Roofing in Paradise

Believe it or not, both roofing in paradise has its down side.

The constant salt air, strong winds and sea spray can all play havoc with a home. Those coastal elements make selecting low maintenance exterior products a critical decision for oceanfront residents and roofers.

"Ten years ago, we had to replace the granular bitumen coated steel tile roof on our Maui home," says homeowner Robin Vivian. "Because we're so close to the ocean, the steel roof had major corrosion resulting in perforation in many spots.

"We needed an aesthetically-appealing roof that would stand up to Mother Nature. We followed the recommendation of someone who knew about DaVinci Roofscapes and we've been exceptionally pleased with the results. We've never had to worry about the roof and it looks as good today as when it was installed a decade ago."

Vivian's seven-bedroom, five-bath home in Maui (plus an Ohana cottage with three bedrooms and two bathrooms) is currently on the market for $5.2 million. The 30-year-old home features 25 solar panels on the roof that fully power the property plus two solar hot water panels on the garage portion of the roof. More than 5,800 square feet of living space enjoy oceanfront views plus access to a swimming pool.

According to Rhonda Smith-Sanchez, the realtor tasked with listing the picturesque Vivian property, having a composite roof is a key selling point for the home.

"Outside of the 280-degree premiere ocean view this property frames, the roof could be the next most valuable item a buyer considers," says Smith-Sanchez with Coldwell Banker Maui. "This roof looks fantastic after 10 years of service. It's strong and exudes confidence to a buyer when making a major purchase such as this.

"Buyers don't want to be faced with --- or even have the slightest concern --- that a major reroofing project may be needed in the next five years."

Smith-Sanchez promotes the Vivian home as being designed with salt-resistant materials to capture the "ease of lifestyle" that people in Hawaii wish to achieve. "All homes along our shore line on Maui have to consider using products that can endure salt, wind and sun --- lots of sun," says Smith-Sanchez. "Stucco seems to be used the most prominently for exteriors with the next option being stucco with teak exposed beams.

"I make a point of educating buyers who may not be familiar with the Vivian's composite multi-width slate roof about its benefits. The DaVinci roof is truly a common-sense roof for our geographic area that looks beautiful while also providing exceptional features."

Learn more about DaVinci Roofscapes.

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