DaVinci cuts its prices for polymer roofs – Plastics News

February 2, 2017 Updated 2/2/2017

DaVinci Roofscapes Davinci Roofscapes improved production efficiencies for its polymer roof shakes and slate products, which allowed it to cut costs to its customers to better compete with traditional materials.

Orlando, Fla. DaVinci Roofscapes is passing along a reduction in internal costs to its customers with high hopes that homeowners ultimately will enjoy the savings on its polyethylene shake and slate products.

Price cuts of 11 to 16 percent went into effect in the fourth quarter of 2016 as the Lenexa, Kan.-based manufacturer repositions itself to be more competitive with natural alternatives like cedar and other roofing materials like asphalt.

Rather than hold on to that additional profit, we wanted to pass it on to the market, DaVinci CEO Ray Rosewall said at the International Builders Show in Orlando. We want homeowners to know they should be paying less so the contractors and distributors arent tempted to hold onto the extra dollars.

Its working in one region already, he added.

With our stock distributors in the Northwest, we are equal to or less than real wood, Rosewall said. Were in a significantly better position than weve ever been.

Founded in 1999, DaVincis lineup used to be considered specialty products, but company officials say it has gone mainstream since the first installations in 2001. Rosewall said from an aesthetic, performance and cost standpoint, synthetic roofing products are very competitive nowadays.

In 2016, about 85 percent of DaVincis business was replacement roofing and 15 percent was new construction, compared to an 80-20 ratio before the housing bubble.

During the depths of the building recession it was like 5 percent new construction, so things have improved and we expect it to continue, Rosewall said, adding that the company saw double-digit growth last year.

DaVinci Roofscapes DaVinci automated some operations to cut production costs of its roofing systems.

DaVinci also realized some operational efficiencies that prompted the price decrease. Some 1,000-ton machines were added in recent years that took production from molding two parts in a cycle to eight parts. Then, wheels were put on the off-the-shelf conveyors so they can be rolled into place for in-line collating. Customers get bundles of pre-sorted product in all the different widths, sizes and colors they ordered.

With other companies you have to do that on the job site, Rosewall said. That adds time and youre totally dependent on how effectively they shuffle products together. By 3 in the afternoon theyre not as motivated as 8 a.m. and you get inconsistent color segregation on the roof. You get down and see a purple splotch. Weve eliminated that risk by doing it in-house for the roofer.

Previously, the production crew would mold all the 9-inch parts, put them on a pallet and then into the stock room until they were needed. Then, all the various sizes and colors for a job would be taken out of stock for collating and bundling.

Now we do all that when we mold, Rosewall said. Weve eliminated the double handling. Weve eliminated the additional labor. Its much more efficient for us and it improves our response time to the customer.

The change didnt affect the full-time workforce, and it eliminated the need to bring in temporary workers for collating, Rosewall said.

DaVinci also has tweaked its material technology with foaming agents that reduce resin content and product weight, particularly for its starter shingles.

A lot of the companys EcoBlend roofing products are being shipped west to California, where the shake and slate tiles can help builders meet the states Title 24 code requirements that call for zero-net energy houses by 2020 and non-residential buildings by 2030. The EcoBlend lineup has been approved by the Cool Roof Rating Council to reflect sunlight and heat away from a house or commercial structure. The roof tiles reduce the cooling load of a building, which saves energy and contributes to a lower heat island effect in heavily populated areas. DaVinci is out with four new EcoBlend colors for a total of six.

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DaVinci cuts its prices for polymer roofs - Plastics News