Our Bellaforté tiles are some of the most advanced roofing tiles on the market. These tiles have all the appearance and beauty of natural slate or shake roofing tiles but with a higher level of durability from the proprietary-engineered polymer roofing formula. Although the tiles look complex, their installation and final appearance on the roof is not complicated at all.

See that little tab on the lower right hand side of the shingle? That tab helps to interlock to the next tile - and the "gutter" on the left hand side of the tile is used to also interlock to the next existing tile. This snap-fit system and leading edge tab secures every tile to increase wind performance. What this means for the roof owner is that you have a greater wind resistance due to the fact that the tiles are so tightly put together.

Whether or not you live in a wind prone area, you might be interested in checking out our Bellaforté products. In addition to high wind ratings, these tiles also have a Class 4 impact rating and a Class A fire rating (with proper underlayment). These tiles come in two profiles - an imitation slate and a cedar shake alternative.

Have you installed Bellaforté tiles on your roof? We want to see it!  Please share your DaVinci roofing experience with us - be sure to include photos so we can share them on our blog!

As we continue on our roof design journey, here are a few more to cover - a hip roof and a gable roof. Do you have a hip or a gable roof? Did you buy your home because of your roof line? Your roof line plays an important role in the character of your home and so does the roofing materials that you put on top of that roof line.

According to Wikipedia, a hip roof is "a type of roof where all sides slope downwards to the walls, usually with a fairly gentle slope."  Whereas, a gable roof is "generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof."

DaVinci products can be applied to many roofs types including gable and hip roofs as seen below in the the following photos.

Here is an example of a hip roof with DaVinci imitation slate tiles:


Here is an example of a gable roof with DaVinci's fake slate:

What style is your roof? Trying to figure out what sort of lightweight roofing materials that you want to go with? What about color? Whatever your concerns or questions are, we're here to help. Please reach out to us via email or call us at 1-800-328-4624.

Since 2001, DaVinci has installed our high quality polymer roofing on many rooftops across the country. Perhaps you are a DaVinci client and have had the pleasure of interacting with our dedicated team of experts, exchange ideas with our color expert, Kate Smith, and now see the long-lasting results engineered plastics can give. You may still have pictures of your new roof stored away somewhere as part of your memorable collection, or continue to get queries from passersby regarding the beauty of your roof.

We would love to hear from you if you have a DaVinci roof! Why? We want all of our clients to share their roofing experiences using our products from the start to finish of their project. Whether you are a homeowner or business owner, your testimonial is valuable to us and to those that visit our website on a daily basis. Your pictures will also help others to see the beautiful before and after experience of DaVinci luxury roof.

You can also share your experience regarding the challenges you had before you used DaVinci Roofscapes roofing materials on your home. Whether you had issues with hail damage, a badly worn roof or just decided to remodel your roof, every detail of your experience adds to the rich collection of satisfied customers that we want to feature on our website.

Click here to share your DaVinci experience with us!
 

After nine years of working at DaVinci Roofscapes, I can really appreciate all of our colors blends and their differences. On the right house with the right color scheme, they can all look awesome. But often times customizing a blend is what needs to be done to ensure the homeowner is 100% happy with a roof that they have to live with for the next 50 years.

Recently, I have been working with an architect on a residential project in Colorado. After looking at both our slate and shake and all colors available, they decided they want shakes in green. Our green colors are typically found in Evergreen or Verde (and consisting of light, medium and dark green) which are traditionally slate blends, but plugging a slate color into the shake mold - no problem! We can't wait to see the end result!

Happy Friday, Architects and I hope to see you at the AIA Show next week!

Chances are in these nice spring months you've been outside in your yard - doing a little "spring cleaning" of your shrubs, planting flowers and more. You may have noticed the damage that the heavy snow tumbling off your roof did to your shrubs over the winter. You might also wonder how to prevent that from occurring again next year.

Your answer is snowguards.

Snowguards are metal ledges, if you will, that help hold snow in place, so that it melts slowly and doesn't avalanche off your roof onto bushes, cars or anything else that might be below. If you are considering a new roof, be sure you include snowguards.

Did you know that snowguards can be easily retrofitted on an existing DaVinci luxury roof? Another advantage of our plastic roofing materials - it is really easy to have a professional roofer retrofit snowguards onto your roof. 

Do you have a DaVinci roof with snowguards? Which kind did you choose? How are they working out for you?  Tell us more about your experience with snowguards in the comments below.

Want to learn more about snowguards? You might enjoy the following articles:

• Snowguards and Fake Shake Shingles
• Keep the Snow on the Roof with Snowguards
• Great Time to Install Snowguards!

The many roofing components can be confusing to home and building owners. By knowing the different terminologies contractors use, you can actively participate in your own project. This helps to reduce delay and improves communication on both sides so that the entire project details are fully understood from start to finish. Below are definitions of some basic roof components and important details you might need to know not only during the roof bidding process but also during the installation process:

Decking: This section acts as the base on which the entire roofing system is supported and on which is it laid (well, the underlayment goes on top of the deck and then the shingles go on top of the underlayment).

Underlayment: Sheets of material that are installed between the roof system and roof deck to prevent water damage caused by rain, hail, snow and high humidity. These sheets are known as the underlayment and also act as a separator between the roof and the deck.

Flashing: Water leakage is a serious problem on roofs that are not installed with the right angle or with the right materials. Flashing are metal pieces used to divert water from problem areas.

Vent: An opening in the building designed mainly for the passage of air, water vapor, heat or other gases.

Polymer Roof Tiles: These are sometimes referred to as plastic tiles or composite tiles. Our fake cedar roofing imitates hand-split or machine-sawn shakes.

These are just some of the basic components you will hear when talking to your contractor about your roofing project. What other terms have you heard that have been confusing during the roofing process? Can we help answer your questions?

 

There are a lot of architectural roof designs out there and sometimes it's hard to know which type is on your home. Do you know what type of roof you have?

A common roof type is called a mansard. According to Wikipedia, "A mansard or mansard roof (also called a French roof or curb roof) is a four-sided gambrel-style hip roof characterized by two slopes on each of its sides with the lower slope, punctured by dormer windows, at a steeper angle than the upper." A mansard slopes down on all four sides of a structure.

Another common roof type is called a gambrel. Wikipedia defines a gambrel roof as "...a shortened name for a gambrel roof shape, a usually symmetrical two-sided roof with two slopes on each side. The upper slope is positioned at a shallow angle, while the lower slope is steep." The gambrel is easily recognized by its two slopes, the lower one being steep and the higher one being more shallow. The overall appearance is very similar to a mansard roof except that the gambrel only slopes down on two sides of a structure (as is the case with most barns).

Sometimes all this is just words and rather it would be better just to see photos of what these words mean. Below are photos that display both a mansard roof and a gambrel roof.

Here is an example of a mansard roof with DaVinci composite slate roof:

Here is a gambrel roof with DaVinci composite shake:

Wondering what roof type you have? You can send us a photo and even ask us what color might look good on your roof. Or you can also visit our color studio and have some fun experimenting with what might be a good fit for your home.

DaVinci Roofscapes offers a gorgeous line of shake colors that epitomize every aspect of your preferences. You can confidently choose from the different synthetic wood tones to give you a natural, realistic appearance that blends perfectly with existing surroundings without being overbearing. Whether you are building or remodeling, our polymer shakes can be used for roofing or as siding no matter how large or small your project.

Our shake profiles include multi-width DaVinci, single-width Valoré, Fancy Shake and Bellaforté. With a full spectrum of authentic cedar colors to choose from, you are not confined in your imaginations and can get colors that accentuate the curb appeal of your building and boost its value on the market.

If you find that one of our 49 standard colors or multiple color blends isn't quite right, visit our online color studio to create your own blend or contact one of our Project Specialists to create your own color blend or custom color. 

To help you select the perfect color for your home, DaVinci Roofscapes offers several tools to help, starting with color from the top down. For homeowners this allows you to work in the following sequence when choosing a color for your home: roof, siding, windows, front door, trim and then garage doors. When choosing shake roofing for commercial buildings, factors that come into play range from neighborhood, function, pre-approved color palettes and logos that will be used on the building. When these are carefully assessed you eventually choose color blends that will genuinely make a difference in your architecture.

Be sure to read some of our customer stories to see how our proprietary VariBlend technology exceeds color expectations and put smiles on many faces.

 

As mentioned in an earlier blog, we will be exhibiting our polymer slate and shake roof tiles at the American Institute of Architects show in Denver June 20-22nd. Swing by booth #1764 to have all your questions answered, obtain literature and view and order samples. If you need a free exhibit only pass, email me at mstone@davinciroofscapes.com.

When it comes to hail damage, we usually think about our vehicles first.  But another common item damaged by hail is your roof. Therefore, if you live in a hail prone area, it is best to look for a roofing product that can withstand the impact hail can bring. At the same time, if you find a roofing product that has a Class 4 Impact rating, your roof may qualify for discounts on your homeowner's insurance premiums. Why? Because the insurance companies know that the product has been tested and therefore is less likely to need replaced.

Recently homeowners in Nichols Hill, OK choose to redo their roof with our lightweight roofing materials that are Class 4 Impact rated. Looks pretty good! Another homeowner whose roof was demolished by "Tennis Balls of Ice" selected DaVinci Slate to protect his home.

Whether you're looking to get a new roof or you need to replace a hail damaged roof, you might be interested in checking out our lightweight tiles.

Wondering how the Class 4 impact test is executed? Check out this video below to see a simulated version of the test:

You might also enjoy this video of Mark Clement, home remodeling expert and contractor from MyFixitUpLife, as he takes a hammer to our shingles!

Your roof protects you from the elements and also from allowing any object to get inside your home. When it is damaged you run the risk of leaks, structural failure, and a whole list of other issues. Storm damage is one of the top causes of roof damage, and the impact rating of the material on your roof will determine just how resistant it is to hail and debris. A Class 4 Impact Rating is the highest on the market and products with this classification will give you more comfort and peace of mind for longer periods of time.

DaVinci products are engineered to withstand impact so that you do not have to worry as much about hail, falling debris, or any other external force. With our manufactured slate and composite shake, you get a Class 4 impact rating, can select the color you prefer (even get a personal color recommendation from our color expert), and most importantly you have peace of mind.

Depending on your insurance company, using a Class 4 Impact rated product may reduce your home insurance costs. If you live in an area that is prone to inclement weather that causes flying debris, wind and hail, talk to your insurance provider about the discounts that are available. Additionally, installing high-quality products on your roof will increase resale value and add a personal touch to curb appeal.

So you've made the decision to replace your roof, or perhaps you are building a new home. Whatever the case, whether it's your first time or fifth time installing a new roof on your home or business, it's important to know what questions are imperative to be asking of the contractor that is going to install the roof:

• How long have you been installing roofs?


• Do you use your own crews or do you sub out?


• Do you have installations in the area that I can look at to see your work?


• Do you have a list of references?


• Are you licensed, bonded and insured?


• May I see your proof of insurance?

Other questions that might be important to ask will vary based on where you live - what sort of regulations your city or homeowner's association puts on roofing/re-roofing or contractors in general. An experienced roofing contractor is also going to know what fake slate or composite shake is allowed in your area - and if they don't know for sure, they will know to check with the city and/or HOA to avoid installing anything not allowed. It is important to get bids from at least three contractors and from there you can determine what to do next. For example, you might be wanting to look into green roofing systems and there might be only a handful of contractors in your area that are experienced with this type of roof installation.

You might also find out who neighbors, family and friends used to install the roof on their home or business and see how they liked their experience with the company or that individual.

Over the years our clients have been giving us the thumbs up about our products. We love getting their feedback and continually work to make our products the best in the industry. We’ve selected some key points from some testimonials to give you an inside peek into how our products change lives and leave many people smiling. We also provided a ‘how it works” section to make it easier for you to understand our products and the points mentioned in the testimonial.

Client: The Alsmillers
Location: Ft. Worth Texas
Key testimonial points: “….durability and appearance…” “…Light Grey custom blend…” Read full testimonial
How it Works: The durability and appearance of our products are intrinsically tied with technology and science. Each slate and shake we design is engineered with 100% pure virgin resins and offers a 50-year warranty. You can choose from our palettes or provide your own color preference to get the color and appearance you prefer.

Client: B. Gale
Location: Whittier, CA
Key testimonial points: “…tired of breaking concrete tiles”, “…lightweight makes up for additional weight of solar panels…”, “association does not allow asphalt shingles…needed something that looks like tiles…” Read full testimonial
How it works:  Concrete tiles are heavy and can break easily when load is applied. This makes it difficult for homeowners and business owners to maintain and install solar panels because of the extra weight of the panels and fragility of the tiles. DaVinci Roofscapes lightweight roofing tiles are easy to install and imitate the look of tiles. Our products are accepted by a wide variety of building associations so installing them should be hassle free. Furthermore, you can install solar panels on them and make your building even more energy efficient with the green characteristics of our tiles.

Need to renovate or are you considering constructing a new building? DaVinci has a varied line of products that will suite your project needs and give leave you with a beautiful designer roof.

Do you have a DaVinci roof?  Tell us about it and we might post it here on our blog!
 

So you have an old shake roof and you love the look of it, but it has started to fail and you need to replace it. Or wait, you love the look of shake and have always wanted a shake roof, but don't see how it can be practical these days. Not a problem. DaVinci has the answer for you. Our cedar shake alternative is a roofing tile that is made from a polymer.

Here are some of the things that you will love about our composite shake product compared to it's natural counterpart:

• You don't have to worry about your polymer shake fading to an unrecognizable color where natural shake can fade to a number of different colors. As well, DaVinci shake products come in several different color blends so that it looks authentic and the color you buy is the color that will be on your house for years to come!

• Fire retardance in natural shake isn't always the best. Coupled with the right underlayment, our shake products have a Class A fire rating.

• Freeze and thaw cycles can do a number on natural shake - much like it can do to your trees. However, with DaVinci Shake, you don't run into problems with freeze and thaw cycles, as our products are impervious to freeze/thaw cycles.

• Hail resistance in natural shake only lasts for a short amount of time before the shakes become brittle from weather cycles. DaVinci tiles offer a Class 4 Impact rating.

Are you interested in a DaVinci cedar shake roof?  How can we help?

Did you know that the month of May is Home Improvement Month? Warm weather, bright sunshine and time outdoors means it's time to brighten up your exterior for the summer.

Do you have any projects planned to improve your home this month, or even this year?

Have you considered a new roof? Whether you need to replace a roof because of storm damage or you just have an old roof that needs replacing, you might consider DaVinci's lightweight roofing materials as an option.

When it comes to DaVinci you have several green roofing options:

• DaVinci Slate - This is our original slate - it comes in 5 different widths and you can choose whichever color blend fits your fancy.
• DaVinci Shake - This is our original shake - it comes in 5 different widths too and a number of color blends to fit your tastes.
• DaVinci Fancy Shake - Our Fancy Shake has a more sawn appearance rather than a the hand split look.  It comes in 3 different widths.
• Single-width Valoré Slate - As the name suggests - this is a single width shingle of our popular Slate.
• Single-width Valoré Shake - As the name suggests - this is a single width shingle of our popular Shake.
• Bellaforté Slate and Shake- Our newest line of DaVinci products is our Bellaforté - they are interlocking tiles that look like their natural counterparts - in this case, Slate and Shake.

What DaVinci roof profile do you fancy?  Tell us about your home improvement projects this year in the comments below!

As a homeowner you are heavily vested in keeping your home beautiful and increasing its market value for an eventual sale. Often, special attention is paid to curb appeal by investing in the right materials, the right colors, and spending a lot of time to enhance the exterior of your home. But how do you know which products to choose to add that value to your home? This is a challenge most homeowners face because the different features of products on the market are often times confusing and hard to follow and understand. DaVinci Roofscapes polymer roofing simplifies the whole process!

We manufacture an easy to install luxury roof system that adds value to your home.  Our slate and shake products include single-width Valoré, multi-width DaVinci and Bellaforté profiles. There are 49 standard colors and multiple color blends to get your preferred eco-friendly roof. Simply put, the sky is the limit with your imagination when it comes to our roofing product.

Can’t find the roof color you want? No problem! Our color specialist, Kate Smith, will simplify the whole process for you by using the revolutionary FRESH approach to select the best color for your needs. This is a simple five step process where key fixed features, regional colors, environment and surrounding, style of home and have-to-use colors are carefully analyzed to choose the best hues.  

We also have an online color selection tool to mix and blend your preferred colors. And finally, contact one of our Project Specialists to help you find a qualified contractor and get additional assistance in creating your Masterpiece!  
 

Are you a building or design professional in need of a continuing education credit? Look no further! We have two courses available 24/7 and free to take at your leisure.

The FRESH Approach to Choosing Exterior Colors

The course provides an overview of the FRESH Approach, as laid out by Color Expert Kate Smith. The 1 hour course gives designers a strategic method used for the selection of colors for the exterior of buildings. The course focuses on both residential and commercial design considerations, and details the steps to follow in the color selection process to achieve a harmonious design. It is worth 1 HSW credit.

The Design Advantages of Synthetic Roofing Solutions

The more technical of the two courses, this course provides an overview of the features and benefits of slate and shake synthetic roofing products, including a discussion on the testing methods used to rate specific performance characteristics. It is worth 1 Sustainable Design (SD) credit.

Happy learning (and Happy Friday), Architects!

Exorbitant roof maintenance costs can really dig a hole in your bank account. Added to this is the worry and stress of knowing that your roof may not be giving you the protection it should.

You won’t have this problem with DaVinci polymer roof tiles and here’s why:

• Durable: Backed with a 50-year warranty and made from a high grade polymer, your roof will stand the test of time. As well,  you certainly won’t need to worry about roof hail damage with our Class 4 impact rating. Designed to resist winds of up to 110mph, your roof will stand up to harsh weather conditions without showing glaring signs of wear and tear.

• Eco-friendly: DaVinci polymer roof tiles are 100% recyclable and are available in Cool Roof colors to boost energy efficiency.

• Insect Resistant: Unlike wood that cannot withstand insect attacks, our Multi-Width, Fancy, Bellaforté and Valoré tiles do not rot and are not susceptible to insects.

• Fire Resistant: With a Class A fire rating, your roof will safely resist fires without causing harm.

Not to mention a few added bonuses:

• Beautiful: Yes, they are pretty to look at! Our roofs will complement all the fixtures and fittings of your home or building without being burdensome on the structure. They blend well in any community setting whether with modern or older architecture.

• Flexible Coloring: We have 49 standard colors and also give you the option to send us your own color. This makes it easy to align your decor, building or renovation plans with what works best for you.

• Easy to Install: With our easy to follow installation guides, any professional roofer can install DaVinci tiles.

DaVinci takes pride in our composite roofing products and we're confident with our roofing tiles many features, you really can’t go wrong .
 

If you're a roofing installer and think you've seen it all and tackled the craziest jobs imaginable, then visit Europe!

While on a recent trip, I took these pictures of some very unique roofing projects that I wouldn't have wanted to be involved with. From onion-shaped domes to an all-roof barn in Holland, these projects make me very glad for simple, everyday roofing projects.

While my inclination was to start tearing apart the tar paper and wood board roofs (coated in green algae) I saw by the waterside, calmer heads prevailed and I simply took these pictures ... happy the entire time that when I got home to my polymer Bellaforté Slate roof in the United States I'd be certain to find no algae and no headaches!

If you watch the news, then no doubt you have seen the horrific images of wild fires terrorizing people's homes in California recently. Unfortunately, it seems like every year we see such images from more and more.

If you live in a wild fire prone area, then you might be interested in finding a roofing product that has a great fire rating, like a DaVinci roof.

If you like the look of shake, for example, but know that wood is probably not one of the smarter materials to put on your home because of where you live, you might be interested in our cedar shake alternative. Made to look like the natural version of wood shakes or shingles, our shake product is not made of wood at all. In fact, it is completely made out of 100% virgin polymer or a plastic.

In the video below you can see a 15-year old cedar shake roof deck tested to Class A Fire Test standards against DaVinci Roofscapes synthetic hand-split shake.

Our shake product isn't our only product that has these kinds of results - if the slate look is more your thing, then you'll love our imitation slate tiles that also have the same fire rating.

What are some of your concerns when it comes to wild fire season and your roof?  Please feel free to leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts.