Again in 2015 Tim Carter had an enormous downside. Crumbling asphalt shingles compromised his roof. Carter, Founding father of AsktheBuilder.com, turned his annoyance right into a studying state of affairs for his 1000’s of followers. They watched as he made the choice to rework his house and roof with sturdy, artificial DaVinci Single-Width Slate in an Evergreen shade.

Now, nearly a decade later, we checked in with Carter. After a number of extreme New Hampshire winters, we wished to see how he feels about his resolution to put money into sturdy artificial slate.

“I’m nonetheless head over heels in love with my DaVinci Single-Width Slate roof!” exclaims Carter. “After eight years it appears to be like higher than the day I put in it. My spouse Kathy, completely thinks it’s top-of-the-line enhancements we’ve executed to the home.”

Laughing at Mom Nature

Carter and his spouse love lakeside dwelling in New Hampshire. Nonetheless, they expertise actually unbelievable winter climate. In 2020, Winter Storm Gail dumped 39 inches of snow on their roof in simply 12 hours. In December of 2022, 60+ mph winds blew via their space.

“As a result of I hand-nailed every DaVinci shingle myself with conventional double hot-dipped galvanized ring shank nails, not one tile got here off in that storm,” says Carter. “The artificial slate roof is in good situation.

“We’ve had ice buildup on one part of the rear of the roof. It will get over six inches thick. That’s as a result of the one who constructed the home didn’t insulate that a part of the construction accurately. The ice stays on the DaVinci roof for weeks at a time. Even with the burden of the ice, there was completely no injury to the roof.

“There are occasions I’ve had to make use of a roof rake to get snow buildup off the shingles. As soon as once more, no injury. I believe the DaVinci product may be the closest factor to being indestructible.”

Skilled Constructing Ideas

Primarily based on the efficiency of the final eight years, Carter is fast to say that he believes his roof has one other 70 years of life left in it.

“My opinion relies on the whole roof system,” says Carter. “I used Grace Ice & Water Defend® because the underlayment on the roof. The DaVinci product is phenomenal and so is that this underlayment. As well as, I made certain to make use of the double hot-dipped galvanized ring shank nails.

“Owners ought to at all times ask their roofers what sort of fasteners are getting used. The roof is just pretty much as good because the fasteners which can be used. Poor-quality electro galvanized nails which can be generally put in nail weapons can get rusty in lower than 10 years. You need the nails to last more than the shingles.”

One other tip from Carter: set up copper flashings. “As soon as once more, flashings ought to last more than the roofing tiles,” says Carter. “Copper can final 100 years or longer if put in accurately.”

Dream Residence with a Dream Roof

Whereas the sturdy artificial slate DaVinci roof will final on Carter’s house for many years to return, he and his spouse have began planning to maneuver on. They’re pondering of constructing their dream house inside the subsequent a number of years.

When the time comes, two issues are certain to occur. First, the Carters will use their DaVinci artificial slate roof as a significant promoting level for his or her house. The long-term efficiency plus the aesthetics are key gross sales options for the lakeside home.

After that, as soon as the home sells, the couple plans to seek the advice of with DaVinci’s shade skilled, Kate Smith. “We’d prefer to go together with a bolder shade for our subsequent roof,” says Carter. “DaVinci has so many shade choices that we’re wanting ahead to creating a change. Nonetheless, the DaVinci product itself is certainly on my ‘A Listing’ of merchandise that I’d completely like to make use of on a brand new house!”