DaVinci Slate Comparison Guide

In a side-by-side comparison with natural and other synthetic slate, the beauty durability and longevity of DaVinci synthetic slate makes it the obvious choice for your home.

  DaVinci Slate Natural Slate Other Synthetic Slates
Beauty
Authentic Look Yes Yes No – Single-width shingles and/or limited color lines look ‘fake’ by comparison.
½" Thickness Yes Yes - ½" slates are used for the most expensive installations. No - 3/16" or ¼" at most.
5 Widths Yes Yes (sometimes more) No - 1 is typical; 3 at most.
Pre-mixed Color Blends Yes - Each blend is composed with assured proportions in each bundle. No - Requires sorting and blending at the jobsite. No - Requires sorting and blending at the job site.
Labor
Lightweight Yes No Yes
Factory-collated Color Blends Yes - Each bundle is composed of authentic slate colors arranged in an authentic slate blend. No - Requires jobsite sorting & blending of colors. No - Requires jobsite sorting & blending of colors.
Factory-collated Widths Yes - Each bundle is composed of 5 slate shingle widths factory-collated for each installation. No - Requires jobsite blending of widths prior to installation. No - Those with more than one width must be blended at jobsite.
Estimated Waste in Installation Low - Only in Valleys. High - Slate with hairline cracks or those broken during installation must be discarded as much as 15%. High – Other Synthetics do not have multiple widths creating more cutting and waste at edges and walls.
Performance
Fire Retardance: Class A Yes - With standard underlayments. Yes - With standard underlayments. Yes - But only with specialty underlayments.
Wind Resistance: 90 mph Yes Yes70 - 110 mpg
Impact Resistance: Class 4 Yes Yes - for ½" thick slates. No - for 3/16" slates.Yes
Freeze/Thaw Resistant Yes Mostly - May spall in Alpine regions. Yes - for polymeric materials. No - for fibrous cement materials.
Maintenance Free Yes No - Requires inspection and repair throughout its life cycle.Yes
Color-fast Yes Yes Depends on Manufacturer

1413 Osage Ave. Kansas City, KS 66105 | Phone: 913-599-0766 | Fax: 913-599-0065
Toll-free: 800-DaVinci (328-4624)