Flexibility of Composite Roofing

Meeting Design & Aesthetic Challenges

by Marcus Dodson, Editor & Publisher

More than timber smoldered when the Rusty Parrot Lodge burned to the ground in 2019.  The dreams of the Harrison family that own the award-winning Jackson, Wyoming, boutique resort also went up in the massive fire.

         After five years of exhaustive efforts, the expanded and enhanced rustic lodge reopened in 2024.  The luxurious mountain style facility was redesigned by Brandon Herbst, a partner with Rowland + Broughton Architecture and Interior Design out of Denver, Colorado. 

         “As you can imagine, Class A fire resistance was a requirement for materials used in the reconstruction effort,” said Herbst.  “When it came to the roofing, this was a noted advantage of the DaVinci® Roofscapes product.  The Rusty Parrot owners were also intrigued by the Class 4 impact resistant rating and resiliency of the composite shake tiles to handle the extreme weather conditions in Jackson.”

         For the lodge’s exterior building palette, Herbst focused on a mixture of rustic and refined natural elements.  “The goal was to blend into the rugged mountain setting yet acknowledge the somewhat urban site,” said Herbst.  “We specified the DaVinci Multi-Width Shake product in the Mountain color blend because of its resiliency and beauty.  The Rusty Parrot owners are excited about the composite shake product’s durability and minimal upkeep requirements.  We feel the synthetic roofing provides a natural look that blends well with the building’s color palette and mountain setting.”

Meeting Design Criteria

         You have to “know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em.”  For architect Dean Larkin, Dean Larkin Design, Los Angeles, the advice from Kenny Roger’s song, The Gambler, rang in his mind as he tackled the massive renovation of the Liongate estate once belonging to the singer in Bel Air, California.

         When it came to selecting the roofing material for the impressive 1938 structure, slate was a primary choice.  However, the potential weight of natural slate on the infrastructure was a problem.  With that in mind, Larkin folded and he went all in on an alternative composite slate product he’s specified for the past 15 years.

         “Aesthetically the DaVinci Multi-Width Slate is virtually identical to real slate,” said Larkin, AIA, Principal of Dean Larkin Design.  “The synthetic material looks amazing and is flexible enough from a design aspect that it’s top-of-the-line when it comes to complementing the high quality of this immense renovation project.”

         The slate gray synthetic slate Larkin chose now covers the home originally designed by famed architect Paul Williams.  Back in 1938, the house had just under 10,000 sq.ft. of space.  Larkins’ massive undertaking brought the property up to almost 24,000 sq.ft. with 11 bedrooms, 17 baths, three living rooms, and seven fireplaces.

         “Making the roof selection was a critical decision for this remodel,” said Larkin.  “The ability of the DaVinci product to meet our aesthetic needs was just one element in our selection criteria.  I believe there’s a trend toward advanced materials like composites becoming more adaptable and valuable on projects.  For example, the DaVinci product is fire resistant.  This plays an important factor in specifying it for West Coast projects where wildfire and WUI situations are always a concern.”

Reliable Roofing

         Another project relying on the realism of synthetic slate is a new lakefront property designed by architect Nazim Nice, Founding Partner with Motionspace Architecture + Design in Seattle, Washington.

         “We sought a premium product for a high-end waterfront home that combined exceptional aesthetics with strong performance characteristics,” said Nice, NCARB, LEED® AP.  “We thoroughly researched the options.  DaVinci Multi-Width Slate stood out for its aesthetic appeal, offering a range of color options, widths, and exposures.  Additionally, we needed a product that required minimal maintenance, resisted fading, and could withstand the high winds and weather coming off of Lake Washington.  The appearance of this product surpassed other products we considered, and the slate gray color complements the unique metal chimney caps we had fabricated.”

         The custom home, built by Toth Construction, Seattle, Washington, has solar panels and skylights integrated into the roofing system.  Nice relayed that the lighter weight synthetic slate made it easier to work with these products.

         According to Nice, unpredictable climate changes on the West Coast are influencing his roofing product choices.  “Storms are becoming stronger, with rainstorms heavier and causing more damage.  We even experienced a Bomb Cyclone recently.  I prefer to specify a roof that offers reliability both now and in an increasingly unpredictable future.”

         In these three projects, the choice to use Davinci’s products really made each new roof shine.  The synthetic shake and slate products look like the real deal without any of the dangers that can potentially come with having authentic slate or shake roofs.  Providing an impressive blend of both aesthetic value and protection, these new roofs will stand the test of time as masterpieces for years to come.