Date
Tue Oct 20A DaVinci slate roof is a molded polymer tile made to look like quarried slate, not a slab of stone. Washington homeowners often consider it when they want a slate appearance without the weight of natural slate. The useful first step is matching a specific DaVinci profile to the roof’s pitch, shape, and existing deck.
Request a roof assessment before you choose a DaVinci profile or color.
What is a DaVinci slate roof?
DaVinci Roofscapes, now part of Westlake, molds polymer tiles with a thick butt and thinner tip so the finished surface reads as slate. The field tiles are hollow behind the face rather than solid stone. The manufacturer’s tech sheet lists a much lower weight per roofing square than natural slate, but the product still has its own pitch, exposure, fastening, and underlayment rules.
The product family is not one interchangeable tile. Multi-Width Slate, Single-Width Slate, Province Slate, and Inspire Classic Slate each have separate sizes and installation documents. A color sample cannot show which system fits the pitch, valleys, and rake lines on a Redmond, Bellevue, or Seattle house. Landmark’s residential roofing team should name the exact profile in the proposal.
For a broader comparison with quarried slate, see the synthetic slate roofing guide. This guide focuses on DaVinci’s product systems and the questions they raise during a Washington replacement.
Which DaVinci slate roof profile fits the house?
Start with the roof shape, then the look. Multi-Width Slate mixes 6-, 7-, 9-, 10-, and 12-inch widths, all 18 inches long, with a 1/2-inch butt. The mix can reduce cuts at gable ends. Single-Width Slate is 12 inches wide and 18 inches long, so rakes and wall abutments need planned cuts with the factory edge facing out.
Province Slate is 12 inches wide by 11.5 inches long, with a 5/8-inch butt. Its guide lists a minimum 4:12 pitch and 8-inch straight exposure. It also says Province field tiles are not for turrets, domes, or cone roofs. Inspire Classic is a separate slate line with its own guide, not simply another Multi-Width color.
| DaVinci profile | Field size | Pitch and exposure | Confirm on site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-Width Slate | 18 in. long; mixed widths; 1/2-in. butt | 6 in. below 6:12; up to 8 in. straight or 7 in. staggered at 6:12 or steeper | Whether mixed widths finish the rakes cleanly |
| Single-Width Slate | 12 in. by 18 in.; 1/2-in. butt | Same pitch and exposure limits as Multi-Width | Cut layout at gables and wall lines |
| Province Slate | 12 in. by 11.5 in.; 5/8-in. butt | 4:12 or greater; 8-in. straight exposure | Deck condition and whether the roof has curves |
The April 2023 tech sheet lists Multi-Width at roughly 266 to 354 pounds per square, depending on exposure, and Province at roughly 193 pounds per square at 8-inch exposure. Those are product figures, not structural approval. Ask for the installation PDF that matches the profile and verify its revision before construction. A circulated Multi-Width and Single-Width guide is available from Best Materials; check DaVinci or Westlake for a newer version.
How should a DaVinci slate roof be installed?
The Multi-Width and Single-Width guide calls for a smooth deck of at least 15/32-inch APA plywood or 7/16-inch OSB and a full tear-off. It warns that deck waves can show through the finished roof. Province allows a one-layer asphalt overlay only in limited cases in its own guide, so that exception should not be applied to another profile.
Fasteners must extend at least 3/16 inch through the deck. The guide describes 1 1/2-inch nails for most conditions and recommends copper, stainless steel, or hot-dipped galvanized nails. Ring-shank nails are optional on plywood and required on OSB and in high-wind areas. Each field tile receives two nails in the marked zones, with the next course covering the heads.
Key layout requirements include:
- Starter tiles overhang the drip edge about 1 inch and are spaced 3/8 inch apart.
- Straight courses use 6 to 8 inches of exposure. Staggered courses use 6 to 7 inches and are described for pitches of 6:12 or steeper.
- Below 6:12, use the guide’s 6-inch exposure.
- Maintain a 3/8-inch tile gap, never less than 3/16 inch, and offset gaps between courses by at least 1 1/2 inches.
- Mark underlayment rather than tile; red chalk can permanently discolor the surface.
Metal drip edge is required at gables and eaves, and field tiles should extend about 1/4 inch beyond an overhanging rake edge. Valleys need self-adhered membrane in every climate. Where cold or ice conditions call for it, the guide extends that membrane from the eave to 2 feet inside the exterior wall line. Shaded eaves and north-facing valleys in the Puget Sound can still collect ice, so ask whether the proposal includes that protection.
Class A fire protection depends on the specified assembly, not on just any felt. Confirm the underlayment method in the permit set with the local building official. Seattle and other Washington jurisdictions apply their own roof-assembly requirements alongside state code.
What should the proposal say about a DaVinci slate roof?
A useful proposal names the profile, color line, exposure, and straight or staggered layout. It should also identify the deck specification, underlayment, valley treatment, rake treatment, and hip-and-ridge pieces. DaVinci sells separate hip, ridge, and starter tiles, so those components should not disappear inside a generic “slate look” allowance.
Province’s guide says the products do not require a factory-certified installer and that DaVinci does not warranty installation. The material warranty is a separate lifetime limited warranty from Westlake DaVinci Roofscapes with its own transfer and claim rules. Save the applicable warranty and installation-guide revision with the contract.
- Confirm tear-off, deck thickness, and how damaged plywood or OSB will be approved.
- Match the shallowest roof pitch to the profile’s permitted exposure. A 5:12 plane cannot use an 8-inch Multi-Width exposure.
- Ask which Class A underlayment method and ice-and-water membrane locations are specified.
- Ask how cut edges at walls, skylights, and chimneys will be hidden.
Use the roofing cost calculator only to frame the project. It is not a DaVinci takeoff; quantity changes with exposure, gaps, hips, and ridges.
How does Washington weather change the DaVinci slate roof plan?
Western Washington roofs face long wet seasons, wind-driven rain, tree debris, and moss-friendly shade. DaVinci’s tech sheet lists fire, impact, wind, and ICC-ES performance ratings, but those listings do not replace proper flashing at a Kirkland chimney or Gig Harbor dormer. Ask how the current flashing drawings apply to valleys, sidewalls, skylights, and gutters.
Keep debris out of valleys and plan ground-level checks after windstorms. Foot traffic can scratch the tiles, and moss work should not put an unqualified person on the roof. If a home is in a design-review area or older neighborhood with appearance rules, confirm requirements with the city before ordering material. Seattle’s residential roof-assembly chapter is a Washington example, but the local building official controls the permit.
For the broader replacement sequence, see Landmark’s roof replacement guide. The Washington slate cost and care article covers general slate ranges that this profile guide does not repeat.
What should you ask before ordering DaVinci slate?
Bring these questions to the assessment:
- Which profile, color, and installation-guide revision are specified?
- What is the shallowest roof pitch, and which exposure does it permit?
- Will the deck be replaced or confirmed to meet the profile’s thickness requirement?
- Which nails, Class A underlayment method, and membrane locations are specified?
- How will hips, ridges, starters, and cut edges be finished?
- What does the material warranty cover, and what remains the contractor’s workmanship?
For broader material comparisons, use the roofing materials overview and roofing FAQs. For a Redmond-area project, see Redmond residential roofing.
Get a roof project quote that names the DaVinci profile, exposure, and underlayment.
Frequently asked questions
Is a DaVinci slate roof the same as natural slate?
No. It is a molded polymer tile with its own exposure, fastening, and underlayment rules. It is lighter than quarry slate but is not maintenance-free.
Can DaVinci slate go on a low-slope roof?
It depends on the profile. Multi-Width and Single-Width limit exposure to 6 inches below 6:12. Province’s guide lists 4:12 or greater. Check the current guide for the product being ordered.
Does DaVinci require a certified installer?
Province’s guide says a manufacturer-certified installer is not required, but the contractor should know standard roofing practice and DaVinci’s requirements. The material warranty does not replace workmanship coverage.
Can the tiles be installed over old shingles?
Multi-Width and Single-Width require a tear-off. Province allows a one-layer asphalt overlay only in limited cases described in its own guide.
Where should Washington homeowners confirm code requirements?
Ask the building official for the property. State and city roof-assembly chapters control the permit; product listings do not constitute local approval.
A DaVinci slate roof decision gets clearer when the profile, pitch, exposure, and underlayment are written down and checked against the manufacturer’s current guide.