Cover Story
 
Wildfire! That one word can quickly spread panic through a West Coast community addicted to real cedar shake roofs. Because wildfires are so devastating, homeowners, contractors, and architects are all eager to safeguard homes against their damaging nature. One way to help protect homes from the unpredictable effects of wildfires is to specify fire-resistant polymer shake roofs. Whether used for new construction or replacement purposes, these Class A fire-resistant roofs help prevent the spread of wildfires by refusing to ignite. With a realistic cedar shake appeal, the authentic-looking synthetic shake roofs come in a variety of thicknesses to mimic true cedar shakes while also resisting impact from hail and severe weather. Homeowners Shaking Up Their Roofs Contractor Guy Galitski, president of G.G. Roofing Company of Huntington Beach, Calif., has seen a steady increase in polymer roofing projects during the past several years, along with the decline of natural cedar roofing projects. “We’ve reroofed nine projects recently with DaVinci polymer shake roofs to replace natural shingle roofs,” says Galitski. “The homeowners are all choosing these polymer roofs because of their likeness to wood shakes with the advantages of a man-made product. It’s a high-end roofing tile that doesn’t require ongoing maintenance and offers peace of mind.” For his most recent reroofing project, Galitski added Bellaforté shake roofing tiles to a home in San Juan Capistrano. “We replaced 35-year-old real wood shakes with these snap-fit polymer shakes on this home,” says Galitski. “Even though the pitch of the roof was a steep 12/12, we didn’t have any problem getting the roof installed.” Bellaforté Shake polymer roofing tiles were created to have a multi-width appearance replicating hand-split real cedar shakes. The tiles feature slanted sawn edges and staggered lengths. Snap-fit tabs are molded into each tile for easy installation and self-alignment. The roofing tiles come in 49 colors and a selection of five color blends, including Abruzzo, Espresso, Tuscano, Verona, and Harbor Gray. “The finished product has the aesthetic appeal of wood shakes, but without the maintenance hassles,” says Galitski. “And, for authenticity, the homeowner selected the Abruzzo color blend so the roof fits in perfectly with her neighborhood setting.” Shaking Up the Waterfront In a different part of California, the Mai Kai condo community in Newport Beach has all the benefits of waterfront living, including the constant salt air and sea spray from the Pacific Ocean. When the real wood shake shingles on the 34 units deteriorated over time, the homeowner’s association decided to replace them with polymer shake roofing tiles. “Our research and the recommendation of a design consultant led us to the DaVinci Multi-Width Shake product for its appearance, durability, and maintenance,” says John Adler, a member of the Mai Kai condo board of directors. “We needed a material that could be walked on by various trades people who would need access to the roof in the future. The strength of the product really impressed us and helped influence our decision.” “These are lightweight, weather-resistant shakes that truly mimic the look of real cedar,” says Hogan Hammarstrom, president and founder of Absolut Roofing, Inc. in Fountain Valley, Calif. “We’ve installed this roofing product in the past with great success. The Multi-Width shake is very durable and installs easily without breakage." “Most importantly the finished appearance is terrific and the condo owners gain the look of real cedar shakes without the maintenance challenges. From my experience, there’s no other product on the market that simulates real wood shakes better than the DaVinci roofing tiles.” Originally built in the early 1960’s, the Mai Kai condos are in the prestigious Corona Del Mar area of Newport Beach and each unit sells for between two and three million dollars. The homeowner’s association board selected the shake roofing tiles in a Mountain blend of colors, including light, medium, and dark mountain tones. “Based on our experience so far with the product, I’d recommend the polymer slate or shake roofing tiles from DaVinci to another community if they had the same needs we did,” says Adler. “Our experience has been positive with the product selection and installation, and we expect long-term satisfaction from this roofing product.” From his experience, installer Hammarstrom believes that the condo owners themselves like the polymer roofing tiles for the same reasons he does. “This roof has a 50-year limited warranty that means life for these residents has just gotten much easier,” says Hammarstrom. “Plus, the roofing tiles perfectly capture the look of shake without the maintenance hassles. How can it get any better?” Saving with Shake In Colorado, it wasn’t the threat of wildfire or salty sea air that convinced homeowner Andrew Marenin it was time to replace his roof, it was hail damage. There are many reasons Marenin cites for being thrilled with his new shake polymer roof. The appearance, value, and neighbor envy are a few, but the discount he’s getting on his State Farm® homeowner’s insurance is perhaps the best reason. “After my roof had hail damage, my independent adjuster told me we’d save 25% to 30% on our annual homeowner’s insurance because the DaVinci Roofscapes polymer roof we purchased resists severe weather, hail, and fire,” says Marenin, a resident of Centennial, Colo. “After seeing my new roof, he was so impressed by its quality and reasonable pricing that he told me he was seriously considering getting this product for his own home!” In addition to the long-term savings, Marenin was pleased that his new roof sailed smoothly through the approval process with his homeowner’s association. “Our neighborhood association can be extremely particular on architectural detail and changes on homes in our area,” says Marenin. “However, these shakes are so authentic-looking that they received instant approval.” After viewing the new shake roofing products at a trade show, Marenin connected with several roofing installers and did extensive research on Bellaforté Shake. “Sometimes it’s hard to visualize how a product will look on your home,” says Marenin. “This problem was eliminated completely when a DaVinci sales representative came to my house with a 3x5-foot display on the back of his truck. Seeing this large expanse of the product convinced me that this was the roof for my house. His display truly sold me on the product.” The 12” Bellaforté Shake tiles feature multiple profiles that enable roofing contractors to create a staggered appearance that simulates a natural rough-hewn wood shake roof. The product’s patented features, which include a leading edge tab and a self-aligning ledge, help reduce the installation time for the Bellaforté Shake product. Available nationwide, a square of the product (with 100 pieces per square) weighs just 190 lbs. This lower tile weight helps reduce installation time and transportation costs. Throughout the selection process, Marenin kept in touch with the DaVinci customer service department asking questions and gaining color samples of the product. “The excellent service we had from the team when selecting our Tuscano color blend was impressive,” says Marenin. “We previously had a 22 year-old natural cedar shingle roof on our home. We loved the look, but we wanted a replacement product that would easily handle most hailstorms and last longer than real wood. This new faux shake product met all our needs.” With the reroofing project behind him, Marenin is enjoying his new roof from both the inside and outside of his home. “I can really tell that this particular roof has helped retain the heat in the home and acts as a terrific insulation factor,” says Marenin. “And, I can’t work in my front yard without several neighbors stopping by to comment on the look of the roof. This started during the installation process and hasn’t let up. Our new roof has given us celebrity status in our neighborhood.” Shaking Up the Industry Marenin isn’t the only one discovering the benefits of Bellaforté Shake roofing tiles. Introduced to the marketplace just a year ago, the swift acceptance and widespread appeal of the polymer roofing tiles surprised even the manufacturer. “Month after month we’re seeing big increases in the sales of this roofing tile,” says Mark Hansen, vice president of sales for DaVinci Roofscapes. “People across the nation are lining up to have this realistic shake roofing tile on their homes.” Hansen points out that a combination of aesthetics and price point are key factors driving sales of the Bellaforté Shake product. “We took impressions of real cedar and used our proprietary technology to transfer those extremely detailed impressions to our molds for this product,” says Hansen. “The final results are amazingly accurate. And, as important as the realistic look is the competitive price point. “Pricing for Bellaforté Shake compares to real cedar, high-end asphalt, or steel roofing options. That’s appealing to homeowners, building owners, and homeowner associations who still love the look of cedar, but need more value. The polymer tiles provide that value because of their enhanced lifespan, insect and fire-resistance, along with low maintenance and exceptional abilities to combat severe weather conditions.”
 
Polymer Shake Roofs Shaking Up West Coast Roofs by Kathy Ziprik, public relations representative, DaVinci Roofscapes