Historic Peterson House Gets DaVinci Polymer Roof

In Durango, Colo., the milled wood roof shingles on the 1880s Peterson House were so worn by time and weather that they had simply crumbled apart. As part of ongoing restoration efforts of the historic structure in 2011, the team at Animas Museum turned to experts at DaVinci Roofscapes® to provide a polymer roof that would replicate the look of the original roof.

“We deeply appreciate that one of our oldest buildings in town has received the donation of the newest roofing technologies available in the marketplace,” says Carolyn Bowra, director of Animas Museum. “The mission at our museum is to keep La Plata County history and culture alive for present and future generations. DaVinci Roofscapes has certainly supported this effort and made it possible for the Peterson House to have a new life.”

Believed to have been constructed by and for D&RG railroad in the 1880s, the small Peterson House was home to several families over the years. By the 1930s the Laurence Peterson family resided in the home. Decades later the home was moved from its location alongside the railroad tracks into the Animas Museum complex, where plans are in place to restore the home to the 1930s era and open it for public viewing in 2013.

After decades of exposure to severe Colorado weather conditions, the roof on the Peterson House had disintegrated. In researching replacement options, the Animas Museum team consulted with Tony Whittle at TL Roofing and determined that DaVinci Fancy Shake roofing tile in the Mountain color would be the ideal solution to their problems.

“I’ve worked with the DaVinci product before in our area and felt the long-term value these polymer tiles would bring to the Animas Museum project would be ideal,” says Whittle, owner and president of TL Roofing in Durango, Colo. “Each tile has a refined cedar look, much like a machine-sawn shake shingle, so it blends in perfectly with our mountain setting. Plus, the tiles resist insects, fungus, algae, mold, cracking, fading and curling.”

Animas-02-225×300Fancy Shake polymer tiles are carefully crafted using only 100% pure virgin resins to guarantee a sustainable product. The tiles require minimal maintenance over time, have a 50-year limited warranty and are 100 percent recyclable.

“We love the roof because it is ‘spot on’ for the period and the building,” says Bowra. “Our insurance agent is thrilled with the safety aspects and the fact that the polymer roofing tiles have a Class A fire rating. We’ve even offered to host agencies who conduct workshops on fire mitigation to showcase this new roof. We’re so pleased with this DaVinci roof that we’re hoping that, as other roofs in our complex become in need of restoration, that we’ll be able to install these same polymer tiles.”

DaVinci Roofscapes has manufactured award-winning synthetic slate and shake roofing since 1999. The polymer roofing tiles are virtually maintenance free and far more cost effective than the natural product. DaVinci leads the industry in tile thickness, the tile width variety and the greatest selection of subtle earth-toned colors. Company products have a 50-year warranty and are 100 percent recyclable. DaVinci proudly makes its products in America and is a member of the National Association of Home Builders, the Cool Roof Rating Council and the U.S. Green Building Council. For additional information call 1-800-328-4624 or visit our website.