With each passing year, we see composite shakes and tiles becoming more and more popular – usually, they are installed instead of natural materials, which can be discouraging in their durability, price and lack of availability. By force, homeowners have to make a decision regarding the choice of the manufacturer of their rooftop material, and in the vast majority, they are offered two options – DaVinci and Brava shakes or tiles. So which should you choose?
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Why Do People Choose Composite Tiles And Shakes?
First of all, composite roofs are extremely modern in terms of technology. The materials that are used in the production of shakes and tiles have been known to us for many years – they are mixtures of resins and polymers, the processing and subsequent processing of which do not pose major challenges. In fact, it is simply a very durable plastic.
Equally important, composite roofs are no more expensive than natural ones – the cost of installing a cedar roof in Glenview will be very similar to a synthetic cedar roof. Even if the initial price is slightly higher, you can count on noticeably lower operating costs – natural wood, after all, needs to be treated, and after a few years, there will be a need to make initial repairs.This, of course, also costs money.
Also pay attention to the warranty terms, which have a decisive influence on the choice of roof. In the case of Brava, it is 50 years of full protection, while DaVinci offers something even better – a limited lifetime warranty.In both cases, with the sale of the house, the warranty does not expire. At the same time, you have to remember that no cedar roof manufacturer will do this, because a natural part of the wood’s characteristics is its relatively short lifespan. Depending on the climate, the environment, the quality of installation and the specific species of wood, your roof should last between 10 and 30 years. That’s a lot, but still not incomparably less.
We would also like to add that composite tiles are incomparably lighter than natural slate. In practice, synthetic roofs are up to 40% lighter, which is of great importance in the context of the required strength of roof truss. As a general rule, the lower the weight of the roof, the lower the cost of its construction.
Is Brava Roofing Better Than DaVinci Roofscapes?
Let’s start with the fact that both brands are basically market leaders – it’s hard to find a better manufacturer of composite roofs. Therefore, there is no question of drastic differences, as the level of workmanship, durability and aesthetics are quite similar. However, this does not mean that the details are exactly the same.
Composite Cedar Shakes
While both companies offer composite cedar shakes, their offerings differ markedly. While Brava has opted for the highest possible reproduction of natural wood, both in terms of color and texture, DaVinci offers a much wider range of shake sizes – single-width, multi-width and select shakes are available. In our opinion, the overall appearance of Brava shakes is slightly better and they look much more natural, but on the other hand, there is a lack of different size variants, which can clearly improve the aesthetics of the roof and the curb appeal of your house.
Composite Slate Tiles
We feel that synthetic slate tiles are an excellent indicator of the quality of the technologies used – composite stone can look both very realistic and simply artificial.
The choice of DaVinci Roofscapes is strongly supported by the use of UV stabilizers, which clearly improve the aesthetics of the roof even after many years, protecting the pigments from losing their intense color. In this case, however, the differences between DaVinci and Brava blur a bit, as both companies offer both single-width slate tiles and multi-width ones. In terms of aesthetics, we again lean toward recommending Brava Roofing to you. The synthetic slates produced by this manufacturer look downright phenomenal – their color is deep, their surface replicates natural stone almost perfectly, and the wide range of sizes available means that your Winnetka roofing contractor will be able to offer you many possible patterns to make your roof even prettier.
Colors Used By Both Of These Brands
Both brands offer a very wide range of colors. In the case of Brava, composite cedar shakes are available in 14 colors and slate tiles in 15 shades. Its main competitor boasts 9 shades of composite cedar shakes and as many as 21 shades of slate tiles! What’s more, DaVinci Roofscapes offers the possibility to choose a personalized color, depending on your preferences.
It must be admitted that in terms of richness of colors, Brava is inferior to its competitor. Although, in our opinion, both companies offer fantastic shades that work virtually every time, people who are particularly concerned about customizing their home should definitely consider buying a roof from DaVinci Roofscapes – even the standard color palette is incredibly wide and even includes purple.
What Composite Roofing Brand Offers Better Performance?
Let’s now take a look at the technical parameters offered by the composite roofing brands we are comparing. We can already say that both companies look extremely favorable.
Brava’s Performance
- Fire Retardant: Class A or Class C options
- Impact Resistance: Class 4
- Wind Resistance
- Hail Warrantied
- Freeze/Thaw Resistant
Brava tiles are certified for wind speeds of 188 mph using ring shank nails and up to 211 mph using high wind / screw installation.
DaVinci’s Performance
- Fire Retardant: Class A
- Impact Resistance: Class 4
- Wind Resistance
- Hail Warrantied
- Freeze/Thaw Resistant
Brava and DaVinci, both give you roofing solutions with an edge in durability, enhanced curb appeal and aesthetics over traditional asphalt shingles. They’ve got you covered for the long haul.
It’s hard to name a winner in this comparison – once again, we are dealing with comparable, yet extremely high technical parameters. Both brands offer fantastic resistance to wind, hail, temperature changes and impact. Fire retardance, especially in models marked “A” grade, is also above average.
What Company Has Better Warranty Policy? Brava or DaVinci Roofscapes?
Our observations show that more than 70% of our customers also make their decision to choose a roofing brand based on the manufacturer’s warranty policy. This is hardly surprising when a roof made of composite shakes can cost $70,000, $90,000 or even $120,000. However, a popular mistake is to assume that the longer the protection period, the better.
More and more manufacturers are offering lifetime warranties on their products – examples include GAF, Owens Corning and the aforementioned DaVinci Roofscapes. Note, however, that the protection applies to the rooftop itself – indeed, if something happens to your shingles or shakes, the manufacturer will repair the damage, but in a 30-, 40- or 50-year timeframe, it will most likely be necessary to replace the sheathing, purlins or rafters, which will still involve replacing the entire roof. What we mean to say is that a warranty lasting longer than 50 years is unlikely to be used anyway.
What Should I Choose?
By choosing both Brava Roofing and DaVinci Roofscapes composite shakes or synthetic slate tiles, you are investing in a long-lasting, durable, safe and aesthetically pleasing roof that you will enjoy for many years to come. Regardless of your final decision, it’s always a good idea to ask us if we can provide a quote for roofs from either company.
Practice shows that Brava Roofs, while clearly less popular, offer the same or even slightly better performance and aesthetics in exchange for a comparable, perhaps slightly lower price. On the other hand, DaVinci Roofscapes offers a really good lifetime warranty and is a much more recognizable brand, which can increase your home’s value. So if you’re thinking of selling your current property in the next 10 years, it may be worth the extra cost to go with the more expensive, but also much more popular DaVinci. On the other hand, if you’re looking for quality, aesthetics and durability, Brava seems to be a better choice, especially when you consider its phenomenal realism and attention to detail.
