By Evelyn Witterholt, RCS Reporter. 

Learn why these contractors can’t stop raving about this long-lasting composite material. 

Contractors Scott Kim from WGM Contracting and Chad Janisch from the Shake Guys want other roofing companies to know all about the benefits of using composite roofing materials. Molded from actual slate and shake profiles, composite roofing material from DaVinci Roofscapes is made from high-density polymers. While a lot of manufacturers make their composite roofing products out of recycled materials, DaVinci makes theirs out of a virgin resin. 

Jeff Karo, DaVinci regional sales manager, stated in this Read Listen Watch that by making their composite products out of virgin resin, it makes the product more durable and easier to install. “With the virgin resin, you're getting the highest quality, the purest out there,” he said. “With the recycled (resin), the big issue is the consistency. You don't know what that resin was prior to it being in this final product.” 

DaVinci’s composite roofing products are heavily tested for quality assurance and engineered for maximum efficiency. One of the great features that the contractors love is the design of the tile. DaVinci tiles are engineered with a waffle backing that makes them lighter and more flexible. It also has a limit on how much it can expand and contract. 

Contractor Chad Janisch from the Chicago-based Shake Guys says he often finds himself installing roofs in extreme weather conditions. He states that when installing other types of shakes, “if you install them correctly and the keyways are too tight, contraction expansion will start to buckle...with DaVinci, you don't have that issue.” 

Scott Kim from WGM Contracting says that when he inspects roofs that are installed with DaVinci products, he’s often amazed at how great the tiles holds up. He also said that his crew members give him positive feedback on the product too. “They tell me that it feels different. Although it's lighter, because of the thickness and density of the material, they say it feels really tough.” 

Learn more about DaVinci Roofscapes in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit DaVinciRoofscapes.com. 

Photo Credit: DaVinci Roofscapes 

By DaVinci Roofscapes.

Understand the differences between recycled and virgin resins and what it means for composite roofing tiles.

If your household recycles things like milk jugs and water bottles, imagine them being reground and used in the roofing tiles you install. That’s what oftentimes defines recycled content in roofing.

Recycled resins are materials that have been reclaimed and are being reused. Virgin resins went into making products like the original plastic milk containers or detergent bottles. When these are recycled, they are cleaned. This process of washing out the containers reduces the mechanical properties of the resins. After cleaning, the containers are reground and made into pellets. Now they’re ready for their second life. Each time resins are reused, they lose some of their original strength. Some companies use these recycled resin pellets to make roofing tiles. 

Now, let’s talk about virgin resins. They are produced from a petrochemical feedstock (such as natural gas or crude oil), which has never been used or processed before. Roofing manufacturers using these virgin resins are using the purest form of resins available.

Three steps versus six steps

Think of it this way. The purer the resin in a composite roofing tile, the stronger the tile and the longer the lifespan.

With a virgin resin, it moves from compounding to injection molding to the finished roofing tile. That’s three steps in the life cycle.

With a recycled resin roof tile, you also start out with the same first two steps of compounding and injection moulding. But the finished product may be a plastic soda bottle or milk jug. After it’s used, it gets recycled, cleaned and grinded down. Then it gets injection molded for the second time in its life. And then it gets made into a roofing tile. That’s a six-step process.

Why does it matter?

Virgin versus recycled content comes down to strength. A composite roofing tile made of virgin resin is purer, so it’s more durable. This gives the roof the best chance for a long life span. This can be a positive impact on the environment because you only have to get a new roof once every 50 years versus every 20 or so years.

While dependable, a “second life” reclaimed/recycled roof is made of “second generation” material, so it can be less durable. This roof can include everything from hemp fibers to rubber to post-industrial plastics and more. 

But, here’s the real challenge for roofers. If you’re on a job and run short of material, you order more. No problem with a virgin resin roof. It’s the same exact content time-after-time. However, with a recycled product, you’re not sure what the source is from week-to-week.

When you originally ordered the recycled roof, it could have been made from reground milk jugs and tires. Now this second batch has laundry containers and hemp fibers. The result can be an inconsistent product on the roof. 

Mother nature chimes in

As we all know, roofs are 100% exposed to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. What does this mean over time? Of course it means that the heat and UV rays can break down the polymer chains in composite roofing. While many roofing manufacturers add in UV inhibitors and thermal stabilizers, Mother Nature will have her way, and over time, resins can become brittle.

However, the question is…how much time? 

When you start with a virgin resin, roofing tiles have the strongest chance to survive long-term. That’s why many companies, like DaVinci Roofscapes, offer a Lifetime Limited Materials Warranty. But, when you look at recycled content roofing tiles, there’s a problem right from the start. These tiles began with polymer chains already broken down through the regrinding process. That puts the recycled resin at a disadvantage, as it’s built back up again to serve as a roofing tile for its second life of service.

Get the conversation started

As you begin to talk with homeowners, you may get questions about virgin versus recycled composite roof tiles. People have become accustomed to thinking that recycling and using recycled products mean they’re “doing their part” to save the environment. That’s a noble thought, but they need to know the facts.

Recycled plastics are wonderful for making many things; furniture, yoga mats, fencing and carpeting. But not necessarily roofing tiles. For the strongest, most dependable and longest-lasting roof, virgin resins should be highly considered.

If you’re having trouble explaining this to a homeowner, consider sharing these types of comparison examples:

• You cleanly pull a piece of packaging tape off a box to use again. The tape may work a second time, but will it have the same strength and durability as it had the first time? No.
• Think of the old “telephone game.” The first person whispers a phrase into the ear of the second person. The phrase is repeated down the line. The first phrase of “Dan has a hairy beard” becomes garbled and diluted as the phrase is passed along. In the end it sounds like “Don has a scary bear” or something else. Basically, the phrase gets lost as it’s “reused.”
• If you leave a container of pure vanilla ice cream on the counter, it will melt. You can refreeze it, but will it really look and taste the same as the original ice cream? No.

Learn more about DaVinci Roofscapes in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit DaVinciRoofscapes.com.

By DaVinci Roofscapes.  

Learn from Scott Kim about how he used composite roofing to help start his roofing company. 

Supply and demand issues are difficult right now in the roofing industry. So, what would give Scott Kim the confidence to start his own roofing company in 2021? Along with his vast experience, Kim credits his “secret weapon” - composite roofing. 

“There’s an untapped market in my area related to residential roofing, especially where composites are concerned,” says Kim, president of WGM Contracting out of Arlington, Virginia. “We’re filling the need for a high-end composite product offering. While we also offer asphalt and metal roofing, it makes sense for homeowners to consider composites.” 

“In this area we have a great deal of hail. When installing impact-resistant composite roofing like DaVinci Roofscapes, my homeowners can get a long-term, year-after-year discount on their homeowner insurance. The beauty is there. The Class A fire and Class 4 impact ratings are there. The low maintenance is there. This product is bringing business to us.” 

There’s a difference in composites 

After less than seven months in business, Kim’s team has installed five DaVinci jobs. His confidence in the product comes from working with his previous company, where he installed the composite product on a townhouse community and an award-winning shopping center project. 

“The best thing I can tell you is what my installers tell me,” says Kim. “The composite products feel stronger when they’re being cut or nailed. There’s a difference in the thickness of the DaVinci pieces we install. The back of the DaVinci tiles is a masterpiece of engineering. We know they’re going to lie flat, with no curling or splitting long-term.” 

Selling composites 

To showcase the durability of DaVinci products, Kim takes samples to the homes of potential customers. He physically shows them how the roofing product can handle anything. Then he poses them with this question: “Why put on a roof today of cedar or asphalt that you’ll have to replace in 10-15 years, when a composite roofing will last for 50 years or more?” 

Another selling tip Kim recommends is simply doing the math. “Look at the composite products versus asphalt shingles,” says Kim. “They’re widely available in the marketplace without a tremendous lead time. Pricing is very competitive. And they are guaranteed to hold up while adding beauty to a project. These are important factors for both a roofer and the homeowner.” 

One homeowner who liked what he heard from Kim is Tony Melita. In need of replacing his 25-year-old asphalt shingle roof, he agreed to Kim’s suggestion of a DaVinci Single-Width Slate roof for his home. 

Melita is pleased with the finished project. “Scott’s pricing was very competitive,” says Melita. “He had great references. I liked his honesty, sincerity and knowledge of the roofing industry, and of DaVinci products and its' installation in particular. 

“The DaVinci roof absolutely adds to my property’s curb appeal. I couldn’t be more pleased. Without hesitation, I will recommend both DaVinci roofing materials and WGM Contracting to my friends and neighbors in the future!” 

Building credibility, building business 

As Kim moves forward in building his business, he’s taking steps to educate homeowners on composite roofing. “The more my clients understand composites, the stronger my business grows,” says Kim. “Associating with DaVinci has helped build my credibility in the marketplace. Their product has a great reputation. More than that, their people make the difference.  

“It’s not unusual for a DaVinci sales rep to turn up at one of my project sites. They’re there to teach my installers new methods. And, homeowners appreciate the manufacturer being on site. It’s a teamwork attitude. Most importantly, this serves as a type of “quality control” to make sure the project goes smoothly from every perspective. 

“Combine all these factors together and my business is off to a smart, steady start. Other roofers can do the same thing. Analyze your marketplace potential for composites. Connect with a reliable manufacturer. Get your crew knowledgeable on installation techniques. Then start selling projects that will bring you profits!” 

For more insights on building your business with composites, check out our free Read Listen Watch: "How to Incorporate Composite Roofing Into Your Business".  

Learn more about DaVinci Roofscapes in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit DaVinciRoofscapes.com.

By Eric Salvesen, DaVinci Roofscapes. 

Tips for contractors who want to use our line of false break or keyway siding pieces. 

In my recent travels to jobsites where our DaVinci Roofscapes Hand-Split Shake Siding was being installed, I’ve built up a list of tips for success when installing this composite siding. Working side-by-side with installers has given me great insight into how to best work with this product. 

To start, you need to understand our specific DaVinci siding product. We make four different siding profiles. Each tile is 18” long. They’re similar to an 18” Perfection, though our tiles have more texture and a deeper woodgrain. All four of the different product profiles can be installed at either 6”, 7” or 8” exposure to the weather. 

“False Break” or “Keyway” pieces 

At DaVinci, we have two molds for our tiles. One creates an 8” wide tile, and another creates a 10” wide tile. 

Some of the 10” wide tiles have a “false break” or “keyway” that gives the appearance of two tiles in the same piece. This can be measured out (left to right) as a 5-3/8” piece and a 4-3/8” piece on a single tile. Other 10” wide tiles have this reversed out, so the 4-3/8” pieces is on the left when looking at the piece, and the 5-3/8” piece is on the right. Field bundles include shakes with false breaks and both 8” and 10” pieces without false break to vary appearance. The finished look creates an appearance of 4″, 6″, 8″, and 10″ shakes. 

We create the 10” wide pieces with false breaks for several reasons. Appearance is certainly one of them. However, these pieces also give you more options to create different sized pieces easily. 

Out of the box pieces 

Right out of the box, our siding pieces are 8” and 10”. However, you can cut down the tiles to make two smaller sized pieces. Simply take a sharp straight blade knife and carefully score the keyway at the edge of the tile. 

Your other option is to use a table saw to cut individual pieces. This is a fast, easy way to gain the smaller pieces and gives very clean cuts. This simple step takes just seconds to do. It’s your primary way of “splitting” the existing tiles. 

Why do the tiles need to be split? To help create a realistic, random look when applying the siding. Using the smaller, cut tile pieces prevents the keyways from aligning vertically from course to course. 

Using smaller pieces 

Let’s trouble shoot a bit. 

Imagine that you’re moving forward with the siding installation. You notice that the edge of a tile lands on a keyway of a 10” wide tile below. If this happens, a different sized tile should be used. 

When you install the smaller pieces amidst your standard sized pieces, you’re creating a more random look. They help prevent grouping of tiles of a consistent width. And, these smaller pieces are also useful for around windows, corner boards and penetrations. 

Again, the most important reason to use the smaller pieces throughout your installation is to prevent a consistent grouping and overlap of the tiles of the same width. So, here’s my tip: randomly use smaller pieces throughout the coursing to “throw off” the consistency of the same sized piece in the same general area. 

At DaVinci, we’re dedicated to making each job you undertake with our products a true success. To help make that happen we’ve created an online Siding Installation Guide. Make sure to download that guide to gain a full understanding of the steps involved in installing our hand-split siding product. 

Learn more about DaVinci Roofscapes in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit DaVinciRoofscapes.com. 

Original article source: DaVinci Roofscapes

How composite roofing is an excellent solution to deliver a beautiful final product.

Editor's note: The following is the transcript of an interview with General Manager at DaVinci Roofscapes Mark Pagel. You can read the interview below or watch the recorded livestream. 

Karen Edwards: Hello, everyone. And welcome back to the Roofers Coffee Shop soundstage at the International Roofing Expo 2022 in New Orleans. That is a mouthful. And right now, I'm Karen Edwards, and I'm being joined by Mark from DaVinci Roofscapes. Welcome, Mark. 

Mark Pagel: Thank you very much. 

Karen Edwards: Tell me what you do there. 

Mark Pagel: I'm the general manager for DaVinci Roofscapes. Been with DaVinci now, just over two years. Been with our parent company for about 11 years now. So very excited to see the growth that we've had at DaVinci and fun being here at the show right now. 

Karen Edwards: It is a great show. It's fun being here and seeing everybody in person, but there are people who couldn't make it. And that's one of the reasons why we're doing these interviews, because we want to bring a little bit of the show to you. Now, DaVinci had a big announcement come out just a few days ago. And that was the acquisition, the combining to the Westlake Royal building products brand. 

Mark Pagel: That's correct. Yeah. 

Karen Edwards: Tell me what that means for the company's. 

Mark Pagel: Well, it's very exciting for the Westlake Company.DaVinci Roofscapes has been a part of Westlake now, for almost three years at this point. But part of the bigger acquisition just in the last several months has been North American, which has really made Westlake's building products group a substantial player in the industry. And so now we're going through the integration of how do we brand these things together? 

So the big announcement is the branding, everything under Westlake Royal building products, and then there's the Westlake Roofing Solutions Group as well. So Westlake Royal Roofing Solutions Group.  

Karen Edwards: It's exciting. 

Mark Pagel: It is exciting. Yeah. Very exciting. 

Karen Edwards: It's going to meet a lot of good things for the industry too. 

Mark Pagel: Absolutely. 

Karen Edwards: I love it. I love it. So one of the things that we hear a lot at the show is people want to know about materials, they want to know about supplies. What can I get, when can I get it? And a lot of contractors are looking for options and ways to diversify their businesses. Maybe you can't get those asphalt shingles that you need. Maybe your customer is interested in, in a product that's going to last longer than 20, 25 years. 

So we had a recent ... RLW, Read, Listen, Watch webinar with some contractors on, and some folks from DaVinci talking about how to incorporate that solution, composite roofing, into a business. Are you seeing more contractors doing this? 

Mark Pagel: Oh, absolutely. We've seen tremendous growth over the last three, four years at DaVinci. And a large part of that is because of the unique niche within the roofing market segment that we fit. We've been able to produce product consistently at a very high quality, to go with some of the more recent shipping issues that some of our competitors have had, as well as the restrictions on shipping cedar, natural Cedar products, natural slate products into the United States. So we fit a really nice niche within the industry. 

Again, our parent company has been tremendous on allowing us to grow, putting investment into the company. So our capacity has grown pretty substantially over the last couple years as well. And that's really allowed us to take on the extra business that really the industry is looking for and have found what we do to be the right fit for many projects over the last couple years. 

Karen Edwards: If you don't know, DaVinci makes what looks like slate and what looks like cedar. 

Mark Pagel: That's correct. 

Karen Edwards: Very, very convincing. 

Mark Pagel: That's right. Yeah. 

Karen Edwards: That's lighter weight, that's more resilient, and that lasts a very long time. 

Mark Pagel: Yeah, that's correct. Yeah. We specialize in the synthetic natural products we do. We do make a very nice, very architecturally accurate slate product, as well as couple different cedar shake- looking product. 

Again, we've been able to take over a part of the market that's really been in great need because of just the lack of the future natural products. And architecturally, we've been able to find a very nice niche there that fits for our contractors, designers, architects throughout. 

Karen Edwards: There are a lot of older homes in the US, especially in the Eastern part, Northeast, that were built many years ago, with beautiful slate roofs, that are on historic registers. And the DaVinci product often is accepted to meet those standards of maintaining the original look. 

Mark Pagel: That's absolutely correct. We have a very robust sales process, where we do a lot of work with restoration of historic facilities. We've got a number of projects throughout the United States, really, of like you said, historic buildings that have been able to work with our slate products and the shake products for that matter. And it's because of the work that we've done with the architectural community, as well as the historic design communities. And a lot of it's done at the grassroots level, in a specific market, because there's different requirements. But the products that we manufacture meet all the requirements and have been a very much an accepted product to replace the natural products over time. 

Karen Edwards: And I just wanted to mention with the cedar shake roofs, there is very, with natural cedar, very little fire resistance, very little ... While it looks really nice. So by having this synthetic, that looks just like the Cedar, but you're getting that those fire resistant properties. 

Mark Pagel: Correct, yeah. It's a class A fire rated product that we're able to produce and meets the flame spread requirements that many communities are demanding. And a lot of [inaudible 00:06:30] codes are asking for that. Again, the natural products don't meet that requirement. And so, we maintain the look that they're looking for and meet the safety requirements for the product. 

Karen Edwards: So if I'm a contractor looking to add DaVinci to my product offerings, how do I get started? 

Mark Pagel: Well, you can look us up at davinciroofscapes.com We have strong partnerships with all the major distribution companies throughout the country. They all are very familiar with DaVinci and what we do. You can call into our ... In our office, we have a kind of a unique thing that we do. We have a project coordinator that will work with new customers, kind of walk them through the process, making selections for homes, work with the homeowners, work with the contractors, work with the designers throughout the process. And that's really something that's that sets us apart from our competition. 

Karen Edwards: Oh, yeah. That's support is critical to satisfied contractor, satisfied homeowners and a good experience for everyone. Wow. 

Mark Pagel: Very important. 

Karen Edwards: If you're coming to the International Roofing Expo and you want to see, feel, touch DaVinci, don't just take our word for it, stop by booth 17, 37. 

Mark Pagel: That's correct. 17, 37. And we'll all be there with smiles on. So we're looking forward to seeing you. 

Karen Edwards: Well, thank you. 

Learn more about DaVinci Roofscapes in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit DaVinciRoofscapes.com.

By Karen L. Edwards, RCS Editor. 

Here’s what’s trending on RoofersCoffeeShop®(RCS) this past month. 

In looking at our most popular articles for the month of January it was very apparent that the roofing industry was excited to get back together in person at the 2022 International Roofing Expo in New Orleans. All of our articles about the events and activities that were happening at the show were some of our most-read ones. 

If you didn’t make it to the 2022 IRE and want to check out what happened at the show, just head on over to the RCS YouTube channel and check out our IRE 2022 playlist to get a taste of the show.  

Outside of the IRE interest, workmanship shined through in the DaVinci project of the year announcement as well as a very unique roof that is also a functional boat! 

If you didn’t get a chance to see some of the most popular articles from January, follow the links below to catch up! 

Honorable Mention (#6-#10) 

10 - GAF Energy Launches Game-Changing Solar Roof to Power Mass Adoption of Clean Energy 

9 - Prepare to Be Safe This Winter 

8 - Top Things to See and Do at IRE 2022 

7 - Talk About a Roof in Ship Shape! 

6 - How Ingage Helped C&L Ward Gain a 7.5% Closing Rate Increase 

Read the Top 5 articles: 

5 - Owens Corning Spearheads New ASTM Standard 

4 - SRS Distribution Brings Exclusive Resources and Opportunities for Latinos during the 2022 International Roofing Expo 

3 - DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor 2021 Project of the Year Awards Announced 

2 - Don’t Miss These Sessions at IRE 2022! 

1 - IRE is Right Around the Corner! 

Get the top news each week in your inbox when you sign up for the Week in Review email newsletter.

All-new SwiftGuard™ and Sol-R-Skin™ BLUE roof underlayments launched at the show.

Westlake Royal Building Products™ showcased Westlake Royal Roofing™, one of six dynamic product solutions launched recently as part of a total brand transformation, at the 2022 International Builders’ Show (IBS), February 8-10 in Orlando, Florida. Westlake Royal Roofing brings together the portfolios of the former Boral® North America roofing and DaVinci® Roofscapes lines, both strategic acquisitions for Westlake Royal Building Products USA Inc., and its parent company, Westlake, during the past three years.

“Westlake Royal Building Products now offers a comprehensive suite of roofing materials and systems,” says Steve Booz, vice president of marketing for Westlake Royal Building Products. “We are ideally suited to meet the needs of all homebuilders, remodelers, architects, contractors and consumers, no matter what climate, aesthetic preference or performance goal.”

Westlake Royal™ introduced its rebranded clay, concrete, steel and roofing components product lines, along with the DaVinci Roofscapes line, at booth #W2771, including: 

• US Tile®, a legacy line of premium, stunning clay tile solutions manufactured to the highest standard of sustainability and craftsmanship (formerly known as US Tile® by Boral). 

• Newpoint™ Concrete Tile Roofing, the enduring line of concrete tile known for its superior strength, Class A fire rating and lasting beauty (formerly known as Boral Concrete Roofing Tile).

• Unified Steel™ Stone Coated Roofing, the ultra-lightweight roofing system, which benefits from the structural strength of steel (formerly known as Boral Steel – Stone Coated Roofing).

• Westlake Royal Roofing Components™, a full line of integrated roof components designed to deliver a higher standard of roof installation and performance (formerly known as Boral Roof System Components).

• DaVinci Roofscapes, the enduring line of composite roofing tiles emulating the beauty of natural wood, traditional slate, and cedar shake. Crafted for long-term beauty and durability in even the most challenging weather conditions, DaVinci composite products offer roofers alternatives to costly, hard-to-get real slate and cedar roofing products. 

Additionally, Westlake Royal introduced two new roof underlayments in booth #W2771:

• SwiftGuard™ is a high-performance synthetic roof underlayment providing durable, all-weather protection from the elements. The underlayment is ideal for use with all steep slope roofing materials including tile, steel, and shingles as well as natural and composite slates and shakes. SwiftGuard includes innovative, patented nail gasketing technology, a high-grip backing and non-woven thermally embossed fiber face for increased deck grab and superior walkability.

• Sol-R-Skin™ BLUE is a thermal insulating and reflective solution which provides protection from the elements while enhancing energy-saving capabilities. Suitable for use under nearly all steep sloped roofing materials and ideal for application in any climate and at any temperature, the Sol-R-Skin BLUE product is UV-resistant, boasts an anti-glare coating in cool blue and Offers Class A rated fire resistance when applied with stone coated steel, concrete and clay tile roof systems. Highly durable and easy to install, Sol-R-Skin BLUE underlayment is a waterproofing layer, energy-saving radiant barrier and insulation blanket.

To explore the full suite of Westlake Royal Roofing’s concrete, clay, steel, composite and components roofing solutions, including SwiftGuard and Sol-R-Skin BLUE, visit WestlakeRoyalRoofing.com. 

Westlake Royal also exhibited its rebranded lines of siding, trim & mouldings, stone and outdoor living products in booth #W2520.

About Westlake Royal Building Products

Westlake Royal Building Products USA Inc., a Westlake company (NYSE:WLK), is a leader throughout North America in the innovation, design, and production of a broad and diverse range of exterior and interior building products, including Siding and Accessories, Trim and Mouldings, Roofing, Stone, Windows and Outdoor Living. For more than 50 years, Westlake Royal Building Products has manufactured high quality, low maintenance products to meet the specifications and needs of building professionals, homeowners, architects, engineers and distributors, while providing stunning curb appeal with an unmatched array of colors, styles, and accessories.

For more information, please visit WestlakeRoyalBuildingProducts.com. Follow us on LinkedIn and “Like” us on Facebook.

By Evelyn Witterholt, RCS Reporter. 

Learn why these contractors are saying that composite roofing helps build their business. 

In this RoofersCoffeeShop® original Read, Listen, Watch  (RLW™), RCS President Heidi J. Ellsworth sits down with Jeff Karo, the regional sales manager from DaVinci Roofscapes, Scott Kim from WGM Contracting and Chad Janisch from the Shake Guys to talk about incorporating composite roofing into your business. 

Composite material is made to imitate the look of real wood shakes and natural slate. However, it is crafted of high- and low-density polymers. What sets DaVinci composite roofing apart from the rest is that their product is made using only a virgin resin, as opposed to recycled materials.  

“Virgin resin is resin that's never been used, resin that is pure, it's of the highest quality, it's in its strongest form,” Jeff said. Polymers in recycled resins, as soon as they are washed, begin to break down. And then when they're ground down, they begin to break down even more. “We firmly believe that virgin resin is the purest, highest quality you can get for roofing tiles,” says Jeff. 

Chad spoke positively about his experiences with discovering DaVinci composite shake and how the company assists him in promoting their products. Scott finds it game changing to inform homeowners about the product for a variety of reasons. “To actually introduce a DaVinci product which has a Class 4 impact-resistance rating and a Class A fire rating is huge,” he said. “The homeowners are actually stunned.” 

Scott and Chad also provide tips on how to market composite roofing services to homeowners. They teach you how to figure out which customer is the best candidate for composite roofing and how to best reach out to them through platforms like Facebook. Chad states, “Go after the large roofs, the designer shingles, the wood shakes, and cater a marketing plan to those with the help of DaVinci. Use their marketing tools and test it out. You’ll be really pleased with the results.” 

Read, Listen or Watch the entire RLW to learn more about the benefits of incorporating composite roofing into your business. 

Learn more about DaVinci Roofscapes in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit DaVinciRoofscapes.com. 

Photo Credit: DaVinci Roofscapes

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter.  

IRE promises to be one of the biggest events of the year, check out who will be at the expo! 

This year’s International Roofing Expo (IRE) promises many exciting events, products, classes and more. The expo will take place February 1-3 in New Orleans at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.  

RoofersCoffeeShop® will be on the beat, sharing information and broadcasting live on YouTube. Additionally, you will find President Heidi J. Ellsworth moderating a panel on how to work with young people who are interested in roofing. The session takes place Tuesday at 7:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. CT 

The Coffee Shop will join many great manufacturers, distributors and associations as they share new ideas with roofing contractors. Make sure you stop by our booth, number 249, and visit our RoofersCoffeeShop partners too:  

• ABC Supply Co., Inc. - Booth 1301 

• Angi - Booth 1455 

• A.C.T. Metal Deck Supply - Booth 3037 

• AccuLynx - Booth 637 

• Art Unlimited - Booth 3425 

• ATAS International, Inc. - Booth 3036 

• Beacon Building Products - Booth 231, 325 

• Bitec - Booth 2519 

• Breakthrough Academy - Booth 954 

• Castagra - Booth 2754 

• Cotney Attorneys & Consultants - Booth 2131 

• CertainTeed - Booth 2244 

• Chem Link, Inc. - Booth 2411 

• Duro-Last Roofing, Inc. - Booth 2837 

• DaVinci Roofscapes - Booth 1737 

• DECRA Metal Roofing - Booth 2019 

• Equipter - Booth 1801 

• Estimating Edge - Booth 3505 

• FlashCo - Booth 1845 

• Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (FRSA) - Booth 3429 

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By DaVinci Roofscapes. 

Multi-width Shake was used to replace the roof and help it maintain longevity. 

“We’re out here in front of God and everyone.” That’s how Chris Webb describes the location of Old Baldy Lighthouse and Smith Island Museum of History. Both the lighthouse and keeper’s cottage are completely exposed to the elements. 

Accessible only by boat, North Carolina’s oldest standing lighthouse is located on Bald Head Island. Nearby you’ll find a recreation of the original keeper’s cottage. Inside is a museum, gift shop and ticket desk. 

Bad cedar shakes 

The latest keeper’s cottage was built in 2000. It was reconstructed after the original cottage (circa. 1817) burned down several years before that. Less than 15 years after being rebuilt, the curators knew they had a problem with the structure. 

“The real cedar shake roofing on the cottage was in very bad condition,” says Chris Webb, executive director of The Old Baldy Foundation. “The structure is located under lots of oak trees. Only part of the roof gets sunlight. The other part always stays damp. That led to the growth of lots of mold and mildew.” 

By 2020 the situation was so bad a new roof was needed. So they sent out an SOS — to SOS Roofing. 

Composite roofing to the rescue 

“We needed a roof with longevity, plus an authentic look,” says Webb. “We’re a non-profit organization. We can’t afford to be re-roofing this structure every 15 years.” 

Webb reached out to Steven Lyons, owner of SOS Roofing and Construction in Wilmington, North Carolina. Based on his past experiences of using composite shake roofing, Lyons immediately suggested DaVinci Multi-Width Shake. And, while Bald Head Island has strict restrictions on roofing materials, DaVinci products have been previously approved for other projects. 

“There are five different variances in the DaVinci Multi-Width Shake package,” says Lyons. “Most competitive roofing manufacturers only offer three. Having five different sizes of tiles provides a more authentic look to the composite shake roof.” 

Lyons also recommended the Nature Crafted Collection for the faux shake roof. The authentic-looking wood-tone colors fit naturally in the historic setting. 

Rising to the challenge 

Deciding on the DaVinci roofing product was the easy part. Installing it during the initial COVID-19 restrictions in March of 2020 proved much more difficult. 

“Access to the island is only by ferry,” says Lyons. “Due to capacity issues, there were times we’d wait three hours just to get on the island. This resulted in short work days and frustrated workers. 

“Ultimately it came down to just myself and another employee installing the roof ourselves. The roof is a 12/12 pitch, which is challenging. I was on rope protection in a harness putting up about 200 square feet a day until the project was finished.” 

While a challenge to complete, the roof was in place just before Hurricane Season 2020. 

On August 3, 2020, Hurricane Isaias tore into the North Carolina coast. A high-end Category 1 hurricane, it spawned an EF-1 tornado with maximum winds of 105mph on Bald Head Island. 

“The hurricane was definitely worse than anticipated,” says Webb. “Incredibly the new DaVinci roof held up just fine. No tiles came off and there was not a drop of water inside the keeper’s cottage. We knew it was rated for severe weather and high winds, but we never expected to put it to the test so quickly! 

“The old cedar shake roof would never have made it through that storm. We’re so fortunate to have invested in the new composite shake roof at just the right time. I know our DaVinci roof will give us peace-of-mind for many years — and many storms — to come!” 

Learn more about DaVinci Roofscapes in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit DaVinciRoofscapes.com. 

Original article source: DaVinci Roofscapes