Cedar Shake vs Synthetic Slate Roofing

DaVinci Roofscapes and Brava Roof Tile are the two leading synthetic composite roofing manufacturers in the premium market. Both produce polymer composite products that mimic natural slate and cedar shake. Both carry 50-year warranties, Class A fire ratings, and Class 4 UL 2218 impact resistance. Both weigh approximately 50 percent less than natural slate, making them compatible with standard residential roof framing without structural reinforcement.

DaVinci's Bellaforte Slate and Bellaforte Shake lines are the most widely specified premium synthetic products in the Midwest market. DaVinci products are manufactured from 100 percent virgin polymer with UV stabilizers and color pigments blended throughout the material — not surface-applied — which means the color does not fade as the surface weathers. DaVinci Shake profiles produce a highly convincing natural wood aesthetic from the street and at close range, with natural variation in each panel that avoids the repetitive pattern visible in lower-quality synthetics.

Brava Roof Tile manufactures its products from 95 percent recycled content — a genuine sustainability credential for homeowners for whom recycled material sourcing matters. Brava's Old World Slate and Cedar Shake profiles carry the same 50-year warranty and Class 4 impact ratings as DaVinci. The visual result is competitive with DaVinci at a price point that typically runs $1 to $3 per square foot less installed. The installed cost range for synthetic slate and shake in the St. Louis market runs $18 to $26 per square foot.

The 50-year warranty on both DaVinci and Brava covers the material against manufacturing defects, color fade beyond defined tolerances, and functional failure for half a century. This warranty period exceeds cedar shake's realistic lifespan by 20 to 30 years — and unlike cedar, achieving the synthetic product's warranty life requires zero ongoing maintenance.

Lifespan comparison: Natural cedar shake in the St. Louis climate lasts 20 to 30 years with active maintenance. Synthetic composite products from DaVinci and Brava carry 50-year warranties. The realistic expectation for a maintained cedar roof is one replacement over a 50-year homeownership horizon; a synthetic product installed today covers the same 50-year period without replacement.

Cost comparison: Natural cedar shake installed runs $14 to $22 per square foot. Synthetic slate and shake installed runs $18 to $26 per square foot. Cedar appears less expensive on initial installation, but the full 50-year cost of cedar includes one replacement (at future cost) plus ongoing maintenance. Synthetic's higher upfront cost is the only cost over the warranty period — making the lifetime economics of synthetic competitive with or better than cedar when fully modeled.

Maintenance comparison: Natural cedar requires annual inspection, moss and lichen treatment as needed, preservative application every 5 to 7 years, and individual shake replacement as pieces fail. Synthetic composite requires no maintenance beyond a post-storm visual inspection. The maintenance burden of cedar is real and ongoing; it is not captured in the installation cost.

Fire rating: Cedar base product is Class C. Treated cedar can reach Class A but requires retreatment. Synthetic DaVinci and Brava products are Class A as manufactured — permanent, no treatment required. For any homeowner with specific insurer requirements for Class A roofing, or in fire-risk adjacent areas, synthetic's permanent Class A rating is a clear specification advantage.

Cedar shake is the correct choice for homeowners who prioritize authentic natural material character above other considerations, are planning a tenure in the home that aligns with cedar's 20 to 30-year realistic lifespan, are prepared to commit to the maintenance regimen that cedar requires, and for whom the historical or aesthetic authenticity of natural wood on a specific home (historic designation, period architecture) justifies the specification.

Synthetic slate and shake is the correct choice for homeowners who want the premium visual character of shake or slate roofing with 50-year warranty coverage, zero maintenance commitment, permanent Class A fire resistance, and Class 4 impact resistance that reduces hail damage frequency. Homeowners on a long-term ownership horizon — 30 years or more — will almost certainly spend less over that period with synthetic than with cedar when full lifecycle costs are modeled.

The middle-ground scenario where cedar is defensible: a homeowner with a 15 to 20-year ownership horizon who wants the authentic aesthetic and is willing to maintain the product and accept that replacement will occur within that horizon. In this scenario, cedar's lower initial cost relative to the higher end of synthetic pricing can be justified if the aesthetic preference is strong.

Revolve installs both products across the St. Louis market. We do not have a financial incentive to push one over the other — our recommendation is based entirely on your specific situation. Contact us for a free consultation with actual product samples from both manufacturers.