Shelter for the Storms
It’s finally her turn. After assisting almost 600 families create the home of their dreams, designer and influencer Amy Storm has finally been able to construct the home of her dreams.
Amy and her family recently built a new house in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. The project is called Shelter for the Storms. They selected top-of-the-line products to protect the family from severe weather. So naturally they chose DaVinci Single-Width Slate composite roofing to cover their home.
“We debated many options for the roof,” says Storm. “We wanted something durable, beautiful and timeless, that would work well with the modern and simple architecture of our home. At the same time, we felt that texture and color were a top priority.
“For us it was really important that we find a beautiful and high-quality roofing material. DaVinci composite roofing tiles provide an authentic looking option to natural slate and cedar. Each handcrafted tile is made in America. When it came time for us to make a selection for our roof, DaVinci was the #1 choice. It was a super easy decision. We couldn’t recommend it more.
The DaVinci synthetic slate in Castle Gray checked all the boxes. Plus, the warranty is like no other!”
Composite Slate Roofing Authenticity Rules
Storm chose the single-width slate profile because it reminds her of homes throughout Europe, which she admits to being slightly obsessed with. “I like the organized, consistent look of this profile,” says Storm. “It feels less fussy to me. With the roof having such a strong presence on the house, I appreciate that the single-width profile is clean and simple.”
This is not the first time Storm has worked with DaVinci products. She and her team have specified DaVinci shake and slate roofing on previous home projects to increase property value and aesthetics.
“Clients and contractors alike are always thrilled with the results of a DaVinci roof,” says Storm. “I’ve found that many times I can’t tell the difference when looking at a house as to whether it’s a natural slate product or a DaVinci slate. However, knowing how authentic looking the composite slate is on a house made the decision even easier for us when deciding to have this product on our own home.”
Standing Up to Storms
In addition to the synthetic slate roof’s aesthetic appeal, Storm relates that practical matters also influenced their decision. “My husband Josh is excited about the durability,” says Storm. “And that we won’t have to worry about storm and insect damage, like we have had to with a lesser roof, as in the past.”
The Class A fire and Class 4 impact resistant roofing from DaVinci selected by the Storms resists algae and mold growth, along with cracking and rotting. Made of virgin resins, UV and thermal stabilizers as well as a highly-specialized fire retardant, the synthetic slate tiles are backed by a Lifetime Limited Material Warranty.
Each 12-inch wide tile is ½-inch thick and is modeled from actual slate. This provides a natural, non-repeating beautiful roof.
Experts at Work
When it came time to install the roof, the Storms relied on the team from JnJ Restoration out of Evanston, Illinois. The DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor installs up to 40 DaVinci roofs each year.
“We do several new construction roof projects yearly, so we were comfortable with this project for the Storms,” says Jason Chase, owner of JnJ Restoration. “There is a good bit of copper on the roof, which sets it apart. The custom copper work looks great in the valleys and flashings.
“Fortunately we had good weather for the install. We were able to finish in less than four days. The general contractor on site was great to work with and we’re proud of the final results.”
Similarly, the Storms are just as happy with the outcome. “My experience working with Jason was outstanding!” according to Storm. “He communicated in a timely manner and pointed out things to enhance the project. After that he guided us through the order, gave clear pricing and installed it quickly with no lingering issues.
“As for the copper, I’m truly looking forward to the patina in the future! I love the look of copper. I think it adds some nice depth and color on the roof. In addition, we’ve also selected copper lighting around the home exterior. Together, in a few years, they’ll blend beautifully.”
Providing Extra Care
Given the home’s location, and the theme of sheltering the family from storms, a snow retention system from Rocky Mountain Snow Guards was added to the roof. Since synthetic roofing can release accumulated snow easily as it warms up, snow guards help control that release.
“For the Storm’s home, we used RG16 snow guards in a harbor gray color,” says Chase. “They were installed in a staggered pattern of two rows with each being 1.5 lineal feet apart. We used them on all the eaves of the home.”
According to Storm, the snow guards serve as “preventative medicine” for her home. “I’m really thankful for these snow guards,” relates Storm. “I love the way they look. In addition, there are a few places we had concerns about the snow, and the snow guards give us peace of mind. They’re truly an element that help provide our family with ‘Shelter for the Storms’ in our new home!”
Go behind the scenes to watch the project come together in this Shelter for the Storms video.
Listen as Amy walks you through the project In Amy’s Own Words video.
This blog was originally published in June 2024.
