From its own manufacturing facility to construction sites around the United States, DaVinci Roofscapes recycles about 300,000 pounds of polymer scrap annually.
The Lenexa, Kan.-based company uses the synthetic scrap to make starter shingles, which are installed at the bottom row of a roof and extend beyond the drip edge. Starter shingles are then covered to provide a double layer of protection against water and high winds in the critical area by the eaves and rakes.
Most of DaVinci's recycled scrap for the starter shingles comes from the production process, Bryan Ward, vice president of operations, said in a news release promoting the company's green efforts for the 45th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22.
“Most manufacturing operations have scrap materials,” Ward said. “The difference here is that every roofing tile we create is 100 percent recyclable, so we are able to reuse every pound of scrap that comes off our production line into our roofing material's starter shingles. This saves a significant amount of material from going to the landfill, along with making us an efficient, environmentally friendly operation.”
Started in 1999, DaVinci Roofscapes manufactures synthetic slate and shake roofing products for residential and commercial projects from virgin resin. The company doesn't use recycled material in any product that is exposed to the sun to guard against UV degradation, but starter shingles make up a base layer that gets covered.
The company pays the shipping cost for the return of scrap plastic from job sites within a 500-mile radius of the plant. In addition, DaVinci takes back expired tiles, which are at least 50 years old, for recycling. Ward estimates about 5,000 pounds of product are returned from field projects for recycling each year.