DaVinci Synthetic Slate Roofing: Lines, Colors and Specs

Real slate can last a century, but it is heavy, fragile to walk on and expensive to install. That is the gap DaVinci synthetic slate aims to fill: composite roofing tiles molded from natural slate and made with virgin resins and UV stabilizers, at a fraction of the weight of stone. The brand is now part of Westlake Royal Building Products, and its slate-look lines differ more in thickness, weight, exposure and installed cost than most buyers expect.

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The lines homeowners compare most often are Multi-Width Slate, Single-Width Slate, Province Slate, Inspire Slate and Bellaforte Slate. Multi-Width mixes five tile widths for a hand-laid look. Single-Width uses one 12 inch tile for a tailored look. Province is a thicker single-width tile with a fixed exposure and a self-aligning design for faster installation. Inspire is a thin single-width tile with its own color range. The maker rates its composite roofing Class A for fire and Class 4 for impact, the highest classes in both tests.

The figures on this page come from the maker’s tech sheet, installation guides and product pages. Specs and colors change between editions, so confirm every figure on the current tech sheet and warranty before you sign a contract.

DaVinci Synthetic Slate Lines Compared

The table summarizes the published dimensions and exposures for each line. Weights per square depend on exposure, and the line-by-line sections give the detail.

One practical difference shows up on the roof: Multi-Width bundles arrive pre-collated with the mix of widths and colors for the chosen blend, which keeps the pattern random without hand-sorting. Single-Width tiles must be cut at gable ends and abutments because every tile is 12 inches wide. Ask your installer whether they have laid the specific line before and how they handle the layout.

Line by Line

Multi-Width Slate

Multi-Width is the line most people picture when they think of the brand. Each bundle holds 28 slates in the five field widths. The February 2025 tech sheet lists about 266 lbs per square at an 8 inch exposure, rising to about 304 lbs at 7 inches and about 354 lbs at a 6 inch exposure, because a shorter exposure puts more tiles on each square. Colors in the residential brochure include Slate Black, Slate Gray, Smokey Gray, Castle Gray, European, Evergreen, Aberdeen, Brownstone, Canyon, Sonora, Vineyard and Weathered Green, with cool roof versions of several shades such as Brownstone, Castle Gray and Slate Gray.

Single-Width Slate

Single-Width uses one 12 x 18 inch tile with a 1/2 inch butt. The tech sheet lists about 275 lbs per square at an 8 inch exposure, about 294 lbs at 7.5 inches and about 367 lbs at 6 inches. At the 8 inch exposure a bundle holds 22 pieces and weighs roughly 41 lbs. The same color palette is offered, and newer colors such as Aurora (brown, purple and green tones) and Rock Ridge (grays and blacks) have been added for single-width slate.

Province Slate

Province was launched as a more cost-effective slate option. It is a 12 inch single-width tile, 5/8 inch thick, installed only at a fixed 8 inch exposure, and its self-aligning design speeds up layout. The residential brochure lists about 193 lbs per square. Its installation guide sets a minimum pitch of 3:12 and requires self-adhered membrane over the entire deck on pitches from 3:12 up to, but not including, 4:12.

Inspire Slate

Inspire is a thin single-width slate: 12 inches wide, 18 inches long and about 1/4 inch thick, on a polypropylene base, installed at a 6 to 7.5 inch exposure. It uses a cambered profile that the maker says improves uplift resistance, and it is rated Class 4 for impact and 110 mph for wind. It comes in about 20 solid colors and blends, including solids such as Steel Gray, Charcoal Black, Brick Red and Sage Green, blends such as Brunswick, Concord and Nottingham, and cool roof blends such as Ash Grey and Graphite.

Bellaforte Slate

Bellaforte Slate is a 12 inch wide single-tile slate look that still appears on the maker’s site and in project profiles in colors such as Brownstone and Castle Gray. It is not featured alongside the other slate lines on the newer Westlake Royal product pages, so ask a dealer whether it is still in production and request its current tech sheet before comparing it with the other lines.

Ratings and Warranty

The maker also reports passing Miami-Dade County, Texas Department of Insurance and high velocity hurricane zone testing. The upgraded 110 mph wind warranty on Multi-Width and Single-Width slate depends on installation details such as a maximum 6 inch exposure and specific ring-shank nail placement, so confirm the crew is installing to those requirements if you live in a high-wind area.

What Synthetic Slate Is

Synthetic slate tiles are molded from engineered polymers with UV stabilizers and fire retardants, cast from molds taken from real slate so the surface texture and edges look natural. The main advantages over natural stone:

• Weight: far lighter than natural slate, which can be heavy enough to require structural reinforcement.
• Breakage: composite tiles resist chipping and cracking when walked on carefully or struck by debris.
• Consistency: uniform thickness makes installation more predictable.
• Color control: blended palettes mimic the variation of quarried slate.

The tradeoff is patina. Natural slate develops a character that synthetics imitate but do not reproduce exactly. For most homeowners, though, the weight and cost savings outweigh that difference, especially on homes not originally framed for stone.

Choosing a Color

1. Look at whole-roof photos, not single tiles. Blends read differently at a distance.
2. Match the home’s fixed elements: brick, stone, siding and trim. Gray and black blends suit cool exteriors; brown, plum and green-gray blends suit warm brick.
3. Consider heat: in hot climates, look at the cool roof versions, which reflect more sunlight.
4. Check HOA rules. Many associations approve roofing colors and materials.
5. Request physical samples and view them outside at different times of day.

Installation Overview

Synthetic slate installs more like a premium shingle than like natural stone, but it is still a specialty product. The maker publishes installation guides for each line, and following them is a warranty condition. Exposure depends on pitch: for Multi-Width and Single-Width, the maker recommends a 6 inch exposure on pitches under 6:12, and the steepest exposures are reserved for 6:12 and above.

Typical components

• Solid roof deck in good condition
• Underlayment as specified by the maker, plus self-adhered membrane where the guide requires it and at eaves and valleys in cold climates
• Starter tiles, field tiles, hip and ridge pieces
• Corrosion-resistant nails of the type and length specified
• Metal flashing at walls, chimneys, valleys and penetrations
• Ventilation at soffits and ridge

General steps

1. Tear off the old roof and inspect the deck for rot or soft spots.
2. Install drip edge, underlayment and any membrane.
3. Snap layout lines for the exposure the line and pitch require.
4. Lay starter tiles, then field tiles in the pattern the line requires.
5. Flash all transitions and penetrations.
6. Finish with hip and ridge pieces and ridge ventilation.

Roof work is dangerous. Use fall protection on any pitched roof, keep ladders on firm, level ground and extended at least 3 feet above the eave, and never work on a wet or icy roof. On two-story homes and steep pitches, hire a professional crew with proper fall-arrest equipment rather than attempting it yourself.

Maintenance and Troubleshooting

• Debris: clear leaves and branches from valleys and gutters to prevent water backup.
• Moss and algae: in damp, shaded areas, use a gentle roof cleaner and a soft brush; avoid pressure washing.
• Flashing: check chimney and wall flashing for gaps or lifted sealant.
• Damaged tiles: composite tiles can be replaced individually by a trained installer.
• Spare tiles: keep a few from the original order for repairs, since colors are updated.

Leaks on new synthetic slate roofs usually come from flashing details, not the tiles. If you see stains on ceilings or in the attic, have the installer inspect valleys, skylights and chimney flashing first.

Cost Ranges

Composite slate sits between architectural shingles and natural slate on price. General ranges:

• Architectural asphalt shingles: about $4 to $8 per sq ft installed.
• Synthetic slate (composite): commonly $9 to $18+ per sq ft installed, depending on line, roof complexity and region.
• Natural slate: often $15 to $35+ per sq ft installed, plus possible structural work.

Multi-width layouts, steep pitches, many valleys and dormers push labor up, while Province’s fixed exposure and self-aligning design are meant to cut labor. Get at least three quotes that list the exact product line, color, underlayment, flashing material and ventilation.

Questions to Ask Before You Buy

• Which exact line and color blend is quoted? The lines differ in thickness, weight and exposure.
• Is the crew trained on this product? Ask how many synthetic slate roofs they have completed and whether they hold a manufacturer credential.
• What exposure and nailing will be used? These affect both appearance and wind warranty eligibility.
• Who registers the warranty? Get the registration in writing, along with the contractor’s own workmanship warranty.
• How many spare tiles will be left behind? A small box of extras makes future repairs match.

Is It Right for Your Home?

DaVinci synthetic slate makes sense if you want the look of slate without the structural cost, live where hail or wind is a concern and plan to stay in the home long enough to benefit from a long-life roof. It is less suited to a low-slope roof: Province, for example, cannot go below 3:12, and other lines limit exposure on lower pitches.

When to Call a Pro

Roof replacement should go to a licensed, insured roofing contractor, ideally one trained or certified by the manufacturer, since installation to the maker’s guide affects warranty coverage. Most areas require a permit for a roof replacement. Hire a pro for any roof above one story, steep pitches, chimney and skylight flashing, and any structural concerns such as sagging rafters or rotted decking.