Shaking Up Homes with DaVinci Multi-Width Shake
Matthew Bell is on a roll. Or, maybe it’s a shake. The Michigan roofer has three impressive DaVinci Multi-Width Shake re-roofing projects scheduled for this year.
“We just finished our first-ever DaVinci Multi-Width Shake project on a lakeside home,” says Bell, owner of MBRoofing, PLLC out of Petoskey, Michigan. “Right now we’re working on reroofing a large log home on Lake Burton. Next up is a 100-year-old historical home in Charlevoix.”
Lakeside Retreat 
Bell’s first DaVinci project belongs to the Morris family. Used as a summer and winter vacation retreat, the lakeside home and free-standing garage have been in the family for more than 30 years. During recent visits it became apparent that the real cedar roof was failing badly.
“Like many natural cedar roofs there were plenty of split and curling shingles,” says Bell. “When we inspected the house we also found the ridge cap shingles were falling off. Plus, it just looked bad and worn out.
“Unfortunately, there are a lot of trees surrounding the house. That leads to shedding leaves and other debris falling on the roof. This encouraged the growth of algae.”
Why Composite Roofing?
Located right on Walloon Lake in Boyne Falls, Michigan, the Morris lakeside house needed a new roof that would be easy to maintain. The family also wanted a roof that offers long-term performance while being a solid investment.
“Our decision to go with the DaVinci Multi-Width Shake roof was based on our desire for an authentic-looking cedar shake roof system,” says homeowner Bob Morris. “We wanted this next roof to last longer than a natural product. And, we did not want to compromise on the natural look and patina which results from the aging process of real cedar.”
The solution came with the Autumn blend of roofing from DaVinci Roofscapes. Created with four autumn tones (light, medium light, medium and dark), the roof comes with many benefits.
Thick construction, deep grooves and realistic grain patterns combine to create dramatic shadows and visual richness. And, the each shingles has the genuine look of rough-hewn, hand-split cedar shake.
Constructed of a composite material made of virgin resins, UV and thermal stabilizers, as well as a highly-specialized fire retardant, the DaVinci roof resists algae and fungus growth. Plus, the composite shingles will never split or curl. Another benefit is the roof’s resistance to fire, impact and high winds.
The Right Roof
According to Morris, the Upper Peninsula lake region of Michigan is known for quality-built homes. Talented craftsmen, carpenters and construction people are always busy. Part of the time-crunch comes from having a relatively short seasonal window for exterior work.
Morris met with Bell in the autumn of 2019. At that time the roofer laid out several options for the homeowner: architectural asphalt shingles, treated cedar shingles and the DaVinci Multi-Width Shakes.
“The family originally opted for an asphalt shingle installation,” says Bell. “When I came back in the springtime they had changed their mind. Aesthetics, minimal maintenance, and the long-term performance were the deciding factors in the decision to move forward with a DaVinci roof.”
The Right Roofer
With the DaVinci product ordered, the project started in mid-April of 2020. Bell and his team discovered that installation of the composite shakes was easier than anticipated. Even though the project was located on a hill along the water, the team from MBRoofing used an Equipter RB4000 roofing trailer to speed up installation and keep the site clean.
“The Morris family decided to go with all new copper flashings and valleys,” says Bell. “That really helped improve the project aesthetically.”
Within just a few weeks the homeowners had their new composite shake roof.
“Throughout the entire process, Matt and his team lived up to the expectations he established during our initial meetings,” says Morris. “MBRoofing may not be the cheapest option. However, you can trust Matt to show up when he says he is going to. And, he delivers what he says he will deliver in a timely and professional manner. We recommend Matt and his team without reservation.
“Overall, we’re thrilled with the results. The DaVinci roof is an attractive and valuable enhancement to our family’s lakeside home. The appearance and look of the roof speaks for itself. And, we’re very pleased with the service provided by MBRoofing.”