DaVinci in the News

The Kansas City Star– (April 16, 2006) – If you are in the market for a roof, look into a new range of products: polymer, vinyl and rubber shingles that look like natural slate or wood.

Synthetic tiles are a growing segment of the roofing industry, although they account for only 3 percent to 4 percent of residential sales, according to Tom Bollnow, senior technical director with the National Roofing Contractors Association.

“Synthetic roofing materials have gained popularity in the last five to 10 years,” Bollnow said. “They’re made to simulate slate tiles and wood shingles without some of the drawbacks of the natural products.”

The “slate” of new roof materials:

¦ High-performance polymers, molded to look like slate and wood shingles.

¦ Recycled rubber and polymer composites, an environmentally friendly option.

When Tony Tappan wanted to replace the asphalt roof on his Kansas City 1922 Tudor home, he liked the look of slate, but not the price. Last fall he had a polymer slate-look tile roof installed (see photo inside). The roof was made by DaVinci Roofscapes in Lenexa.

“There are a whole lot of roofing options between asphalt and slate,” Tappan said. “For us, we wanted to make the investment in our home, have the look of slate but pay a lot less.”

Although Tappan's polymer slate-tile roof cost 30 percent to 40 percent more than an asphalt roof, he says it cost about one-half to one-third as much as a natural slate-tile roof.

“A good synthetic tile finds that middle ground that makes the look of a premium roof — like slate — much more available to people,” said John Humphreys, co-owner of DaVinci Roofscapes. “You can give people a very realistic natural look that has fire protection and impact resistance.”

Thanks to technology, synthetic roofing tiles can also mimic natural wood shakes while gaining the benefits of fire retardancy, mold- and insect-resistance, and a longer life expectancy. (See box.)

Synthetic roofing products also appeal to the “green” consumer. EcoStar of Mundelein, Ill., uses an injection molding process to turn rubber from radiator hoses into roof tiles.

“We've found that a discerning homeowner considers a synthetic tile roof,” said Craig Kreuger, a Kansas City representative for EcoStar. “Architects love to use our tiles for roofs on historic buildings.”

EcoStar has been in business for 15 years and was one of the first synthetic roofing tile manufacturers. DaVinci Roofscapes has been in business for six years. All synthetic tile companies install their roofing products over a solid decking. Check with the company for a list of approved roofing contractors, especially when a warranty is involved.

Tappan doesn't regret spending the extra money installing his synthetic tile roof. “This roof was a step up from our previous roof, and we get a lot of compliments on it,” Tappan said. “We love our home, and that's why we've made the investment.”