The House That Blues Built
Albert Cummings is passionate about many things: blues music, the Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts, and building custom homes. And, now that he’s completed construction of his dream home in his beloved mountains, he’s adding one more passion to his list: Province Slate roofing.
“The look of Province Slate is so authentic that it makes my house feel like it fits in with the historic Berkshire Hills,” says Cummings, principal owner of Cummings General Contractor Inc. in Williamstown, Massachusetts. “The Province Slate makes the roof a focal point of the house, but it also complements all the other design accents. People visiting the site can’t believe how beautiful the roof looks!”
How Did This House Happen?
As a fourth-generation builder, Cummings and his team have a family legacy started at the beginning of the twentieth century. He divides his time between his passion for crafting high-performance homes and playing music.
Cummings, a renowned guitar player, has performed and recorded music with his band and with music legends such as Sheryl Crow, B.B. King and Johnny Winter. He’s equally comfortable with a guitar or hammer in hand.
Recently he and his wife and business partner Christina Cummings decided to build their dream home in the Berkshire Mountains. They partnered up with ProBuilder magazine and called it “The House That Blues Built.” Sharing their start-to-finish experience, there are videos and magazine stories showcasing the products they selected for their forever home.
Province Slate — the Authentic Choice
Given the windy, snowy conditions of the house setting, choosing a durable roof was one of the most important decisions for Cumming. But the decision also hinged on appearance. The roof had to blend perfectly with the natural look of other materials used on the home’s exterior.
The team at DaVinci Roofscapes knew immediately the product for this home. Realistic Province Slate tile combines the perfect blend of historically accurate style with the performance of a manmade product.
The single-width, 12-inch-wide composite slate tile with a traditional fixed 8-inch exposure caught the Cummings’ attention. Modeled after actual slate, the tiles have a natural non-repeating beauty that casual observers assume is true slate. However, instead of the headaches of installing heavy slate or the risks of brittle slate tiles cracking, the composite material provides the same durability as slate with easier installation and resiliency.
“The authentic look is so important to me,” says Cummings. “I see so many products that fall short when it comes to attention to detail. The Province Slate is so authentic. It looks better than real slate.”
A Roof That Cured the Blues
As Cummings grew more familiar with Province Slate, he became more impressed. The tiles, which are made of virgin resins, UV and thermal stabilizers, include a specialized fire retardant. Province Slate tiles are Class A Fire Rated and Class 4 Impact Rated. They are manufactured so they won’t curl, cup or split.
“Province Slate won’t crack or chip like natural slate,” says Cummings. “And, it will not need the continual maintenance of real slate or other products. The unique design of Province Slate makes it very easy to install.”
The lightweight nature of Province Slate tiles makes them easier to handle. Each tile includes a self-aligning ledge that simplifies installation and speeds the process. The back of each tile has nail marking templates and an enhanced rib structure.
Each Province Slate tile is 5/8-inch thick, 11.5-inches long and 12 inches wide. And each tile has a fixed 8-inch exposure. That uniformity also makes installation easier. Plus, a speedier installation may result in savings on labor.
A Forever Roof
Considering this is a long-term property for the Cummings, it’s only fitting that their roof has a long-term warranty. The DaVinci Lifetime Limited Material Warranty surprised and impressed the new homeowners. It is almost as if DaVinci were providing the couple with a housewarming gift.
“Having worked firsthand with the Province Slate I can attest to how strong it is,” says Cumming. “No wonder it has a lifetime warranty. Personally, I think it will last much longer than that!”
Learn more about this energy-efficient showcase home in Custom Comfort in the House That Blues Built Idea Home.
Discover the ideal roof for your home.
DaVinci’s Color Visualizer lets you see how your home will look with alternative slate or shake roofing. Upload a photo of your home or choose from 10 available home styles and discover the possibilities.
