Composite Roof Replaces Metal Roof Destroyed by 90mph Winds

By DaVinci Roofscapes

Learn why this homeowner made the switch to composite roofing after an extreme wind storm.

Gary Baker saw it coming. Sitting atop his mountain home, the homeowner actually saw the storm make its way toward his house that would leave him in the market for a new roof. 

“I saw this black cloud come up over the hills,” says Baker, owner of the 1,800-acre Grinders Switch Farm in Tennessee. “The first gust was ferocious. At least 90mph. That storm took down several hundred trees on our property. It tore the metal roof off our guest house. In addition, it simply pulled the high-end asphalt shingles right off our main home.” 

After the storm subsided, Baker saw shingles were scattered everywhere. 

“Suddenly we were in the market for new roofing,” says Baker. “Mother Nature really threw us a curveball.” 

Searching for a new roof 

With the need for new roofing, Baker did what most homeowners do. He asked an expert — the owner of Don Kennedy Roofing Company. According to the 2021 Roof Purchasing Study, when it comes time to select a specific roofing brand, 57% of homeowners look to their contractors for recommendations. 

“Don Kennedy and I go to church together,” says Baker. “It made sense to ask his opinion. He recommended DaVinci Roofscapes products.” 

There’s a good reason Kennedy specifically recommended the DaVinci product. The composite slate and shake products have been tested to stand up to 110mph winds. Made to realistically replicate cedar shake shingles and natural slate roofing, durable DaVinci products have an authentic appearance. 

“For me, the priority was finding a roofing product with strong wind resistance,” says Baker. “My wife and I wanted a good-looking shake shingle. She specifically wanted a shake product that was maintenance-free and would resist the growth of algae. DaVinci products checked off all the boxes.” 

Choosing select shake 

Once they had reviewed their options, the Bakers decided on DaVinci Select Shake shingles. They chose the Black Oak blend of colors to complement their stone siding and mountain  

“We actually enjoyed the installation of the Select Shake on the Baker’s main house, garage and pool house,” says Shane Taylor with Don Kennedy Roofing. “Our crew was impressed with the realistic look and craftsmanship of the Select Shake product. The final, unified look is striking. 

“This was a large, eight-week project. There’s copper flashing on six chimneys, valleys, drip edges and other areas. Once our crew got used to the installation process, it went smoothly. 

“We’ve already finished four DaVinci projects so far this year. In addition, we’ve got three more scheduled. This composite roofing product is really taking off in our marketplace.” 

Enjoying a roofing installation 

With scaffolding surrounding the house for weeks, the Bakers actually ended up enjoying the roofing process. 

“Shane and his team were impressive,” says Baker. “The pride they took in their work showed through on a daily basis. 

“No one actually wants to go through a re-roofing project. However, the team from Don Kennedy Roofing made this as painless as possible for us.” 

Gaining peace-of-mind 

As the Bakers continue to enjoy their mountain views, they now rest easier when storms are forecast. 

“We’ve had some serious wind blasts in recent months,” says Baker. “However, I’m not worried about this Select Shake roof. I believe in its resilience. And, it looks simply stunning. 

“There’s also a greater peace-of-mind that we have with this composite shake roof. We’re in the middle of a forest. That means if there’s a fire, embers can fly toward the house. Knowing that the DaVinci roof is fire resistant adds a level of comfort for us.”