By DaVinci Roofscapes. 

Why homeowners trust and invest in Class A rated composite roof tiles.

Manmade composite roofing tiles are generally known for both their beauty and low maintenance features. But what about standing up to Mother Nature? When the winds blow and hail drops from the sky, how does composite roofing handle severe weather? 

It helps to start by understanding that the roof is a “system” on your home. For most roofs, there are six items that are installed to help protect your house and valuables. Those are the decking, self-adhering membrane, underlayment, drip-edge, flashing and nails. These are all installed before the roofing shingle itself. 

Benefits of Class A rated composite roofing 

Fortunately for homeowners, there are a number of industry tests that all roofing products must go through and be rated on. If you’re specifically considering a composite roof, this gives you a way to understand how a composite tile can stand up to hail. Just as when you were in school, there’s the ability to pass the test with flying colors, or limp along with average ratings. 

State Farm Insurance reports that Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and FM Approvals are two organizations generally used to rate the impact resistance of roofing materials. Either steel balls or ice balls — in different sizes — are launched from varying heights and speeds at composite roofing (see video). Those roofing tiles with the least impact damage earn the highest rating — a Class 4 impact rating. 

Here’s another reason we’re mentioning insurance companies. When you invest in composite roofing that has achieved Class 4 impact rating, like the slate and shake tiles made by DaVinci Roofscapes, you should talk with your insurance company. Many of them offer long-term discounts on homeowners insurance for homes with composite roofs. 

They offer year-after-year savings because they understand that Class 4 impact rated composite roofing will stand up to hail. That makes it unlikely they’ll have to repeatedly replace your roof in the future when Mother Nature calls on your area. 

What homeowners are saying  

It’s not unusual for strong hail storms to sweep through Texas several times a year. The Taylor family got tired of it. Tired of replacing their roof. Tired of the hassles. To stop the “hail headaches,” the homeowners installed a Class 4 rated DaVinci Single-Width Slate roof. 

“We decided to invest in a DaVinci roof because we liked their slate look that has lots of depth and character on each shingle,” says Larry Taylor. “The choice of colors was terrific, and we liked the low maintenance and fire resistance of the product. But most importantly, this roofing has been tested and warranted for impact. We don’t want to have to replace another roof again in our lifetime.” 

In Jefferson City, Missouri, baseball-sized hail demolished the cedar roof on Samuel Baker’s home. After the storm, Baker was in a quandary. He loved the look of his old cedar roof, but never wanted to worry about another hail storm again. That’s when his roofer suggested a top-of-the-line Select Shake roof. 

“I’d never heard of a synthetic roof until Black & White Roofing brought it to our attention,” says Baker. “We need a roof we can count on to handle future storms. However, we also want to keep the same cedar shake look that was original to our almost 70-year-old home. The durability and natural appearance of the Select Shake roof allows us to do that. 

“With the Aged Cedar tiles the roof will look new all the time. We feel this roof really modernizes the look of the house. Above all, the big bonus is that we can rest easy whenever future hail storms blow through our area!” 

Product specifics 

DaVinci Roofscapes makes both composite slate and shake roofing tiles, in a variety of styles and sizes. Every product line is tested and is UL2218 Class 4 impact rated, and also high wind resistant. This means that the roofing tiles can stand up extremely tough weather. 

As with all composite roofing from DaVinci, the tiles are impervious to freeze/thaw cycles, color fade resistant and Class A fire rated (with specified underlayments). They are also resistant to insects, fungus and algae growth. And, every imitation slate and shake tile from DaVinci is 100 percent recyclable and Made in the USA. 

Find a product comparison chart of DaVinci products to other types of roofing here And, to learn more about hail testing on all types of roofing materials, visit the hail research report from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety®. 

For more information on DaVinci Roofscapes, visit our website. 

Have a question? AskARoofer.   

Find your local roofing contractor in the RoofersCoffeeShop® Contractor Directory. 

By DaVinci Roofscapes. 

This expert advice will help you avoid getting stuck on color choices for your new roof. 

You’ve found the ideal roof profile for your home. Now it’s time to decide on a color. The family debate is raging…a solid black or a blend of colors? 

What’s the best color for your roof? Listen to your home…and the expert color advice of Kate Smith, chief color maven at Sensational Color. She’s provided roofing color advice to thousands of homeowners over the past decade. As part of her support to DaVinci Roofscapes, she talks with consumers about their home setting, its style and fixed features. 

There’s no need to have a family war about color — or to get stuck on color choices. Here are some top tips Kate offers on how to select the roof color that can work best with your home. 

Tip 1 - Do your homework. Don’t rush a decision. Try to envision the total color combination of a home exterior that you will like next year, five years from now, and then 20 years from now. 

Tip 2 - Squint. Look at your home and squint. What colors come through? Those are your predominant colors. You most likely will want to consider those colors to “play up” or “play down” when selecting a roof color for your home. 

Tip 3 - Consider your options. While a solid color roof may work for some home styles, a blend of several colors may offer a “softer” look with more accent options. Some composite manufacturers, like DaVinci, offer pre-bundled roofing color blends. These are available with two, three, four or five different colors that, when blended together, complement each other. 

Tip 4 - Request life-sized samples of your favorite color roofing tiles. Then place the samples up against your current roof. Look to see the change that a new color will make for your home. Look at the samples during different times of the day to see how they appear as the light changes. 

Tip 5 - Look at your fixed features. There are parts of your home you must live with for a very, very long time. These are the fixed features that will never change. Look at the colors of your brick or stone siding, walkways, copper accents and hardscape materials. Anything that has color (or a color cast) to it that cannot be changed should be considered as you select a roof color. 

Tip 6 - Look at the other homes in your neighborhood. Your home should either blend in or completely stand out from other homes. However, it should never clash with the rest of the homes in your community. A roofing color can help achieve a harmonious look. 

Tip 7 - Know when to say no. A roof generally takes up a great deal of “eye space” on a home. It certainly captures a vast amount of the curb appeal of a house. Just because your favorite color is pumpkin orange or navy blue, it doesn’t mean you should have that color on your roof. If those colors are important to you, select a neutral roof color and then add those “pops of color” on your trim, shutters and accent pieces of your home exterior. 

Tip 8 - Investigate different roofing color tools available to you online. Most roofing manufacturers have online color tools. Use them to upload a picture of your home and see what different roofing colors look like on your house. 

Tip 9 - Look for free online color guidance. Roofing manufacturers want to help you make a color decision you’ll be happy with long-term. Search their websites and you’ll find solid resources. Under the “Color” section on the DaVinci Roofscapes site, you’ll find four different free downloadable eBooks written by Kate Smith to make it easy to choose the best color for your roof. 

Tip 10 - Get assistance from a professional. Just as selecting the roofing product is a big decision requiring assistance of a pro, so is the choice of the roof color. “Ask an Expert” and use the color tools and advice they offer to gain a strong comfort level in the roofing color you choose. 

For more information on DaVinci Roofscapes, visit our website. 

Have a question? AskARoofer.  

Find your local roofing contractor in the RoofersCoffeeShop® Contractor Directory. 

By H. George Modlin, Delta Innovation Services, Inc. 

19th century Kansas City courthouse gets a complete roof replacement with slate composite roofing. 

Where one is born has a lot to do with identity. In grade school, our teachers seek to help us memorize facts about our states, their capitals and maybe even the state bird or tree, but seldom the name of the county within which we reside. 

There are over 3,100 counties, parishes or boroughs in the United States. The majority of these political and geographical areas have a grand, central structure that serves these divisions as a place for government business, voting, paying taxes, record keeping or conducting court for the law of the land. 

Most of these buildings are located as county seats, centrally situated in a city, town or burg and were constructed many years ago. And, as a good many of these buildings are designated historic structures because of their age and grandeur, they have suffered over time from fires, deferred maintenance or severe weather events. 

1897 Courthouse 

The roofs on these courthouses are often complex architecture with towers, domes, cupolas with statues, curving valleys, practically anything that made a statement to the identity of that particular county. 

One such roof structure that Delta Innovative Services of Kansas City, Kansas was awarded a contract for roof and gutter replacement was the Cass County Courthouse located in Harrisonville, Missouri. Constructed in 1897 in the Italianate style, the storm damaged second roof and 120-year-old copper flashings had finally given out and the County Commissioners voted in favor of moving forward with renovations in early 2018. 

Cass County Courthouse roof 

This hipped roof had been replaced in 1996 with a lightweight, offbeat style, concrete and EPS foam, shingle panel that was destroyed by hail in 2017. The original copper gutter system was not replaced at that time and is integral to the cornice above an ornate, bracketed copper soffit. 

There is also a 110-foot clock and bell tower off of one corner of the main roof topped with a hipped roof of the same failed material. There are four chimneys in the field of the roof of which two rise 30-feet above the roof level from zippered valleys and coppered half-crickets. Three small low-sloped roof areas at the tower and main entry complete the complex. 

Objective: Total roof replacement 

The contract called for a total removal of the existing roof and integral guttering which would determine the extent of wood deterioration and allow for remediation. A conventional, visual attic and roof investigation indicated that the roof deck was generally solid with only minor repairs required during the tear-off, but there was no access to view the damage to the soffit framing below the gutter without its total removal. It was also difficult to determine masonry conditions from the ground. 

A single sentence in the bidding documents to “respect the historical structure” lead Delta to propose both a manufactured slate with an alternate for the genuine article, shards of which had been discovered in the attic below the chimney penetrations through the decking. 

The County and Harrisonville Historical Society approved the materials submittals for the high temperature ice shielding membranes; Eco Chief Solarhide felt underlayment; 20-ounce copper flashings and gutter trough liner; polymer modified, DaVinci Roofscapes Bellaforté Slate in a Smokey Gray coloring (a synthetic look alike to the original black slate roofing) and the Site Specific Safety Plan under which the entire project would be completed. 

Old roof removal 

After the installation of a stair tower access point and covering of a long, public handicap ramp, the roof removal process began in late March of 2018. The steep slope roof removal proceeded quickly because the existing material was designed to be “loose-laid” without fasteners and several areas had already been lifted from strong winds. The existing copper, built-in gutter trough was also removed in sequence with the roof areas. 

It became apparent that the original wooden roof decking was in satisfactory reusable condition except for the single board covered by the apron of the integral guttering. The horizontal board underlying the actual tapered trough required complete replacement, obviously related to failure noted at the soldered joints. 

While replacing the trough substructure, more and more framing members of the soffit overhang were discovered to be so deteriorated as to cause the crews to question how the existing ornate copper soffit was still in place. Upon further exterior destructive investigation, it became clear that the installation of the soffit was precarious, at best. There was even a section where the soffit had been chained to prevent its collapse. 

The soffit was bordered with the typical, broad copper crown molding and fascia, above the corbelled soffit and brackets adorned with curved acanthus leaf noses many of which were open due to the loss of the tack welds so common in the timeframe of its construction. Delta further noted that the nailed attachment of the outside edge of the gutter trough and the top of the crown molding was the only visible anchorage. The majority of the soffit was found to have been steel wired to the gutter trough wood framing gussets and the interface to the building rested upon a masonry water table ledge. 

Wildlife issues 

Most all of the nine-gauge stove wire attachments were burnt through by electrolysis because of moisture and dissimilar metals causing the soffit to pull away from the building. This action and the open brackets created an easy source of entry for birds and their nesting habits which added considerable weight to the already precarious soffit, and required a trained professional subcontractor to remove the hazardous debris. 

During the abatement process, one unusual nest was discovered and initially identified as a peregrine falcon nest, a bird of prey on the Endangered Species List. With a bit of panic, Delta suspended work that morning until State Conversation agents arrived and identified the nest and nonviable eggs to belong to the common American falcon and work was allowed to continue. 

It is rare to encounter such an experience, but work on historic structures always can reveal surprises that potentially result in delays and added expenses. In this case, the project did not have to wait for the fledglings to take flight. 

Project obstacles 

While staging the soffit work out of large snorkel lifts, a better observation of the masonry condition of the two tall chimneys revealed serious deficiencies to the mortar. The Commissioners acted quickly to Delta’s proposal for their subcontractor to 100% tuckpoint both concurrent with the soffit and gutter remediations with only a slight delay in the overall project. 

With extensive masonry and carpentry repairs completed, Delta crews began the installation of the new Bellaforté Slate composite roof system utilizing a high-wind nail pattern upon the clock tower and the lower level of the main roof field around it. Installation of the system proceeded quickly with nail guns driving the stainless steel fasteners. The actual roof installation was the fastest part of the overall project. 

Moving on to the tower roofs 

The last phases of the roof remediation were two small low-sloped roofs, one upon the clock tower below the hipped top and the second covering the main entry canopy. The tower roof was an old locked seam and soldered roof system covered with asphaltic patch material. The entry roof was covered with a solid two inches of felt plies over the field and down into an integral gutter detailing the perimeter. 

It was determined to overlay the tower roof and completely remove the entry roof; apply a base to just the entry, and then install a high-performance silicone roof system. Coordination was critical to installing the tower roof as the County’s array of satellite dishes for internet service were located there, and they could not be disconnected, but for very short periods of time. 

The entry roof removal revealed even more rotten substructure than was initially determined through destructive investigation, and it was practically rebuilt with very special attention paid to the concrete balustrades resting upon a deteriorated beam. While the woodwork hurdles were being overcome, the entire deck was receiving a fire-rated, self-adhering, modified bitumen as the “dry-in” sheet and the base for the new reinforced silicone roof system. 

Silicone was chosen for its excellent performance and resistance to standing water as it was to be applied continuously from the roof field of the entry and into its built-in gutter trough. A light tan color was selected for the entry roof to tone down the coating’s high reflectance values and potential bounce into offices through adjacent windows. 

Successful roof replacement 

Cass County and Harrisonville, Missouri have now preserved the central identity related to the area and the manner from which they have grown as a community since their historic courthouse was constructed 121 years ago. Delta Innovative Services, Inc. and DB2 Services, Inc. are most proud to have earned the confidence from this community to respect the historical structure so central to the core values of the people in the County. 

Have a question? AskARoofer.   

Find your local roofing contractor in the RoofersCoffeeShop® Contractor Directory. 

Original article source: DaVinci Roofscapes 

By DaVinci Roofscapes.  

Colorful tips for how to best match the colors on your roof from expert Kate Smith. 

Smokey Gray. Mossy Cedar. Black Oak. What color looks best on a roof? For the past decade, Kate Smith has provided “Ask an Expert” advice to dozens of homeowners each month. 

Kate is an internationally recognized color expert. She serves as Chief Color Maven at Sensational Color. And, since 2012, she’s offered free roofing color advice as a service to homeowners considering composite shake and slate roofing tiles from DaVinci Roofscapes. 

To give you some color perspective for your roof, we’ve asked Kate about her experiences providing color insights to homeowners. Read along, and you’ll pick up some colorful tips! 

Q: What are the most popular questions people ask you when they connect with your through DaVinci? 

A: By far, everyone wants to know what type of roof to put on their home and what roofing color is best for their home. People truly want to know what color is best suited for their home, which is when I step in to help. 

Q: How do you help people decide on the best color for their roof? 

A: I encourage homeowners to always start by looking at the “fixed features” on their house. These are the unchangeable features, like the stonework, brick, colored window grids or other materials that will always remain with the house. Start with the colors in those set elements. Then find a roofing color that will harmonize with those common colors or color casts. 

Q: What are the regular “steps” you go through to assist a homeowner with a roof color choice? 

A: My goal is to guide homeowners toward a roof they’re pleased with on their house. I start by looking at images of their home. I actually gaze at the home from the top down. Many homes have brick or stone, which influences the roof selection. Other times, the style of the house is more of a factor. I make suggestions of colors to consider, then recommend they look at actual color samples outside their home. 

Q: Why outside the house? 

A: It’s so important to view roofing samples outdoors in the exact light settings of your home. You need to look at the samples during different times of day to see how the colors change as the light moves across the sky. Stand back about 20 feet to get an overall feeling for how the roofing color looks with the other elements of the house. I’ve actually known people to place sample boards directly on their roof and leave them there for several days to truly gain the best feeling for the colors that work well with the house. 

Q: When people come to you with color questions, are there any resources you lead them to? 

A: Absolutely. Over the years I’ve written a series of e-books on selecting exterior colors for the home, understanding the home exterior, color schemes for the house and other topics. These are all available for free at www.davinciroofscapes.com. 

Q: Finally, you’ve been offering roofing advice to homeowners for almost a decade now through DaVinci. Do people tend to take your recommendations…and what colors do they lean towards? 

A: I’m really pleased that people do indeed take my advice a majority of the time. Others have said that while they didn’t go with one of my suggested colors, that my insights gave them the knowledge and confidence to make a selection. As far as colors, people tend to lean toward classics, like blacks, grays and mountain blends. I believe that’s because they’re so attractive with so many different home styles. 

Have a question? AskARoofer.   

Find your local roofing contractor in the RoofersCoffeeShop® Contractor Directory. 

Get answers to your roofing questions from an experienced roofer. 

If you’re a homeowner on this website, you have roofing questions. Who better to answer than experienced roofers? Our “Contractor Insights” feature brings you down-to-earth responses to key areas of roofing every homeowner should know. This month we’re featuring Daniel Askari, General Manager of Absolute Construction in Garland, Texas. 

Q: What are the top three things homeowners should ask a roofer about when looking for a replacement roof? 

A: Safety is always a top priority. So, the first thing a homeowner should ask for is a copy of the roofer’s worker’s compensation certificate. And then they should call to verify it’s active. Second is liability. Homeowners should call and verify the General Liability insurance coverage is active for a roofer. They should assure that the coverage is specifically active for roofer versus flooring, painting or something else. Finally, ask the roofer for clients they can contact who they worked with five years ago or more. You want to verify the credibility of the roofer and the work quality with the resource you call. 

Q: Why should homeowners seriously consider composite roofing when looking for a roof? 

A: Composite roofing offers minimal maintenance. In addition, it offers long-term performance and protection against hail and high winds. This gives homeowners peace of mind during severe weather. 

Q:  What is your best “homeowner survival tips” for getting through a roofing installation? 

A: Think practically. Your home is being turned into a construction site with 20,000 or more pounds of material being removed and installed. Communicate with your roofer up front about boarding pets, keeping kids away from the house, how to safely enter/exit the home and about avoiding working from home due to the excessive noise on the roof. 

Q: If there’s storm damage involved to a roof, what tips do you have for a homeowner working with an insurance adjuster? 

A: Always keep an open line of communication and correspondence with the adjuster. They are there to help explain the process to you of payments, deductibles and the laws. 

Q: Why has your company chosen to recommend DaVinci composite roofing to your customers? 

A: We’ve found that DaVinci has a long-term track record of creating a superior product. They provide us with roofing that has a consistent look and quality. Their track record of integrity in the marketplace is very strong. 

Have a question? AskARoofer.

Find your local roofing contractor in the RoofersCoffeeShop® Contractor Directory.

By DaVinci Roofscapes.  

An alternative to natural slate that provides beauty and functionality to the home.  

Natural slate can be a beautiful addition to any home. However, it’s not without its problems. Heavy and brittle, real slate needs a strong roofing frame. And, if you live in an area where hail is a problem, you’ll want to think twice before adding slate to your roof. Naturally, there are many pros and cons of a real slate roof. 

Benefits of composite slate 

Fortunately, there are alternatives to real slate. State-of-the-art composite slate tiles are an elegant and authentic-looking substitute for heavy slate. Made of polymers that withstand impact, these lightweight synthetic slates can endure what Mother Nature throws their way. 

Created by manufacturers like DaVinci Roofscapes in both Single-Width and Multi-Width styles, the composite tiles are made of virgin resins, UV and thermal stabilizers. They also have a highly-specialized fire retardant added in that makes them Class A fire rated. 

What homeowners are saying 

For most homeowners, it’s the authentic appearance that makes them decide on composite slate roofing. 

Don and Shannon Harvey wanted a no-maintenance roof on their Tuscan-style weekend retreat. They selected DaVinci Multi-Width Slate in a Smokey Gray color. 

“It’s most important to us that the DaVinci composite slate roof is consistent with the architectural style of our house,” says Shannon O’Keefe-Harvey. “This home was built in 2008. Only now does it have the roof it was meant to have all along. We absolutely love how it fulfills the role as a key architectural element of our home.” 

Another homeowner, Christine Bridger, decided to renovate every inch of a 1930s English Cottage. When it came to the roof, she and her husband selected a Weathered Green color for their multi-width composite slate. 

“The realistic detail of the DaVinci product, plus its lightweight nature, met our needs,” says Bridger. “It’s an affordable option to real slate and looks charming on the English Cottage. Many of the products we selected, like the DaVinci roofing, were chosen because they need little maintenance. The roof, in particular, is very durable. And, with a Lifetime Limited Materials Warranty, we don’t anticipate having any maintenance concerns in the future!” 

Product specifics 

DaVinci Multi-Width Slate tiles are ½-inch in thickness. They are available in 12-, 10-, 9-, 7- and 6-inch widths and can be installed at 6-, 7-, 7-1/2, and 8-inch exposures. Installation can be straight or staggered and, as with all DaVinci products, tiles arrive at the job site bundled and pre-sorted by color and size, eliminating sorting and guesswork by installers. 

As with all composite roofing from DaVinci, the slate tiles are impervious to freeze/thaw cycles, impact resistant, color fade resistant, Class A fire rated (with specified underlayments), UL 2218 Class 4 impact rated, and wind resistant to 110 mph. And, every imitation slate tile from DaVinci is 100 percent recyclable and Made in the USA. 

For more details, visit davinciroofscapes.com. 

Have a question? AskARoofer.

Find your local roofing contractor in the RoofersCoffeeShop® Contractor Directory.

By DaVinci Roofscapes. 

10 tips to building a beneficial relationship with your insurance adjuster and making the process go smoothly. 

There is no such thing as a risk-free home. Severe weather can strike your home at any time. From hailstorms to strong  winds, some freak weather accident can always threaten your roof. You will, no doubt, be familiar with discussing funding to repair your roof with your insurance adjuster. Insurance adjusters put in long hours to keep up with assessing damage of a stressed homeowner’s home and determining how much their company can offer to fund a roof repair or replacement. The thing is, insurance adjusters are people, just like all of us. Here is some advice for dealing with insurance adjusters for the best results. 

Pack your patience 

Trent Lovewell knows about working with insurance adjusters. As a leader at John Higgins Weatherguard, Inc., located in Omaha, Nebraska, he has witnessed repeated storm problems requiring insurance claims. 

“We’re in an area that gets lots of storms, so insurance adjusters are kept busy all the time,” says Lovewell. “We see many of the same adjusters after these storms. These folks work days and weeks for long hours and away from their families. Not a lot of people want to do that type of stressful job.” 

Skilled insurance adjusters are in demand, according to Lovewell. When a storm hits and adjusters are pulled in many directions, it can be stressful for both you and for the adjuster. 

“Homeowners need to have some patience with adjusters,” says Lovewell, whose company has installed more than 500 composite roofs from DaVinci Roofscapes. “That patience can go a long way in helping gain a fair resolution for a claim. 

“You need to really understand how few adjusters there are across the country, and how they can get backlogged during different seasons with weather-related issues.” 

Tips for working with insurance adjusters 

Tip 1 – Be on time for an adjuster appointment. 

Tip 2 – Participate in your first adjuster overview appointment. Do not leave the meeting to your contractor, roofer or remodeler. Adjusters want to meet just with the homeowner for the first meeting and not have a contractor looking over their shoulder. 

Tip 3 – If you have pictures and other documentation of the initial damage, make sure to show the adjuster. Sometimes you need to remove a tree or tarp off an area of the roof. Take pictures before you do that and then share those pictures with the insurance adjuster. 

Tip 4 – Make a checklist of anything that got damaged as a result of the storm or situation and present the full list to the adjuster. 

Tip 5 – Understand that the adjuster will be at your home for several hours. Adjusters need to thoroughly review the damage resulting from the storm, which can include areas both outside and inside the home. 

Tip 6 – Not happy with the evaluation of the inspector? Ask the claim center for another inspection. You’re allowed a second inspection by law in most states. 

Tip 7 – If a second inspection is provided, don’t be surprised if the insurance company asks to have your contractor on site for this inspection. You can still participate, but a second inspection may be more thorough and require the expertise of your contractor. 

Tip 8 – Still not satisfied after the second inspection? Then talk to the claim center again. Ask if they can bring in an engineer to help evaluate the situation. 

Tip 9 – Don’t beat up on the adjuster. Sure, you may have had your home insurance for 20 years and never filed a claim. While you may “feel” like you deserve a new roof, it doesn’t work that way. The adjusters follow a specific set of parameters to determine what type of reimbursement their agency will provide to you. 

Tip 10 – Honesty counts. In other words, the adjuster is there to evaluate the storm damage, so don’t try to include pre-existing problems in the claim. Just stick to pointing out what happened as a result of the storm. 

Re-roof with a performance product 

From his experience, Lovewell recommends that homeowners needing a new roof take the opportunity to upgrade to a high-performance product. 

“Why go back to the same type of roof that will get damaged in another hailstorm?” asks Lovewell. “You’re going to keep paying the deductible for repairs and that can get expensive. Investing in a high-performance roofing product makes good, common sense. 

“Here’s another benefit. We’ve definitely seen where homeowner insurance premiums drop when people select a composite roof, like a DaVinci roof. The insurance companies recognize that these man-made roofs outperform natural materials and asphalt. That performance brings confidence to the insurance company that you’ll have fewer long-term claims.” 

Have a question? AskARoofer.

Find your local roofing contractor in the RoofersCoffeeShop® Contractor Directory. 

Original article source: DaVinci Roofscapes

By DaVinci Roofscapes. 

Here’s what this expert has to say about his experience manufacturing snow retention systems. 

Out of the four manufacturers of snow retention systems in the USA, Rocky Mountain Snow Guards, Inc. is the only company who solely focuses on snow retention. At DaVinci Roofscapes, we’re proud to do business with Rocky Mountain Snow Guards and recently we spoke with its President, Lars Walberg, about his many years of experience with making snow guards.  

Q: What sets Rocky Mountain Snow Guards apart in the marketplace?  

A: We’re unique in that we design and sell complete snow retention systems for any type of roofing system, whether on a residence or commercial project. Our systems are sold nationwide, and we sold  more than 900 of them generally each year. Plus, we offer a 50-year warranty on our systems when installed in accordance with our designs. 

Q: Your site shows a wide variety of snow retention systems. How does a roofer know which one is best to use on their roofing project? 

A: Searching by roof type is the best way to find what a roofer needs. Go to our website, www.rockymountainsnowguards.com. That’s where a contractor can find the appropriate snow guard and retention system for their project. There’s also an online request form there or roofers can call us at 877-414-7606. 

Q: What’s the most popular snow retention type product for DaVinci composite slate shingles and simulated shake roofing? 

A: For DaVinci roofing products, the SnowTrapper line is the most popular of our products. We have different models that work for each DaVinci product for both new and retrofit applications. There are different styles and sizes, we’re happy to work directly with roofers on product selections and needs. 

Q: Let’s talk specifically about synthetic roofing materials. What advice do you have for roofers installing or retrofitting composite slate or synthetic shake roofs? 

A: First of all, roofers need to understand that all composite and synthetic roof tiles are slippery. They won’t hold snow, regardless of the pitch. Snow will definitely slide off polymer roofing, even if you have a low 4/12 pitch. In fact, snow will accumulate more on a lower pitch than on a higher pitch before it slides, which can cause greater potential for damage. 

Q: So, what should a roofer do? 

A: Don’t skimp on snow guards and make sure they’re properly specified and installed. We run into situations where contractors buy a box of 50 or 100 snow guards for a 40 or 50 square roof. One or two snow guards per 100 square feet of roofing area just won’t do the job. The polymer designer roof needs a “system” to reduce the potential for a “catastrophic release” where all the snow comes down in an avalanche and has the potential to harm people and property. Work with us on a specific plan for a roof and you will find the homeowners are far happier in the long run with their snow guard system. 

Have a question? AskARoofer. 

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Original article source: DaVinci Roofscapes

By DaVinci Roofscapes. 

These slate tiles can take on the harshness of humidity and high winds, making them the perfect choice for this beachfront home. 

Ocean City, New Jersey. Beachfront living for some. Bayfront living for others. The experienced building team at Halliday-Leonard turns dreams of living near the sea into reality for many people — including one of its owners. 

When a large lot became available a few years back, Keith Leonard snatched it up. A builder by trade, Leonard knew the site would be perfect for his family. And he knew that he wanted a DaVinci synthetic slate roof overhead. 

“This lot is just a few blocks from where we previously lived,” says Leonard, a partner in Halliday-Leonard, Inc. “However, it’s about twice the size of our previous home. It was time for us to expand and create a home that could really fit our family.” 

Standing up to seaside conditions 

Leonard knows the importance of selecting building products that can handle salt air, sea spray, humidity and severe weather conditions. During the past 40+ years, his company has created more than 1,300 custom homes and projects in the Ocean City area.  

“When it came time to select our roof, I knew I wanted DaVinci Roofscapes,” says Leonard. “Our home is exposed to bay winds, salty air, lots of sunshine…everything that makes this a great area to live. However, you have to create an exterior building envelope that can stand up to those conditions. 

“I recommend DaVinci products to others, so naturally I wanted a DaVinci product for my own home.” 

Ready for shore life 

The “seashore style” home created by Leonard has Bellaforté Slate roofing overhead in a Brownstone color. Staggered edges, color variations and dramatic shadow lines all contribute to Bellaforté Slate’s truly realistic look. 

Made to withstand winds up to 110 mph, along with being fire- and impact-resistant, the roof is ideal for seaside conditions. The synthetic slate tiles resist mold, mildew and algae growth. No matter how humid the conditions, the tiles will never rot, curl or attract insects. 

“This is an easy-care roof backed by a Lifetime Limited Materials Warranty from DaVinci,” says Leonard. “It doesn’t get any better than this. I don’t have to worry about what Mother Nature throws our way. I know this roof can help protect my home, my family and my property. That’s a great reason to invest in a durable DaVinci roof.” 

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Original article source: DaVinci Roofscapes

By DaVinci Roofscapes. 

Learn how a snow guard is installed and the way it helps prevent mini avalanches from sliding off your roof. 

Snow guards are strategically placed to help break down snow so your roof doesn’t create a mini avalanche around your home when it snows. If you have a composite roof, it is critical to get a snow retention system to create a break between snow that builds up on your roof’s surface. Otherwise the melting snow will slide off in chunks around your home.   

Here’s a quick explanation of how snow guards (which are one form of a snow retention system) can help a DaVinci Roofscapes roof: they act as “breaking barriers” as snow melts and slides off the composite roof. Rather than experiencing an avalanche of snow that comes down all at one time and can harm landscaping and block doorways below, snow guards help regulate the release of snow from synthetic roof tiles. 

Leave it to the professionals 

Because snow guards are installed on composite roofing shingles around the perimeter of the roof (usually on the lower portion), this is a project best left to professional roofers. 

According to Lars Walberg, president of Rocky Mountain Snow Guards, “For a retrofit application you need to apply sealant to the top of the DaVinci shingle where the snow guard will be placed. 

“The snow guard is situated in a recommended pattern, such that 2″ of strap is showing between the face of the snow guard and the butt end of the shingle above. Then (2) 2.5″ self-tapping fasteners with gaskets are driven through the snow guard strap approximately 1/2″ below the butt end of the shingle above, through the shingle and substrate until tight.” 

Walberg goes on to say that, “The appropriate snow guard to use in this application is the ST9 by SnowTrapper which is available in copper or dark bronze coated aluminum.” 

According to Walberg, roughly two-thirds of the snow guards his company sells are for retrofit applications. He recommends the SnowTrapper ST11 for all DaVinci slate profiles, single-width and multi-width shake up to 9/12, and Bellaforté Shake up to 7/12. For Bellaforté Shake over 7/12 and slate profiles over 9/12, he recommends the RockyGuard RG10. 

There are certainly other snow guards by other manufacturers that would also work well with composite slate and simulated shake roofing. The experts at DaVinci Roofscapes don’t recommend or endorse any products that the company doesn’t manufacture, but the team does support Walberg’s installation methods. 

Installing snow guards 

Snow guards can be retrofitted fairly easily by professional roofers to composite slate or shake roofing products,. The steps a professional roofer takes to evaluate and install snow guards are outlined as follows by Walberg: 

Step 1 – Contact the snow guard manufacturer to work with them to gain a recommended layout and pattern for the specific roofing project you’re working on. This will be based on several factors including the pitch of the roof, the home’s geographic location and specific areas of the property that the homeowner wishes to protect from snow avalanches. 

Step 2 – Follow the layout pattern closely when retrofitting the snow guards. 

Step 3 – When installing the snow guards in a DaVinci shake or slate roof, there should be at least six inches of spacing between the snow guard pad face itself and the butt of the course above. 

Step 4 – Mark the location of each snow guard and then apply an appropriate sealant, like one part urethane sealant or thermoplastic sealant. It’s important not to “bend back” the DaVinci roofing tiles during the snow guard application. 

Step 5 – Slide the snow guard up and under the course above and press it into place over the sealant. The most important things are to place the snow guards so there is a significant space between the butt end of the shingle above and the pad face so the snow guard can “grab” the snow. It’s recommended that the strap is showing equal to three times the thickness of the butt end of the shingles on pitches up to 6/12, and six times the thickness on pitches over 6/12. It’s also important to mark the placement so the pattern is uniform. 

Step 6 – Attach the snow guard with two fasteners into the strap in an offset pattern approximately 1.5 inches above the pad face, spaced one inch apart. Rocky Mountain Snow Guards recommends the Woodbinder Eclipse 10 x 2.5 screws for this step. These screws are self-tapping, self-sealing and have coated heads to match the color of the snow guard.

Have a question? AskARoofer. 

Find your local roofing contractor in the RoofersCoffeeShop® Contractor Directory. 

Original article source: DaVinci Roofscapes