Walk the streets of Highland Park and University Park and you’ll see plenty of Tudor, English cottage and traditional homes that were made for a slate roof. Some have real slate. Many have a shingle trying to look like slate. And a growing number of owners are asking about the middle ground: a composite slate like DaVinci Multi-Width Slate.
I’m Blake Snow. I’ve installed slate, tile, copper and nearly every roof system out there over 30 years. Here’s how I explain DaVinci Multi-Width Slate to Park Cities homeowners, using DaVinci’s own published specs.
What DaVinci Multi-Width Slate is
DaVinci Roofscapes makes a composite slate tile from virgin resins with UV and thermal stabilizers and a fire retardant. DaVinci says it models the tiles from actual slate and uses virgin resin rather than recycled material because it wants tight control over color and consistency. Scraps and old tiles can be recycled through DaVinci’s program in Lenexa, Kansas.
The “multi-width” part is what sells it on a fine home. Each bundle comes with tiles in 6, 7, 9, 10 and 12-inch widths, all 18 inches long, with a 1/2-inch butt that tapers to 1/8 inch, per DaVinci’s tech sheet. The bundles arrive pre-sorted from the factory, so widths and colors vary across the roof the way a hand-laid slate roof does, instead of repeating a pattern.
Weight: the reason many Park Cities homes consider it
Natural slate is stone, and a slate roof is a heavy roof. Many older homes were framed for it; many weren’t. Before anyone puts real slate on a house that didn’t have it, the framing has to be checked.
DaVinci’s current tech sheet lists Multi-Width Slate at about 262 pounds per roofing square at an 8-inch exposure on roofs 6:12 or steeper, and more at tighter exposures (about 299 pounds per square at 7 inches, for example). Roofs under 6:12 use a tighter exposure and weigh more per square. That’s in the range many homes can carry without the structural work real slate might need, though I always check the framing before saying so for a specific house.
Ratings that matter in North Texas
DaVinci lists these for its slate:
- UL 2218 Class 4 impact rating
- Class A fire rating
- Wind certified to 110 mph
- Code approvals including ICC-ES ESR-2119 and the Texas Department of Insurance
Hail is the big one in Dallas County. No roof is hail-proof, but Class 4 is the top rating in the impact test, and some insurers offer discounts for Class 4 roofs. Ask your own agent, since it varies.
Colors and custom blends
DaVinci says it offers more than 50 standard slate and shake colors that can be blended for a custom look. Multi-Width Slate colors shown by DaVinci include Aberdeen, Castle Gray, Evergreen, Slate Black and custom blends. On a Tudor with dark trim and brick, a gray-black blend reads like Vermont or Pennsylvania slate; on a lighter limestone home, a softer gray or a touch of green or purple can look right. DaVinci notes that colors on screen are only approximate and that final picks should be made from actual tiles, so we lay real pieces out against your house before you choose.
Warranty
DaVinci offers a Lifetime Limited Material Warranty, which includes a 10-year non-prorated warranty against manufacturing defects. Read the full warranty document from DaVinci for the terms; I’m not going to paraphrase coverage I haven’t seen written for your job.
Multi-Width vs. Bellaforté vs. real slate
DaVinci makes more than one slate. Bellaforté Slate is a larger 12-inch-wide tile with a 12-inch exposure, lighter per square (DaVinci lists about 160 pounds) and quicker to install, with a more uniform look. Multi-Width is the one I’d point a Park Cities owner to when the goal is the hand-laid, varied look of real slate.
Real slate still has its place. If your home already has a sound slate roof, repairing it is usually the right move, and our slate roof repair page explains how. If you’re choosing between stone and composite for a re-roof, our synthetic vs. real slate guide lays out the trade-offs, and our slate roofing in Highland Park page covers real slate here.
Install details that make or break it
A composite slate looks only as good as its details:
- Exposure and coursing. DaVinci allows straight coursing up to 8 inches and staggered up to 7 inches on 6:12 and steeper roofs, with a recommended 3/8-inch gap between tiles. Getting those right is what makes it look like slate.
- Hips, ridges and turrets. DaVinci makes hip and ridge pieces, starters and narrow pieces for turrets, which matter on the steep, cut-up roofs common in the Park Cities.
- Metal. On a roof built to last this long, I like copper valleys and flashings so the metal lasts as long as the roofing. I wrote about that in this post on copper on slate and tile roofs.
Check your city and HOA first
Highland Park and University Park homes can fall under city rules, district rules or deed restrictions. Before you pick a product or color, check what your city and any HOA or architectural review require. We can bring samples and DaVinci’s product sheets for that review.
Storm damage on your current roof?
If hail already hit your roof, get it inspected and documented before you choose a new product. Every inspection we do includes a free digital photo report. In Texas you generally have one year from the date of loss to file a claim, but check your own policy, since some differ. File only if the inspection finds real damage. Our storm damage page explains the process.
Talk to us about your roof
We’re certified with GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning, Atlas, Johns Manville, Carlisle, Tropical, Mule-Hide and Enviroshake, and we’re A+ rated with the BBB. If you’re in Highland Park, University Park or nearby and want to see DaVinci Multi-Width Slate against your home, request a free inspection or call (817) 733-9228.
