KANSAS CITY, KAN. - If you live in a coastal area prone to
severe weather, it's time for your yearly roof check-up.


"National Hurricane Preparedness Week is the ideal time each year to inspect
and evaluate the condition of your home's roof," says Ray Rosewall,
president of DaVinci RoofscapesR. "Homeowners should not assume that a
traditional roof will last forever --- especially if you live in areas that
experience hurricanes and severe storms. Just because your roof held up to
strong winds last year doesn't mean it's in shape to withstand the upcoming
hurricane season."


Rosewall recommends having your roof either professionally inspected each
year or carefully examining it yourself. Signs to look for indicating it may
be time for a roof replacement include missing shingles, curling or
splitting shingles, lifting shingles or loss of granules.


            Homeowners need to consider two different types of winds that
will affect their roofs during severe weather. Straight line winds and
pressurized winds can cause different damage --- from uplifting the shingles
off the roof to pushing intense wind-driven rain and flying debris onto the
roof.

            "Once air pressure moves through a hole in a roof and into the
home during a hurricane, it can literally blow out the walls and windows of
the house," says Rosewall. "It's vital for coastal area homeowners ---
especially those in potential hurricane areas --- to have well-installed,
solid roofs overhead to protect their homes and prized possessions."

Backed by a limited 50-year warranty, the virtually maintenance-free
synthetic roofing tiles from DaVinci are created to replicate slate and
shake roof styles. Every DaVinci product has been extensively tested and
achieved Class 4 ratings for impact resistance along with the Miami Dade
County Acceptance (High Velocity Hurricane Winds) showing that the roofing
tiles can withstand hurricane-force winds. In addition, roofing tiles from
DaVinci are rated Class A for fire retardance and have achieved the highest
rating for straight line wind testing at 110 mph.

            

 The polymer roofing tiles from DaVinci are created with state-of-the-art UV
and color stabilizers embedded in the engineered polymer to create a durable
synthetic roofing tile. Superior color fade resistance is achieved with each
tile because the color is infused throughout the 100 percent pure resin used
to manufacture the tile. And, despite severe temperatures, DaVinci roofing
tiles have been engineered to resist curling, cracking and fading, mold,
algae, fungus and insects under normal conditions.

 

When the Wind Blows

When hurricane-force winds blow, it's critical that a home's roof stay
intact. As one of four key "force intrusion areas" of the home (along with
windows, entry doors and garage doors) severe winds can compromise a roof
during a storm with tragic results.

            As a first step, coastal homeowners should make sure they have
proper bracing, such as galvanized metal hurricane straps, to connect the
roof to the walls of the home. This can help prevent uplift during
hurricane-force winds. For a second step, consider impact-resistant
synthetic roofing tiles that have been formulated and tested to withstand
hurricane strength winds and severe impact.

            "Having a synthetic roof overhead means you have gone the extra
mile to increase the odds that your home, personal belongings and family
treasures will be there when the severe weather has passed," says Rosewall.
"And, in many areas, there's the added benefit that selecting this type of
roofing can lower your homeowners insurance bills."

 

Sobering 2010 Hurricane Forecast

            While the past several hurricane seasons have been relatively
calm, forecasters at the Weather Research Center (WRC) in Houston predict
more intense storms in 2010. The WRC predicts there's a 90 percent chance of
a tropical storm or hurricane landfall along the west coast of Florida
during the upcoming 2010 hurricane season.

            "We believe the coasts with the second highest risk of a
landfall by a tropical cyclone are Mexico and eastern Florida with a 70
percent chance," says Jill F. Hassling, executive director at the Weather
Research Center. "We're forecasting at least eight named storms in the
Atlantic Basin with five of these storms intensifying into hurricanes. In
addition, our forecasts anticipate 25 hurricane days and 57 tropical storm
days during the season."

            Hurricane Season 2010 runs from June 1 through November 30,
2010, with the conditions generally intensifying in the late summer months.
For more information, visit  <http://www.wxresearch.org/>
www.wxresearch.org. 

 

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