Back to school with synthetic slate solutions

By DaVinci Roofscapes.

A decade later, still using DaVinci composiste roofing. 

Jack Sweeney, owner of Sweeney Brothers Construction, LLC out of Bedford, New Hampshire, is being held back at school. Actually, he’s being brought back to school…10 years after completing a roofing project. He shared, "We worked with the design team at Phillips Exeter Academy back in 2015 to find an alternative slate roofing product that requires low maintenance, is aesthetically beautiful and fiscally reasonable. Our company has been installing Inspire® Slate on historic projects for more than 20 years. We felt very positive about making this product recommendation for Wheelwright Dormitory."

Reflecting on the project, Jack went on, "At the time we were of the opinion that the Inspire Slate on Wheelwright dorm would serve as the benchmark for future campus projects. Now here we are a decade later and that feeling has come true. Inspire Slate in Steel Grey has once again been chosen to replace natural slate. This time for the Wetherell Dining Hall, Merrill Dormitory and Langdell Dormitory.”

Preserving history

The beautiful Phillips Exeter Academy campus in New Hampshire encompasses 700 acres. Established in 1781, the historical school has a pristine reputation. Its graduated more than 23,000 high school students. All across the campus are slate-topped buildings. Unfortunately, many of those old slate roofs are failing. The roofs on the 147 brick buildings that add to the setting’s New England charm are hard to maintain.

That’s where the composite roofing comes in.

Inspiring aesthetics, impressively constructed

Made of composite materials, Inspire Slate from DaVinci Roofscapes has textured surfaces and deckled edges modeled from authentic natural slate. Lightweight yet durable, the weather-resistant roof material is Class 4 hail rated and has a fire rating in accordance with Class A.

Inspire Slate is Miami-Dade NOA Approved, Florida Building Code Org. FL#7409, FL#16269, FL#16856; Texas Department of Insurance RC-404; and CCRR-0188 approved. The product can withstand winds up to 180 mph (with HVHZ installation standards) and comes in a wide variety of color selections.

“While the fire rating and several code ratings were mandatory, aesthetics were critical for Phillips Exeter Academy,” says Jack. “Having these roofs match adjacent buildings with natural slate roofing was essential. Inspire Slate does that. If Inspire Slate didn’t pass the authenticity test for visuals, it would have been ruled out immediately. When combined with flawless copperwork by our craftsmen, the finished project evokes the same curb appeal as a natural slate roof.”

Tasked with maintaining history

For Jack and his team, working on historical projects like Phillips Exeter Academy has special meaning. They feel blessed to maintain some of the country’s most valuable institutional properties. As he put it:

When you work in the restoration trade you develop an appreciation for preserving history. Using modern technology and materials to retain Old World charm and character is important. Our goal is to retain the original architectural intent while improving the long-term functionality and performance through the use of improved underlayments and synthetics.

We anticipate these materials, like Inspire Slate, will endure the New England elements and preserve these properties for future generations.