Roofer Profile: Carlton Kohler – Elite Exteriors

By DaVinci Roofscapes.

Meet Elite Exteriors, the recent winner of DaVinci Roofscapes Masterpiece Contractor 2022 Project of the Year.

Convincing the homeowners association in the private community of Harbour Point to allow DaVinci Select Shake roofing to be added to their homes has made a big change to roofer Carlton Kohler’s life. First, he’s replaced several roofs in the private Lake Lanier community in Georgia. And second, one of those projects is a DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor 2022 Project of the Year Winner. 

“When the project was completed we flew our drone to see it from a birds eye view,” says Kohler, owner of Elite Exteriors out of Hoschton, Georgia.  “We started over the lake, then flew over the trees and then over the top of the house and panned around to the front. The new DaVinci roof accented with the new copper made it look like something straight out of a movie. That’s when we knew it was really worthy of being entered into the Project of the Year competition.” 

Overview: 2022 Project of the Year 

Persistency paid off for Kohler with the Harbour Point project. To get the homeowner association to change their rules and allow DaVinci products on the list of allowable roofing materials, he had to meet with each individual homeowner in the community. Only a unanimous vote could change the covenants. 

Once that vote was achieved, Russell Morris was the first homeowner to gain a new DaVinci Select Shake roof. Hail damage ruined his 19-year-old pine shake roof. He was more than ready for a new, hassle-free composite roof.  

 “Working with Elite Exteriors was very easy,” says Morris. “They did 99% of the legwork with my insurance company and the bank engineering inspectors. Originally the insurance company only wanted to repair the roof. Elite Exteriors showed them that the roof could not be repaired without causing more damage. They showed them why and how the roof had to be replaced. Overall, the team was very professional, considerate and highly efficient.” 

Within a matter of weeks Morris had his new Aged Cedar colored roof overhead. “Three homes on my street have used the same product,” says Morris. “All of them have definitely improved the curb appeal of the street.” 

According to Morris, the aesthetic appeal and functional practicality are great benefits of the new synthetic shake roof. After that, as icing on the cake, he believes the new DaVinci roof has increased the overall value of his home by about 10%. 

Insights from a winning roofer 

Elite Exteriors is a veteran-owned company with locations in Atlanta, Georgia and Greenville, South Carolina. The company provides residential and commercial roofing throughout the southeast. Kohler shared some insights about his career and bringing composites into his roofing mix to increase sales. 

Q: How did you get started in the roofing business? 

A: I was actually an insurance adjuster. I saw the opportunity to help homeowners from a roofing and construction standpoint and made the switch to roofing. 

Q: What makes your company recommend DaVinci products over competitive composite products? 

A: DaVinci has been the leader of synthetic shake and slate year after year. The product has stood the test of time. The support from the manufacturer is great, and the appearance of the final product really sells itself. 

Q: How have DaVinci products helped increase sales for your company? 

A: Offering DaVinci has helped us add an additional 7 figures to our bottom line at the end of the year. It really helps distinguish us from the competition. It’s taken our company to the next level. 

Q: When selling DaVinci products to a new customer, what are the features and benefits that customers react best to? 

A: Maintenance free, Class 4 impact rating, Class A fire rating, lifetime limited warranty, shake without the hassle. They also like that if they present these features to their insurance company --- especially the Class 4 and Class A ratings --- that there’s a high chance of lowering their insurance premiums. 

Q: What’s your dream roofing job? 

A: Graceland. How cool would it be to say you got to re-roof Elvis’ house? 

Q: Finally, if you absolutely had to change professions tomorrow, what do you think you’d do? 

A: No doubt … I’d go back to being a United States Marine! 

Learn more about DaVinci Roofscapes here.