Roofer profile: Anthony Walsh – DuraShield Roofing and Contracting

By DaVinci Roofscapes.

How offering DaVinci composite shake and slate roofing options has increased this contractor's revenue.

If you live in Wisconsin or Illinois, Anthony Walsh has made it his mission that you’ve heard about his company, DuraShield Roofing and Contracting. Since 2003 the full-service team of roofers has worked on residential homes, apartment communities, condo associations, office complexes and hotels.

As President of DuraShield Roofing and Contracting, Anthony guarantees his company installs only high-quality materials from the top U.S. manufacturers. That’s why he and his company can make the bold promise to “provide the most dependable and durable roofing systems while raising industry standards through integrity and service.”

Anthony, what makes your company stand out in the marketplace?

We are known for completing high-end home shingle roofs and specialty roof replacements such as cedar shakes, DaVinci Roofscapes composite roofs, plus slate and tile. Our team also completes a lot of multi-family roofing projects.  

How are DaVinci composite roofing projects helping grow your business?

We started installing DaVinci products in 2015. However, especially in the last two years, we’ve seen an increased interest in DaVinci from homeowners. This is because insurance companies don’t want to insure homes with natural cedar shake roofs. Therefore, we have seen our revenue increase significantly from being able to offer DaVinci composite shake and slate roofing options. 

What’s one of your favorite DaVinci projects that DuraShield Roofing & Contracting has done and why?

One of our recent projects is my current favorite. The owner had a 20-year-old cedar shake roof and his insurance company raised his rates so much that he was looking for an alternative product that would have the same appearance as cedar shake. He looked at several options and ended up choosing DaVinci Select Shake in the Mossy Cedar color.

This home has a mansard style roof with a lot of custom copper dormers and accents. The home sits along a river with many other luxury homes. The roof really pops now with the DaVinci roof and copper accents!

What makes your company recommend DaVinci products over competitive composite products?

When we were looking to start offering a composite roofing option back in 2015, I researched the different products that were available. We believed that DaVinci was the best option --- and still do. The fact that they use virgin resin in their products and the benefit of using them are one of the main reasons for the product’s durability and fade resistance. Also, the customer support for us as a contractor, and to our customers, has always been top notch.

How have you been able to get composite products accepted into HOA communities?

Back in the early days of installing DaVinci, it was a lot more challenging to get composite products approved in HOAs. Now, DaVinci is more well known and therefore easier to get approved in HOAs. Most of the time, we are dealing with HOAs that had previously only allowed natural cedar shake roofs. When we have the opportunity to lay out the benefits of a DaVinci composite, and show them the material in person, we have always been able to get DaVinci approved.

I actually recorded a podcast for AskaRoofer.com with DaVinci, entitled “Composite Versus Asphalt Roofing,” which details out many of the reasons why composite roofing is a good long-term investment. I’ve used these selling points for HOAs and for individual homeowners.

Some roofers say that sample tiles close the sale. Why do you think this happens?

Seeing is believing. Not only do we bring samples in person but sometimes we will do a small mockup on the customers’ roofs to help them visualize what a DaVinci roof will look like on their home. We also show a lot of pictures and videos of DaVinci roofs we have installed. Finally, we provide addresses for people to drive and see DaVinci roofs we’ve previously installed. Again, seeing is believing.  

If you absolutely had to change professions tomorrow, what do you think you’d do?

If I had to change, I would get more involved with real estate development and investing. I am currently involved with owning some multi-family assets and breaking ground on my first 72-unit apartment community in April 2026.