Synthetic Roofs: A Smart Investment

by Kathy Ziprik, Staff Writer

Durable, aesthetically-pleasing and easy to install. These top three features describe the advantages of selecting synthetic slate and shake roofing for your next new home project.

More than "just a pretty roofing tile," polymer shakes and slates are reliable. The composite roofing from DaVinci Roofscapes serves as a great example of the advantages synthetic roofs can bring to your projects. Impact- and fire-resistant, the easy-care tiles also resist termites and insects, algae, mold and color fade.

“We’ve all heard horror stories of how wildfires on the West Coast can burn down a home in minutes,” says Ray Rosewall, president of DaVinci Roofscapes. “However, homes with synthetic roofing tiles that have Class A fire retardance ratings are better protected from the flames. That’s the kind of product you want working to keep a family safe.”

According to Rosewall, there are several unique reasons why builders should install synthetic roofing tiles, including:

• To add a “wow” factor to the roof that increases the curb appeal and value of a home.
• To replicate real slate or shake tiles with authentic-looking alternatives that are better than Mother Nature could make.
• Energy savings that can be achieved with Cool Roofing colors that reduce the heat absorbed by a roof.
• To provide cost savings on homeowners insurance for your clients with fire-resistant synthetic roofing tiles.

For added peace of mind and extra security, Rosewall recommends carefully reviewing the testing information of the roofing products you’re considering for your home project. DaVinci Roofscapes slate and shake roofing tiles boast a Class A rating for fire retardance and a Class 4 rating for impact resistance. The products have achieved the highest rating for straight line wind testing at 110 mph. This means the roofing tiles are tested to withstand everything from hail to wildfires to hurricane conditions.

“These roofing tiles are so durable that they’ve passed the Miami Dade County Acceptance for high velocity hurricane winds and they’ve gained the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) acceptance,” says Rosewall. “The right roof overhead truly can protect a home. By selecting roofing tiles that meet all these stringent tests, builders can recommend to homeowners that they check with their insurance carriers to see if they're eligible for reductions in their homeowner insurance premiums.”

Choosing a Synthetic Roof

When selecting a synthetic roof, Rosewall recommends doing research to find the best products and warranties.

“You want to search for the ‘no worries’ type of roof that provides the highest levels of safety and security plus is backed by a lifetime limited materials warranty,” says Rosewall. “In addition, the roof needs to be natural-looking. For slate and shake synthetic roofs, that can be achieved by selecting roof tiles that are thick, available in multiple widths and come in a palette of blended color options to complement the home.

“At DaVinci we offer all these advantages, plus our roofing tiles are virtually fade-free, perform exceptionally well in severe weather conditions and resist insects, mold, algae and other nuisances that can occur with other roofing types.”

Think About Color

One additional important consideration for selecting a synthetic roof is the variety of color options. With 50 standard colors and an unlimited palette of custom colors to choose from, DaVinci is the color leader in the polymer roofing industry.

"The best way to make a roof color decision is to look at your new home from a 'top down' perspective," says Kate Smith, chief color maven with Sensational Color. "Depending on the style of the home, the roof can be up to 40% of what you see when looking at the home from the street. That means you want to make sure to get that roof color right."

Smith, who has written the color guides "FRESH Home Exterior Colors" and "FRESH Color Schemes for Your Home Exterior," recommends considering five key elements to help determine the roof color: Fixed Features, Regional Colors, Environment and Surroundings, Style of the Home and Historic or Have-to-Use Colors.

"Unless the home you're building has a very specific style or historically accurate scheme, having the roof color blend with the other fixed features of the home is the best approach," says Smith. "This allows for the most flexibility in choosing colors for the siding, trim, accents and door."

For more insights into the FRESH color approach and to download Smith's FRESH ebooks, click here.