By DaVinci Roofscapes.

Hand-split shake siding from DaVinci recaptures authentic cedar siding.

Built around 1914, the three-story water tower on the old Weeks homestead is still standing. And today it’s been given new life. The structure, which is a historical focal point on Lopez Island in Washington state, has just been refinished with DaVinci Hand-Split Shake Siding in a beautiful Aged Cedar color.

Debra Maggiora, current owner of the Weeks homestead in Washington, shared some thoughts:

I wanted to mimic the aesthetic of the 100-year-old shakes that were deteriorated and needed to be removed to keep the historic look of the water tower. I became familiar with the DaVinci products when I worked on reroofing a different historic building. At that time, I sought manmade materials due to their longevity and lower maintenance requirements. DaVinci shared their synthetic roofing materials and I was impressed. Now, they’ve impressed me again with their synthetic siding product.

Surprisingly realistic

Debra currently rents out the water tower to Marleigh Alexander, who runs Haircuts on the Rock inside the tower.

“My customers are fascinated to hear that the composite material is all new, yet honors the age of the building with its visual aesthetics,” says Marleigh. “Many people have been really surprised to find out that the replacement siding isn’t real cedar shake. It’s incredibly authentic looking!”

Adding another century of life

Tackling the re-siding project was Dan Kellenberger, better known as “Handy Dandy Home Maintenance” to area residents. In addition to enhancing the water tower’s exterior, Kellenberger also rebuilt its foundation, replaced shiplap boarding and rebuilt the roof area using DaVinci shake products.

Available in 8” and 10” widths, each tile is 5/8” thick and 18” tall, with thick construction and deep grooves. The realistic grain patterns combine to create dramatic shadows and visual richness. The 10” pieces have a simulated keyway to give the look of 4” and 6” shakes to create a multi-width appearance. All the DaVinci pieces resist fading, rotting, cracking, pests, severe weather and high winds.

“The original cedar materials were way past their lifespan,” says Dan. “They were old and split. The composite materials from DaVinci will hold up much better in the Pacific Northwest weather in the future. Plus, they’re fire-resistant and require almost no maintenance. With DaVinci, we’ve found a long-term solution for keeping the historic water tower looking great for another century!”

By DaVinci Roofscapes.

The story of a just-in-time installation giving a homeowner relief in the face of a storm.

Josh Maggard is a lucky man. How lucky? Just two days after his DaVinci Select Shake roof was installed on May 13, 2025, a storm came through his neighborhood dropping golf ball sized hail.

“I immediately contacted our roofers,” says Josh. “They flew a drone over the roof and showed there was no damage at all. They weren’t even surprised because DaVinci roofs are Class 4 rated for significant impact resistance. I was immensely relieved. I’m sure the severity of that storm would have destroyed our old cedar roof. Frankly, I’m confident it would have significantly damaged even a brand-new cedar shake roof!”

Inheriting a troublesome roof

Josh's story starts in 2010 when he purchased his Oak Creek, Wisconsin home. The cedar shake roof on the five-year-old house was already showing its age. Despite routine maintenance, rough storms blew off shingles. A really bad hailstorm in 2024 did extensive damage to the roof.

After that storm roofers began calling on homes in the neighborhood offering their services. Josh was most impressed by a visit from Alex Walsh with DuraShield Roofing & Contracting.

“Alex was focused on helping me rather than making an immediate sale,” says Josh. “He offered to use his drone to take pictures of the roof so I could see the hail and storm damage. His company did a temporary repair on the ridge to prevent further damage until the roof could be replaced. Then he submitted the pictures and a claim to the insurance company on my behalf, making the it easy.”

Fooled ya …

With insurance approval achieved, Josh now had to decide what to do about a new roof.

“Josh was ready to go back to a real cedar shake roof,” says Alex. “He has a traditional neighborhood and many of his neighbors have kept original shakes over the years. However, shakes just keep getting damaged and rotting away. So, I brought over DaVinci Roofscapes composite shake samples and explained all the benefits of synthetic shakes.”

Josh appreciated the attributes of composite shake, but was hesitant to negatively set his house apart with a composite shake roof. He explained:

My primary concern was that the product would look inferior. Even though I liked the samples I saw, I couldn’t picture them on my roof. What ultimately sold me was Alex showing me that two of the homes in my neighborhood that I thought had original cedar shake have actually switched to DaVinci. Those roofs look great. That visual confirmation, along with the compelling differences in warranty and maintenance, made the decision easier.

Now that my roof is installed, I know I wasted a lot of time worrying about how it would look. The Select Shake roof in the Tahoe blend looks phenomenal. I can’t believe I was ever concerned about the potential appearance!

Trusting in DaVinci

Josh didn’t have much time to sit back and bask in the happiness of a decision well made. With the severe hailstorm two days after the project was finished, his mind went immediately to damage control.

“I was immediately concerned that my new DaVinci roof would be significantly damaged because the storm was so severe,” says Josh. “Once again, DuraShield Roofing & Contracting responded quickly. They reinforced that the DaVinci product can easily handle this kind of weather and my roof was in great shape. I hope to never replace another roof in any property I ever own. However, if I do, I will go with DuraShield Roofing & Contracting. And, from what I’ve quickly learned, the benefits of going with DaVinci (the warranty, low maintenance, impact ratings, etc.) are unmatched. If I could do this whole process again (and I hope I never do!) it will be a quick decision to go with DaVinci!”

By DaVinci Roofscapes.

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee structures boast synthetic roofing.

Thanks to the beautiful design work of SRA Architects Inc., many commercial properties in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee boast composite roofing from DaVinci Roofscapes. For more than a dozen years the architectural firm has specified composite roofing on exceptional structures like the Le Conte Events Center.

Now the talented firm is in the midst of a multitude of new government designs. The Sevier County Courts Building, a new Pigeon Forge City Hall, Police Station and Fire Station structures. The common denominator? Each one of them has been specified with a Class A fire resistant DaVinci roof.

Architect endorses DaVinci

Back in 2013 Michael Smelcer, Principal at SRA Architects, Inc. indicated a preference for DaVinci Single-Width Slate on the 232,000-square-foot Le Conte Events Center in Pigeon Forge. Now, more than a decade later, he’s designing more exhibit space and a new main entrance to the complex that will add 58,000-square-feet of space.

“We’ll again use DaVinci Roofscapes overhead,” says Michael. “The LeConte Center’s roof still looks good, and it’s functioning well. We keep returning to the DaVinci product for our projects because it’s a durable product.”

DaVinci Single-Width Slate roofing tiles are constructed of a composite material made of pure virgin resins, UV and thermal stabilizers as well as a highly-specialized fire retardant. The result is a premium roofing tile that resists fading, rotting, cracking and pests. Lightweight yet durable, DaVinci tiles are Class 4 impact rated and can resist hail, severe weather and winds up to 180 mph.

Firewise construction

For another recent project, there’s an additional reason Smelcer relied on DaVinci roofing — its remarkable fire resistancy.

When designing the new Pigeon Forge Fire Station 1, a goal was to promote the construction of fire-wise structures. The Firewise USA® program, led by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), offers a structured approach for communities to enhance their wildfire resilience.

“We specified native stone on the exterior which is fire resistant,” says Michael. “Then for the roof we knew the DaVinci tiles are Class A rated, which is a plus. They also look great and provide a long lifespan on the roof. Those are all good reasons why we’ve included them on the fire station, and the upcoming police station and City Hall for Pigeon Forge.”

Fire-resistant roofing

According to Pigeon Forge Fire Chief Joshua Carr, Fire Station 1 was designed with fire safety in mind. The 30,000-square-foot facility includes a multi-story training tower, sleeping quarters and hot, warm and cold isolation zones for cancer prevention.

“The City of Pigeon Forge is proud to be a fire-adaptive community and is committed to maintaining its status as a certified Firewise community,” says Joshua. “The station was designed to promote the construction of fire-wise structures. After extensive research, it was decided that DaVinci composite roofing products would play a key role in that mission.”

The DaVinci Single-Width Slate tiles were installed by Pinpoint Roofing in Slate Gray. “The fire resistance and impact ratings are a huge selling point for our customers looking at DaVinci roofs,” says Derek Davenport, commercial director with Pinpoint Roofing LLC in Pigeon Forge. “I feel these qualities have helped us transform true slate or shake enthusiasts into believers in the synthetic lines.”

Pride in appearance

While durability is a key asset for the DaVinci roofing tiles, aesthetics come in a close second with many people. “We’re very pleased with the appearance of the roof on the fire station,” says Joshua. “It’s going to look great when the police station is finished nearby with the same roof.”

Derek shared some closing thoughts: 

At Pinpoint Roofing we pride ourselves in our ability to transform what could be another everyday roof into something people want to showcase. We do not take shortcuts. We do whatever is necessary for a fantastic final result. I drive by this fire station on a daily basis and I get a sense of pride every single time I see it. It’s such a work of art and it feels great knowing we were able to be part of its creation.”

By DaVinci Roofscapes.

Get an Earth Day advantage with roofing systems that maximize sunlight.

Would you put solar panels on your roof if almost the entire cost of the project was covered for you? Homeowner Trent N. just made this smart move.

“All in all, the incentives Trent received for installing the solar panels cover around 90% of the project costs,” says Robert Thacker, owner and CEO of Fibonacci Energy, the solar panel company Tamer purchased his system from. “First, he receives Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) from the state of Illinois in the form of a check within nine months of installation. Then he qualifies for the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for solar. ComEd also offers Distribution Generation (DG) rebates for solar and battery systems that he qualifies for. And then there’s a check from the utility with nine weeks of Permission to Operate (PTO). There’s also a federal tax rebate."

He went on, "That’s almost the full cost of setting up the solar panel system. Finally, in general, he can be saving between $2,500 to $5,000 in energy fees each year with the solar panels.”

Combining with DaVinci

These impressive numbers, combined with the failing status of Trent’s real cedar shake roof, encouraged the Illinois homeowner to make some drastic changes to his roofing system last year. While he had been thinking about solar panels for several years, a 2023 hailstorm that severely damaged his roof spurred him to take the next steps. One of those steps was contacting DuraShield Roofing & Contracting.

“Replacing the roof with another cedar shake roof did not make sense,” says Anthony Walsh, owner of DuraShield Roofing & Contracting out of Neenah, Wisconsin. “Especially when adding in the solar panels on the southern exposure of the roof. You need something stronger that you can walk on without worry to maintain the solar panels long-term. Our suggestion was definitely the DaVinci composite shake product.”

Made of virgin resin, UV and thermal stabilizers plus a fire retardant, DaVinci products are Class 4 rated for impact resistance. The sustainable tiles can handle hail, severe weather conditions and high winds. They also resist insects, fading, cracking and splitting.

Solar trend rising

“Trent chose the DaVinci Multi-Width Shake in an Aged Cedar color, which looks great on his home,” says Anthony. “We were able to work closely with Fibonacci Energy to form a strong fit of the DaVinci tiles with the solar panels on the roof. While this was our first solar panels project, I can definitely see a trend for this growing in our areas in the future.”

According to Robert, that trend in Illinois is rapidly on the rise, “Quick research shows that solar product usage has increased 288% from 2022 to 2025,” says Thacker. “Illinois is rich with solar incentives and is an ideal marketplace. We think the DaVinci roof on Trent’s home looks amazing...Solar belongs on every DaVinci roof! They go so well together. The future of energy and the future of composite roofing goes hand-in-hand.”

By DaVinci Roofscapes.

Results like these don't just happen overnight; DaVinci products spark life in the stunning Fredrica Marsh Cottages.

Developer Brett Flanagan knows the recipe for success when starting a high-end custom home community. Go with proven quality products. That’s why he personally specified DaVinci Roofscapes atop every one of the 27 luxury homes in the new Frederica Marsh Cottages community in Saint Simons Island, Georgia. 

“I’ve installed DaVinci on over 40 new homes ranging from $2 million to $10 million during the past three to five years,” says Brett, owner of Flanagan Development LLC in Sea Island, Georgia. “The aesthetics, warranty, durability, ease of installation and other features are the reasons we love this composite product so much.” 

Rooftop aesthetic diversity

Prices start at $1.7 million each for homes in the specialty community of Frederica Marsh Cottages. Each house is unique. And all the magnificent homes are adjacent to the prestigious Frederica Golf Course, surrounded by protected wetlands. 

“First impressions are everything, and the roofs on these homes maximize those impressions,” says Brett. “The authentic look of the composite slate and shake help sell these homes.

“Having a varied material palette is important in a new development, especially for a boutique community of 27 luxury homes. However, keeping a cohesive underlying palette of shake and slate provides the architectural and aesthetic appearance that is important to the overall community design and feel.” 

For the entire development, Brett specified DaVinci Multi-Width Shake in Aged Cedar and Mountain colors, DaVinci Select Shake in Chesapeake, Mossy Cedar and Mountain colors and Province Slate in the Castle Gray color. 

“We used mainly earth tones in different DaVinci product lines throughout the community to provide an architectural balance while keeping a primary consistent aesthetic,” says Brett. 

Features to count on

Along with the appearance of the roof selection comes the practicality. Located on the coast of Georgia, Saint Simon’s Island is prone to hurricane weather conditions, searing sun and high humidity.  

“Every feature of the DaVinci roof is a winner,” says Brett. “The Lifetime Limited Material Warranty is undoubtedly the best selling point to potential buyers and custom home clients. It puts them at ease immediately. Follow that by the aesthetics and the low maintenance.  

“People don’t want to worry about their roof — during good times or bad. When the weather’s sunny, they don’t want to worry about fade resistance. And with the DaVinci roof, the guaranteed retention of the color makes such a huge impact architecturally. 

“Then when there’s stormy weather, the Class 4 impact resistancy of the roof really counts. So does the exceptional wind resistance with the weather conditions we get. Both factor into the structural integrity of the home, but play a larger role year over year with insurance carriers for our homeowners and buyers. We’re in a coastal market, so it’s very important to have this level of protection. 

“And finally, the Class A fire protection on the DaVinci roof is valuable for both peace of mind and from an insurance standpoint. I’ve had custom clients rule out a real wood shake roof even though they love them. When I show them a composite DaVinci shake roof, they immediately set their worries aside.” 

Up on the roof

Creating the dream development of Fredrica Marsh Cottages doesn’t happen overnight. Started in 2024, the expansive project is scheduled to be fully complete and sold out in 2027. During the three-year construction process, the experienced team at Stephen Cookson Inc. has been retained to install the roofs on the 27 designer homes. 

“We have a strong working relationship with Flanagan Development,” says Stephen Cookson, owner and founder of Stephen Cookson, Inc. out of Brunswick, Georgia. “Both companies value craftsmanship and long-term performance. Our rapport is built on trust, communication and shared expectations for quality. 

“We work closely with their team during planning and execution to make sure the design intent is carried through properly and that the DaVinci roofing system is installed to manufacturer standards. We have a crew of up to 10 people working on this DaVinci roof installation regularly. These people have the talent and craftsmanship skills to make certain that each composite roof is installed perfectly to accent the home designs. 

“These roofs represent some of our most detailed and technically demanding work. Each DaVinci project requires careful planning and experienced crews, and we treat them as signature installations for our company.” 

The team at Stephen Cookson Inc. has gained a strong level of experience installing DaVinci slate and shake roof systems on homes throughout the coastal Georgia region. Each project has elevated the home’s appearance along with its performance. 

“Many homeowners have seen storm damage to traditional roof materials,” says Stephen. “Now they’re choosing products that offer better performance while still maintaining the elegance of slate or shake. With its 180-mph wind rating, impact resistance and ability to stand up to severe weather, DaVinci fits the needs of homeowners in coastal and hurricane-prone regions.”

Looking to future projects

While the Frederica Marsh Cottages project is in full swing, Flanagan Development also has other “irons in the fire.” 

“We build a lot of homes in Frederica Township,” says Brett. “One we’re specifically excited about is a 5,700-square-foot custom home in a wooded setting. It will receive a full DaVinci Slate roof in Slate Gray. I can’t wait to see that one complete as I know the roof will look outstanding. 

“Basically, we don’t do any projects that don’t have DaVinci specified in some way or another. We have multiple current projects that will receive DaVinci products and more on the way. I’m simply a huge believer in the DaVinci products.” 

And at Stephen Cookson, Inc., demand is also on the rise for DaVinci roofing materials. 

“We have unique custom homes and renovations coming up where homeowners want premium roofs that stand out both visually and structurally,” says Stephen. “People in our area are moving toward DaVinci because they desire roofs that offer a long lifespan, high wind resistance, low maintenance, consistent appearance and a luxury architectural look. We’re proud to deliver those high-quality finished DaVinci roofs.” 

By DaVinci Roofscapes.

NASCAR Champion relies on DaVinci composite roofing.

Who could forget all the strategic racing moves Rusty Wallace has made in his NASCAR career? Turns out the retired 1989 NASCAR Cup Series champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer still has the drive for perfection — especially when it comes to his home.

Most recently Rusty turned his keen attention to the selection of a new roof for his North Carolina home.

“When it was clear that the heavy roofing tiles were leaking and starting to fall off my roof, I knew it was time to get serious about a replacement,” says Rusty. “I watched as roofing tiles up the street were installed on a neighbor’s house. I really liked them. When we looked into them, they turned out to be from DaVinci® Roofscapes...Most people find a roofer and ask what they suggest. I said I want that product, now show it to me!”

Visualizing a new roof

Rusty started out just as any other homeowner would — he contacted the customer service team at DaVinci’s headquarters and asked for samples. From there he connected with DaVinci’s territory sales manager, Bill Landry, to determine what product and color would work best for his lakeside home.

“We started discussing shake versus slate on the house,” says Bill. “Using the DaVinci Visualizer, we could get a photo rendition of what the house would look like with both options and with different color roofing. While their first inclination was to use shake on the roof, the Visualizer helped them quickly change gears and move to a slate profile. Due to the aesthetics and product availability, the DaVinci Inspire® Slate line was selected.

He went on, "From there I constructed several large sample mock-up boards with different colors of the Inspire Slate product. That really helped move the couple away from a brightly colored roof that would have clashed with their multi-colored driveway to a more neutral charcoal black roof color.”

Inspiring slate roof

The lightweight single-width Inspire Slate chosen by Rusty for his home is modeled from natural slate using advanced resins. Backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty, the quarter-inch thick Inspire® Slate tiles resist mold, algae, fire, pests and impact. They will also not chip or crack.

“Having a roof that’s virtually maintenance free means everything in the world to me,” says Rusty. “I like the composite aspect. It looks exceptionally realistic. Yet I know this will be a worry-free roof for decades to come.”

Impressing a roofer

To bring in a conveyor system to remove the old tiles and then install the new roof, Rusty chose Trinity Roofing & Construction out of Whitakers, North Carolina.

“We’ve been in business for 10 years, but this was the first time we’ve installed Inspire Slate,” according to Chad Williamson with Trinity Roofing & Construction LLC. “My entire team and all the installers were very impressed with this specific composite product compared to other similar products we install regularly."

Chad continued, "We probably reduced our installation time by up to 35%. It was pretty incredible. The Inspire Slate is a very nice-looking product and we plan to highly recommend it to our future customers. Considering the challenges we faced of going from such a high-profile barrel tile to such a low-profile slate-like product, we’re extremely proud of the final results achieved for Rusty and his wife.”

Finish line

Chad isn’t the only one pleased with the final results. According to Rusty, he’d use both the roofer and the composite product again.

“It was great working with Chad and his team,” says Rusty. “True Craft Builders recommended Chad and they were so correct. The Trinity Roofing & Construction team were great to work with and provided us with a roof that looks terrific on our home. I never liked the old roof on this house. Now the house feels ‘right’ with the Inspire Slate roof. It fits the style of house better.

When you’re running all over the country like I do, there really are very few hours to sit back and relax when I’m at home. Now when I’m there I don’t have to worry about the roof anymore. I’m glad those roofing headaches are gone.”

By DaVinci Roofscapes.

Get authenticity and performance with DaVinci composite roofing.

Crumbling slate on a 100-year-old school. Hail-pocked cedar shakes on historical churches. Fixing wrongly placed asphalt on an old county courthouse. If you’re in the position of selecting roofing for a historical project, you’re among the growing number of architects discovering that composite roofing tiles are the solution.

When the 1886 red brick administration building in Owantonna, Minnesota, needed a new roof, the city brought in Adsit Architecture and Planning to handle the challenge. Old asphalt shingles needed to be removed. Caretakers of the historical structure, which is on the National Register of Historical Places, needed to preserve the history of the complex.

“We wanted to bring back the prominence of the original slate roof,” says architect Mark Gunstad with Adsit. “We specifically wanted a composite roof. Our feeling is that it will have a long lifespan. From our search, we determined that DaVinci products provide the most realistic look for a composite roof. The European color blend and appearance of the tiles played a major role in the selection. In addition, DaVinci has turret packages available, which was very important. After that, we were looking for a product that’s easy to install. Above all, cost was a factor. DaVinci hits all the marks.

He went on, "Our company does a lot of work with historic structures. This is our first time working with the DaVinci product. However, it won’t be our last. We are excited to specify these synthetic roofing tiles on other projects in the future.”

Lightweight composite roofing tiles

While appearance, installation ease and color availability are all good reasons to specify composite roofing tiles for historical projects, there are more. The lightweight nature of the product makes it an attractive asset.

At R.J.O. Intermediate School in Kings Park, New York — home to the Kings Park Heritage Museum — the original slate tile roof on the school had started to crumble in recent years. Worse than that, tiles were sliding off and crashing below, causing the 100-year-old slate roof to become a safety hazard. In addition, the weight of the natural slate also caused areas of the roof to sag.

“All these factors combined, and we knew it was time to replace this roof,” says Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Timothy T. Eagen with Kings Park Central School District in New York. “We wanted to replicate the unique roof. But to complicate this situation, the original building had been extended a few times over the years. Each time a slightly different slate roof pattern and color was used. Now we needed a unified look that mimicked the historic slate."

The school district turned to H2M architects + engineers out of Melville, New York, for assistance. The team there recommended DaVinci Multi-Width Slate as a replacement historical roofing material.

The lightweight nature of the composite roofing tiles, compared to heavy real slate, helped immediately solve one problem. The product’s Class A fire and Class 4 impact resistance offered other solutions. Above all, the composite roofing tiles resist chipping, cracking and breaking.

Once the product and colors were chosen and approved by the school district, there was one more hurdle. A presentation was made to the State Historic Preservation Office. The review team there was equally impressed with the quality and authenticity of the DaVinci historical roofing material. They gave the composite roofing their immediate approval.

Shaking up historical roofing material

As popular as synthetic slate is as a historical roofing material, composite shake has also made inroads in many historical projects.

Church buildings previously with real cedar shakes across the country have transitioned to composite cedar shakes. Along with their authentic appearance, the congregations appreciate composite shakes for their fire-resistant, low-maintenance and impact-resistant benefits.

“Because the DaVinci product looked so authentic to real cedar shakes and had a better fire rating than wood shingles, the committee made the decision for the first time ever to allow polymer roofing tiles on a structure in our city.”

— Dave Harter, First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville case study in Oregon – founded in 1881

“We’re both amazed and pleased that these man-made roofing tiles could have such a positive and beautiful impact on our facility. The new polymer shakes look almost identical to the older wooden ones, but these will last so much longer.”

— Teodor B. Czabala, Jr., Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church case study in Johnson City, New York – founded in 1977

“The durability and beauty of this roof really spoke to the church members. The composite roofing answers so many challenges for this project. We were removing old wood shingles, metal and other roofing products. As we tackled the steepness of the steeple, the lightweight nature of the polymer roofing really helped us.”

— Nick Paschke, president of Paschke Brothers Construction, St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church case study in Kronborg, Nebraska – founded in 1899

For more insights, listen to the podcast “How to Get Composite Roofing Approved on Historical Projects” on RoofersCoffeeShop.com.

By Emma Peterson. 

DaVinci composite shingles deliver style, strength and solar‑ready performance for this seaside Southern California home. 

Huntington Harbor is a seaside town in Southern California, on the northwestern section of Huntington Beach in Orange County. With a rich history of water-based recreation, such as long summer days spent swimming and a December “cruise of lights,” this town of 3,500 feels straight out of a storybook. But the same proximity to the water that makes Huntington Harbor such an idyllic place to live also presents unique roofing challenges. 

Seaside roofing challenges 

Ocean spray, wind, UV exposure and algae growth are all challenges that must be addressed when building in a place like Huntington Harbor. Why do these matter? Take the impact of consistent exposure to ocean spray, which the Coastland Times explains. The publication shared, “Moisture-heavy air, combined with salt particles from ocean spray, accelerates wear and tear. Metal components may corrode more quickly, shingles can deteriorate faster, and algae or moss growth becomes more common.” 

It was these challenges that Daniel and Patrice Levin were trying to overcome when they reroofed their 35-year-old home in Huntington Harbor. The solution they found? DaVinci Roofscapes’ composite shingles. Daniel explained to Architectural West Magazine, “We took the advice of our roofing contractor and invested in the DaVinci® Roofscapes product. Final Touch Construction and Design out of Fontana, California, who installed the roof, definitely led us in the right direction with this recommendation.” 

DaVinci saves the day 

DaVinci’s composite shingles provide high performance that is perfect for Daniel and Patrice’s needs. These shingles are made out of virgin resins, UV/thermal stabilizers and a fire retardant. The result is an aesthetically pleasing roof that resists fading, rotting, cracking and pests. 

Additionally, using DaVinci materials allowed Daniel and Patrice to add solar panels to their roof seamlessly. As Louie Echeverria, superintendent with Final Touch, told Architectural West Magazine, “This is a beautiful property near the Pacific Ocean, and we could envision it topped with the DaVinci slate product and the solar panels...The solar panels were installed almost as soon as the composite tile installation was completed. It was a unified project that flowed smoothly.” In fact, this project went so well, DaVinci awarded Final Touch as the winner of the 2025 DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor Project of the Year Award!  

Today, Daniel and Patrice can rest easy knowing they have a long-lasting roof that not only will stand up to the coastal climate but will look good and save them energy while doing it! 

To learn more about DaVinci Roofscapes’ composite products, check out their AskARoofer directory or visit their website.

By DaVinci Roofscapes. 

With these homes, we don't need a time machine to visit the past! 

Happy sestercentennial, America! 2026 is the 250th anniversary of the United States, and if you love history, this is a year to celebrate. More importantly, if you love giving historic homes and buildings a new lease on life, there’s an easy way to do so… with composite slate and shake roofing products.

Historical structures

Let’s start with 196-year-old Adelaide of Newton Centre in Newton, Massachusetts. The memory care community started with the renovation of an almost two-century-old historic building. Then, a new DaVinci Single-Width Slate roof in a Slate Gray color was added to replace the mansard roofing. 

Next there’s Rutherfurd Hall in Allamuchy Township, New Jersey. Designed by famed New York architect Whitney Warren (whose company designed Grand Central Terminal in New York City), the massive Tudor-style home was constructed in 1904 for the Rutherfurd family.

To safeguard the building's historical integrity and to better accommodate its future role in the community, the operators of Rutherfurd Hall brought in Michael Calafati Architect, LLC (MCA) in 2014 to create a Preservation Plan. One of the projects involved researching and recommending a new roof for the structure.

“Originally the house had a majestic slate roof," says Michael Calafati, AIA, LEED AP. "Around 1950, the home was sold by the Rutherfurd family to the Sisters of Charity to use as a residence and nursing home for nuns. The slate roof was removed during the first few decades of ownership by the nuns and replaced with an asphalt roof."

Michael went on, "When we took on this project, it was clear that the aging asphalt roof was living on borrowed time and needed immediate attention. We wanted to restore the grandeur of the original home, but we knew the weight of real slate would not work... After doing some research, we discovered the ideal solution in a Single-Width Slate composite roof from DaVinci Roofscapes. We found that the faux slate was the next best option to real slate and truly helps preserve the architectural integrity of the building."

On the home front

Nothing appeals to history lovers quite like older Arts and Crafts style bungalow homes. That’s one reason why Kim Stevens was passionate about restoring her 1914 home in Saratoga Springs, New York. She’d done a lot of research and was ready to propose a composite slate roof to her local Design Review Commission.

The finished historic home in Saratoga Springs has bended custom drip edges, a valley and a traditional half-round ridge cap all in copper. The rounded dormer in the front of the house consists of a flat-laid copper panel fabricated by Burgart’s team. After that, there is also a half-round copper gutter with a copper conductor and a rain chain.

“I simply love my roofer,” says Kim Stevens. “This was a multi-year project. He was terrific every step of the way and I can’t recommend him highly enough. The finished DaVinci Single-Width Slate roof in Castle Gray is beautiful. I think it’s as close as we could get to the quarry slate originally on the house. I did a great deal of research on this project and it all paid off. This house once again has proudly taken its spot as a historical landmark in our community.”

Just shy of 100 years old

When Christine and Gabriel Bridger renovated their 1930s English Cottage, they felt that the roof of this historic home in Evanston, Illinois was due for an upgrade. After weighing their options, they chose DaVinci Multi-Width Slate in Weathered Green for the project.  

“We have a corner lot,” says Christine, author of Company + Cottage website. “Many people recognize our home’s turret, gas light and red door. We wanted to add another level of charm by adding a beautiful slate roof that felt authentic to the English Cottage. The realistic detail of the DaVinci product, plus its lightweight nature, met our needs. It’s an affordable option to real slate and looks charming on the English Cottage. We get tons of compliments every day on our faux slate roof from neighbors and friends.”  

Built more than 90 years ago, the English Cottage exterior boasts brick, stucco and trim. The blend of colors and products adds realism to the home. So, it makes sense to have a spectacular blend of colors — Light and Dark Green, Green Stone, Dark Tan and Dark Stone — for this historic home roof update.  

“We wanted a color for the roof that felt connected to the aged brick and stucco,” says Christine. “Still, we need it to provide a unique stand-alone detail to this charming cottage. The deep tones of the Weathered Green blend to provide an understated punch of color to the house!”  

For more stories on homes re-roofed with modern day composite materials from DaVinci Roofscapes, visit the blog section of the DaVinci Roofscapes website.

By DaVinci Roofscapes.

Learn how this team rose to the challenge of a historic re-roof and won an award along the way.

The team at Nitro Roofing & Construction likes a challenge. So, when they were tasked by a homeowner to replicate scalloped shingles for a historic home in composite slate roofing, they jumped in.

 Led by owner and CSO Connor Stienecker, the crew created a custom jig and hand-cut 4,000 Inspire® Slate by DaVinci tiles made to replicate scallop edges. Two contrasting colors — Mist Gray and Olive — were installed in distinct fish scale and square edge styles on the 1890 home. The result? A gorgeous roof that received a 2025 DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor Project of the Year Award.

This was such a creative roofing project. Why did you use the Inspire by DaVinci product on the roof?

The project previously had another composite roofing product on it. However, that product was very brittle and falling apart. The client wanted to stick with something similar, but with more durability. We suggested the DaVinci composite product as a perfect fit for her needs.

What specifically made the Inspire by DaVinci product easy for your team to hand-cut and work with for this project?

This is a quarter-inch thin tile. It doesn’t have a cored back, so the tiles can be easily scalloped. Afterwards we were able to score the edges to give them a more live edge look, like natural slate.

That home in Ohio is from 1890. If you had the chance to personally re-roof any historical home in America, which one would it be?

The Biltmore Estate in Asheville. It was constructed about the same time, in 1895. It’s such a beautiful building with a lot of history. To re-roof that structure would be a large achievement under our belt!

That’s a big dream. How did you get started in the roofing business?

My brothers and I run our company. Our father started the business after he got out of the boating business. He actually started Nitro Roofing on a whim, not expecting much. However, it blew up into a big family business!

What’s been one of the reasons for your company’s continued success?

Quality. We stand behind our work and the products we use. We don’t install cheap products. That’s one of the reasons we use the DaVinci composite products. They have special features like outstanding aesthetics, color fade resistance and an incredible warranty that our customers really like. These products draw attention to our company and have helped build our business.

Finally, let’s dream a bit. Someone walks up to your door and tells you that you can have $5 million to donate to a single charity. Which charity would you pick and why?

Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Central Ohio. I’ve seen how important their work can be firsthand when a friend of mine had his child and they had complications during birth. Ronald McDonald House helped and made sure they were able to stay close by and take care of their child. By donating to this organization, it would mean that I’m helping families, and that’s really important to me.