Solving the mountain roofing challenge

By DaVinci Roofscapes.

Why mountain roofers are turning homeowners toward composite roofing for HOAs, townhomes and condos.

Mountain roofing is not easy work. Snow stacks up. UV beats down. Wind pushes hard. Freeze-thaw cycles test every fastener, flashing detail and roof plane. That is why more condo associations, townhome communities and property managers in mountain markets are asking for roofing products that do more than just look good on day one.

They want long-term performance. They want fire resistance. They want fewer callbacks. And they want roofs that still fit the high-end character of resort communities. For roofers, that creates an opportunity.

DaVinci® Roofscapes composite shake and slate products give contractors a premium solution to recommend. They deliver the authentic look of cedar or slate without the same maintenance, fire, pest and breakage concerns of the natural materials.

Why composite roofing fits mountain communities

Traditional materials can be beautiful. However, they can also be fragile. Cedar can rot, crack, curl and attract insects. It can also create fire concerns in forested areas. Concrete tiles can be heavy and vulnerable to impact. Natural slate can be costly, difficult to source, brittle and hard to replace.

DaVinci composite roofing gives roofers another way to provide the look of those products without the problems. The synthetic tiles are made with virgin resins, UV and thermal stabilizers and fire retardants. They are engineered for lasting color, impact and fire resistance, plus severe-weather durability.

The benefits? These composite roofing tiles...

• Help reduce long-term maintenance demands for associations and homeowners.
• Support fire-resistant roofing goals in wildfire-prone areas.
• Work with engineered snow retention systems in snow country.
• Provide the look of cedar shake or slate without the same vulnerabilities.
• Preserve curb appeal in luxury mountain communities.

The mountain roofing challenge
 

Story 1: Sunrise Ridge Condos, Big Sky, Montana

At Sunrise Ridge Condos in Big Sky, Montana, the roof has to take on roughly 257 inches of snow each year. That is more than 21 feet landing on the community in one season. When the association planned to replace real cedar roofing on 58 homes, leaders wanted longer life, lower fire concern and better value.

“Our condos are in an area with extreme climate conditions that’s tough on roofs,” says Charles Dubroff, the association’s lead board of directors member on the re-roofing project. “We wanted a roofing product with a long life and warranty. Plus, we also desired positive environmental aspects and fire-resistancy.”

• Roof Top Solutions helped the community test DaVinci synthetic shake products on several buildings.
• After the trial, the association selected DaVinci Multi-Width Shake roofing in Tahoe for the condos and clubhouse.
• The finished roof delivered authentic shake appeal with Class A fire and Class 4 impact ratings.

“I couldn’t be happier about our choice of roofing companies or roofing products,” says Charles. “We’re looking at these roofs lasting us many decades.”

Story 2: Royal Elk Villas, Avon, Colorado

Royal Elk Villas in Beaver Creek Village had a familiar problem. Heavy snow and intense sun had worn down the roofs on 15 luxury townhomes. Ascent Building Consulting recommended DaVinci Single-Width Slate because the product had already performed well on other mountain projects.

“This was a fairly easy product recommendation,” says Steve R. Bunn, RRC, RRO, president of Ascent Building Consulting, Inc. “I’ve selected and specified DaVinci Roofscapes synthetic shake and slate products on multiple projects for a number of years. That’s mostly due to the continued success with the products.”

Steve selected DaVinci synthetic slate for freeze-thaw resistance, fire performance and long-term track record.

• J&K Roofing installed the composite roof system.
• The project also included more than 4,500 copper snow guards from Rocky Mountain Snow Guards.

The result was a roof built for beauty, managed snow release and long-term reliability.

Story 3: Buckhorn - Bachelor Gulch Townhomes, Avon, Colorado

At Buckhorn - Bachelor Gulch, OAC Management helped evaluate roofing options for two dozen townhomes. The community wanted the look of natural cedar shake. It also wanted fewer worries about fire, insects, maintenance and freeze-thaw stress. OAC Management used a comparative analysis and cash model. DaVinci Multi-Width Shake rose to the top because of its appearance, warranty, testing, certifications and mountain-weather performance.

“We typically do a comparative analysis whenever asked to coordinate replacement products for a community,” says Erik Peterson, owner and president of OAC Management. “We list out all the attributes of each product, evaluate the manufacturers, look at product costs and then determine which product rises to the top.”

• Umbrella Roofing installed more than 77,000 square feet of DaVinci Multi-Width Shake roofing in the Autumn blend.
• Custom copper flat seam roofs were included.
• A full snow-retention plan helped address mountain safety concerns.

“Our team has installed more than 100 DaVinci roofs in the Aspen and Vail areas,” says Trevor H. Cannon, owner of Umbrella Roofing. “When homeowners in this area want peace-of-mind plus a sensational looking imitation shake or slate roof, they come to us!”

Story 4: Highlands Slopeside, Beaver Creek, Colorado

At Highlands Slopeside in Beaver Creek, 26 years of Colorado weather had taken a toll on a five-story condo complex. The renovation included windows, siding, masonry and more than 500 squares of DaVinci Multi-Width Slate roofing. Arapahoe Roofing & Sheet Metal worked under tight summer windows, limited roof access and crowded scaffolding. Crews put in long days to keep the project moving.

“We were permitted to work on the composite roof for seven weeks during two separate summer timeframes in 2016 and 2017,” says Mark Bellitt, president of Arapahoe Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. “Our crews worked 12-hour days, six days a week to meet the tight deadline.”

• The project included more than 540 squares of DaVinci Multi-Width Slate.
• It also included copper standing seam roofing, heated eaves, copper gutters, snow fences and more than 2,500 snow guards.
• The roofing work earned Arapahoe Roofing the Colorado Roofing Association Job of the Year Award in 2017.

Why roofers can recommend DaVinci with confidence

Mountain projects are high-visibility jobs. They often include steep slopes, copper details, tight schedules, HOA review, snow retention layouts and demanding owners. That makes product confidence important. DaVinci gives roofers a premium story to tell. It is about natural beauty, tested performance, reduced maintenance and long-term value.

As Karla Ferguson of J&K Roofing put it, "The DaVinci product went up smoothly. It’s a good product to work with and we’ve had strong success with DaVinci in the past.”

Key takeaways for roofers

• Lead with the mountain problem. Then show how composite roofing solves it.
• Recommend DaVinci when clients want the look of natural shake or slate with less maintenance burden.
• Use Class A fire and Class 4 impact-rated options to support performance conversations.
• Always discuss snow retention as part of the roofing system.
• Point to Montana and Colorado success stories when HOA boards need proof.
• Talk Total Cost of Ownership, not just initial material cost.

Trevor H. Cannon of Umbrella Roofing summed it up perfectly: “Quite simply, this is the only synthetic roof we install. The track record we have with this polymer roofing product is very impressive.”

The bottom line

Mountain communities do not need ordinary roofs. They need roofs built for snow, sun, fire exposure, impact, wind and architectural expectations. DaVinci Roofscapes composite shake and slate tiles give roofing contractors a product they can sell with confidence. The products look right for mountain homes. They perform in difficult conditions. And they help roofers give customers a premium answer to a very real problem.

For roofers serving mountain condo, townhome and HOA communities, composite roofing is no longer just an alternative. It has become a preferred recommendation.