a member of our DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor Program, Blue Ridge Roofing out of Deep Gap, North Carolina. 

Interested in learning more about our synthetic wood shake roof systems?  Contact a member of our Inside Sales Support Team for more information. 

DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor Program Member
Blue Ridge Roofing
Deep Gap, North Carolina
828-264-9328

DaVinci Shake - Mountain Blend

Summer Rain

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 by Watson Dean
Tornadoes, hurricanes, and thunderstorms are all types of wetness we can expect during this time of year. luxury roof from   davinciYou may be able to protect yourself with an umbrella, but your home can only use its roof, which must be of the best quality to ensure safety.

There were 1,156 tornadoes recorded in 2009 nationwide plus countless hail storms resulting from severe weather. The force of hail hitting a low impact roof can completely destroy it within minutes. Your home does not need to be one of these 1,156 cases, and DaVinci Roofscapes' goal is to decrease this figure.

If you live in the Midwest or another geographic area subject to strong storms and hail, then you have to seriously consider investing in an impact-resistant synthetic roof to protect your home. Protecting your home is a simple matter of choosing the right products -- those that are of the best quality. At DaVinci, you can be sure to find just the right products for your home. 

Would you like to learn how a DaVinci Roofscapes can protect your home or business with a luxury roof during these summer months?  Please contact our customer service department with any questions you have -- we would love to talk to you!

Guarding Your Home

Tuesday, July 27, 2010 by Watson Dean
The winter is only a few more months away, and now is the perfect time to start thinking about how you will keep your home safe during the upcoming cold months. Whether you realize it or not, accumulated sluxury roof from 

davincinow can be a severe hazard to the safety of your home and those who live in it. It is not only nice but also necessary to have solid protection from potential disaster.

Snow guards, can be installed on synthetic slate roofs or shake tile roofs in various places to prevent snow and ice from suddenly sliding down. Snow guards allow snow to melt more slowly down a roof, so you don't hear that thunderous noise of snow-accumulations falling down your roof. 

Made of materials that are designed to endure the cold months (metal or polycarbonate) snow guards can match any style of home or building. Alpine Snowguards, for instance, not only come with style but are guaranteed with the best quality in the line of roof safety. 

Do you own DaVinci Roofscapes' products? If you would like to benefit from snow guards this winter, call our customer service department and they'll get you in touch with a DaVinci Roofscapes expert in your area that will be more than happy to help.

Cool Roof: Green and Cost-Conscious New Product

Tuesday, July 27, 2010 by Wendy Bruch
In his recent blog post on HGTVpro.com Mark Clement discusses DaVinci's green roof systems -  EcoBlend cool roof colors. These new EcoBlend colors are available in DaVinci's cedar shake alternative and slate alternative. This green roof system can save 7-15% of total cooling costs.Green Roof System

Check out Mark's blog on this steep slope roofing material.  

Miami Rain

Monday, July 26, 2010 by Watson Dean
If you live in sunny Miami at this time of year, you may be in perfect bliss with the endless sunshine and days at the beach. However, you need to be prepared for the upcoming months of rain, otherwise known as "hurricane season." Moreover, your roof needs to be able to withstand winds that can sometimes be as much as 175 mph. Synthetic Slate

Because your home is arguably the most important part of your life; you need to make sure that your roof can protect you and your family. DaVinci Roofscapes' goal is to provide this protection to roofs all across America.

DaVinci Roofscapes
 Bellaforté roof tiles are specifically designed with the wet and windy hurricane season in mind. Bellaforté Slate roofing tiles have achieved a Miami Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) and meet Florida Building Code (FBC) qualifications. Bellaforte tiles have shown that they can endure Hurricane Zone Force Winds associated with Category 5 storms.

Whether you are interested in green roofing options or simply just are looking for a new roof, you can find just what you need with DaVinci Roofscapes. Do you own DaVinci Roofscapes products? How do you like them? Share your thoughts with our readers below! 



Roof Advisor Makes Life Easier for Seattle Homeowners

Sunday, July 25, 2010 by Kathy Ziprik

When Larry Miller speaks, Seattle homeowners listen. With more than 40 years experience in the roofing industry, Larry specializes now in laying the groundwork to make it easier for people to reroof their homes.

"We serve as residential green roof systems consultants offering free, unbiased advice, independent oversight of the roofing project and a wide variety of options to fit the homeowner's roofing needs," says Larry, co-owner of Seattle Roof Advisor, Inc.

Slate Gray RoofTogether with his wife Sandy, Miller meets with 100's of homeowners each year. He brings a trailer with 250 samples of roofing materials right to the customer's homes.

"In my opinion, synthetic cedar and slate roofing materials have a leg up on the competition in our area," says Larry. "We've specified about 10 projects recently with DaVinci shake or slate tiles. It's by far the best quality and appearance of a synthetic roof tile in the marketplace and the 50-year luxury roof warranty really impresses my clients. Personally, I can't imagine these tiles lasting less than 75 years!"

For no charge to the homeowner, Larry draws up roofing specifications, creates budget worksheets and offers roofing product options. Then, once a product is selected, he locates a contractor for the project. In return for passing Larry's rigorous business review, the installer gets the complete materials list, pre-negotiated competitive prices with suppliers and a solid job lead.

"I have a very clear understanding of what makes a roofer successful and reliable," says Larry, "and I want to pass that on to the homeowners."

DaVinci Resin Slate and Shake Roofing

Saturday, July 24, 2010 by Wendy Bruch
Check out what Mark Clement is saying about DaVinci's steep slope roofing available in composite shake and synthetic slate. Go to HGTVpro.com to read Mark's review on DaVinci's plastic roofing materials

Mark Clement is a remodeler and author of The Carpenter's Notebook and The Kid's Carpenter's Workbook, Fun Family Projects! Mark also hosts MyFixItUpLife radio show with his wife Theresa.

DaVinci Products - Perfect for Steep Slope Commerical Applications

Friday, July 23, 2010 by Megan Stone
When people think commercial applications they generally think of flat roofing, but that isn't always the case. DaVinci Roofscapes' slate alternative and shake alternative are suitable for any steep slope roofing project, including (but certainly not limited to!) religious structures, retail stores, restaurants, schools, financial institutions and strip malls. 

Why are many architects going the route of plastic roofing materials, like DaVinci's slate and shake products? This is what we're hearing:

1.  It is a sustainable roofing option.  The product has a 50 year warranty and has many green qualities, including the fact it can be recycled, it can contribute to LEED point certification through the USGBC, and it is offered in colors rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council
2.  The overall value of the product.  Natural slate (installed) can cost more than double the price of having a DaVinci Slate or Valoré Slate roof installed.  Natural cedar roof shingles have half the life span of a DaVinci Shake or Valoré Shake roof and also need to be regularly maintained while a DaVinci roof does not.
3.  You can't be the aesthetic quality.  With more than 25 pre-designed color blends to chose from in 4 completely different profiles there should be something to match exactly what you're looking for.  If there isn't, our product's color blends are customizable to ensure you get exactly what you want. 

Download our new commercial brochure for more information and pictures!

      
DaVinci Slate - Evergreen Blend
Dentist Office in Arkansas - Evergreen Blend

Weathered Gray
Bed & Breakfast/Tavern in Pennsylvania
  

         

Floridian Roofs

Thursday, July 22, 2010 by Watson Dean
Green Roof SystemsIf you are living in the Sunshine state, you need to be prepared for a rainy, windy season ahead. Especially if you have already witnessed some of the torrential rains of the past few months, your home may have already been subject to some of nature's most powerful forces.

DaVinci Roofscapes offers products that are tested by some of the best rating systems in the world. All of our products are certified by the Florida Building Code, which essentially means that they have been approved by the State of Florida for the rainy months. You are guaranteed roofing products that will withstand even the worse of Floridian weather.

Also, because of the variety of styles and colors offered, you do not need to compromise your style for the protection of your home. Composite shake, composite slate, and green roofing options are all available in our line of products. You can find just the right style for your home.

Hurricane season can be challenging, but our roofing products can make it all the more bearable. Would you like to learn about all the ways a DaVinci roof can protect your home?  Please contact our customer service department with any questions you have.

High-Quality Roofs

Wednesday, July 21, 2010 by Watson Dean
Often times, whether you are looking for the perfect Saturday-night restaurant or even picking out a movie, you can guarantee to find a good opinion in an excellent rating system. When it comes to your roof, DaVinci Roofscapes comes highly rated by several agencies.

Whether you live in the windy Midwest or the rainy East Coast, your roofs need to be able to withstand impacts on all levels. All of DaVinci Roofscapes products are  tested to endure winds with a Class 4 Impact rating, or Class 5 hurricane winds. Valore Shake in Tuscano

A Class 4 rating also entails the best quality of roofing materials. Durable DaVinci roofing tiles are manufactured from a proprietary engineered polymer that includes multiple virgin ThermoPlastic Olefin (TPO) resins, organic fire retardant, state-of-the-art color and UV stabilizers. Also, our products are colored with inorganic pigments, making them eco-friendly.

When it comes to choosing the right roof for your home, whether cedar shake alternative or even green roofing options, you can rest assured that your home will be safe with our highly-rated roofing options.

Is your house located in a windy area? Do you have a DaVinci roof? Share your comments with our readers below! 

Green Roofing Options Discussed in 30 Cities

Wednesday, July 21, 2010 by Kathy Ziprik
How do you create a "green home?" According to Tom Kraeutler, host of the national home improvement radio show The Money Pit, you use a DaVinci synthetic green roof system.

Last week Tom conducted radio and television interviews in 30 different cities educating homeowners on how to construct a green home. From Memphis to Phoenix to Houston, people learned about green roof systems and green roof construction during the home improvement interviews.

During his 8 hours of satellite media tours, Tom focused on the 100% recyclable nature of DaVinci's slate alternative and composite shake roofing tiles, their ability to withstand extreme weather conditions and the 50-year warranty of the simulated shake and slate roofing.


Tornado-Resistant Shingles

Wednesday, July 21, 2010 by Watson Dean

Based in Kansas City, itself, DaVinci Roofscapes is familiar with the land of Oz, and all of the wild weather associated with it. If you live in the Midwest, you better double-check your roofing situation before you get whisked away like Dorothy during tornado season.

While the Midwest tornado season is coming to a close, there is never a wrong time to look into the safety of your home during these windy, rainy periods. DaVinci SlateYour roof protects you from the threat of any natural disaster, so you need to ensure that it is of the best quality.

Fortunately, DaVinci offers products that are designed to withstand the tornado-winds. All of DaVinci Roofscapes' products have been designed with these parameters in mind.

Tested with simulated settings, our Bellaforté imitation slate roof can handle Hurricane Zone Force Winds up to 175 mph. Bellaforté has received Miami Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) and has also met Florida Building Code (FBC) qualifications. 

If you'd like to learn more about Bellaforté or any of our other tornado-proof roofing options, please contact our customer service department with any questions you have.


Safety Comes First

Wednesday, July 21, 2010 by Watson Dean
DaVinci Slate  Vineyard   BlendWhen it comes to your roof, DaVinci Roofscapes provides the best in the home market. Whether you are interested in finding a fake cedar shake roof or even green roofing options, you can rest assured that the materials you choose will not only be stylish but also guarantee the safety of your home.

Our roofs come with a Class A (ASTM E 108) rating, which only further entails the safety of your home at any time during the year. This Class A (ASTM E 108) rating comes straight from the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., an independent product safety certification organization that has been testing products and writing standards for safety for more than a century. With over 19,000 products to test every year, receiving this rating is a compliment to our products. Nevertheless, DaVinci Roofscapes have been graced with this superior rating.

No matter where you live, you can rest assured that your home will be safe, regardless of the weather. DaVinci roofs also come with a Class 4 rating, which means that they can withstand winds up to 175 mph. Rain, hail, and even strong winds can't effect the safety of your home!

Do you own DaVinci Roofscapes products? Have them gone through any difficult weather and come out on top of your neighbors?  Share your comments with our readers below.





DaVinci Roofscapes Sustainable Design Course on AEC Daily

Tuesday, July 20, 2010 by Megan Stone

Attention architects, specifiers and engineers!  DaVinci Roofscapes sponsors an online learning course that is worth 1 Sustainable Design (SD) learning unit!  Learn how simulated slate and shake roofing materials are sustainable roofing materials while earning a learning unit through the AIA, CES, and other affiliations.

The Learning Objectives for The Design Advantages of Synthetic Roofing Solutions are:

  • 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 plastic roofing material 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.

Just go to AEC Daily's website to take the 1 hour course.  Why online learning?  It is easy and it is free and you can take it any time! 


DaVinci Slate At School

Tuesday, July 20, 2010 by Watson Dean
When shopping your home, it is easy to justify buying the best products on the line, whether it is in the foundation of your house to the shingles on your roof. You would do the same for anywhere else you go -- whether for work or school. DaVinci products are not solely designed with homes in mind; they can be and should be used on schools and churches as well.

Schools, churches, and office buildings are no exception when it comes to buying the best products in the line. When choosing the type of roofing for your any sort of building, you need to make sure that the product you choose not only add beauty but also keep the building safe. DaVinci Slate is both used for its appearance and durability; our slate products come in a variety of colors,  and have endured winds of up to 110 mph.

Additionally, homes do not need to be the only stage for slate roofing; churches, buildings, and schools can all benefit from the use of slate shingles. With the wide range of styles and colors offered in slate roofing, it is a product that can be used in a large variety of settings (such as the school picture to the right). Although DaVinci isn't a rubber slate roof, imitation slate shingles and fake slate options are available and easily installable.

Believe that a building you love could benefit from one of our slate products? Please contact our customer service department with any questions you have.

California-Fire-Proof

Monday, July 19, 2010 by Watson Dean
In the summer months, California can truly be the Golden State: beaches, suntans, and perfect weather all make up the perfect combination for the season. However, in the haze of the summer days it is easy to forget about a natural threat lurking around the corner. One of the hazards of the Californian heat and dry air is the threat of fires. Especially in the late fall and winter months, fires can be very common in the Golden State. DaVinci Shake -
 Cedar Shake Alternative

When it comes to ensuring the safety of your home and those who live in it, DaVinci Roofscapes offers the best in the line of roofing products. All of our products are fire-resistant, and if you live in an area where there is a risk of forest fires, this is especially important.

DaVinci Shake is the perfect product for those living in these high-risk areas for forest fires. With the proper underlayment, DaVinci Shake has a Class A (ASTM E 108) fire rating.  As with all DaVinci roofing tiles, DaVinci Shake  is an engineered polymer that has revolutionized the roofing product industry's standard for aesthetics and performance; and as one of our green roofing options, it is eco-friendly and 100% recyclable.

If you are interested in our DaVinci Roofscapes products, contact our sales department to learn more about our roofs.

DaVinci Roofscapes' Custom Turret Package

Sunday, July 18, 2010 by Megan Stone
Turret

The turret is perhaps the most challenging of all luxury roof structures because it is a cone. Typically it takes years of experience to master the turret. DaVinci Roofscapes has simplified this excruciating, labor intensive process and made is possible for a professional roofer to quickly install a great looking, custom engineered simulated slate roof on virtually any turret. You provide us with four dimensions of the turret and DaVinci Roofscapes will create a custom Turret Package just for you. Your turret package will include starter tiles, numbered field bundles and a Turret Map Diagram.  Contact us today for more details on our turret package or to find out more about our steep slope roofing materials!
 

Prepare For Hurricane Season

Sunday, July 18, 2010 by Watson Dean
July is not even over, yet the summer months have already begun to experience the beginnings of 2010's hurricane season. If you currently live in the Sunshine State, you need to be prepared for the coming months of rain, heavy winds, and flying debris. Come September of this year, hurricane season will be in full-effect; however, it is best to ensure that your home, especially your roof, does not face these effects of the wet season. DaVinci Slate

DaVinci Roofscapes Bellaforté roof tiles are specifically designed with the wet and windy hurricane season in mind. Bellaforté Slate roofing tiles have achieved a Miami Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) and meet Florida Building Code (FBC) qualifications. Bellaforte tiles have shown that they can endure Hurricane Zone Force Winds associated with Category 5 storms.

Additionally, our roofing products have met a Class 4 Impact rating, ensuring that practically any type of wet or windy weather cannot get in the way of your sturdy roof. The self-aligning roof tiles enable fast installation and precise placement, increasing the life of your roof as well as guaranteeing a pleasant appearance.

Interested in knowing all the ways how a DaVinci manufactured slate tile roof can protect your home?  Please contact our customer service department with any questions you have.

High-Ranked Roofs

Friday, July 16, 2010 by Watson Dean
When it comes to picking a college, purchasing a car, or even finding a home, you can rest assured that there is always a third-party opinion to help you make your decision. Often times, this third-party opinion comes in the form of a rating from a magazine or experienced agency.
Valore Shake in Tuscano
When it comes to choosing the right products in the home market, DaVinci Roofscapes offers products that fall in Building Products Magazine's Top 100 products of 2010. DaVinci's Valoré Slate and Shake are the specific products that rank in this list, and it is clear why: both of  our Valoré Slate and Shake are made to resemble their natural counterparts, all without the high-maintenance that those natural products bring.

Keeping with the importance of eco-friendliness, these products meet LEED-NC and initial ENERGY STAR® requirements and are 100% recyclable. And as an added bonus, both of these green roofing options come in a variety of colors that are sure to suit any home.

When it comes to quality, DaVinci products are the best in the line. Interested in making DaVinci Roofscapes a part of your home? Feel free to contact a member of our customer service department, who can help you maintain the quality of your home.