DaVinci Roofscapes

The Beauty of Imitation Slate on Open Valley Roofs

Watson Dean — Sun, 27 May 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Roof valleys can be open or closed. The closed variety is where the tiles of two slopes meet whereas an open valley has a strip of metal flashing where the two slopes meet. If installed correctly, both types of valleys will work fine at keeping moisture on the outside of the roof and look beautiful at the same time. Much of that beauty comes from the types of roof tiles that are used. For example, if you use cheap roofing tiles that come in just one color blend, you probably aren't going to come up with the prettiest roof on the block.

Natural slate and wooden products can look fantastic, but they come with their own set of disadvantages and might not provide the colors you are looking for. In addition, to get those color blends, you are going to have to spend a huge amount of time just sorting through them. However, use polymer tiles made by DaVinci and you won't have to waste precious hours of your time in your search for the right color combination. Every open valley is going to look gorgeous because bundles of DaVinci tiles come in pre-sorted color blends.

To learn more about how DaVinci Roofscapes products can beautify and protect your home, contact DaVinci Roofscapes by email or calling 1-800-328-4624 today.

What colors are in the Weathered Gray and Castle Gray color blends?

Color Advice — Sat, 26 May 2012 16:30:00 +0000

Hi David,

Thanks for your question! Here are the colors in the blends you requested:

Weathered Gray: Light Weathered Gray, Medium Light Weathered Gray, Medium Weathered Gray, Medium Dark Weathered Gray, Dark Weathered Gray
Castle Gray: Light Gray, Medium Gray, Dark Gray

If you find that you need additional color help, please contact our Project Specialist, Katie Wheeler, at 800-328-4624 or kwheeler@davinciroofscapes.com.

Regards,

The DaVinci Roofscapes Team

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What specific colors and mix are used to make up the standard:

1.) Weathered gray blend

2.) Castle gray blend

Name: David from Rochester, NY
Product: Multi Width slate & shake

Composite Shake Profiles for Every Home and Business

Watson Dean — Sat, 26 May 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Shake is a classic, beautiful roofing material but the natural, wooden variety comes with a multiple drawbacks like catching fire, becoming warped by freeze and thaw cycles, or blowing off. Fortunately, when you use polymer shake engineered by DaVinci Roofscapes, you don't have to worry about those drawbacks. Just as beautiful as the wooden variety, DaVinci shake tiles are also a lot more versatile because they come in dozens of color combinations and three different profiles:

Single-Width Valoré: These tiles look so much like real shake split from cedar that no one will know the difference unless they actually touch them. They create a uniform look on the roof or siding, but come in beautiful shades of color that vary from tile to tile. They can also be combined to form dozens of color blends.
Multi-Width DaVinci Shake: Looking just as authentic as single-width Valoré, the multi-width shakes come in several sizes to create unique roofing tile patterns. The varying sizes mimic natural shakes that often come in more than one width due to the splitting process. Multi-width shake tiles can also be combined to form limitless color patterns.
Fancy Shake: These elegant, smooth tiles resemble machine-sawn shake but come in far more color patterns than natural wood.

To learn more about the benefits of these and other resin roof tiles, contact DaVinci Roofscapes by email or calling 1-800-328-4624 today.

What colors make up the Cambridge Blend?

Color Advice — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:18:50 +0000

Hi Kent,

Thanks for your question! The colors that are in the Cambridge blend are Light Brown, Medium Brown, Dark Stone, and Dark Tan.

If you find that you need additional color help, please contact our Project Specialist, Crystal, at 800-328-4624 or csmith@davinciroofscapes.com.

Regards,

The DaVinci Roofscapes Team

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We are trying to pick a color and have looked at the custom colors on the website and have a brochure. What colors are used in the Cambridge mix?

Name: Kent H. from Andover, KS
Product: Bellaforte

From the Architect's Corner - Restoring It to It's Original Glory!

Megan Stone — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:30:00 +0000

This week has been one call after another regarding church projects, which of course makes me do a happy dance because churches and slate go together like peanut butter and jelly! It is refreshing to hear so many congregations are looking to restore their churches to their original grandeur and I have been sending out anything from custom red slate samples to cool roof colors in our lightweight roofing systems.

Click here to read more about some recently completed church projects. Happy Memorial Day!

2012 Hurricane Season Weighs Heavy on Homeowner Minds

Kathy Ziprik — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:05:00 +0000

According to the 2011 DaVinci Roofscapes’ Homeowners Exterior Preferences Study conducted online by Harris Interactive©, 65 percent of homeowners who expect to replace their roofs in the future believe that severe weather will be the primary reason for them to replace their existing roofs. With the start of the 2012 Hurricane Season on June 1st, that need could be just days away.

“We’re forecasting a 60 percent chance of a tropical storm or hurricane making landfall during the 2012 Hurricane Season,” says Jill Hasling, certified consulting meteorologist and president of the Weather Research Center in Houston. “Homeowners along the Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Key West, Florida and along the Georgia to North Carolina coast should be especially vigilant this year in preparing for storms since these are the geographic areas we believe will see the most activity.”

For storm-weary coastal homeowners, the forecast from the Weather Research Center may be the incentive needed to replace their existing roofs before bad weather hits.

“The study results show that 97 percent of homeowners, who are expecting to replace their roof in the future, will be influenced in the purchase of their next roof by its ability to resist severe weather,” says Ray Rosewall, CEO and president of DaVinci Roofscapes®. “Considering people have so much invested in their homes, smart homeowners will make the investment in a new roof before severe weather hits in order to protect not just the home, but all the possessions and memories inside the home.

“The study results also show that 78 percent of homeowners who are expecting to replace their roof in the future are looking for durability and weatherability when investing in a new roof, so my question is, why wait until a storm severely damages the home and its contents? If you believe your roof is vulnerable, then now is the time to replace it, before hurricane season gets in full swing and top-tier roofing contractors are overwhelmed with reroofing projects.”

A Simple Guide to Matching Your Roofing to the Style of Your Home

Kate Smith — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:30:00 +0000

When selecting a color or polymer roofing profile for your home, you will want to make sure it matches the style of the home. It is important to remember that all of your colors and materials should support your home’s style and architecture, not vice versa.

In order to do this you don’t have to know every style of home. You just have to know the style of your home. These are some common styles found across the U.S.

Art Deco - Bungalow - Cape Cod - Colonial - Contemporary - Craftsman - Creole
Dutch Colonial - Federal - French Provincial - Georgian - Gothic Revival
Greek Revival - International - Italianate - Monterey - National - Neoclassical - Prairie
Pueblo - Queen Anne - Ranch - Regency - Saltbox - Second Empire - Shed - Shingle
Shotgun - Spanish Eclectic - Split Level - Stick - Tudor -Victorian

Taking time to learn a little bit about what materials and colors were historically used on the style of home can give you ideas for what will work on your home today. Here are three examples:

See how easy it is to let history inspire your choice of a lightweight roofing solutions today? Now it's your turn. Find the DaVinci Roofscapes polymer roof tile to give your home a classic style.

Not sure about color? Download copy of my free color guide FRESH Home Exterior Colors: 5 Steps for Finding the Perfect Hues for Your Home. This step-by-step guide shows you exactly what you need to know in order to create a cohesive look and achieve maximum curb appeal.

How Does Composite Shake Measure Up to the Real Thing

Watson Dean — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Shake is a beautiful roofing material. Hand split cedar shingles have been used on homes, churches, and other structures for hundreds of years. However, engineered versions of fake cedar shake have become popular due to the advantages they have over natural wooden shingles. The following is a comparison between DaVinci resin shake, the real thing, and other brands of the fake variety:

Fire resistance: This is the biggest difference between composite and wooden shake. The wooden version has little resistance to fire, whereas resin products have Class A fire resistance when installed with special underlayments.

Wasted product during installation: This is one of the biggest differences between DaVinci products and other types of shake. Very few tiles are wasted when using DaVinci shake because they come in multiple widths that make for less cutting and less waste. In the case of natural products and other brands, the lack of multiple widths results in a lot more tiles that need to be cut and discarded.

Color blends: Bundles of DaVinci products are carefully blended for beautiful, authentic color combinations. The natural version comes in beautiful colors as one might expect, but sorting has to be done at the job site. This is also the case for other imitation products which also come in only one color per blend.

To learn more about the benefits of DaVinci Roofscapes products, contact DaVinci Roofscapes by email or calling 1-800-328-4624 today.

Polymer Roof Tiles are a Roof’s Best Friend During Severe Weather

Watson Dean — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Severe weather can occur anywhere. It happens when that gentle rain pattering on your roof becomes a thunderous, frightening maelstrom of pounding water and hail. Snowfall becomes severe when it turns into a howling, snow-blinding blizzard that buries vehicles and makes walking to the corner store a dangerous adventure. Friendly breezes can be transformed into howling windstorms that knock down trees and bend and break natural roofing tiles. Worst case scenarios of severe weather can include tornados and floods. Fortunately, those are rare occurrences but high wind, pounding rain, and heavy snowfall are to be expected in many areas of the nation.

In protecting inhabitants from the elements, a roof is usually at the forefront in the fight against severe weather. That should come as no surprise since keeping a home or business safe from sun, heavy rain, snow, and hail is the main function of a roof. However, a roof can't keep the elements out on its own. It needs its own sort of protection and usually gets it in the form of roofing tiles. Use poor quality tiles and a roof is far less protected than one cloaked in beautiful polymer slate or shake. Designed to stand up to the elements, composite tiles engineered by DaVinci Roofscapes are waterproof, and have high impact and wind ratings.

To learn more about why DaVinci products are a roof's best friend, contact DaVinci Roofscapes by email or calling 1-800-328-4624 today.

Be Social! Connect with the Polymer Roofing Experts at DaVinci Roofscapes on Google Plus and YouTube

Watson Dean — Sat, 19 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Social media sites are websites that thrive and depend on user-driven content. In other words, the content that is shown on these platforms comes from the very people who are using them rather than the people who designed and maintain them. If you are among the hundreds of millions of people around the globe who watch videos on YouTube or have signed up for a free account with Google Plus, then you can also count yourself among the people who participate in, and contribute to, those social media sites. DaVinci Roofscapes is also involved with YouTube and Google Plus because it provides us with an excellent opportunity to share information about the benefits of composite roofing materials with customers.

Add our YouTube channel to your free YouTube account and you can see our latest helpful videos about roofing-related topics as soon as they come out. You also get the chance to see our beautiful products in action and comment on them (and please do because we love to get as much feedback as possible from customers). With Google Plus, you can see a variety of helpful documents and articles about roofing materials and can join the conversation with other DaVinci Roofscapes clients, make comments, or ask questions.

Connect with DaVinci Roofscapes on YouTube and Google Plus by clicking on the icons for these social sites on the right hand side of our blog.

From The Architect's Corner - Good Advice from our Color Expert

Megan Stone — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Last week at our National Sales Meeting Kate Smith, our color expert, gave a really great presentation on exterior color and how to make decisions on roof color using her F.R.E.S.H. technique. At this time she brought up a really good point and that is sometimes the sample you see in your hand, while inside your office or your meeting rooms, might look totally different outside in natural daylight. Her recommendation is to put all your samples outside and observe them for a day or two in all different lights and shadows. This will allow you to have a better idea of what the color will look like in natural light.

Happy Friday, Architects!

A Comparison of Natural and Composite Slate

Watson Dean — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Slate is one of the classic roofing materials. This type of stone material was an ideal option for roof protection because of its durability, naturally flat shape, fire resistance, and beautiful colors. It's still used on roofs today, but the faux version engineered with polymer resins is a step up from the natural variety. The following is a brief comparison between DaVinci polymer slate products, natural slate, and other brands of engineered slate:

Authentic appearance: Whereas the limited colors and widths of some fake versions make them appear to be obvious imitations, DaVinci products are carefully engineered to look very much like the real thing and come in 49 standard colors.
Color blends: DaVinci tiles are offered in several different color blends and come in pre-sorted bundles. Other products (including natural ones) have to be sorted and manually blended at the job site.
Fire resistance: Both DaVinci and natural products earn a Class A rating with standard underlayments. Other products require special underlayments to earn the same high rating.
Wind resistance: Natural slate and DaVinci products are resistant to winds of 110 mph. Other tiles are a bit less resistant to winds.
Maintenance: While imitation roof tiles are maintenance free, the natural version will always require regular inspections and repairs.

To learn more about why DaVinci roofing materials are a step above both natural and other brands of resin tiles, contact DaVinci Roofscapes by email or calling 1-800-328-4624 today.

What is a Fixed Feature and Why is it Important When Choosing Your Colors?

Kate Smith — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:30:00 +0000

What is a fixed feature? When I refer to a fixed feature, I am talking about any element on the exterior of the home that is not likely to change or at least not anytime soon. These are what most homeowners consider the permanent parts of their home and include the foundation, stone, brick, partial stone or brick facades, pathways, retaining walls and of course the roof.

Fixed Feature = Permanent Design Element

Each of the fixed features may be a different material but will usually have a common color or color cast. This is what allows these elements to work together and gives the home a cohesive look.

Once you identify the common color, you can use that color to find colors for siding, trim, shingles and front door that will work well for your home. Let me give you a few examples so you can see why it is important to consider the fixed features when choosing your color scheme.

When you are selecting a new green roofing option for a home that has stone details, make sure to find a color that pairs well with the colors in the stone without competing for attention. By pairing the colors of these two important permanent features you will have more options for the colors you use on the siding and trim.

Above you see four great color options for DaVinci shake tiles that would blend beautifully with the color of the stone. A neutral siding will work but so will a stronger hue because when the colors of the fixed features work together you don't have to find a color that brings together two mismatched permanent elements

Even when the color works, a home having the fixed features all in the same color range is a better solution. For example, on the home below the black roof works but a using a charcoal, or gray closer to the color of the grout, would give the homeowners more options for changing the main and accent colors of the home later on.

So, as you consider your color scheme, always remember to look first at the fixed features of your home. If the colors of those elements harmonize, the task of finding other colors will be a breeze. If not, then the task isn't as easy because you will need to find a color that works with one or more permanent colors. This is not always easy and you may want to consider asking a professional color consultant to help you.

If you need assistance in choosing the perfect color for your new roof, you can download copy of my free color guide FRESH Home Exterior Colors: 5 Steps for Finding the Perfect Hues for Your Home. This step-by-step guide shows you exactly what you need to know in order to create a cohesive look and achieve maximum curb appeal. As well, you can always submit your photo along with a request for help to me at "Ask the Color Expert". I'll guide you in choosing a color roofing that blends with the fixed features of your home so picking the rest of your colors is a breeze.

Start Home Improvement Month with a Shake Tile Roof

Watson Dean — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:30:00 +0000

May is a beautiful time of the year. The leaves are back on the trees, flowers are blooming in the garden, and the warm weather is a happy medium between hot and cold. The fifth month of the year also happens to be home improvement month and there's no better place to begin making those improvements than the roof of your home or business. Even if the roof looked to be in good shape back in September, the icy, windy days of January and February might have left their mark in the form of bent and missing roof tiles.

If your roof already has quality DaVinci Roofscapes tiles, then this probably won't even be a concern due to their high wind and impact ratings. If using cedar shake, slate, or asphalt shingles though, it's a good idea to have the roof checked out by a professional. If the roof needs to be replaced, or you just want to increase the value of your home, you might want to go with beautiful, polymer shake from DaVinci Roofscapes. Available in dozens of color combinations, these durable tiles will help make your home one of the most beautiful on the block.

To learn more about how DaVinci Roofscapes products add beauty and durability to every home and business, contact DaVinci Roofscapes by email or calling 1-800-328-4624 today.

Help Protect Your Home from Hurricanes with Polymer Roof Tiles

Watson Dean — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:30:00 +0000

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.