Project Profiles

From Saint Louis Catholic Church to the Cynthiana Baptist Church, church members nationwide are giving thanks for the sturdy polymer roofing products over their heads. Whether replaced due to old age or storm damage, replacement lightweight roofing systems are becoming popular in churches across America.

"Within the past few years we've been blessed to see a significant increase of our roofing products used for church projects,"  says Ray Rosewall, president and CEO of DaVinci Roofscapes. "The biggest trend we've witnessed is for simulated shake and slate roofing products to be used on historic churches to replicate the original look of a slate or shake roof."

Churches Coast-to-Coast

In Ohio, the 140+ year old chapel at the Dayton Veterans Administration Medical Center recently had its roof replaced. The new DaVinci plastic slate roof replicates the original large cross design with a star-studded border in medium tan slate polymer tiles on a background of black slate polymer tiles.

Another historic religious center, St. Patrick's Church in Terra Haute, Indiana, was created in 1881. A new Bellaforté slate roof was recently installed to replicate the structure's original roof. Aging copper gutters blend with the blend of greens on the lightweight roofing solution for the parishioners.

For visitors to the Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church in Johnson City, New York, it's the three 80-foot tall domes capping the massive structure that captures immediate attention. A re-roofing job done in 2011 features 90 squares of Valoré polymer shake tiles in a Tuscano color blend of light, medium light, medium and dark autumn colors. The simulated shake roofing on the church accents the wood exterior, creating a stunning structure.

Other churches featuring lightweight roofing systems from DaVinci include St. Clement Eucharist Shrine in Boston, Unitarian Universalists Church in Muncie, Indiana and the Self-Realization Fellowship in Los Angeles.

"The appeal of polymer roofing's longevity, aesthetics and durability are greatly appreciated by many church congregations," says Rosewall. "These low-maintenance products bring peace-of-mind to many churches and are truly an answer to their prayers."

A big thank you to Mark of Northrup Remodeling for letting us interview him for our blog!

How'd you first discover DaVinci?

A local rep contacted us about the DaVinci product back in 2006 and we were intrigued immediately by it’s looks and it’s longevity.

What do you like about DaVinci? Color blends? Shape of tiles? Performance? Which DaVinci products do you like? Do you have a favorite color blend?

We do a lot of high end roofing and exterior projects and DaVinci has been a great way to provide a slate look without having to have the roofing structure re-engineered.  I prefer the multi-width slate in the “brownstone classic” because these colors feel more natural and subtle. We also get a fair amount of hail in Minneapolis and we love that DaVinci has a Class 4 impact rating as well as a lifetime warranty.

What's the biggest thing that homeowners say to you about DaVinci?

Homeowners love the look of DaVinci and that it will be the last roof that they will ever have to put on their home. It’s a classic look that will last a lifetime.

Why do you like DaVinci?

I like that DaVinci has come up with a solution in providing an impeccable look with outstanding durability, this is a product that we can install with complete confidence.  When we walk away from a DaVinci job we understand that we have just provided our homeowner with a roofing solution that will provide a beautiful classic look with a lifetime warranty that we can stand behind.

Are there homeowners that you wouldn't recommend DaVinci to?

I believe that there’s a DaVinci roof that can be complimentary to any style of home. With the options that are available, DaVinci can be affordable to just about everyone.

What DaVinci products have you worked with?

We have worked with all of the DaVinci products, from the multi-width slate to the shake.  We love the versatility that comes with DaVinci

What other roofing products do you install?

We install Slate, Cedar, Spanish tile, concrete tile, standing seam and asphalt. DaVinci has been a great addition to the products that we offer.

How long have you been in the roofing  business?

I personally have been in the roofing business for 26 years and started Northrup Roofing and Exteriors 11 years ago. I was pleased to see a product like DaVinci come into our market so we could provide our homeowners with an alternative to a costly and very heavy slate roof.

Do you have a favorite DaVinci job?  In other words, a favorite house or building where you installed DaVinci?  Why is it your favorite?  Could you send photos so we can include them in the post?

One of the better looking jobs that we completed was in Minneapolis. It was a multi-width slate black that we installed with copper accessories and snow guards. This job came out looking beautiful and the homeowner was ecstatic with the results.
      

After roof hail damage destroyed the 80-year-old clay roofing tiles on his home in 2010, homeowner Dean Imel described the storm as "tennis balls of ice" that pounded his community.

While meeting with his insurance adjuster after the storm Imel learned that the only roofing product in his area untouched by the massive hail storm was the polymer roofing tiles from DaVinci Roofscapes.

"I wanted a product that would provide us with security from future storms while at the same time mimic our original Ludowci Roof Tile," says Imel. "I found both with DaVinci's multi-width Slate tile in a Vineyard color blend of grays, tans, violets, green and amber.

"My wife and I felt that the color blend we selected matched up well with our English Tudor style home. We're exceptionally pleased with the results and I believe there simply is not another product out there that  provides the durability, hail resistance and appearance that can touch the DaVinci roofing product."

Read full story

Hail damaged roof

New DaVinci Slate Roof

Who do you call if you're committed to restoring a 1932 bungalow-style home and want green roof construction? If you're Sylvain Cote with Absolute Green Homes, you contact DaVinci Roofscapes!

Cote requested DaVinci's Bellaforté slate synthetic tiles for this impressive environmentally-friendly retrofit project back in April of 2011. The home, which is scheduled for completion this summer, is scheduled to be the first platinum level LEED Certified Home in Westchester County, New York.

The sustainability and environmental friendliness of DaVinci fake slate tiles drew Cote's attention while she searched for green roofing options for The Beach House. By installing 17 squares of black Bellaforté slate tiles on the 1,810-square-foot home, she's been able to support her overall goal of having a lightweight roofing system that is eco-friendly.

The design, techniques, materials, products and approach used in this project can be applied to other homes in the future to achieve the same environmentally sound living space. Stay tuned and we'll share final pictures of this impressive house renovation project with you this summer!

Last March Overland Park, Kansas was pummeled with a hail storm. Pretty much everybody I know (myself included) sustained some sort of hail damage. The Kansas City metro is traditionally a shake market, but natural shake's track record in storm prone areas is not so good.

Epic Exteriors, LLC, located in Kansas City, installed this Class 4 Impact Rated Valoré Shake roof, which is an excellent alternative to cedar roof shingles. Shawn Bellis with Epic Exteriors first discovered DaVinci at a contractor tradeshow and since then has installed both our multi-width and single-width slate and shake products.

The project featured here is Valoré Shake in a custom blend. Valoré Shake tiles are all 9" in width and unlike their natural counterparts are Class A Fire Rated, Class 4 Impact Rated and wind rated to 110 mph.

DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor Program Member
Epic Exteriors, LLC
913-712-8342
www.epicexteriorskc.com

 

 

 

While our lightweight roofing solutions look awesome on a roof, they also are quickly becoming popular as another solution - faux cedar shake siding!  Who knew?!

When we really think about it, it makes sense.  The reason we wanted to come out with a cedar shake alternative was because we knew that cutting down trees to keep putting roofs on wasn't a good move for our environment.  The same goes for siding. 

From an aesthetic point of view, DaVinci's green roofing systems are much more appealing than some of the other siding options out there.

We've done blog posts about our shake being used as siding in the past, so I thought I'd compile the photos from those post for you to have a look at:

Vertical Installation of DaVinci Composite Roofing
Interview with DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor Program member, Joe Brozek of United Contractors Inc. in Andover, MN

DaVinci Tiles Selected for Roof and Siding of Tower Banks in Indiana

Which use of our simulated shake roofing as siding is most appealing to you?  

Have you used our shakes as siding?  We want to see photos!  Please share your story and post a photo of your project for us to share on our blog!

When I asked DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor Program Member Florida Quality Roofing why their crew liked installing our simulated shake roofing material, I got an answer so nice I had to share. Stella Amador with Florida Quality Roofing said, "Our crew responded to the product in a unique way, they felt more like artisans since the quality of the product and aesthetics far exceed the everyday roofing product. In the end, there was a sense of added satisfaction to their work." I thought that was amazing!

Florida Quality Roofing has worked with our steep slope roofing products four times now, installing them on Bahama Breeze Restaurants in the Sunshine State. They feel using DaVinci Shakes (as opposed to cedar roof shingles) has significant advantages ranging from environmental sustainability, higher weather resistance, product longevity and aesthetics.

DaVinci products all meet Florida Building Code (FBC) requirement and are Miami Dade Approved for hurricane force winds.

DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor Program Member
Florida Quality Roofing
954-989-0444
www.floridaqualityroofing.com

 

Before                                                             After

Thank you to Stella Amador of Florida Quality Roofing for talking to us about our lightweight roofing solutions.

How'd you first discover DaVinci?

I first discovered DaVinci products through a commercial project involving Bahama Breeze restaurants. The restaurants had wooden shakes that needed to be replaced to composite shakes. Our client required the same or better look of wooden shakes but with a longer product life. After researching for such specifications I was introduced to DaVinci, which exceeded my client's demands by offering a 50 year product warranty.

What do you like about DaVinci? Color blends? Shape of tiles? Performance? 

The most impressive aspect of DaVinci products is the overall quality. This includes quality of colors, sustainability, life of the product, and aesthetics.

What's the biggest thing that homeowners say to you about DaVinci?

Simple, it looks beautiful.

Why do you like DaVinci?

As a DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor I am most proud of being able to deliver customers a product that I know will exceed all of their expectations.

Are there homeowners that you wouldn't recommend DaVinci to?

I would not recommend DaVinci to a homeowner that is looking for an inferior product.

What DaVinci products have you worked with? 

I have worked with the multi-width Autumn Blend Shakes.

Which DaVinci products do you like? Do you have a favorite color blend?

I like the Autumn Blend and New Cedar shakes, they both look great, especially here in Sunny South Florida.

What other roofing products do you install?

• GAF
• Certainteed
• Firestone
• Sealoflex
• Tropical Asphalt
• Tamko

How long have you been in the roofing  business? 

Florida Quality Roofing was established in 2002 as a family owned and operated company. Owner and President, German Duarte is a second generation roofing contractor who followed in his father's footsteps and took over the business after he retired.

We are a fully licensed, fully insured and full service roofing company specializing in comprehensive roofing maintenance programs, commercial re-roofing, residential roofing and repairs.

FQR prides itself in offering a unique roofing experience.

The mission is to properly identify issues, prevent problems, maintain and ultimately help extend the life of a roofing system.  Our focus is in sharing our expertise with our clients in order to guide them to make the best possible choice for their roofing needs.

Do you have a favorite DaVinci job?  In other words, a favorite house or building where you installed DaVinci?  Why is it your favorite? 

Yes, my favorite job was re-roofing the first Bahama Breeze restaurant. I enjoyed it because it was our first project with DaVinci and the results were astonishing. The difference between the previous wood shake roof and the final result with the DaVinci Autumn Blend Shake were immeasurable. Also, our workers were transformed, by our fourth Bahama Breeze they were no longer roofers, they were artisans.
Are you interested in learning more about our lightweight roofing materials? Please feel free to get in touch with us.

In Durango, Colo., the milled wood roof shingles on the 1880s Peterson House were so worn by time and weather that they had simply crumbled apart. As part of ongoing restoration efforts of the historic structure in 2011, the team at Animas Museum turned to experts at DaVinci Roofscapes to provide a polymer shake roofing tiles that would replicate the look of the original roof.

"We deeply appreciate that one of our oldest buildings in town has received the donation of the newest synthetic roofing technologies available in the marketplace," says Carolyn Bowra, director of Animas Museum. "DaVinci Roofscapes has supported our effort to keep our history and culture alive and made it possible for the Peterson House to have a new life."

After decades of exposure to severe Colorado weather conditions, the wood roof on the Peterson House had disintegrated. Tony Whittle at TL Roofing in Durango, Colo. suggested that DaVinci Fancy Shake roof tile in the Mountain color would be the ideal solution.

"I've worked with the simulated shake roofing of the DaVinci product before in our area and felt the long-term value these polymer tiles would bring to the project would be ideal," says Whittle. "Each synthetic 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."

Now installed, the composite shake roof has made a big impact on the Animas Museum team. "We love the roof because it is 'spot on' for the period and building," says Bowra. "Our insurance agent is thrilled with the safety aspects and the fact that the polymer roofing tiles have a Class A fire rating. We're so pleased with this DaVinci fake cedar shake roof that we're hoping that, as other roofs in our complex become in need of restoration, that we'll be able to install these same polymer cedar roof shingles."

The home originally had wooden shake shingles, which were covered up over the years with several layers of asphalt shingles. We wanted to use a historically-accurate product on the roof, but the extreme dry heat we experience, combined with lack of rainfall, makes wood shake roofing impractical and dangerous. We did what most homeowners do when searching for product options --- we turned to the Internet. After searching for faux slate shingles, we found that many companies produced these products, but our research showed that most of them warp over time. We discovered that only the slate tiles produced by DaVinci Roofscapes are uniquely designed to resist warping, fading, curling and cracking. And, these polymer tiles are fire and impact resistant, so we never have to worry about how our intense Texas heat or hail storms will affect them. This new roof, with the patina green on the copper, complements the original historic look of the home and helps us more appropriately ‘fit’ in our historic neighborhood. The roofing tiles never look like plastic. Right from the start they looked very natural with their understated slate gray color. While we decided not to use a blend of different colors, we’re delighted to see that there is still a subtle and natural looking variation of color from one roof tile to another. This so accurately resembles real slate that we’re completely delighted with its beauty. Now we’re the envy of the neighborhood and our roof is ready for any weather we face in Texas!  Read Full Story

Kathy Telecky, Homeowner
McKinney, TX
      

We looked into many options when deciding to replace the asphalt shingle roof on our home. Our research brought us to the DaVinci Roofscapes web site. The Bellaforté roof that’s now on our house is absolutely beautiful --- it’s the icing on the cake for our 3,800-square foot ranch-style home. Because these tiles are fire resistant and can stand up to severe weather conditions, we’re able to save on our homeowners insurance. And, one of our neighbors was so impressed with the look and quality of the roof that they’ve scheduled to have Bellaforté tiles installed on their home this month.

The Bradshaws, Homeowners
Oklahoma
    

We all need plenty of energy to power our homes, cars and electronics. With increasing concerns about depletion of fossil fuels and the effects on the environment, it only stands to reason that many of us want to find ways to minimize our environmental footprint. Saving money on energy costs is also a big concern. Some home and building owners are using the power of the sun to create their own energy because installing solar panels can have a positive effect on both the environment and the pocketbook.

A client recently contacted us about his experience using DaVinci Bellaforté slate roof tiles for his California home. Our eco friendly roof makes a great foundation to hold solar panels as they can be walked on for cleaning without fear of breaking. See the pictures of his 44 solar panel system atop our slate gray tiles by visiting our website customer testimonials page.

Solar panels add a lot of weight to roofs, but fortunately DaVinci lightweight roofing tiles can hold up the extra weight. Their durability is unsurpassed for withstanding inclement weather and natural environmental conditions that could otherwise compromise a roof’s integrity.

Have you installed solar panels on top of your DaVinci roof?  If so, we would love to hear your story and how you are saving energy!  Please share your story with us here.

Once you see the quality and workmanship of our designer roof, we think you’ll agree that the beauty and durability speaks for itself. But if you are just learning about our 50 year roof, it might help to learn more about what our customers have to say about their experience with using our shake and slate alternative tiles.

The Alsmiller Family in Texas was definitely tickled by the light coloring of the DaVinci Light Gray custom blend and the durability for the wild Texas weather. See pictures of their very own DaVinci masterpiece.

The Wielands of Broomfield, Colorado replaced their old wood shake roof with our Valoré’ Shake to obtain something that looked like the original but with better durability. They also appreciated the hands on commitment of our DaVinci representative, who accompanied the roofing contractor on the job to make sure enough tile was ordered along with the right color.

California homeowner and architect, Anthony Demattei, found our Bellaforté tile in his quest for an energy efficient roof and also roofing materials that represent his support of sustainability and conservation ideals. View pictures he shared with us of his Castle Gray tiles.

If you have your own DaVinci roofing installation to share, visit our “Share Your Masterpiece” page to submit pictures and your comments about your experience.

The old 1800s photos of the roof design were faded and required a great deal of work to configure a new roof layout that would accurately reflect the original roof. The current roof structure of the historic building could not handle the weight of real slate, so we specified the lighter weight synthetic roofing slate tiles from DaVinci Roofscapes. We were impressed by the authentic look of the DaVinci products and their 50-year warranty. The availability of different shades of tiles made it possible to accurately duplicate the original design from the chapel’s roof. The result is a roof that everyone is exceptionally pleased with and a design that brings the original exterior look back to the chapel.

Edward Groh, Architect at PEDCO
Cincinnati, OH
    

I heard about DaVinci Roofscapes from one of the insurance adjustors that was working our job. He said that it was the only product that was untouched by our tennis ball sized hail. Once I looked at the website and saw that you had a product that mimicked the 80 yr old tile that was on the house I was sold. The more I investigated I found that your material was what I needed for this job. I wanted something that would stand up to another monster hail storm as my wife never wanted to go through this again. We liked the blend of colors we chose as it went well with our English Tudor style home. The crew from CMR made the experience even better. I should say that I have been in the construction business for over 30 years and know the difference between a good job and a mediocre one. As I was doing a small addition on the house as they roofed it, I got to see them every day. Their attention to detail was impressive. I still like coming home to see the difference the roof made to the appearance to our home.

Dean Imel, Homeowner/Contractor
Nichols Hill, OK
     

Our goal was to create a new family home that demonstrated our dedication and commitment to the advancement of smart, sustainable design and our belief that good design is inherently sustainable. The careful selection of building materials and systems became paramount to achieving the highest level of energy efficiency possible. The demands on the roofing material not only had to complement the architectural style of our house and contribute to the energy efficiency goals, but also had to meet a Class-A fire-resistive rating. Our Architecture firm, Demattei Wong Architecture, worked from the top down in determining the products to specify. They searched for a roofing product that would have a minimum lifespan of 50 years, feature tiles that could be recycled, and provide a strong, positive look to the house. The research led us to the Bellaforté polymer roofing tiles from DaVinci Roofscapes. There are many energy production and conservation aspects designed for this home, along with water harvesting systems ---- but it all really starts with the creation of an energy-efficient building envelope. We believe the Castle Gray EcoBlend Bellaforté roofing tiles exemplify our dedication to the advancement of smart, sustainable architectural design.

Anthony Demattei, Homeowner/Architect
San Mateo County, CA
 

Rob Fanjoy, a contractor with more than a decade of experience, had never worked with polymer roofing tiles before installing his DaVinci multi-width slate roof. Following DaVinci's how-to video and installation instructions provided him with the confidence he needed to get the job done.

"I much prefer working with these synthetic tiles since they're cleaner to handle and easier on your hands," says Fanjoy. "No dirty grit to scrape your knuckles or tar melting and sticking to everything. Cutting and nailing these imitation slate shingles was also simple. A sharp utility knife and standard nail gun was all I needed for this project."

As Fanjoy moved through the project he became comfortable and developed these tips for other contractors:

TIP #1 - Adhere to the "pyramid" approach of installation for multi-width tiles as recommended by DaVinci Roofscapes. Install four or five courses in a step fashion and use only one bundle at a time. This results in a better blend and less moving around on the roof.

TIP #2 - To achieve a seamless look between the ridge of the dormer and the slope of the main roof, carefully place self-adhering underlayment and flashing metal under the dormer ridge tiles (extending up the main roof a short distance). Then get a clean cut on the main roof tiles at the meeting of the ridge to achieve a clean look.

TIP #3 - If you get into a situation where you're installing the ridge tiles over a rigid ridge vent, consider using 3- 1/2 inch cabinet screws, which are self-tapping. This made it easier to drive the screws to the proper depth, keeping the shingles flat and eliminating the "cupping" when nails would go in too deep. The low-profile washer head assured Fanjoy of excellent holding power and allowed the overlapping shingles to lay flat.

"Overall, from start-to-finish this job went smoothly," says Fanjoy. "We made the right decision to invest in this DaVinci polymer roof, plus it gave me the chance to expand my installation experience with lightweight roofing materials. I've already recommended the DaVinci product to my neighbors and others who are considering new roofs."

When contractor Rob Fanjoy moved into his home in northern Maine last year, he knew the roof would be the first thing that needed replacing. It was an old asphalt shingle roof that was failing badly.

Despite being in place less than 15 years, Fanjoy's roofing shingles were curling, crumbling and cracking. Plus they were growing moss, staining and releasing asphalt granules in a constant shower on the deck.

Fanjoy's solution? Installation of polymer multi-width slate roofing tiles from DaVinci Roofscapes.

"I'm a big supporter of man-made products that replicate Mother Nature but offer more long-term benefits than natural products," says Fanjoy. "When researching our roofing options, we determined that the DaVinci synthetic tiles resist insects, fungus, algae, mold, cracking, fading and curling. Plus, they're backed by a 50-year warranty we can really depend on.

"The faux slate roof we selected definitely lends an air of authenticity to our somewhat contemporary design style."

Choosing a Roof Color
After selecting the lightweight roofing materials, fan joy's next challenge was choosing a color. He and his wife wanted a strong visual interest to accent the home, so they chose Vineyard blend --- a combination of eight roofing colors.

"With the help of the FRESH Home Exterior Colors guide that we downloaded from the DaVinci web site, we made the decision to select this dramatic color blend," says Fanjoy. "People coming up our driveway are very impressed by this show-stopping roof. We've received glowing complements and lots of interest in our roof!"

Next up ... tips on how Fanjoy installed the fake slate roof on his contemporary Colonial style home.

Preserving history by renovating historic structures means more than just adding a new coat of paint or planting new flowers in front of the building. Restoring older homes, museums and government buildings links us to past generations and enables us to look forward to a future deeply aware of our connection to our historical origins.

Typically, historically significant structures need extensive work to restore framing, foundation and roofing. When it comes to restoring roofs on 100 year old or more buildings, DaVinci lightweight roofing solutions is on the cutting edge of providing not only a 50 year roof to last for many more years to come but also offers sustainable roofing that protects these buildings with the highest rating of fire, wind and impact available on the market today.

To see why our faux slate roofing is such a favorite for many historic restoration projects, find links below to our past posts detailing how our roofing materials beautifully top older homes, museums and schools throughout the country.

Historic DuSable Museum Gets New Polymer Roof – featured in two parts, this 1893 Chicago museum chose our Castle Gray multi-width slate to authentically replace the natural slate of the original roof.

DaVinci Slate Roof Returns Historic Building to Original Beauty – Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh, New York needed a new roof with durability and protection from the elements. DaVinci slate replaced the original wood shakes and asbestos shingle that covered it from a previous re-roofing project.

Historic Texas Home Gets Slate Roof – Homeowners in Dallas, Texas chose our slate tiles to replace their wood shake and asphalt shingles to preserve the looks and historical accuracy of their 1914 Arts and Crafts style home.

Shopping for DaVinci synthetic roofing material presents quite a few choices for property owners. Choosing between shake or slate roof tiles and then the basically limitless color options opens up shoppers to the many styles and options available with our environmentally friendly roof.

Aside from the practical purposes of covering the rooftop of your home or commercial building, our tile product can serve another mission entirely. Our roofs will bring plenty of joy to children’s faces when used as a rooftop for playhouses!

And for those without little ones running under foot, DaVinci tiles work wonderfully well on outside ancillary buildings such as utility sheds, garages and lofts so that those buildings match the home roof as well. With the added value of wind, impact and fire resistance, outbuildings on any property will benefit from the additional protection our roof tiles provide.

Here are a few pictures of other client’s successes with using our roofing materials on their play houses and work sheds. If you have used our product on a playhouse or outbuilding, be sure to visit our Share Your Masterpiece or Facebook page and share your experience with comments and pictures for everyone to enjoy.

Stylish Playhouse – this small backyard bungalow is suitable as a child’s playhouse, separate office or even a yoga/workout room. With its slate roof and inviting red door, plenty of kids and adults will find it quite enchanting.

Here’s the side view showing the complementary style and coloring our roofing provides:

Workshop or Office – This steep roofed building is seems custom made just for our tiles. Whether used as an office or workshop, we think you’ll agree the tiling stands right out while fitting in at the same time.