Colorful Slate Roof Stands Out on Mountain Home

When the Dyes purchased their Italianate-style stone home in 2005, they spent three years renovating the massive 1929 structure before moving in. Knowing that removing the roof was a key part of the renovation, they researched options to replace the existing artificial black slate roof that contained asbestos.

"An original red Mediterranean tile roof was on the house when it was built, but over the years it was replaced," says homeowner Nancy Dye. "Since the house is often in shadows on the north side of the mountain, the black roof made the home look dark and foreboding.

"We did an extensive amount of research on roofing materials and searched for a realistic and durable slate product. The result is a DaVinci Roofscapes® Multi-Width Slate roof that we love. We brightened up the home's exterior by selecting the Vineyard blend of eight different colors — dark and medium tan, light and medium gray, light and dark violet, dark stone and dark amber. This color combination fits the era of the home and complements our cobblestone driveway and sidewalk, the stone exterior of the house and our copper gutters and snow guards."

Fixing an Old Roof

The weather and structure damage to the roof of the Dye’s home was extensive. The team at Miller Roofing & Guttering out of Roanoke was brought in to remove the damaged materials and asbestos tiles, and completely re-roof the home.

"Along with the structural challenges on this project, the weather didn't cooperate with us too much, but we got the job done successfully," says Richard C. Miller, president and owner of Miller Roofing & Guttering. "The installation of the DaVinci product was flawless. As we laid in the different colors you could see the house exterior lighten up and come to life.

"This was our first experience installing DaVinci roofing products, but I really don't think it will be our last. The product has a lot going for it — a 50-year limited warranty, impact- and fire-resistancy, and the slate and shake tiles come in such a wide variety of colors that homeowners are certain to find what they’re looking for. Plus, the slate product we installed was extremely realistic-looking while not being as heavy as natural slate!"

Carving Out a Home

Rockledge — the name of the home which refers to the house being constructed on a rock ledge on the side of the mountain — was built by William Henritze in 1929. Since Henritze owned the entire mountain, he and his brother paved the road up the mountain and had a stone toll gate where people paid to drive up the mountain to see the view.

With the original toll booth in disrepair, the Dyes spearheaded a public-private partnership to repair the historic structure for the city in 2010. They chose DaVinci slate roofing tiles for that structure and then determined to use the same product on their home.

Now fully renovated, the Dye's home sits just below the Mill Mountain Star, which was erected in 1949 to encourage Christmas shoppers to come to Roanoke. Located on the National Registry of Historic Places, the star has become an icon of the city and spawned the name "The Star City of the South" for Roanoke.

"We're truly in love with our home and the area," says Dye. "Our road is a public greenway so we regularly see walkers and cyclists who have complimented us on the renovation of our home. And, because the roof is so visible, we've had several people come to look at it for consideration for their own homes."

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 limited 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 National Roofing Contractors Association, the Cool Roof Rating Council and the U.S. Green Building Council. For additional information call 1-800-328-4624 or visit www.davinciroofscapes.com.