By DaVinci Roofscapes.

An architect’s guide to specifying composite slate and shake for schools, colleges and universities.

On an educational campus, a roof does more than protect a building. It helps define a historic skyline, connects new construction to an established architectural vocabulary and supports the institution’s long-range stewardship goals.

For architects and design professionals, the specification must reconcile those visual priorities with structural constraints, severe-weather exposure, maintenance demands and practical installation.
 

Composite slate and shake products from DaVinci® Roofscapes 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. Universities, colleges and schools across the country have used these products on historic renovations, residence halls, learning centers, laboratories, athletic facilities and highly visible mansard roofs. For the design team, that range of applications offers a way to preserve architectural intent while addressing the practical demands of buildings created to serve generations of students.

Why specify DaVinci for educational buildings?

• Connect design intent to institutional priorities: Specify the look of natural slate or shake alongside performance features that campus decision makers value.
• Protect historic character: Use realistic profiles, textures, edges and color blends to complement traditional architecture and existing roofscapes.
• Respond to structural constraints: Consider lightweight composite construction where the weight of natural slate is a concern.
• Support long-term stewardship: Pair low-maintenance materials with a 50-year limited warranty to strengthen conversations about lifecycle value and capital planning.
• Address regional exposure: Bring Class 4 impact and Class A fire ratings into discussions of hail, fire and severe-weather performance.
• Consider constructability: Pre-coordinated bundles can reduce hand mixing and installation labor, connecting material selection to jobsite efficiency.
• Create campus-wide continuity: A successful first building can establish a repeatable palette and roofing standard for future reroofing projects.

Proof on campus: Design challenges, built solutions

Utah State University: Establishing a consistent historic roofscape

Deteriorating cedar shakes on landmark Quad buildings dating to 1889 and 1918 created a preservation and performance challenge. A consistent DaVinci composite shake style and color was used across the Geology building, Old Main and the Ray B. West building. For architects, the project illustrates how a successful material choice can preserve architectural continuity and become a standard across a historic campus precinct.

“We won’t even consider another roofing product for the Quad area. We’re impressed with how the DaVinci product handles our weather conditions.”

— Quin E. Whitaker, PE, MBA, Utah State University

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

A residential-style learning center could not support traditional slate, yet its roof needed to blend with surrounding campus buildings. DaVinci Multi-Width Slate delivered the desired natural-slate appearance without defaulting to the heavier material. The university also prioritized a long-term product aligned with its sustainability goals. As a further expression of confidence, the university project manager later selected the product for his own home.

“You can’t tell any difference from the natural slate. The roof blends in perfectly with the surrounding buildings that feature real slate.”

— Tony Polotto, LEED AP BD&C, RRC, RRO, University of Notre Dame

Phillips Exeter Academy: Modern performance, old world character

Failing natural slate across a historic New England campus of 147 brick buildings called for a solution that respected the academy’s established character. Inspire® Slate was installed on Wheelwright Dormitory and, years later, on Wetherell Dining Hall, Merrill Dormitory and Langdell Dormitory. Textured surfaces and deckled edges modeled from natural slate provided the historic aesthetic, while lightweight construction, Class 4 hail performance and a Class A fire rating addressed functionality. The design lesson: preservation goals and modern material performance can inform the same specification.

“Using modern technology and materials to retain Old World charm and character is important.”

— Jack Sweeney, Sweeney Brothers Construction, LLC

Georgia Tech: Balancing laboratory protection and historic context

A failing roof over the Daniel Environmental Engineering Laboratory presented unusually high stakes: leakage could create serious contamination and public-risk concerns. Natural slate weight was a concern, but the replacement still needed to complement a historic slate-roofed campus. DaVinci Single-Width Slate in a custom blend of 70% Evergreen and 30% Light Purple addressed the aesthetic requirement, with Class 4 impact resistance and Class A fire performance among the decision drivers. The project shows how color customization, structural considerations and performance priorities can converge in one roofing selection.

“The school had a complex, high standard for this re-roofing project. And, the DaVinci composite slate product fit in every way.”

— Jeremy Dickmann, PRIMM Roofing

Mississippi State University: Constructability supports the specification

The four-story Old Main Academic Center features Slate Gray DaVinci synthetic slate. On its first installation of the product, the Graham Roofing team found it more contractor friendly than other brands it had installed. Pre-coordinated bundles eliminated hand mixing, and the tiles did not require corner bending before installation. For architects and design professionals, these reported handling advantages add a constructability dimension to conversations about material selection, labor and scheduling.

“We saved a tremendous amount of time and labor.”

— Mickey Gilmer, Graham Roofing

More campus applications, more design possibilities

• William Penn Charter School, Pennsylvania: DaVinci Single-Width Slate helps a modern athletic and wellness center blend with a 330-plus-year-old campus, connecting contemporary programming with an established architectural setting.
• The College of New Jersey: A roofer recommendation led to DaVinci Slate installations on a residence hall and an aquatic center, demonstrating its use across different campus building types.
• 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 a consistent material approach across 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: When the roof becomes the campus façade

On mansard applications, roofing becomes one of a building’s most visible architectural surfaces. Profile, texture and color are therefore central to the façade composition—not simply the roof specification. 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. Together, these examples place visual prominence and campus-scale durability at the center of material selection.

“We chose the synthetic slate DaVinci tiles because they’re practically maintenance free. These durable composite tiles won’t crack or break, even if hit with a baseball bat or hammer.”

— Lynn L. Umholtz, Butler Community College

Translate product features into specification value

An architect specification playbook for the next campus project

1. Start with the building and its context: Identify historic character, structural limits, roof visibility and the consequences of failure. Establish what the roof must contribute to both the building and the surrounding campus.
2. Connect local risks to tested performance: Discuss hail, fire, wind and weather conditions in terms the facilities team can use, linking performance priorities to material evaluation.
3. Develop visual options early: Compare profiles, widths and color blends against surrounding campus roofs and masonry so the selected product supports the project’s architectural vision.
4. Include constructability in the conversation: Work with the roofing team to quantify how product handling and pre-coordinated bundles may affect installation labor and scheduling.
5. Design for the campus portfolio — not just one roof: Consider how a successful installation can establish a repeatable roofing standard across multiple buildings while maintaining architectural continuity.
6. Document long-term value: Pair low-maintenance performance with the 50-year limited warranty and the institution’s capital plan to support a lifecycle-focused material discussion.

Specify for the next building — and the next generation

For educational buildings, the strongest roofing specifications connect authentic character, tested performance and long-term value. Specifying DaVinci composite slate and shake helps schools, colleges and universities preserve the architecture they value while addressing the demands of campus stewardship.

Start your composite slate and shake roofing specifications on campus and watch them lead to the thoughtful foundation for the next building, the next phase and a coherent campus-wide standard in the future.

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 Kate Smith, Sensational Color.

Copper is a material you'll be looking at for decades; a few extra days spent comparing samples in your own light is worth the investment of time.

If your home has a copper turret, cupola or dormer that has developed a rich green-blue patina over the years, you already know it's one of the more distinctive details a house can have. So, when a re-roofing project calls for new copper flashing or valleys near that feature, homeowners often ask the same question: Won't the bright new copper clash with the existing copper?

It will, at first. New copper starts a warm salmon-pink and takes years to reach the deep verdigris of an aged roof. But that mismatch isn't permanent, and there are three ways to handle it.

Option 1: Let it weather naturally

Copper doesn't stay bright for long. Most copper elements and accents tone down to a brown-bronze within the first year and show real darkening within two to three years. A full green patina typically takes 5 to 20 years to form. This happens faster in humid or coastal climates, slower in dry ones.

Natural aging is the lowest-risk option: The new copper will gradually catch up to the existing copper, and the result stays authentic because it's the same process that produced the original patina. The trade-off is patience — you'll live with some contrast for a while.

Option 2: Have it chemically patinated

Commercial patina solutions can age new copper to a green-blue finish in a day or two rather than years. A chemical patina can work well, but results vary with the applicator's skill, the weather at the time of treatment and the specific product used.

A chemically induced patina can also look more even and uniform than copper that weathers outdoors for two decades. So make sure to ask to see the treated sample against your existing copper — ideally in daylight — before committing to a full installation.

Option 3: Choose a pre-weathered or alternative material

Several manufacturers sell copper pre-finished to a weathered look, and some will color-match a batch to a physical sample from your home. Lead-coated copper is worth knowing about, too: instead of turning green, it weathers to a soft silvery gray. It won't match an existing patina, but for some homes, that contrast is the point rather than the problem, and it pairs well with light-colored masonry or trim since its runoff doesn't stain the way copper's does.

Which to choose?

For most homeowners with an established patina they want to protect, letting new copper weather naturally is the safest bet. It requires no chemical treatment, no risk of an uneven finish and it ages the same way the original copper did. 

If immediate visual harmony matters more than the wait, send a sample of your existing copper to a manufacturer that offers pre-weathered matching — that route avoids the unpredictability of an on-site chemical patina.

Whichever direction you choose, ask your contractor to bring a sample panel before the full run goes in. Copper is a material you'll be looking at for decades; a few extra days spent comparing samples in your own light is worth the investment of time.

By Kate Smith, Sensational Color.

Roof color affects curb appeal, resale value, how a house reads on its lot and how well it performs in its climate.

The roof makes up 30%-40% of a home's visible exterior — more surface area than the walls on many house styles. That makes it the single biggest color decision most homeowners will ever make, and one of the longest-lived. A composite shake or slate roof installed today will still be on the house in 25 to 50 years. Everything below comes back to that one fact.

Curb appeal starts at the top

Design tends to work top-down on a house. The roof sets the tone the rest of the exterior has to answer to — siding, trim, door and landscaping all read in relation to it, not the other way around. DaVinci's eBook series was built around exactly this challenge:

• Fresh Colors for Exteriors with Curb Appeal — The starting point for any home
• Fresh Color Schemes for Your Home Exterior — Matches color strategy to architectural style
• Fresh Colors for Homes with Brick or Stone — Coordinating a roof with masonry that can't be repainted

TrendLine by WRBP is worth a look, too, for homeowners who want to see combinations rather than just read about them.

Resale value: The return, and the fine print

A new composite roof is one of the few exterior investments with real numbers behind it.

• National cost-vs-value data consistently shows roof replacement recovering 60 to 70 percent of its cost at resale — a stronger return than most interior remodeling projects.
• DaVinci's composite roofing tiles carry a Lifetime Limited Material Warranty, transferable to a new owner up to two times within the first 10 years of installation.

A transferable material warranty is a real selling point that most asphalt roofs can't offer.

Proportion, cohesion and fitting the block

Beyond money, color changes how a house reads:

• Proportion — Dark roofs pull a house down toward the ground and feel grounded; light roofs lift a house visually and feel taller and airier.
• Cohesion — The roof ties siding, trim, doors, shutters and landscaping together; mismatched color pieces read as disjointed no matter how nice each one is individually.
• Neighborhood fit — A roof color far outside the local palette can make a property look like it doesn't belong on the block, which matters to future buyers as much as the homeowner living there now.

Does climate change the calculus?

Yes — and it's one of the most underused pieces of information in a roof color decision.

What about a trending color?

Buying into a trend is a real risk with a roof in a way it isn't with a front door — a color a homeowner can refresh for the cost of a gallon of paint. But the answer isn't a flat no. It depends on the color and the timeline. Timeless colors — the ones that can't go wrong, regardless of how old or new the house is:

• Charcoal
• Dark graphite gray
• Slate gray or blue

These have been safe, correct color choices for decades and show no sign of dating.

Current trends worth knowing, 2024–2026:

• Dark charcoal and near-black roofs remain heavily favored, especially on new construction
• Cool grays with a blue undertone have gained ground on contemporary and farmhouse styles
• Warm "weathered wood" blends suit craftsman and cottage-style homes
• Muted mossy greens are emerging on homes going for an organic, earthy look
• The "monochromatic envelope" — roof and siding in very close tones — is showing up on modern and transitional builds

Of these, charcoal and cool-gray trends carry the least risk since they're close cousins of the timeless colors above. Muted green is the one to be cautious about for a long-term stay — it's the furthest from a classic and the most likely to feel dated in 15 years.

DaVinci's newest colors sidestep the trend question

Timber Black, Blonde Cedar, Rock Ridge and Aurora weren't created by chasing a seasonal palette — they were developed to replicate the specific way real cedar and real slate age and weather over time. A color modeled on how aged cedar or quarried Vermont slate actually looks doesn't go out of style the way a manufactured paint trend can, because it was never in style to begin with. It's simply what that material looks like in nature.

The composite slate and shake material itself is the more durable trend, regardless of color:

• Typically performs for 40 to 50 years
• Resists fading through UV-stabilized construction
• Won’t crack, curl, rot or grow moss the way natural wood and stone eventually do

A homeowner chasing a look that will still hold up in 20 years is better served by the durability of synthetic slate or synthetic shake than by any single-color choice.

The bottom (colorful) line

Roof color affects curb appeal, resale value, how a house reads on its lot and how well it performs in its climate — and it does all of that for decades at a stretch. Lean on timeless colors if in doubt; factor in climate before falling in love with a shade; and treat a passing trend as a bonus only if it happens to line up with a color that was already going to hold up on its own.

Ready to see how composite roofing colors might look on a real home? Try the free Design Tool from DaVinci Roofscapes to "try on" different composite slate and shake roofs before deciding.

By DaVinci Roofscapes.

Choosing a roofing manufacturer that supports you.

Andrew Easter was tired of his asphalt roof. It had not worn out… he was worn out of looking at it. He shared, “I was no longer happy with the aesthetic aspect of my asphalt roof and was interested in bringing back the look of cedar shingles that the house originally had. I decided the sooner I made the change, the longer I could enjoy the new roof. And, knowing that I’d be using a synthetic shingle ensured this would be the last roof I’d ever put on my home.”

One-on-one support starts the sale

Andrew has worked in construction for his entire career. He already knew DaVinci® Roofscapes composite roofing products had a strong reputation. Still, he did his homework. He researched DaVinci and other synthetic shingle manufacturers online. His first step was simple. He requested free product samples through the DaVinci website. That connected him with Inside Sales Project Specialist Jessica Baumli.

“I worked with Andrew as he asked for different samples and local installation sites he could visit to see the product installed,” says Jessica. “He was leaning toward our Black Oak color, but was concerned it was too dark. That’s when he expressed interest in using our ‘Ask Our Color Expert’ consulting service.”

Color confidence makes a difference

By the time Jessica connected Andrew with color expert Kate Smith with Sensational Color, he had narrowed his choices to DaVinci Select Shake in Black Oak or Aged Cedar. He sought Kate’s expert perspective on how each color would work with the stonework on his home.

“Andrew was concerned the Black Oak might appear overly dark and monochromatic in certain lighting,” says Kate, who has been offering one-on-one color advise to DaVinci customers for the past 15 years. “While he appreciated Aged Cedar, he also wanted the fresh look of new cedar shingles. And, at one point, he was even looking at the option of DaVinci Multi-Width Slate in various colors.”

Kate focused on two fixed elements: the stonework and the black metal roof over the porch. Andrew planned to keep both. She validated his concern that Black Oak could be too dark. She also agreed that Aged Cedar would complement the exterior. Then one more color became the standout: Blonde Cedar.

According to Kate, “The warm blend of tan, beige and brown provides a striking contrast to the metal roof on Andrew’s home while harmonizing with the stonework.”

Going blonde — Blonde cedar, that is

Blonde Cedar is versatile. It works with both warm and cool palettes. It also gives a home a relaxed, cottage-style feeling that is both inviting and stylish. The hue adds subtle golden tones and creates a comfortable, sun-kissed cedar look that can lighten the entire exterior.

“I was somewhat torn between Blonde Cedar and Aged Cedar,” says Andrew. “What really drew me to Blonde Cedar was the close replication of actual new cedar, which I think looks beautiful… just like the cedar roof on the house originally. Plus, the Blonde Cedar contrasts well with the black metal low roofs and seems to really blend and complement the natural stone walls on the house.”

Success — Down to the blonde cedar roots!

For Andrew, the finished Cedar Blonde roof met his expectations. “Now that the roof is installed, I truly appreciate the color variations — not only from shingle to shingle, but within each individual shingle,” says Andrew. “I’ve also found that lighting has an impact on the appearance depending on the time of day and the differing conditions. This adds interest to the roof’s appearance.”

Choosing a manufacturer that supports the project

For Andrew, choosing the right roof color was a major part of the buying process. The manufacturer’s support made that process easier. He explained:

Part of my decision to go with DaVinci products was the support I received from them. I worked with Jessica for several months in advance of finalizing my decision. She was helpful in every way to make sure I had all the samples I needed and went over and above to make sure all of my specific concerns were addressed.

Then Kate was able to take a photo image I provided of my house and presented a summary narrative of each of the options I was considering. She made very helpful and insightful observations and comments on each color option. Kate knows the products and colors; she was thoughtful and thorough in her analysis. Getting her confirmation on some of my thoughts went a long way in giving me confidence in making a final color selection.

Finally, the overall durability of the DaVinci product and color stability are impressive. It’s very clear to me that DaVinci emphasizes a high level of quality control in manufacturing their products. The overall consistency of quality in field shingles, starter tiles, and hip and ridge shingles was perfect. Even the manner of packaging of the shingles for shipping reflected attention to quality control. This gives me a lot of confidence in their product.

Composite shake versus natural shake: What you need to know
 

By Kate Smith, Sensational Color.

For homeowners drawn to a roof with a story — one that looks like it earned its color rather than had it applied — the Nature Crafted Collection from DaVinci Roofscapes is the strongest option.

Most roofing color decisions come down to picking one color and living with it. But some of the most striking roofs on the market aren't one color at all — they're built from several, blended so the color shifts depending on the light, the distance and the angle you're standing at.

Done right, a multi-colored composite roof adds depth no solid color can match. Done wrong, it looks busy or dates fast. The difference usually comes down to which kind of multi-color you choose, and why.

A blend that ages the way real cedar does

DaVinci's Nature Crafted Collection takes a different approach to multi-color than a typical blended shingle. Rather than combining colors for visual interest, it recreates the progressive aging process cedar shake goes through as it weathers:

• The reddish burn of early transition,
• The greenish cast moss and lichen leave behind,
• The deep grays and browns that show up after years of moisture exposure.

Real cedar earns that patina by breaking down. DaVinci Roofscape's proprietary coloring process reproduces the look without the rot, splitting, or structural failure that comes with it.

Three original colors anchor the DaVinci Nature Crafted Collection.

	Aged Cedar captures the early burnt-reddish transition.	Mossy Cedar carries the damp, greenish tone moss and lichen leave on a weathering roof.	Black Oak goes furthest, reproducing the years of moisture, mold and decay of the darkest aging stage.

None of the three reads as a single flat color up close. DaVinci describes the shingles as "consistently inconsistent," the same kind of unevenness nature produces on its own.

Two new shake colors: Timber Black and Blonde Cedar

DaVinci has added two shake colors to the collection of composite roofing tiles, each at opposite ends of the spectrum.

	Timber Black takes its cue from the rustic black cedar trees found in the eastern forests of North America — deep grays and charcoal-black tones that mimic the natural oils and tannins that darken cedar wood on contact with moisture.	Blonde Cedar goes the other direction: tan, beige and warm brown in grain patterns that replicate sun-kissed, freshly cut cedar, with enough golden luster to read as light and current rather than aged.

Both colors are available in Select Shake, Single-Width Shake and Multi-Width Shake, and both carry the Class A fire rating, Class 4 impact rating and 110-mph wind rating standard to DaVinci's shake products.

Two new slate colors: Rock Ridge and Aurora

The Nature Crafted Collection's newest composite slate additions draw on quarry geology rather than wood.

	Rock Ridge blends dark gray and black to mirror the iron sulfide, graphite and carbon minerals found in slate quarried in Vermont and New York — the same minerals responsible for the natural range from cool black to warm brownish gray in real slate. It suits Colonial, Federal, Victorian, Greek Revival and other traditional revival styles.	Aurora takes its name and its palette from the Northern Lights, merging muted plum, brown and mossy gray green in a soft, mottled blend inspired by slate quarried in Vermont. It leans toward Old World, Tudor and modern farmhouse homes, and works especially well on historical renovations aiming for the feel of 1900s architecture.

Other paths to a multi-colored roof

The Nature Crafted Collection isn't the only route to a multi-colored composite roof. It's one of five.

Dimensional and architectural shingles create subtle tonal variation without an aging story behind them. European, for example, blends light and dark grays with a warm maroon accent tile across a time-honored palette that reads as classic rather than busy.

Blended colors take a quieter approach: several similar-toned colors combined so the roof looks solid from a distance and reveals depth up close.

• Brownstone combines brown and gray-brown tones, with color that shifts subtly from tile to tile for added dimension.
• Aberdeen goes further: grays, greens and muted earth tones blended so no single color dominates, which is part of why it pairs so easily with brick and stonework.

Historical restoration is its own category. Victorian and Queen Anne homes often wore genuinely multicolored roofs and restoring that look can be architecturally appropriate rather than showy. Vineyard fits here: warm accent hues set against a cool gray body, with enough contrast to read as intentional rather than random.

Complex rooflines — homes with varied pitches, turrets, or multiple planes — can also carry a material or color shift between sections, letting the architecture itself justify the change.

And mixed materials are trending in farmhouse and modern-rustic builds: a colorful primary roof paired with metal accents on dormers, porches, or accent gables.

Which approach fits

For homeowners drawn to a roof with a story — one that looks like it earned its color rather than had it applied — the Nature Crafted Collection from DaVinci Roofscapes is the strongest option, especially now that it spans both composite shake and slate synthetic roofing tiles.

For homes with more traditional architecture, a blended color like Brownstone or Aberdeen delivers depth without asking the house to make a design statement. And for the rare home built for it — a genuine Victorian, a home with a complex roofline — a bolder multi-color treatment can be the right call.

Whichever direction a homeowner leans, seeing a full-size sample panel in their own light before committing is essential. Multi-color blends read differently under overcast skies than direct sun, and the tile that looked perfect on a showroom board doesn't always match what goes up on the roof.

Start your colorful roofing exploration with the free Design Tool that allows you to “try on” different composite slate and shake roofs onto your home or sample homes. This can launch you on your multi-color roofing journey.

By DaVinci Roofscapes. 

DaVinci Composite Roofing leads the way in terms of contractor popularity.

Coast to coast, roofing contractors are talking about why they prefer DaVinci® Roofscapes as their preferred solution for roofing projects. Watch this short video to see the projects roofers are working on and hear specifically why they’re recommending DaVinci composite slate and shake products.

Here's some of the highlights of their thoughts: 

“The value add to property owners for using DaVinci is dramatic for this project. It’s cosmetically similar to cedar shake, but lasts better, but in this instance gives them about a 50% discount on their insurance.”

— Jake Daniels, Classic Construction & Consulting

“The thing I love about DaVinci products is the aesthetics, the warranties, and customers just love it!”

— Connor Stienecker, Nitro Roofing & Construction

“When you pick up a DaVinci roof tile you just know. The quality, the touch, the feel. All around it’s a great product.”

— Elliot Emann, Washington Roofing & Construction

“The thing I love about DaVinci is the quality and style that’s available along with the color selection.”

— Phil Chahinian, Preferred Exterior

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.”