By DaVinci Roofscapes.

Surpassing 33,000 squares installed, the Illinois and Wisconsin contractor shows how meeting customer demand for authentic looks, durability and reduced maintenance can expand composite roofing business.

For roofing contractors, a major installation milestone tells two stories: how much material a company has installed and why customers keep choosing it. For The Shake Guys, surpassing 33,000 squares of installed DaVinci® composite slate and shake roofing marks a significant achievement—and illustrates how answering customer needs has helped grow its composite roofing business.

DaVinci® Roofscapes, a division of Westlake Royal Building Products™, is recognizing The Shake Guys in 2026 as one of just four contractors nationwide honored for sustained product expertise and significant use of its roofing products. Since beginning DaVinci installations in 2017, the company has served homeowners, businesses and community landmarks throughout the greater Chicagoland suburbs and Wisconsin. Its experience offers fellow roofers a practical example of building a growing product category around the concerns property owners bring to the roof replacement conversation.

Customer needs drive the growth

The clearest measure of DaVinci’s growing role at The Shake Guys is its share of roof replacement projects. According to owner Chad Janisch, DaVinci products represented roughly 30% of the company’s roofing replacement business approximately three years ago. Two years ago, that share reached 40 percent. Today, it is nearly 50%. Chad anticipates it could soon reach 60% or 70%. A projection that underscores his confidence in continued customer demand for composite roofing products.

That growth has been especially notable among homeowners replacing aging cedar shake roofs. Chad relates that homeowners want to retain the character of their homes while addressing the maintenance and weather concerns that prompted replacement in the first place.

The Shake Guys has relied on DaVinci composite shake to bring those priorities together: a natural shake appearance, durability, reduced maintenance and enhanced weather resistance.

“From hail and high winds to heavy snow, driving rain and freeze-thaw cycles, our community needs roofing systems that combine proven performance with long-term beauty,” says Chad. “That is why we continue to recommend DaVinci composite roofing and why homeowners and commercial property owners trust The Shake Guys to install it correctly.”

A product story that addresses real concerns

For roofers discussing premium replacement options, The Shake Guys’ experience highlights the importance of connecting product features to the customer’s reasons for buying. DaVinci composite slate and shake tiles are manufactured from 100% virgin resin with UV and thermal stabilizers plus a fire retardant. They are engineered to provide the appearance of natural slate and hand-split shake without the maintenance concerns often associated with those materials.

DaVinci roofing products are Class A fire and Class 4 impact rated, resist insects, fungus, algae growth, fading, splitting and cracking and are backed by a Lifetime Limited Material Warranty. For customers facing demanding Midwest weather, those features give The Shake Guys specific benefits to discuss alongside appearance: impact resistance, long-term color stability and reduced maintenance. The conversation is not simply about changing roofing materials. It is about addressing the concerns that made a customer seek a new roof.

Projects put the customer benefits in context

The Shake Guys’ project portfolio shows how that approach applies across individual homes, complex estates and community-wide replacement needs. Each project presents a different buying decision, but the recurring priorities are familiar to roofing contractors: preserve the look, address aging or damaged materials and deliver a well-managed installation.

Award-winning estate replacement
The company earned a 2024 DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor Project of the Year Award for a lakeside estate in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. DaVinci Select Shake, custom copper finishes and a dozen dormer windows were central to a dramatic transformation. The project demonstrates how composite roofing can be part of a complex, high-end replacement where design detail matters alongside weather resistance.

Storm-damaged cedar in Wynstone
In North Barrington, Illinois, The Shake Guys helped Wynstone homeowners transition from storm-damaged cedar roofs to DaVinci composite shake. Judy Caminiti called her finished roof “incredible” and noted the realistic shake appearance. Neighbor Greg Rogus, whose cedar roof had been compromised by wind, hail and age, selected DaVinci Shake in a Tahoe blend for its appearance, warranty protection and long-term confidence. Both examples show how a replacement conversation can balance immediate roof concerns with what customers want from their next roofing system.

Design and guidance in Northfield
A Northfield, Illinois replacement paired DaVinci Shake with custom copper dormers, gable vents and standing seam accents. Homeowner Trent Mayberry credited The Shake Guys with guidance spanning assessment, estimates, insurance coordination, references and final installation. For contractors, the project illustrates how the experience surrounding a premium product matters as much as the material selection.

Appearance and maintenance at Riva Ridge HOA II
The 153-home community in Libertyville, Illinois, moved toward DaVinci Select Shake as aging cedar roofs required replacement. Maintaining the neighborhood’s cedar shake appearance while reducing long-term maintenance concerns was central to the decision. Association president Jack Chizek said Select Shake most resembled cedar shake roofs and later said The Shake Guys “completely skyrocketed past our expectations.” The project shows the relevance of composite shake when a community needs to consider both architectural consistency and ongoing upkeep.

A milestone built on a longstanding partnership

The 33,000-square achievement reflects years of putting DaVinci products to work for those varied customer needs. Michael Vaughn, director of sales with DaVinci Roofscapes, points to customer education as an important part of the partnership.

“Their experience, craftsmanship and commitment to educating property owners on the return-on-investment value of composite roofing have helped homeowners and commercial decision-makers choose composite slate and shake roofing that provides beauty, dependability, low maintenance and weather protection,” says Michael. “The 33,000-square cumulative installation milestone reached in 2026 reflects years of trust and a shared dedication to quality.”

The takeaway for roofing contractors

The Shake Guys’ milestone is more than a celebration of installation volume. It is a case study in growing the role of composite roofing by matching products to customer priorities. DaVinci’s expanding share of the company’s replacement projects shows how strongly that combination of authentic appearance, reduced maintenance and weather resistance is resonating with its customers.

“We understand that a premium roofing investment requires a premium installation experience,” says Chad. “Our goal is not simply to install a DaVinci roof, but to provide our customers with confidence that their roofing system will perform and protect their home for decades to come.”

For fellow roofers, that is the business-building message behind the recognition: understand what customers need from their next roof, explain how the product addresses those needs and make the installation experience part of the value. The Shake Guys has followed that approach since 2017 — and more than 33,000 squares later, DaVinci composite slate and shake remains a growing part of its business.

By Emma Peterson.

Knowledgeable manufacturer representatives can become invaluable partners for contractors looking for support.

In a new episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Megan Ellsworth got to sit down with Mitch Heitsch. Mitch is the director of sales for all roofing brands in the Westlake Royal Roofing Products portfolio for the state of Florida.

This means he oversees representative teams working on everything from Unified Steel’s stone-coated metal to DaVinci’s composite tile. Before Mitch took this position, he was actually the VP of sales for a large roofing company in Florida.

Mitch’s experience on both sides of the table, manufacturing as well as contracting, makes him the perfect person to talk to about the importance of a good sales representative. When we asked him what exactly a sales representative brings to the table, besides a product ordering catalog, he pointed to contractor education. Mitch explained, “Everything comes back to education. As a manufacturer sales rep, my job is about educating contractors so they can turn around and educate the homeowners and building owners.”

Having this type of partner and resource is especially important for contractors in areas like Florida where a wide variety of products are available and restrictions are in place. Mitch spoke from experience:

Having been on the other side, what I wanted out of a sales rep was a partner and a resource to help me navigate everything...Here in Florida, we have this whole breadth of roofing products, from concrete tile to stone coated metal and then there’s all the regulations, like Florida product approvals and Miami-Dade approvals. It was a lot to navigate and so, as a rep, my message is that I am a partner here, so they don’t have to navigate it all alone.

And education is just the start of how Mitch partners with his contractors. He also encourages and invites his contractors to join him at industry events, “I'm gonna give a shout out to my home builder association which is the Greater Orlando Builder Association (GOBA) as well as the Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (FRSA). These associations create a great space for contractors to learn and keep up with everything going on. I recommend it to everyone.”

Overall, Mitch is just one of the many incredible sales representatives out there providing the education and information that contractors need to succeed. Because with every project that goes well, it’s a win for the whole industry.

Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording to learn more about the role of sales representatives in the roofing industry.

By Rocky Mountain Snow Guards.

Why these Coloradans contractors keep choosing Rocky Mountain Snow Guards for their challenging projects.

In the mountains of Colorado, fear of wildfire spread is of such high concern that many homeowners and commercial property owners are replacing their roofs with fire-rated composite materials. For DCPS, a one-stop provider for commercial property services, this has meant a variety of challenging projects in recent years. These have resulted in beautiful new roofing assemblies for the owners, complete with extensive snow retention systems.

McCoy Peak Lodge

At an elevation of 8,100 feet, Beaver Creek, Colorado gets between 235 and 325 inches of snow each year. The stunning seven-story McCoy Peak Lodge multi-unit condo building is a ski-in/ski-out resort made to take advantage of snow season. Unfortunately, the old copper metal shingles and concrete tiles overhead were not protecting the structure from the potential of fire.

To upgrade both the appearance of the lodge and its fire rating, the owners decided to switch to a DaVinci Multi-Width Slate roof. The DCPS team was brought in to work on the 10/12 pitch roof project for a seven-month period.

“Because of the slippery nature of composite roofs like DaVinci, we knew a solid snow retention system would be needed for the lodge,” says Charles Hall, roofing division manager with DCPS. “There’s no one better than Rocky Mountain Snow Guards to handle challenges like this. We went to them with the roofing layout and had them do a comprehensive plan."

He went on, “They recommended the Drift II fence-style snow fence product placement between some rows of the Everest Guard EG 16 Dark Bronze snow guards on long stretches of roof. Then we had long soldier rows of the EG 16s on other open roof spaces. We even added snow retention to the many dormer windows on this project. Together this is an effective snow retention system for the McCoy Peak Lodge.”

Arrowhead River Ranch

Six miles away, in Edwards, Colorado is Arrowhead River Ranch. Residents at the 20-home HOA community determined this year it was time to have the old, brittle wood shakes removed from their homes. They were influenced in their decision by insurance requirements to have higher fire rated materials on their roofs that meet Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) standards.

"We worked with this community to have synthetic slate from DaVinci® Roofscapes installed on all their homes,” says Charles. “This composite material is Class A fire rated, so it meets the insurance qualifications. However, composite materials are quite slick, since they do not absorb water. This means they especially need a reliable snow retention system to hold back accumulating snows from avalanching all at one time.”

For the Arrowhead River Ranch project, Everest Guard EG 10 Dark Bronze snow guards were selected for the roof system. Once again, the team at DCPS worked with the team at Rocky Mountain Snow Guards to gain the free takeoff on the roof to determine the placement of the snow guards.

“Our reputation for excellence makes organizations like Arrowhead River Ranch come to us for challenging projects like this,” says Charles. “Interestingly, it’s their reputation for excellence that has us returning again and again to Rocky Mountain Snow Guards for their snow retention services and products.”

By Kate Smith, Sensational Color.

Check out some of timeless colors that DaVinci's composite roofing comes in.

Roofs and exterior walls don't usually get replaced on the same timeline. A homeowner might be re-roofing now but repainting or re-siding years from now, in a color that hasn't been chosen yet. In that situation, the composite roof needs to stay compatible with whatever comes next. A few colors are built for exactly that job.

Versatile picks

Charcoal Black and Dark Graphite Gray are the safest, most universally compatible roof colors there are. If a homeowner genuinely doesn't know their future siding color, these two colors remove the guesswork.

Rock Ridge blends dark gray and black to mirror the iron sulfide, graphite and carbon minerals found in real quarried slate, so it reads as a rich, varied neutral rather than a flat single tone.

Timber Black is technically a black, which usually falls into the "too stark" category — but it isn't a flat, solid black. It's built from deep grays blended into charcoal-black, modeled on the way rustic cedar actually darkens with moisture. That layered quality is what keeps it out of the "pure black" trap and closer to a deep neutral that can flex with future wall colors.

Mountain is a rugged mix of grays and browns with natural weathering that works well with tan, brick and stone. Less at home with cool blues or stark white.

Smokey Gray runs cooler than charcoal, with a subtle blue or navy-blue undertone that echoes historic blue-black slate — quarried in Pennsylvania and Virginia and still a familiar sight on Mid-Atlantic historic, commercial and residential buildings. It's a good option for a homeowner who wants something more distinctive than charcoal without leaving the safe, cool-neutral family.

Colors to avoid if the future siding is undecided

Where Aurora and Blonde Cedar fit instead

Not every DaVinci color belongs on a versatility list, and that's by design. Two of the newer colors — Aurora and Blonde Cedar — are crafted for homeowners who already know their palette and want a roof with a specific character.

• Aurora: Cool-toned mottled plums and browns combined with mossy gray-green
• Blonde Cedar: Sun-kissed shades of golden tan, beige and brown

If the siding color is settled, those two are worth a look. If it isn't, Rock Ridge and Timber Black are the newer composite slate and shake colors that actually solve the problem this article is about.

The bottom line

When the future siding color is still an open question, the goal isn't to select the most exciting roof color — it's to choose the one that won't need defending later. Charcoal, Dark Graphite Gray and their close cousins, Rock Ridge and Timber Black — all composite slate and shake roofing tiles — do that job without asking a homeowner to commit to a warm or cool palette before they're ready.

Curious how a versatile composite roofing color would look against different siding options? Use the free Design Tool to "try on" different DaVinci composite slate and shake roofs before deciding.

By DaVinci Roofscapes.

Composite slate and shake roofing can help turn harsh mountain conditions into premium project opportunities.

From Colorado to West Virginia to North Carolina, mountain resort owners have a difficult roofing problem. They need roofs that protect high-value lodging properties. They also need roofs that look right in mountain settings. That combination creates a strong business opportunity for roofing contractors.

Composite slate and shake roofing gives contractors a way to lead that conversation. DaVinci® Roofscapes is one proven example of success. Its composite roof tiles are designed to deliver the look of natural slate or cedar shake with lower maintenance demands, Class A fire-rated performance and Class 4 impact resistance.

The oppportunity: Sell more than a roof

On mountain resort projects, contractors should not lead with “roof replacement.” Instead, lead with asset protection, guest experience and Total Cost of Ownership.

• Protect the property from wildfire-related risk.
• Address insurance concerns tied to aging cedar shake.
• Reduce callbacks caused by rot, curling, splitting, insects and algae.
• Preserve the luxury mountain look guests expect.
• Support long-term capital planning for owners and asset managers.

Why mountain resort roofs are different

DaVinci Roofscapes: A product story contractors can use

DaVinci composite slate and shake tiles are modeled from actual slate and hand-split shake. The goal is simple: natural-looking roofing without the common issues that come with natural materials.

Case study 1: Horizon Pass Lodge replaces cedar with composite dhake

At Horizon Pass Lodge in Bachelor Gulch, Colorado, the property owners faced a familiar mountain-property challenge. The existing real cedar shingles were still in fair condition. But they had become a fire liability. Insurance was also becoming harder to secure. The owners worked with Jamie Pappas, president of Borne Consulting, to develop the project scope and select a contractor. Based on previous composite roofing experience on Colorado’s western slope, Pappas recommended DaVinci Multi-Width Shake.

“There’s an Elk Track townhomes project I check up on every so often,” said Jamie. “It was done back in 2008. The composite roofing tiles look almost brand new. Our team believes the DaVinci Multi-Width Shake and slate tile product holds up the best in this snow country environment.”

• Arapahoe Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc. was selected for the 500-square reroof.
• The team installed DaVinci Multi-Width Shake in Tahoe.
• New copper gutters and downspouts complemented the Rocky Mountain setting.
• More than 10,000 Rocky Guard RG16 Snow Guards were installed in Dark Bronze.
• The team also added 1,700 linear feet of NoFlash III three-pipe aluminum snow fence systems above sensitive eave areas.
• The project was completed in 10 weeks.
• It earned DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor 2022 Project of the Year recognition.

Contractor takeaway: When real cedar becomes a fire and insurance concern, contractors can offer a composite shake solution that keeps the mountain look while improving the performance story.

TCO takeaway: The resort owner gains a durable, lower-maintenance roof system that supports insurability, guest-facing aesthetics and long-term capital planning.

Case study 2: Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa rebuilds with resilience

When the Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa in Jackson, Wyoming, burned to the ground in 2019, the rebuild needed to respect the character of the original property while improving resilience. After five years of work, the expanded rustic lodge reopened in 2024. Brandon Herbst, a partner with Rowland + Broughton Architecture and Interior Design, said Class A fire resistance was required for materials used in reconstruction. That made the DaVinci Roofscapes product a natural fit for the roofing discussion.

“The Rusty Parrot owners were also intrigued by the Class 4 impact resistant rating and resiliency of the composite shake tiles to handle the extreme weather conditions in Jackson,” said Brandon. The design team specified DaVinci Multi-Width Shake in the Mountain color blend. The goal was to blend into the rugged mountain setting while still acknowledging the lodge’s somewhat urban site.

Brandon continued, "The Rusty Parrot owners are excited about the composite shake product’s durability and minimal upkeep requirements. We feel the synthetic roofing provides a natural look that blends well with the building’s color palette and mountain setting.”

Contractor takeaway: On new construction and post-loss rebuilds, roofing contractors can help owners and architects select a system that supports fire resistance, impact resistance and design intent.

TCO takeaway: A premium composite shake roof helps protect the owner’s investment while reinforcing the property’s luxury mountain identity.

Composite roofing versus common mountain alternatives

How contractors can position the sale

• For ownership groups: “This is a way to replace aging cedar before it fails while addressing fire and insurance concerns.”
• For resort owners: “This roof helps protect the guest-facing mountain look while reducing future maintenance demands.”
• For architects: “DaVinci gives you a slate or shake look with product performance suited to harsh mountain environments.”
• For property managers: “The system helps resist the issues that create recurring service calls.”
• For developers: “This is a premium roofing choice that supports long-term ROI and Total Cost of Ownership.”

Quick contractor checklist

The bottom line

Mountain resort owners need roofs that do more than cover buildings. They need roofs that help protect people, property, brand value and long-term investment. For roofing contractors, that need creates a valuable business opportunity. A composite slate or shake system gives you a premium solution to discuss with owners, architects, developers and property managers. DaVinci Roofscapes offers one strong option with Class A fire-rated performance, Class 4 impact resistance, authentic mountain aesthetics, low maintenance benefits and warranty-backed value.

Ready to pursue more mountain resort work? Start by turning the roofing conversation into a business conversation. Show owners how the right roof can improve curb appeal, reduce risk, control maintenance demands and support a stronger Total Cost of Ownership story.

By Emma Peterson. 

Contractors from Greater American Roofing and Weatherguard, Inc. discuss why DaVinci products have become a go-to solution for their clients. 

In a new episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Megan Ellsworth sat down with Crystal Watterson, CFO of Greater American Roofing, and Trent Lovewell, VP of sales and operations at Weatherguard, Inc., to hear why their companies install DaVinci Roofscape’s composite roofing products.  

For Crystal and the team at Greater American Roofing, DaVinci composite roofs have been in their portfolio since 2021. And in the five years since they started installing DaVinci, they’ve seen a distinct shift in their clients towards using composite. Crystal explained, “If you had asked me in 2020 how many asphalt roofs we were doing, it would have been 95% of our work. And now looking at last year, I think I did five asphalt roofs total.”  

The reason Greater American Roofing’s clients are largely making this shift is simple – composite performs better for longer. Crystal shared some thoughts about this, saying, “The longevity is unmatched. We installed our first DaVinci roof in January 2021 and when I go back and look at it today, it looks just as beautiful today as it did the day that we put it on.” She went on, “And it’s not just that the roof has lasted that long, it’s also that it lasts long with low maintenance. I think out of all the products we offer, DaVinci is the lowest maintenance.”  

As for Trevor and Weatherguard, DaVinci has been one of their offerings since 2005. In that time, they’ve installed countless squares of DaVinci composite products. He shared, “We’ve installed composite on everything from million-dollar homes to pump houses for swimming pools.” And for the main reason Weatherguard has used DaVinci on all of these different projects over the years, Trevor cites that same longevity that Crystal mentioned, “We install other materials beside composite and nothing really compares to the longevity of composite.” 

Want to learn more about composite roofing? Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording on YouTube.  

By DaVinci Roofscapes.

For roofers, church projects can deliver lasting beauty, strong performance and highly visible proof of craftsmanship.

Like an answered prayer, composite slate and shake tiles are helping churches across America reduce long-term roof maintenance while preserving the character that makes each structure special. Whether the need is driven by age, leaks, failing natural materials or storm damage, DaVinci Roofscapes products give roofing professionals a dependable way to combine authentic appearance with jobsite practicality.

Why church projects point to DaVinci

• Authentic character: Slate and shake profiles modeled from natural materials complement historic and contemporary architecture.
• Lower structural burden: Lightweight composite tiles can help avoid the weight and structural costs associated with natural slate.
• Installer-friendly versatility: Tiles can be cut on site for curves, steep slopes, steeples, domes and custom details.
• Weather-ready performance: Available products resist impact, wind, moisture, salt air and everyday deterioration.
• Long-term value: Churches gain a durable roof designed to reduce recurring repair and replacement concerns.
• Visible craftsmanship: High-profile worship facilities become enduring showcases for the roofing contractor.

DaVinci product features at a glance

Proof on the roof: Projects across America

St. Catherine of Siena — Wichita, Kansas

This 30,300-square-foot expansion added a sanctuary, chapel, classrooms, gym, kitchen and offices. For the project, DaVinci Single-Width Slate covered the main church; DaVinci Multi-Width Slate helped create a uniform appearance on the curved Adoration Chapel. This had multiple benefits, including allowing crews to cut shingles on site, creating an economical solution without premade shapes, and the lightweight nature of the product keeping structural weight and cost low. Greg Tice, AIA, Spangenberg Phillips Tice Architecture, shared some thoughts on the project: “The product is reliable, aesthetically pleasing and has long-lasting value.”

Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church — Johnson City, New York

This landmark church's 1977 cedar shake roof had deteriorated badly. When it came to replacing it, it was important for the solution to respect the building’s traditional Ukrainian design while providing a longer-lasting alternative. With this in mind, ninety squares of DaVinci composite shake in a Tuscano blend recreated the warmth of the original wood roof. When looking at the new roof, Reverand Teodor B. Czabala, Jr. had this to say, "The new composite shakes look almost identical to the older wooden ones, but these will last so much longer.”

Historic Designs Recreated — Dayton, Ohio

The 150-plus-year-old chapel at the Dayton VA Medical Center originally had a slate roof featuring a large cross and star-studded border. When it was time to replace it, they wanted something that looked like the original design. That's where medium tan and black DaVinci composite slate came in. As Edward Groh of PEDCO put it, "The availability of different shades of tiles made it possible to accurately duplicate the original design.”

Big roofs, fast results and landmark approvals

• Saint John’s Cathedral, Colorado: After approval from the Denver Landmark Preservation Commission, Horn Brothers Roofing installed 245 squares of DaVinci Single-Width Slate.
• Magdalen Catholic Church, Kansas: A full Eaton Roofing and Exteriors crew completed the composite slate roof on the 30,000-square-foot church and gathering space in just nine days.
• Grace Episcopal Church, Ohio: DaVinci Single-Width Slate replaced natural slate that had required constant attention for nearly a century. Reverand Joe Ashby of Grace Episcopal Church shared some thoughts, “After we saw the authentic appearance of the DaVinci product, we knew we’d found the solution to our problem.”
• St. Paul’s Church, Minnesota: Crews installed lightweight DaVinci Single-Width Slate and custom metal details 135 feet above the ground, restoring a century-old steeple.

Storm recovery with historic character

Stone Chapel at Drury University, Missouri

Following hail and wind damage, Kingdom Krafters replaced failing asbestos tiles with Steel Gray Inspire Slate. The Class 4 impact-rated roof, new decking and copper details were completed in less than four weeks. Garret Brumley, of Kingdom Krafters, shared some background info, “This advanced resin product from DaVinci Roofscapes has a Class 4 impact rating… and a slate-style look that complements the historic stone exterior.”

Central Community Church, Kansas

DaVinci Multi-Width Slate crowns a steep 12:12 chapel roof more than six stories high. The lightweight product delivers the look of slate while supporting the church’s goal of minimizing maintenance and replacement concerns.

Tested by Hurricane Harvey — Mustang Island, Texas

On an ocean-front property in Texas, impact-resistant Single-Width Slate tiles were used on roofs and straight mansard applications. They were chosen for their resistance to salt air and sea spray as well as curling, cracking, fading, mold, algae, fungus and insects. But another benefit of the choice quickly became clear when a Category 4 hurricane made landfall six miles away just a few months after the install. With reported winds of 120 to 140 mph, the half-inch composite tiles of the roof performed outstandingly, with only a few shingles blowing off. This protected the conference center from structural damage. Rob Watson, Episcopal Diocese of West Texas, shared, “I was pleasantly surprised that the tiles held their ground.

Match the product story to the church’s need

The roofer’s opportunity

Church roofs demand more than a standard replacement. They require respect for architecture, confidence in performance and a plan for details that may rise more than 100 feet above the ground. The projects across America show that DaVinci composite slate and shake can help roofing contractors answer each of those needs.

• Use samples and color blends to support building committee and preservation reviews.
• Present lightweight composite as a practical alternative to natural slate or wood shake.
• Match profiles to the architecture: Formal Single-Width, dimensional Multi-Width or authentic shake.
• Build the proposal around reduced maintenance, weather performance and long-term value.
• Show proven church projects to turn product claims into credible, visual evidence.

Win the next church project with a roof that honors the past, stands up to the future and puts your craftsmanship on display for generations: Specify DaVinci composite slate and shake.

By DaVinci Roofscapes.

A roofer’s guide to winning campus projects with composite slate and shake.

Educational institutions ask more of a roof. A campus project may need to preserve a historic skyline, support a new building’s architectural vision, withstand severe weather and reduce maintenance demands — all while staying practical to install. For roofers, that combination creates an opportunity: recommend a product that solves the owner’s problems and helps your crew deliver a roof built to serve generations of students.

DaVinci® Roofscape’s composite slate and shake products bring authentic character together with Class A fire and Class 4 impact ratings, resistance to severe weather and strong winds, low-maintenance performance and a 50-year limited warranty. Across the country, universities, colleges and schools are using these products on historic renovations, residence halls, learning centers, laboratories, athletic facilities and highly visible mansard roofs.

Why roofers should bring davinci to the table

• Win specification conversations: Offer the look of natural slate or shake with performance features campus decision makers value.
• Protect historic character: Match traditional architecture with realistic profiles, textures, edges and color blends.
• Address structural concerns: Provide a lightweight alternative where natural slate may be too heavy.
• Reduce owner headaches: Support long-term planning with low-maintenance materials and a 50-year limited warranty.
• Build confidence in severe-weather regions: Lead with Class 4 impact and Class A fire ratings.
• Improve jobsite efficiency: Pre-coordinated bundles can reduce hand mixing and installation labor.
• Create repeat campus work: A successful first building can become the standard for future reroofing projects.

Features roofers can turn into owner benefits

Proof on campus: Projects that make the case

Utah State University: One successful roof becomes a campus standard

• Challenge: Deteriorating cedar shakes on landmark Quad buildings dating to 1889 and 1918.
• Solution: Consistent DaVinci composite shake style and color across the Geology building, Old Main and the Ray B. West building.
• Contractor lesson: Deliver architectural continuity and reliable performance on the first project and the recommendation can carry across an entire campus.

University of Notre Dame: The slate look without the slate weight

• Challenge: A residential-style learning center could not support traditional slate.
• Solution: DaVinci Multi-Width Slate delivered a natural-slate appearance that blended with surrounding campus buildings.
• Owner priority: A long-term product aligned with the university’s sustainability goals.
• Proof of confidence: The university project manager later selected the product for his own home.

Phillips Exeter Academy: Modern performance, old world character

• Challenge: Failing natural slate across a historic New England campus of 147 brick buildings.
• Solution: Inspire® Slate on Wheelwright Dormitory, followed years later by Wetherell Dining Hall, Merrill Dormitory and Langdell Dormitory.
• Performance story: Textured surfaces and deckled edges modeled from natural slate, plus lightweight construction, Class 4 hail performance and a Class A fire rating.
• Contractor lesson: Restoration expertise is stronger when preservation goals are paired with improved long-term functionality.

Georgia Tech: A high-stakes roof for a wet laboratory

• Challenge: A failing roof over the Daniel Environmental Engineering Laboratory, where leakage could create serious contamination and public-risk concerns.
• Design constraint: Natural slate weight was a concern, but the new roof still had to complement a historic slate-roofed campus.
• Solution: DaVinci Single-Width Slate in a custom blend of 70% Evergreen and 30% Light Purple.
• Decision drivers: Class 4 impact resistance, Class A fire performance and historic aesthetic appeal.

Mississippi State University: Crew-friendly installation

• Project: Slate Gray DaVinci synthetic slate on the four-story Old Main Academic Center.
• First-time installer result: The Graham Roofing team found the product more contractor friendly than other brands it had installed.
• Labor advantage: Pre-coordinated bundles eliminated hand mixing and the tiles did not require corner bending before installation.

More campus proof points

• William Penn Charter School, Pennsylvania: DaVinci Single-Width Slate helps a modern athletic and wellness center blend with a 330-plus-year-old campus.
• The College of New Jersey: A roofer recommendation led to DaVinci Slate installations on a residence hall and an aquatic center.
• Brownell Talbot, Nebraska: DaVinci Multi-Width Slate answered hail exposure, warranty and color-matching needs across five campus buildings.
• University of Minnesota: DaVinci Multi-Width Slate was selected for Pioneer Hall for its authentic appearance, value, low maintenance and impact and fire resistance.
• Thomas Edison State College, New Jersey: DaVinci Slate delivered a thick traditional profile, reflectance value and Castle Gray color coordination for a new nursing education center.
• Washburn University, Kansas: DaVinci synthetic slate has been used on the alumni center, field house and art museum — demonstrating the potential for ongoing reroofing work.
• Primrose School of Blue Valley, Kansas: A repeat owner chose DaVinci Single-Width Slate after a similar roof at another school performed well for six years.

Mansard roofs: Turn the roof into the campus façade

On mansard applications, roofing becomes one of the most visible architectural surfaces. Eight residence-tower buildings at the State University of New York use DaVinci Multi-Width Slate in a European blend across nearly four stories of steep mansard roofing. At Butler Community College in Kansas, 16 structures received DaVinci slate after severe hail damaged 95% of campus roofing.

A simple playbook for the next campus opportunity

1. Start with the building. Identify historic character, structural limits, roof visibility and the consequences of failure.
2. Connect local risks to tested performance. Discuss hail, fire, wind and weather conditions in terms the facilities team can use.
3. Bring visual options early. Help the architect compare profiles, widths and color blends against surrounding campus roofs.
4. Quantify installation advantages. Explain how product handling and pre-coordinated bundles can affect labor and scheduling.
5. Sell the campus portfolio — not just one roof. Show how a successful installation can establish a repeatable standard across multiple buildings.
6. Document the long-term value. Pair low-maintenance performance with the 50-year limited warranty and the institution’s capital plan.

Own the next campus opportunity.

Recommend DaVinci composite slate and shake to give educational institutions the authentic character they want, the tested performance they demand and the long-term value they need. Deliver the first roof with confidence — and position your company as the trusted roofing partner for the next building, the next phase and the campus-wide standard.

By DaVinci Roofscapes.

Why mountain roofers are turning homeowners toward composite roofing for HOAs, townhomes and condos.

Mountain roofing is not easy work. Snow stacks up. UV beats down. Wind pushes hard. Freeze-thaw cycles test every fastener, flashing detail and roof plane. That is why more condo associations, townhome communities and property managers in mountain markets are asking for roofing products that do more than just look good on day one.

They want long-term performance. They want fire resistance. They want fewer callbacks. And they want roofs that still fit the high-end character of resort communities. For roofers, that creates an opportunity.

DaVinci® Roofscapes composite shake and slate products give contractors a premium solution to recommend. They deliver the authentic look of cedar or slate without the same maintenance, fire, pest and breakage concerns of the natural materials.

Why composite roofing fits mountain communities

Traditional materials can be beautiful. However, they can also be fragile. Cedar can rot, crack, curl and attract insects. It can also create fire concerns in forested areas. Concrete tiles can be heavy and vulnerable to impact. Natural slate can be costly, difficult to source, brittle and hard to replace.

DaVinci composite roofing gives roofers another way to provide the look of those products without the problems. The synthetic tiles are made with virgin resins, UV and thermal stabilizers and fire retardants. They are engineered for lasting color, impact and fire resistance, plus severe-weather durability.

The benefits? These composite roofing tiles...

• Help reduce long-term maintenance demands for associations and homeowners.
• Support fire-resistant roofing goals in wildfire-prone areas.
• Work with engineered snow retention systems in snow country.
• Provide the look of cedar shake or slate without the same vulnerabilities.
• Preserve curb appeal in luxury mountain communities.

The mountain roofing challenge
 

Story 1: Sunrise Ridge Condos, Big Sky, Montana

At Sunrise Ridge Condos in Big Sky, Montana, the roof has to take on roughly 257 inches of snow each year. That is more than 21 feet landing on the community in one season. When the association planned to replace real cedar roofing on 58 homes, leaders wanted longer life, lower fire concern and better value.

“Our condos are in an area with extreme climate conditions that’s tough on roofs,” says Charles Dubroff, the association’s lead board of directors member on the re-roofing project. “We wanted a roofing product with a long life and warranty. Plus, we also desired positive environmental aspects and fire-resistancy.”

• Roof Top Solutions helped the community test DaVinci synthetic shake products on several buildings.
• After the trial, the association selected DaVinci Multi-Width Shake roofing in Tahoe for the condos and clubhouse.
• The finished roof delivered authentic shake appeal with Class A fire and Class 4 impact ratings.

“I couldn’t be happier about our choice of roofing companies or roofing products,” says Charles. “We’re looking at these roofs lasting us many decades.”

Story 2: Royal Elk Villas, Avon, Colorado

Royal Elk Villas in Beaver Creek Village had a familiar problem. Heavy snow and intense sun had worn down the roofs on 15 luxury townhomes. Ascent Building Consulting recommended DaVinci Single-Width Slate because the product had already performed well on other mountain projects.

“This was a fairly easy product recommendation,” says Steve R. Bunn, RRC, RRO, president of Ascent Building Consulting, Inc. “I’ve selected and specified DaVinci Roofscapes synthetic shake and slate products on multiple projects for a number of years. That’s mostly due to the continued success with the products.”

Steve selected DaVinci synthetic slate for freeze-thaw resistance, fire performance and long-term track record.

• J&K Roofing installed the composite roof system.
• The project also included more than 4,500 copper snow guards from Rocky Mountain Snow Guards.

The result was a roof built for beauty, managed snow release and long-term reliability.

Story 3: Buckhorn - Bachelor Gulch Townhomes, Avon, Colorado

At Buckhorn - Bachelor Gulch, OAC Management helped evaluate roofing options for two dozen townhomes. The community wanted the look of natural cedar shake. It also wanted fewer worries about fire, insects, maintenance and freeze-thaw stress. OAC Management used a comparative analysis and cash model. DaVinci Multi-Width Shake rose to the top because of its appearance, warranty, testing, certifications and mountain-weather performance.

“We typically do a comparative analysis whenever asked to coordinate replacement products for a community,” says Erik Peterson, owner and president of OAC Management. “We list out all the attributes of each product, evaluate the manufacturers, look at product costs and then determine which product rises to the top.”

• Umbrella Roofing installed more than 77,000 square feet of DaVinci Multi-Width Shake roofing in the Autumn blend.
• Custom copper flat seam roofs were included.
• A full snow-retention plan helped address mountain safety concerns.

“Our team has installed more than 100 DaVinci roofs in the Aspen and Vail areas,” says Trevor H. Cannon, owner of Umbrella Roofing. “When homeowners in this area want peace-of-mind plus a sensational looking imitation shake or slate roof, they come to us!”

Story 4: Highlands Slopeside, Beaver Creek, Colorado

At Highlands Slopeside in Beaver Creek, 26 years of Colorado weather had taken a toll on a five-story condo complex. The renovation included windows, siding, masonry and more than 500 squares of DaVinci Multi-Width Slate roofing. Arapahoe Roofing & Sheet Metal worked under tight summer windows, limited roof access and crowded scaffolding. Crews put in long days to keep the project moving.

“We were permitted to work on the composite roof for seven weeks during two separate summer timeframes in 2016 and 2017,” says Mark Bellitt, president of Arapahoe Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. “Our crews worked 12-hour days, six days a week to meet the tight deadline.”

• The project included more than 540 squares of DaVinci Multi-Width Slate.
• It also included copper standing seam roofing, heated eaves, copper gutters, snow fences and more than 2,500 snow guards.
• The roofing work earned Arapahoe Roofing the Colorado Roofing Association Job of the Year Award in 2017.

Why roofers can recommend DaVinci with confidence

Mountain projects are high-visibility jobs. They often include steep slopes, copper details, tight schedules, HOA review, snow retention layouts and demanding owners. That makes product confidence important. DaVinci gives roofers a premium story to tell. It is about natural beauty, tested performance, reduced maintenance and long-term value.

As Karla Ferguson of J&K Roofing put it, "The DaVinci product went up smoothly. It’s a good product to work with and we’ve had strong success with DaVinci in the past.”

Key takeaways for roofers

• Lead with the mountain problem. Then show how composite roofing solves it.
• Recommend DaVinci when clients want the look of natural shake or slate with less maintenance burden.
• Use Class A fire and Class 4 impact-rated options to support performance conversations.
• Always discuss snow retention as part of the roofing system.
• Point to Montana and Colorado success stories when HOA boards need proof.
• Talk Total Cost of Ownership, not just initial material cost.

Trevor H. Cannon of Umbrella Roofing summed it up perfectly: “Quite simply, this is the only synthetic roof we install. The track record we have with this polymer roofing product is very impressive.”

The bottom line

Mountain communities do not need ordinary roofs. They need roofs built for snow, sun, fire exposure, impact, wind and architectural expectations. DaVinci Roofscapes composite shake and slate tiles give roofing contractors a product they can sell with confidence. The products look right for mountain homes. They perform in difficult conditions. And they help roofers give customers a premium answer to a very real problem.

For roofers serving mountain condo, townhome and HOA communities, composite roofing is no longer just an alternative. It has become a preferred recommendation.

By Emma Peterson. 

With more homeowners researching roofing systems before making a purchase, contractors must be ready to provide deeper insights and expert guidance. 

In the last few years, more and more homeowners have begun doing their own research about roofing materials and products. This is in large part due to the rise of digital literacy and the development of new research tools like artificial intelligence. To learn how this impacts roofing contractors in the field, we sat down with Scott Kim of WGM Contracting and Brian Ricci of Adco South Roofing for a Roofing Road Trips® all about customer education. 

Scott shared his initial thoughts on how pre-research changes his homeowner interactions, saying, “Sometimes the internet leads them to misinformation, other times they come knowing more and it makes our job easier. Overall, I think this rise of research is nice, because it gives us a starting point to supplement their knowledge and give more in-depth knowledge.”   

This type of supplementing information is something that Brian also incorporates into his homeowner interactions. He shared, “The key to working with clients is working with what they know. Sometimes I’ll ask them point blank, ‘What do you do for a living?’ and then bring roofing into their world to better explain it.”  

What comes up the most in these types of educational conversations? Scott said he spends a lot of time talking about return on investment (ROI):  

I get a lot of calls from homeowners who have asphalt roofing and they're debating whether to transition to something high-quality like a DaVinci composite. And as we all know it's about three to four times higher cost compared to traditional shingles. So, they’re hesitant. What a lot of them don’t realize is that with that extra cost, you are buying a longer-lasting roof and ultimately saving money. 

How exactly does paying more up front equate to saving money? Someone who paid more up front for composite won’t have to reroof for probably 50 years. In that same time, someone who chose an asphalt roof because it’s cheaper will have had at least one roof replacement. And that replacement will be at a higher price tag than their first asphalt roof because of inflation. When you do the math, paying for that composite up front is far more economical than buying the same roof twice.  

By taking the time to educate homeowners and clients about this type of consideration, roofers like Brian and Scott are able to build trusting relationships that turn into high-value sales.  

Learn more about the value of providing homeowners with deeper insights and expert guidance by Listening to the whole episode or Watching the recording.