Project Spotlight: A Storybook Transformation with Roofing Artisans

Art Meets Architecture on the Coast of California

Nestled in the sun-kissed hillsides of San Diego, CA, sits a home so magical it feels like it belongs in the pages of a fairytale. This enchanting project, brought to life by the masterful team at Roofing Artisans, merges imaginative architecture with high-performance roofing materials to create a truly dreamlike sanctuary. With the help of CEDUR synthetic shakes, the roof becomes a centerpiece of charm, elegance, and enduring craftsmanship.

Project At-A-Glance

• Project Type: Residential Home
• Location: San Diego, California
• Contractor: Roofing Artisans
• Product Used: CEDUR Live Oak, CEDUR Shiloh & CEDUR Walden, for an Ombre Look
• Roof Design: Complex, low pitch design with solar panels
• Special Features: Title 24 Compliant, copper accents, whimsical detailing, storybook architecture
• Timeline: Over 2,000 total man hours between the crew, completed in just over two months of 10-hour days

The Vision: A Storybook Dream Takes Shape

From the first sketch to the final shake, the vision was clear—this was not just a house, it was a fantastical retreat inspired by fairytales and European charm. The homeowner had a deeply personal vision, backed by extensive research and a carefully curated Pinterest board filled with inspirational images. Her dream was to build a home that looked like it had leapt from the pages of a storybook, blending the cozy elegance of old-world cottages with the radiant beauty of coastal California.

She sought out Roofing Artisans after extensive vetting, and from the very beginning, the collaboration between homeowner and builder was fueled by shared creativity and a commitment to craft. Think stone walkways, curved rooftops, artistic lines, and chimney caps that seemed plucked from a children’s storybook.

Roofing Artisans was entrusted with translating this magical vision into reality, making the roof not just a necessity, but the crown jewel of the entire design.

“We didn’t just want to build a roof, we wanted to tell a story,” shared Brian Calamita, founder of Roofing Artisans. “Every element needed to feel natural, timeless, and a little whimsical.”

The Craftsmanship: Artful Precision

This wasn’t a typical roof, it was a sculptural challenge. With its multiple steep pitches, intersecting gables, and ornate detailing, the roof required a level of craftsmanship few could deliver. But Roofing Artisans lived up to their name, approaching each angle, curve, and seam as a brushstroke in a masterpiece.

CEDUR’s lightweight design, authentic wood-grain texture, and flexibility made it the perfect medium for this level of detail. The material allowed the team to adapt to the home’s irregular shapes and storybook contours, while still delivering durability and performance.

One of the most fascinating aspects of this build was the volume of material used. Although the home measured just under 2,700 square feet, Roofing Artisans installed an astounding 4,500 square feet of CEDUR product. This was due to the multi-layered installation, stacked up to 11 shakes high in some places, and the intricate complexity of the roof’s form. These overlapping layers allowed the team to create deep shadow lines, expressive texture, and a dimensional look that feels almost alive.

“This was one of the most technically demanding and most creatively fulfilling projects we’ve ever completed,” said Brian Calamita. “CEDUR let us execute the vision without compromise.”

The Detail Work: Where Imagination Meets Craft

In a project that was already magical by design, the details pushed it into the realm of fine art. Every element was considered, from the hand-formed copper flashing to the sculptural accents that gave the roof its fairytale personality.

The hips and ridges of the roof were adorned with specialty flashing crafted from 24-inch-wide copper strips. These were shaped over Luan boards to create a soft, curved effect, adding both whimsy and visual interest. Each copper component was hand-polished by Brian’s team to ensure a radiant, artisan-quality finish.

Custom artistry was embedded in the process. At one point, the homeowner handed Brian a sketch of a whimsical mushroom, asking, “Do you think you can make this?” He not only said yes, he carved the form from styrofoam himself and used it as a mold to shape a show-stopping copper accent.

“That piece felt like something out of my 3D art classes in college,” said Brian Calamita. “It brought me back to being an artist. It wasn’t just functional, it was expressive.”

Even the chimney received a bespoke makeover. Originally red brick, it was parged with stucco, painted, and finished with epoxied bricks in a hand-laid pattern to enhance the home’s storybook aesthetic. A diamond-patterned copper flashing wrapped the chimney to add texture and a medieval-inspired touch.

No detail was overlooked, not even the viewing angles. Brian would climb a tall stepladder mid-project to inspect the evolving shape from above, ensuring the rooflines would look just as enchanting from the ground as they would from a drone.

“This project was a reminder that the only limit is imagination,” Brian reflected.

Why CEDUR Was the Only Option

When imagination meets precision, only the best material will do. For this fairytale escape, traditional wood shakes were too vulnerable to the California climate; heat, salt air, sun exposure. Asphalt lacked the charm. Metal was too harsh.

The homeowner and Brian Calamita explored several synthetic shake options, including products from CEDUR’s top competitors. While these brands initially seemed promising, they ultimately felt waxy, thin, and fell short of the authentic, dimensional look needed for such a highly detailed roof. “They just weren’t going to work,” Brian noted.

Then the homeowner discovered CEDUR and reached out to Jason from the CEDUR team. Brian had a sample shipped to him in Ohio, and the quality was immediately clear. CEDUR offered the full package: fire-resistance, wind performance, impact resistance, low maintenance, and most importantly, authentic, enchanting beauty. 

CEDUR’s solid core and lightweight design make it installation friendly and helped turn this fairytale dream into reality. Its stand alone Class A fire rating and ability to mimic real cedar shakes made it the standout solution.

“CEDUR brought our design to life. It gave us elegance, strength, and peace of mind. There’s nothing else like it on the market,” noted Brian Calamita.

A Dream Realized on the California Coast

This project wasn’t just a construction job, it was a creative journey. A collaboration between homeowner and artisan. A tribute to the kind of design that dares to feel magical.

With the help of Roofing Artisans and the performance of CEDUR, this San Diego dream home now stands as a testament to imagination made real.

Inspired by This Build?

If you’re dreaming of a roof that does more than protect, one that inspires, delights, and stands the test of time, explore the full line of CEDUR synthetic shakes.

Explore CEDUR Products | 720-974-9200

Learn More About Roofing Artisans: www.roofingartisans.com | 216-322-1817