Testing Certifications

Hurricanes are a real concern for anyone who lives near the ocean in the Southeast United States. Those massive, churning storms can cause flooding, create tragedies, and literally tear down structures with their powerful, gale force winds. When a hurricane hits your area, you are at the mercy of the elements. Nevertheless, you can up the odds in your favor if you have a strong, solid roof. The reason for this is because the roof acts like armor in helping to protect the structure of your home or business from high winds that hurl debris and threaten to peel off roof tiles. Of course, you have to use the right sort of roofing materials to keep the armor intact.

DaVinci composite roofing tiles do a great job protecting your home against hurrican force winds. On many roof  types, tiles engineered by DaVinci Roofscapes are rated to withstand Class 5 Hurricane Zone Force winds and a Class 4 impact rating. The importance of having a roof that can withstand high winds is especially important because it only takes a few tiles getting blown off to dramatically weaken the rest of the roof. Those holes provide routes for high winds to enter and possibly tear off the rest of the roof.

Contact DaVinci Roofscapes by email or calling 1-800-328-4624 to learn more about the durability and beauty of DaVinci roof tiles.

Fire resistance, wherever you live, is always an important thing to consider when it comes to the roofing product that you are going to choose for your home or building. However, there are certain areas of the United States (and all around the world for that matter) where wild fires can pose a serious problem.

As a result, while others might be searching for wind resistance or impact resistance,  you might be curious about the fire resistance in our shingles.

Here's a breakdown of the fire resistance certifications for both our polymer slate roof systems and cedar shake alternative roof systems:

SLATE

• Multi-Width - Class A - ASTM E 108 with one layer 30# ASTM D 226
• Single-Width Valoré - Class A - ASTM E 108 with one layer 30# ASTM D 226
• Bellaforté - Class A - ASTM E 108 with two layers Fontana VulcaSeal G-40

SHAKE

• Multi-Width - Class A - ASTM E 108 with one layer Fontana VulcaSeal G-40
• Single-Width Valoré - Class A - ASTM E 108 with one layer Fontana VulcaSeal G-40
• Fancy Shake - Class A - ASTM E 108 with one layer of Fontana VulcaSeal G-40

Below is a photo of the burning brand test done on our synthetic slate shingles, you can see a photo of the burning brand test done on our cedar roof shingles and learn more about the burning brand test on this blog -  Class A Fire Rating by Tim Gentry.

You can see more videos that display the longevity and durability of our products on our YouTube channel.

* See DaVinci Installation Instructions for details.

You might have already read our Interview with Shawn Bellis of Epic Exteriors about DaVinci Roofscapes.  When I was interviewing Shawn, he kept comparing DaVinci to metal roofing, so I asked him if he would be game for talking about the metal roofing and DaVinci.  I was excited to learn about the differences from an an installer's point of view.  Please enjoy the interview below and let me know if you have any questions or comments by leaving a comment in the box below.

What is metal roofing like?  Is it a piece by piece application or does it come in sheets like asphalt?

Metal roofing usually comes in a 4 ft panel. There are different types of panels, including some that are ribbed on the back so that they are walkable.

The different types of panels are:

• Standing seam metal roofs,  which are usually used on commercial jobs and some rural homes. 

• Stone coated steel roofs. These are are compared to DaVinci the most because they are the same price point. A number of companies make stone coated steel roofs therefore there are a variety of different products - some that can be installed directly to the deck and others that have to be installed a batten. There are also those that look like an individual shingle that have to be applied to a solid deck with collapsible hinges.

What are some of the issues you've had as a roofer with metal roofs?

• Metal roofs are prone to cosmetic damage (whether they are standing seam metal roofs or stone coated steel roofs). While a 2 inch hail ball will not penetrate through the panel, it will still leave severe cosmetic damage.  So metal roofing manufacturers have hail damage/hail penetration warranties and in fact, some homeowner insurance companies make you sign a cosmetic waiver in order to get the discount for using metal as a Class 4 impact rated roof.

In other words, there is a big difference between a functional warranty and a cosmetic warranty.

• Walkability. Not all are are walkable.  If the metal is not walkable, then it is susceptible to denting upon installation.

• Repairability - It's tough to repair metal roofs because the ability to match the existing metal 5-10 years down the road is very hard.

• Maintenance is expected/required.  They used to, and sometimes still do, put metal roofs on top of 15-20 year old shake roofs. A natural shake roof is a breeding ground for mold, mildew, insects and you make that worse by covering it up with metal. By putting metal on top of shake you haven't eliminated your fire hazard.  In fact, I have spoken to fire fighters about roofs because when a house is on fire, one of the things they typically do is cut a hole in the roof to allow the smoke to escape. They really don't like metal roofs because cutting a hole is very difficult in the metal.

As far as performance is concerned, how do metal roofs stand up?

They are Class A fire rated with the right underlayment. You would have to check with your local municipality in order to know the exact requirements.

They can be Class 4 impact resistant, but again, that's only a functional Class 4, not a cosmetic one.

Freeze/Thaw Resistant - Yes

Maintenance Free - No

Color Fade Resistant  - Yes, unless no repairs are needed.

Lightweight - Yes.

_______

When it comes to lightweight roofing solutions, metal roofing and DaVinci are some of your best options.  However, Shawn prefers to install DaVinci over metal roofing because DaVinci has freeze/thaw resistance, color fade resistance, Class 4 impact resistance,  and Class A fire rating.  As well, DaVinci's green roofing options don't have maintenance expectations or requirements, nor do they have the issues with cosmetic damage that metal has.  Of course, Shawn also prefers the look of DaVinci and all the great colors that are available - so that if you have a repair or add onto your home, it is easy to match the roof many years later.

What are some of your questions about DaVinci vs. Metal Roofing?

House fires have been a threat that people have faced since the construction of the first wooden abodes. It's probably part of the reason why stonework and adobe were used to build structures in many parts of the world and why flame retardants and fire-resistant materials continue to be a big part of the chemical industry. Although wooden homes and houses that had cedar shake roofs in the past were subject to fires, regulations and fire rating systems during modern times help to decrease the chance that a home will easily ignite into flames.

The fire ratings given for roofing materials include:

• Class A: This is the highest fire rating and the one attained by DaVinci Roofscapes products. Roofs that achieve this rating can withstand significant fire test exposure and can afford a high degree of protection to the roof deck
• Class B: Roofs of this rating are only effective against moderate fire exposure.
• Class C: Will afford a low degree of fire protection to the roof deck 
• Unrated: A roof covering that may offer very little protection to the roof deck and may produce flying brands.

To learn more about the benefits of fire resistant products from DaVinci, email or call us at 1-800-328-4624 today.

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

 

 

 

Recently, I sat down to talk with Shawn Bellis of Epic Exteriors in Kansas City to ask him about his experience as a Masterpiece Contractor and installing DaVinci products.

Thank you to Shawn for taking the time to do this interview. These interviews allow us to learn more about the installation side of our products and gain insight from the contractors that work with the home and building owners.

How'd you first discover DaVinci?

I discovered DaVinci through a contractor trade show in 2000. What caught my eye was the thickness of the product. Everyone likes the idea of a synthetic product because of durability - but when the thickness of DaVinci came out - it really met the expectations of the customer.

Also, DaVinci solved all the issues that we had with other products. The previous products had to be pre-blended and pre-collated. It was a mess and super time consuming.

I love that with DaVinci the factory does the collating and sorting - at the time I discovered it, and still today, it just blew everything else away. It also helped that it was local.

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

All of the above and being local!  When your sole business is synthetic, like DaVinci and unlike other roofing manufacturers, you can really focus on making it the best product on the market by solving all the issues that the other products have. DaVinci is the best product.

As asphalt products continue to go up in price, it makes the sale of the DaVinci all the easier. In fact, I think that Bellaforté is going to make the asphalt market merge into the synthetic. 

When it comes to the color blends, there is nothing better. DaVinci has simplified the color collation process for the contractor. With other synthetic products, the contractor has to work with the homeowner and figure it out  how to collate the product, and sometimes that takes forever. Furthermore, with other roofing products, when you do have to pre-blend and sort the roof, it takes a lot of extra time on the job site too. 

I appreciate the care and service that is put into the delivery of the DaVinci product. The product collation and how it is shipped is all done with care.  

When it comes to the color blends, I love the selection. I'm not interested in being a designer and neither is the homeowner. I say leave the color stuff to the professionals at DaVinci, they are the experts at the color blends. If you start to complicate it then the job drags on. By streamlining the process for the homeowner, DaVinci gives the homeowner the right amount of choices.

I also love that it is Class A fire rated and the thickness of the material.

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

They love the way it looks.  Some people think that a DaVinci roof is a finishing touch to their home. In other words, DaVinci makes their home look they want it to look.

Why do you like DaVinci? 

They have the most authentic slate appearance among the synthetic varieties.  Other things I like about DaVinci include:

• Pre collated bundles
• Color blends already decided
• Ease of installation
• Final look and appearance
• Being local - we take advantage of DaVinci's recycling effort frequently.

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

Yes, homeowners who are looking for the least expensive route. Homeowners that are going to move, sometimes don't want to spend the money, but that really depends on the price point of the home.  There are homeowners that know DaVinci will help sell their home, so they go for it.

What DaVinci products have you worked with? 

Valoré and Classic in both Slate and Shake.  I've been to jobs and seen Bellaforté go on, but have not worked with the product yet.  I really like the multi-width product.  I don't see a difference between if the multi-width is laid straight or staggered, it just depends on the look of the house.  The staggered application is more expensive, so homeowners tend to go with the straight for pricing purposes.

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

I like the multi width the best.  I like the Mountain and Tahoe in the Shake color blends and the Aberdeen and Weathered Green in the slate color blends. Aberdeen is really period authentic - it most encompasses the turn of the century slate roof. In fact, I refer to Aberdeen as the pinnacle DaVinci application.

What other roofing products do you install?

Custom wood shakes, high-end custom asphalt re-decks.  All the traditional roof styles that you can think of.  We pride ourselves on premium applications. 

How long have you been in the roofing  business? 

17 years

Do you have a favorite DaVinci job? 

My favorite DaVinci job is a DaVinci Shake job we did in Overland Park, KS – the whole job just came together great and looks awesome on thes home! Many people have drooled over the look of the roof.  It's in a neighborhood that has all natural shake, so it keeps up with the look of the area.

The homeowner is an engineer and he has American Family Insurance - which is part of the reason he went with DaVinci. American Family said that if he went with a Class 4 impact rated roof, he could waive his deductible. 

I often say that I want a brick house because it's the one that the Big Bad Wolf in the story of the Three Little Pigs could never huff and puff and blow down.  So, for me, when it comes to a building, I'm looking for the ultimate protection.  When it comes to my roof, I expect the same.  That's why I love not only the durability, but also the longevity of our lightweight roofing systems.

Just talk to Tim Gentry, who has been with our company since day one. He can tell you about some of the rigorous tests our tiles have endured from outside testing agencies to ensure they comply with building codes and industry standards and certifications.

Here are some of the reasons why DaVinci lightweight roofing solutions are durable and long lasting:

• Impact resistance (Class 4)
• Fire retardance (class A)
• ICC-ES certification, which is the United States' leader in evaluating building products for compliance to code
• Superior wind resistance

To top it all off, all DaVinci products are backed by our 50-Year Warranty.  So when it comes to choosing a roof to keep the Big Bad Wolf out, I'd have to choose a DaVinci roof (and I did!).

Do you have a DaVinci roof?  Has it stood up to the extremes that weather can bring?  What were some of your reasons for wanting to buy DaVinci?  Please share your story with us.

Do you have questions about our products that we can answer?  Please contact us through e-mail or by phone toll free 1-800-DaVinci (800-328-4624).

Wondering what a Class C Fire rating means?  Me too. I mean, I have always known that the majority of DaVinci Roofscapes products are Class A fire rated (just a few of our lightweight roofing solutions need the appropriate underlying fire barrier to achieve the Class A assembly), but I wonder what Class C means.  So I decided to look it up for you and share what I found.

When it comes to roofing products, there are standard testing methods for fire tests of roof coverings. We often use ASTM standards.

According to ASTM's website, "1.2.3 Class C Tests are applicable to roof coverings that are effective against light test exposure, afford a light degree of fire protection to the roof deck, do not slip from position, and do not present a flying brand hazard."

The (A, B, or C) class rating given to roofing products that have been tested are named after the size of the "burning brand" that is placed on the roof during the fire test.

The Burning Brand Sizes Are:

• Class C - 1" x 1" Burning Brand
• Class B - 6" x 6" Burning Brand
• Class A - 12" x 12" Burning Brand

The brand is first lit exposing each edge and face to the flame for 30 seconds.  Want to see what that looks like?  You can check them out in the video below:

To achieve the above ratings, the burning brand cannot burn through the bottom of the deck and the heat transfer cannot be enough to result in ignition on the other side of the deck. If those two things do happen then the roof covering or assembly (roof covering and underlayments) fails the test. If they fail the test, then they do not get a rating.

Do you have one of our Class A fire rated roofs?  We want to see a photo of it!  Please feel free to share your story here.
 

I have a confession.  I love the blog posts that Tim Gentry writes on our blog.  Why?

Well, for one, you've gotta know Tim Gentry.  He's delightful, smart and funny.  So when he writes a blog post like, Baby it's Cold Outside, you want to read it.

You can also pretty much guarantee that by reading Tim Gentry's blog posts that you will learn something about roofing that you didn't know.  He is great about including images that help explain what he is writing about.

For example, check out this post on Ice Dams.
As a second generation roofer, Tim Gentry is well versed on every kind of roof - not only our lightweight roofing solutions.  So we have an advantage in that he can look at roofs from a more educated position.

He also has been long in charge of our product testing for certifications, so he knows a lot about the capability of our shingles.  Here's an example of his expertise, Class A Fire Rating.

You've also gotta love his ingenuity and ability to make our product more efficient and workable and therefore, giving roofers everywhere more green roofing options.  Check out what he does to save on waste in his blog post, Installing DaVinci Tiles With No Waste.

Do you have a question or inquiry for Tim Gentry?  Feel free to reach out to him or a member of our technical team through this on-line form.

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.

As we say goodbye to 2011, we thought everyone may enjoy looking back on our reader's favorite articles for this past year. From learning more about our Class A fire rating to choosing the best roof colors for your roof, there is plenty of information in these pages to help our customers better understand the strength, durability and beauty of DaVinci roof tiles.

Class Ratings for Roofs – this post discussed the differences between Class A and C fire ratings and offered a video to visually show the difference between the fire resistance of DaVinci Shake and natural 15 year old cedar shakes.

Finding Front Door Colors – our readers learned how front door colors can complement roof color choices.

Roof Colors for Brick Homes – plenty of pictures of bricks and tile roof color combinations.

What Class Impact Rating Means – explains the meaning of Class 4 impact ratings and includes demonstration video of impact testing on our designer roof products.

Red Brick Houses with Synthetic Slate – Our fifth favorite of 2011 further illustrates the brick and slate color combinations that truly make buildings stand out from the rest.

If you live in a seasonal climate, and still want your investment to last the test of time, you need to take into consideration several factors that will ensure your roof is in fact a 50 year roof.  Here we offer some useful tips on ensuring a brand new designer roof looks designer for a lifetime.

1.  Both freeze and thaw issues can be a factor in roof durability, as can extreme heat.  Our lightweight tiles are intended to combat both issues.  Freezing and thawing issues in roof tiles occur when the material absorbs water which then freezes as the temps go down. This results in cracking or palling.  You can avoid this by using tiles that do not absorb any water in cold temps, thus eliminating the freeze thaw problem entirely.  Our products will perform well in the most extreme heat and are accompanied by one of the best warranties around.

2.  Roofing materials should undergo adequate testing to ensure all of these things are adhered to.  At DaVinci, our products are tested extensively to ensure they exceed or comply with industry standards and certifications.  Even better, you will love the impact resistance and fire retardance standards that ensure our tiles perform well under the most extreme conditions.

Building roofs are rated for fire resistance based on accepted standards defined by the ASTM E 108 Standard.

Fire resistance testing for tile roofs involves checking how the material responds to intermittent flame, spreading of flame and burning brand ignition. These three testing methods confer an ASTM E 108 rating of either A, B or C based on the performance of a tile assembly. .

The three classes are defined as:

• Class A fire rating – The best rating for roofing. It means that the material is able to withstand heavy exposure to fire from sources outside of the building.
• Class B fire rating – The roof material can withstand moderate fire exposure from source origins outside of the building.
• Class C fire rating – Roofing tiles or shingles rated C are only able to withstand very light exposure to fire sources originating from outside a building.

When choosing from all available roofing materials on the market today, property owners and contractors should always choose the highest rating available. All DaVinci roofing tiles can be installed as part of a class A roofing assembly so you can rest assured that our tiles have met rigorous safety standards for protecting your investment. Learn more about how our tiles can protect your property by exploring our site and then submitting your questions online to our customer support team.

The weather this year has been exceptionally hot and arid throughout the Midwest and Southwest, and with drought conditions and fire bans, California, Texas, Oklahoma and other Southwestern states, has its eyes on keeping people ready and prepared for wildfires.

One of the most vulnerable elements of concern to homeowners enduring dry weather conditions is the roof on your family home. Protecting your investment with our Class A fire rated roofing tiles will help you rest a little easier and feel safer particularly if your home is in an area where the threat of fire is common.

Our environmentally friendly roof materials have been extensively tested for fire conditions. Basically, the roofing material is subjected to a battery of three tests to determine the level of fire resistance, and after undergoing these fire tests, our roofs received the highest classification available for fire testing standards, Class A.

The following video compares a 15 year old cedar shake roof with our simulated shake roofing. The results speak for themselves as far as the roof’s ability to help protect your home and property.



In addition to its fire resistance, each of our roofs has scored highly on impact and wind tests as well. With a variety of slate and shake tiles available, there is a color and style to fit your home and help keep you rest assured that the materials you place on your roof are built to last and protect your home for many years to come.

Contact us to learn more, and be sure to visit our Facebook and Twitter page to keep in touch with our latest updates.
 

Fire ratings for roofs are developed by various organizations to measure the fire resistance of roofing materials. Two of these groups, the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and ASTM, create fire standards to give the general public a better understanding of what they can expect from the performance of their roofs should any type of spark, flame or fire reach their building.

The primary standard of these testing procedures for the UL790/ASTM E 108 standard is based on fires that are generated on a building from an external cause. Class A, B and C are all ratings that categorize a roof as resistant to fire and not expected to ignite from a spark or flame. The highest form of protection is the Class A fire rating. Class B is rated moderate and Class C fire rating is the lightest fire protection.

The most desired fire rating for any roof is Class A and is most often the required standard rating for complying with building ordinances and codes. The ASTM fire standard procedures further evaluate for burning, resistance and combustion of materials. In many cases, building codes and ordinances as well as insurance regulations require the use of Class A fire rated materials in order to pass code and actually be insurable for home and commercial insurance coverage.

Our lightweight roofing materials have received the highest Class A fire rating. Their high quality is evident in the virgin copolymer resins that form the roofing tiles as well as their high test ratings for impact, hail, freezing and wind. See our site to learn more about how our roofing tiles will protect and enhance your building’s rooftop.

Hurricane season officially lasts from June 1st to November 30th of each year, and areas of the country that experience the brunt of these volatile storms learn very quickly to stay vigilant and prepared for the sometimes devastating effects of these severe weather conditions.

For those who want to weather these storms with the least amount of damage, it is important to safeguard your surroundings and take steps to protect it from injury prior to hurricane season.  Areas of particular concern for every homeowner are the walls, windows and roof of their homes. Wind and rain can make quick work of blowing out windows, damaging exterior walls and shingle roofs. Often people who live in hurricane prone areas will find shingles all over the yard after a strong storm.

We can help prevent the typical damage associated with these storms with our lightweight roofing solutions that are rated Class 4 for impact tests and wind certified to 110 miles per hour. When hurricanes hit, they often blow objects that hit windows, doors and roofing.  Additionally, severe thunderstorms often found in these same areas during different seasons will produce hail storms in addition to heavy rain.

Our slate and cedar shake alternative tiles are built to help resist roof hail damage and the impact of blown objects. To see for yourself how high winds and debris can destroy basic roofs, this video demonstrates an asphalt roof under heavy wind as well as how our roofing materials withstand and avoid damage associated with strong winds.

What does a class A fire rating mean on a roofing product mean? It means that the roof covering has undergone extensive fire testing using the ASTM E 108 test standard at the Class A level. Class A is the best classification available.

For polymer roof coverings there are three tests.

1. Intermittent Flame - an assembly of tiles is subjected to an intense flame for two minutes then turned off for two minutes. This is cycled 15 times to see if there is failure in the roof deck.

2.  Spread of Flame -  flame and air current are applied for 10 consecutive minutes and then checked for failure. 

3. Burning Brand - This is my personal favorite...not that I liked starting fires as a child. In this test, a burning brand is placed on an assembly of roofing tiles with a high volume of wind behind it. The decking of the assembly is constantly monitored for 90 minutes to see if any fire burns through.  If fire burns through the roof deck anytime during the 90 minute trial, the tiles fail.  Below are pictures of DaVinci's Class A Fire rated slate and simulated shake roofing. DaVinci tiles PASS these tests with flying colors. 

Have you ever given time to the fact that the only thing separating everything in your house from external (often destructive) elements is the roof that covers it? In the case of a hailstorm or a tornado, the first thing to go is a roof and the rest of the damage just follows.

In the video below, the first part shows the typical response of roofing tiles to high velocity winds. They get blown clean off the roof, thus exposing the interior of your house to the mercy of the winds. The second part of the video tests the response of DaVinci Roofscapes’ Bellaforté slate shingles to the same velocity of wind – and the shingles stand firm.

The reason why our Bellaforté synthetic slate lightweight roofing tiles stay put in the face of winds of high velocity is that they are installed in a manner that allows individual shingles to hold each other in place. Also, the shingles are installed such that they stay fixed in their location and do not give way.

Our products have been tested and proven to have the capacity to withstand winds of high velocities according to ASTM standards, as well as, Miami Dade. To get a better feel of the kind of protection you can expect when you install our slate roof tiles, watch the video.


If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Whether you've lived through a hurricane or through a tornado or just have seen the horrifying images on your television screen, you may be looking for a roofing product that can handle abnormal amounts of wind.

We subject our tiles to some crazy tests - like fire tests, impact tests and wind tests. These tests are ones that are established to simulate natural weather conditions that can be found not only in the United States, but also around the world.

When it comes to wind, our Bellaforté is hands down one of the best lightweight roofing systems on the market for handling hurricane-like force winds.

According to the Fujita Scale, tornado wind speeds can range:

• F0 or a Gale Tornado - 40-72 mph winds
• F1 or a Moderate Tornado - 73-112 mph
• F2 or a Significant Tornado - 113-157 mph
• F3 or a Severe Tornado - 158-206 mph

Our Bellaforté has been tested to handle Force Winds up to 175 mph.
 
The secret to its madness is its inter-locking system where one tile actually locks into the other tile. So in other words, to the human eye, your roof will look like it is made of individual tiles (and it is!) but what happens is that when they are all linked together - they become a force not to be messed with!

So even though they are lightweight roofing tiles, the way they are designed helps them perform as well as, if not better than tiles three times their weight!

Have you checked out our Bellaforté tiles? How did you like them? Did you think the interlocking mechanism was neat?

Whether you live in a forest fire prone area or if you just want to be sure that you have the best fire rated roof, then our lightweight roofing materials might be up your alley.

All of our shingle systems are rated Class A in the ASTM fire standard test.  Here is a video from our YouTube Channel that replicates the Class A Burning Brand Test and what the shingles endure in order to pass the test:



Thanks to ABC 15 in Phoenix for featuring our DaVinci Shake and showing what might happen when falling embers land on your roof:



All the technical specifications of our products can be found on our website - you might love our great impact ratings as well as wind resistance ratings.

Would you like to learn more about our Class A fire rating and what it means?  You can get in touch with a member of our customer service team and they can help answer any inquiries that you might have.

Join us socially on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Looking to learn more about our products?  You might be interested in our Bellaforté Sales Webinars.