BRAVA Signature Project (Synthetic Cedar Shake):
Home-A-Rama 2025
Part 1: BRAVA joins forces with Universal Roofing & Exteriors to raise the custom roofing bar
"We partner with BRAVA because we want the roof to last a lifetime for the homeowner."
— Sam Yeary, Vice President of Education Development, Universal Roofing Exteriors, Indianapolis, Ind.
It was the rivers first, then the canals and the railroads, and finally the highways that led to Indiana — and more specifically, the state's capital city of Indianapolis — becoming officially known as The Crossroads of America. Throughout the nineteenth century, Indiana's rapidly growing infrastructure played a large part in opening the "new West" for settlement; today, Indianapolis itself fills a similar role by serving as the hub of several major interstate highways that crisscross the Hoosier State, connecting its inhabitants to the rest of the country and vice versa.
One such neighborhood is Chatham Hills, an exclusive and private golf course community located in the scenic city of Westfield. Featuring luxurious high-end homes and world-class amenities, Chatham Hills also has the distinction of being set along the panoramic fairways of the final Championship golf course designed and constructed on site by the late world-renowned architect Pete Dye. It's here that the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis (BAGI) has returned for the fourth time to host Home-A-Rama — its most highly anticipated and attended annual event that showcases the latest and greatest in homebuilding and design.
Titled as the 2025 Lee Supply Corp Home-A-Rama, this spectacular open house experience is unveiling seven state-of-the-art luxury custom show homes designed and built by the industry's top-tier talent. Each home features a one-of-a-kind aesthetic, combining innovative building processes and design with the highest-quality materials and superior craftsmanship. Over 20,000 visitors are expected, from potential homebuyers and design enthusiasts to realtors and building industry professionals — and by the time this three-weekend-long event is over, more than 70,000 will have driven past the community to see what all the excitement has been about.
One of the seven showcase homes is a stunning classic contemporary that was designed with warm Midwestern hospitality top of mind, from its spacious kitchen and its walk-in wine cellar to its expansive outdoor entertaining areas. Noted specialty building firm Custom Living and design practice Still Architecture, both out of Indianapolis, collaborated to create this exceptional home from the ground up through a blend of timeless elegance, architectural intention, and modern functionality.
Both teams knew the quality of both the home's roof and its installer were of vital importance for this custom build. At nearly 7,500 square feet, the roof itself would be integral to the home's style and curb appeal as well as its overall performance from season to season — and its installation would require not just top-notch technical skills but also artistic ingenuity and integrity.
Premier roofing contractor Universal Roofing & Exteriors has been bringing its expertise in full-service roofing solutions to distinctive properties across Indiana for over three decades. Specializing in high-end residential and commercial projects, Universal earned its impeccable reputation by consistently providing exceptional craftsmanship, innovative materials, and unmatched customer service, making it a trusted roofing partner for the top custom home builders in the region.
That reputation has solidified an extended relationship between Universal and Custom Living, which has continued for several years. When it came to selecting the right contractor for the Home-A-Rama build, Universal was the unanimous choice.
"We want to work with parties that care," says Custom Living's owner Tom Lazaro.
"The quality of a home when you're building it is based on the artists that are doing the installation. If somebody doesn't do the installation with care and expertise in their craft, then it won't matter."
Universal prides itself on its strong work ethic and the attention to detail it brings to every job. The contractor has earned the loyalty of property owners and manufacturers alike by respecting its clients and their properties just as much as it values its business partnerships.
"Custom Living trusts us to deliver exceptional results on their showcase homes," says Universal's Senior Estimator for Elite Family of Brands for New Construction, Commerical and Multifamily. "This Home-A-Rama build was a perfect match for our expertise."
Having come on board, the Universal team was excited for the challenge of installing an expansive roof on such a uniquely designed home. Navigating the complex rooflines and multiple architectural features would require custom solutions, an opportunity for the contractor to employ its mastery of specialty installations. But to execute those solutions flawlessly meant finding a roofing product more than capable of meeting the demanding task — and that would also promise showstopping aesthetics while guaranteeing maximum durability and performance.
Enter BRAVA.
"On average, I'm reroofing shingle homes every 8 to 10 years. I am never reroofing BRAVA homes."
— Matt Mullins, Roofing Salesman, Universal Roofing Exteriors, Indianapolis, Ind.
"As a as a roofing contractor, I've been around a lot of different roofing products. And when it came time to build my own home, I chose BRAVA to put on my roof as well."
Sam Yeary is on site for the Home-A-Rama custom build. Surrounded by the sounds of construction equipment and busy team members, the vice president of education development for Universal Roofing & Exteriors shares why BRAVA composite roofing tile was selected for this highly visible project.
"It's a superior product. I actually had the opportunity to visit the BRAVA factory; we saw how everything was made, the different types of materials, the different ways they add the color to the product. And by far, it ranked superior on the market."
Widely known for its unrivaled performance, BRAVA roofing is proven to uphold the highest quality standards and withstand the harshest conditions. Its proprietary process combines synthetic polymers with compression molding, producing a remarkably strong roofing tile that weathers everything from heavy rains and hailstorms to icy winters and blistering UV rays.
Universal's experience with Custom Living is what led Yeary to not only work with the builder on his own home, but to collaborate with them to choose the best roof to both complement and protect it: BRAVA. "Tha process really solidified for me the quality," he says, "and what I wanted to have on my home for the next 50-plus years."
More and more homeowners are enjoying the benefits of using BRAVA's composite tile as an alternative to traditional roofing products like asphalt shingles, wood shakes, and concrete, slate, and clay tiles. BRAVA's technologically advanced roofing solution outperforms them, saving the customer on both maintenance and repairs by eliminating frequent blow-offs, leaks, cracking, breaking, fading, and algae growth.
"On average, I'm reroofing shingle homes every 8 to 10 years," says Universal Roofing Salesman Matt Mullins. "I am never reroofing BRAVA homes."
Just as important for this Home-A-Rama build was, quite simply, its wow factor. The roof needed to suit the home's high-end architectural style and appeal to the golfing community while standing out to the thousands of Home-A-Rama visitors and potential buyers.
For Mullins, BRAVA tile was easily "a no-brainer. We chose BRAVA to set this house apart compared to others in this area. Other homes that we've installed BRAVA on really make them a fixture in their neighborhoods and attract a lot of attention, with neighbors asking 'hey, what did you put on your roof? I love it, it's so beautiful.' And with the style of this home, BRAVA brought everything together as a high-end centerpiece."
BRAVA composite roofing combines superior mineral pigment, variegation, and superfine detail throughout each tile, expertly creating the incredibly authentic and unparalleled look of natural materials. Universal chose BRAVA's Canyon Gray from its Cedar Shake collection to perfectly match the appearance of a real-life hand-split wood shake roof — one that won't fade thanks to BRAVA's fade-resistant technology.
"BRAVA's color blend and profile harmonized with the exterior finishes," shared Vorbroker, "enhancing the home’s elegance and tying together the architectural elements. It showcases how Brava products can elevate luxury home design."
"Another thing we love about BRAVA is the consistency in the manufacturing," adds Mullins. "It's across the board when it comes to not only the field shakes but the starters, hips, and ridges. We get them custom pitch-matched to whatever pitch we need, and we can also use the solid tiles on any gables or valleys to bring the appearance together really well from the ground."
The completed home stands proudly as the flowing Home-A-Rama crowds take in its beauty and magnificence, a testament to the successful collaboration and remarkable craftsmanship that went into it.
"It's been a journey," states Yeary, "and BRAVA has always been there to support us." That support makes a huge difference to the contractor, and Yeary knows it will do the same for the future owner of this gorgeous custom home. "BRAVA has an entire team that's going to support that roof for its longevity."
"We take great pride in the precision of our installation and the seamless integration of the BRAVA roof into the overall design," says Vorbroker. "We're honored to be part of it."
"BRAVA products elevate luxury home design while delivering unmatched performance."
— Justin Vorbroker, Senior Estimator for Elite Family of Brands for New Construction, Commercial and Multifamily
About Universal Roofing & Exteriors
For over 30 years, Universal Roofing & Exteriors has served Indianapolis and its surrounding areas with expert care and craftsmanship. Universal employs a fully licensed and insured professional team with decades of experience in both residential and commercial roofing. The contractor's high-end solutions as well as its unwavering dedication to hard work and exceptional customer service have earned Universal its reputation as the most trusted and reliable roofing company in the area.
