Product Comparison – Composite Cedar Shake Roofing

Part of an Architect’s job is evaluating products and materials for projects we’re working on. It’s surprising how much time I spend talking with suppliers about materials – even those I use frequently, that I’m completely familiar with, and that I’m comfortable recommending to my clients.

Sometimes those suppliers are refreshing my knowledge about an old favorite that I haven’t used in a while. But now and then, a particular job requires a new product, or a new product comes along that I’m interested in checking into.

If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know that I prefer authentic materials whenever possible – real brick, real stone, real wood floors. And when it’s called for, real cedar shake/shingle roofing.

So I hadn’t paid much attention to the many “faux” composite cedar shake roofing products on the market until recently, when a local homeowner’s association asked me to evaluate several as possible alternatives to cedar shake and cedar shingle roofing in their neighborhood.

I’d heard of one or two of these products, but quickly found out that there are more than a few composite cedar shake roofing products out there made from several different materials.  I ended up looking into nine of them (note – I’m reviewing just eight below, one appears to be out of business).

Before I get into my reviews, let me point out a few things.

First, cedar shakes and cedar shingles are not the same thing. Shakes are hand-split (or look like hand-split) and shingles are sawn (or look like they’re sawn). Got it?

Second, none of the products I reviewed are less-expensive to install than real cedar; some are significantly more expensive. The advantage most have over cedar is a lower cost of maintenance and a longer lifespan – although I’ll add, as something of a purist, that cedar will last a very long time if you care for it properly. (Disclaimer – I own a home with a cedar shake roof – the photo at the top of this article is a cedar shake roof).

Third, some of these products are significantly heavier than cedar roofing, which means you might have to account for the additional load in a new home design or beef up the structure on an existing house.

Finally, most of these products are similarly durable, so my reviews are more about their aesthetic properties than anything else.

composite cedar shake roofing
PlyGem

PlyGem Engineered Cedar Shake

https://www.plygem.com/wps/portal/home/brands/plygem-roofing/engineered-cedar)

The Facts
Although PlyGem calls their product a “shake” it’s really more of a shingle, since it doesn’t have the thickness and random character of real wood. PlyGem’s product is a composite and includes recycled plastic. It’s offered in a variety of widths, which helps give it a more authentic look, and is available in three shades of grey and brown. PlyGem warrants the Engineered Cedar Shake for 50 years, with a 10 year no-fade warranty.

My Take
This is a reasonably attractive, durable roof with a decent warranty. It looks pretty good on a house, but it’s not what I’d call a replica of a cedar roof. If anything, it vaguely mimics cedar shingles, but not cedar shakes. From a distance, the grey color looks a bit more like slate than cedar. The 10-year fade warranty has me wondering what color this product ages to. I would consider this more of a higher-end production-house product than a custom home product.

composite cedar shake roofing
Vande Hay Shake Tile

Vande Hey Shake Tile

(https://www.vrmtile.com/shake.php)

The Facts
Vande Hey’s “Shake Tile” is made from concrete, a very durable material commonly used in hot and coastal climates (although it can be used almost anywhere). Vande Hey offers a wide choice of standard colors and can also create custom colors and color blends. It requires a fairly complex installation process (as is the case with all tile roofing products) but has a limited lifetime warranty when installed properly.

My Take
The natural variations in thickness and shape of all tile products helps to create a more authentic look, but no one’s going to mistake this for a real cedar shake roof. That doesn’t mean the product isn’t attractive, however – it makes a very good-looking roof. Part of the reason it doesn’t meet the “fake shake” test is the nature of the gable-end pieces – they wrap the roof edge, unlike cedar shakes. I could easily see using this product on high-end custom home projects.

composite cedar shake roofing
Certainteed Matterhorn Shake

Certainteed Matterhorn Shake

(https://www.certainteed.com/residential-roofing/products/matterhorn-metal-roofing-tile/)

The Facts
Matterhorn Shake is a steel product with a painted surface, the only metal product in this review. It’s installed in panels that are 48” long and 20” deep and is offered in four colors. Certainteed has a limited lifetime warranty on Matterhorn Shake.

My Take
This product is misnamed – it’s nothing like a “shake”. The 48” panels don’t have the deep clefts and wood grain texture that distinguishes cedar shake roofing, and the edges of the metal panels make them look like, well, metal panels. The other big drawback is how the product is installed at rakes and how it’s flashed to walls – both conditions require a proprietary counterflashing that cheapens the overall appearance. On the plus side, the colors appear to mimic weathered cedar roofing well.

composite cedar shake roofing
Enviroshake

Enviroshake

(https://www.enviroshake.com/)

The Facts
Enviroshake is a composite product containing recycled plastics, wood fibers, and elastomers (rubber). It’s manufactured in individual pieces that are about the same size of cedar shingles, which gives it a more authentic look. Enviroshake comes with a 50 year limited warranty and comes in two colors, and a blend of the two colors.

My Take
This company makes two “cedar” products – Enviroshake and Enviroshingle. I’m not reviewing the “shingle” product at all here, as it’s nothing like cedar. Enviroshake, however, looks pretty good (although it looks much more like a cedar shingle than a cedar shake). I like that they have ridge and hip caps that look correct, and that the gable ends and wall connections don’t require special pieces. Rumors are out there that this product smells like rubber tires for a few weeks after installation – not surprising, considering it contains recycled rubber.

composite cedar shake roofing
Ludowici Shake Tile

Ludowici Shake Tile

(https://www.ludowici.com/products/roof-tile/shake-tile/)

The Facts
Ludowici offers two faux shake products, “Century Shake”, a thick-profile heavy-weight tile for new construction, and “Ludoshake”, a lighter-weight product intended for remodeling. Both are made from Terra Cotta, one of oldest and most durable building products in the world. Century Shake is available in 5 colors and blend, Ludoshake in 6 colors and blends. Both have a 75-year material warranty.

My Take
These products are the top of the line in the “fake shake” comparison. The Century Shake product is as close a replica to real cedar shake roof as you’ll find today. As with all tile products, installation is more complex. While special gable-end pieces are required for this product, they are smaller and less visually obtrusive than some other manufacturer’s materials. This is as close to a “forever” roof product as you can get, and I wouldn’t hesitate to use it for a high-end custom home project.

composite cedar shake roofing
DaVinci Roofscapes DaVinci Shake

DaVinci Roofscapes DaVinci Shake

(https://www.davinciroofscapes.com/products/shake/)

The Facts
DaVinci Shake is another plastic roof product, although it doesn’t contain any recycled material. It’s crushed limestone, mixed with a plastic binder. DaVinci offers three faux-cedar products – “Bellaforte”, a thick shake that is molded from actual cedar shakes; a “multi-width” shake, and a “single-width” shake. The single and multi-width products are more like shingles than shake and are not as thick as the Bellaforte. All are available in nine colors.

My Take
As plastic roofing products go, this is probably the most realistic available. Installation is very similar to asphalt shingles and doesn’t require special flashing details. End caps are required for the Bellaforte product, but they are smaller and more realistic-appearing than some other plastic roofing. From a distance, it’s possible to mistake this for a real cedar shake roof.

composite cedar shake roofing
EcoStar Empire Shake

EcoStar Empire Shake

(http://ecostarllc.com/product/empire-shake/)

The Facts
EcoStar sells two “shake” products – “Empire Shake Plus” is extra thick, similar to real cedar shakes. “Empire Shake” is a thinner product, more like a cedar shingle. The texture of both is similar to real cedar, and both are offered in 14 colors. Custom colors and blends are also available. Both are plastic and include some recycled content. Installation is similar to asphalt shingles, and special flashing details and end caps are not required. Both products carry a 50-year material warranty.

My Take
A reasonably attractive product, although the pattern and texture is not as convincing as DaVinci. My biggest concern is the color choices – none appear to mimic aged cedar very well, and some are a bit odd, like bright orange and bright red.

composite cedar shake roofing
CeDUR Simulated Wood Shakes

CeDUR Simulated Wood Shakes

(https://www.cedur.com/)

The Facts
CeDUR’s product is a plastic, thick-butt shake alternative made from closed-cell polyurethane. Unlike other plastic shakes, CeDUR is a solid product; others have a cavity-back to save material and weight. CeDUR’s pattern, texture, and thickness is a good representation of real cedar shakes. CeDUR comes with a 50-year warranty, and is available in four colors. Installation is similar to asphalt shingles, and no special flashing or gable end pieces are required.

My Take
This is the only solid plastic fake shake I reviewed. At first glance, this seems like a significant visual advantage over cavity-back shake products, but I’m concerned that solid shingles are more likely to warp in high heat conditions.  In fact, CeDUR’s warranty excludes warping from heat reflected from glass and other sources – something not under a homeowner’s control. I’m also concerned with the available colors, none of which mimic weathered cedar very well. In spite of those two concerns, however, this appears to be a very attractive product with a realistic rustic cedar shake appearance.

Contact me to learn more about the services I offer and how I can help make your new home or remodeling project exciting, valuable and unique.

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Millie Batt
Millie Batt
5 years ago

What do you consider proper care for cedar shingles? I am wondering specifically when you want them to be black?

Dan Turner
5 years ago

The ladder/spaced decking beneath many authentic shake roofs poses a bit of a problem with a replacement product. I’ve reviewed other composite “shake roofs” (not in your list….and a few that are out of business now) about making the span between decking boards and have not found a suitable replacement. The installation guides point to a solid decking to attach each shake…and none suggest simply nailing down to existing shake roof.

Given the price per square…for the moment, it appears that #1 Taper splits are starting to return back to reason (materials is little more than 3 times labor)…which was the only option that I was coming up with. There was a peak value per square for cedar shakes that was nearly as expensive as a weathered green or gray slate….for materials and labor with install labor about 2/3rd the price of materials. Of course the roof here wasn’t designed for the load…but again, I was poking about for my options which slate load was prohibitive because the owner is a tightwad and didn’t want to bulk up the roof.

anything cross your path on remods or rennovs for composites using opening decking? Cedar is quite the commodity here in Georgia…which may be the reason for the few Cedar techs or whole roof sales. Thanks for the great article!!

Dan Turner
5 years ago

I get the impression that the spaced sheathing is for the convenience of the roofer. It’s been a watertight 30 years, but the lack of alternatives for an R&R is getting to be a major inconvenience. We’re lacking in cedar roofing specialists…there are only a very small handful to service the metro Atlanta area.

sam
sam
5 years ago

This article was very useful to me. We are hiring someone to put a roof on our home, and neither my wife nor I have ever done this before. We live in a fire hazard zone near Los Angeles, so real cedar is not a possibility. Thank you so much for posing this information.

gail
gail
1 year ago
Reply to  sam

what did you go with? we live in la and are about to replace our roof with a synthetic shake?

Philip Trinh
Philip Trinh
5 years ago

We had a house near the block which used the DaVinci Shake material and it still looks brand new after almost 5 yrs (installed in 2015). We need to do our own original roof soon (Cedar Shake) and after months of research may just go the route of synthetic/polymer shakes. You can’t find too many good installers for cedar anymore, and the lumbar used is no longer old-growth (tough to find). The problem is… We can’t really find any online reviews for these type of faux roofs. Any issues that crop up? Which vendor is the best? I’m assuming these types of roofing materials are just still really new. I hardly ever see them being discussed unlike composite, cedar, metal, tile, slate, and concrete.

Bill Bass
Bill Bass
4 years ago

If I’m looking for:
1. the longest lasting “plastic like/vinyl like” roof shingle.
2. “Architectural shingle like” installation; so a “good” roofer can handle it.
3. Low-ish cost.

And I’m not that critical about looking like real Cedar but want a nice look. My home is brick front & sides and vinyl siding back.

You reviewed several plastic type shakes/shingles; can you say which would best fit the above ?

Thanks

Nicole Weidner
Nicole Weidner
4 years ago

Hi Rich!
I hope you are doing well. Gregg and I are looking at new roof options, and as you know we have real cedar shake now. We have had a real struggle finding a roofer that will even do cedar shake, and then we learned that the hrc allows composite shake or composite slate in our historic neighborhood. We started doing some research, and low and behold you (our favorite architect) address this topic in your blog! How fortuitous.

We also learned that our original house plans called for slate, but the owners went with shake. You know our home well. Do you have a preference for composite shake versus the composite slate on our 1930s colonial? Also any advice on the best brand? We found a few other brands out there that look to be pretty realistic, but probably very high end. Any experience/ knowledge of Brava or certainteed?

Thanks so much,
Nicole and Gregg

shawn kearney
shawn kearney
3 years ago

I actually have samples of each side by side. The Brava sample is more pliable, and overall seems a bit more realistic and attractive. The DaVinci sample is more ridged. They are actually quite different up close, though I am not sure you can say one is objectively superior over the other just by looking at them.

Brava tiles are heavier in weight, and overall seem, to me at least, a little bit better engineered. The DaVinci sample very much feels and looks like hard plastic while the Brava tiles have more ‘give’ with a more matte appearance. Neither, though, are what you’d classify “flexible” or “flimsy”. Both are a solid piece of plastic and neither would get lifted up by wind or anything like that. Hail would just bounce off either without any issue.

The brava example seems a bit more acoustically dampened. I think both would hold up well under stress, but being less ridged I think the Brava tile could potentially have better impact performance, though I don’t think either is necessarily inferior just by looking at them.

Last edited 3 years ago by shawn kearney
Donald Hanson
Donald Hanson
2 years ago
Reply to  shawn kearney

I have samples of Brava and DaVinci and found the Brava to be better a product. I scratched my fingernail about 5 times in the same place on a DaVinci tile and took it down to white plastic.

Pete H
Pete H
4 years ago

Thank you for this very informative article. Could you provide the color of the DaVinci Bellaforte synthetic shake in this article? It looks outstanding, but doesn’t seem to exactly match any of their colors. Is it a mix of Mountain and Weathered Gray? There is variation in the shake colors, which makes it looks like a mix.

Thank you!

Terri Glasco
Terri Glasco
4 years ago

I have received samples from Enviroshake and Brava. Brava is considerably more realistic but also expensive. In your opinion, how do they compare to Davinci? I am specifying for a client project and a new build of my own.

Edith Moe
Edith Moe
4 years ago
Reply to  Terri Glasco

I too am interested in replacing a cedar shake roof with synthetic shakes and have looked at both Brava and DaVinci. I am interested in your opinion of these two products. I live in Hawaii and have to deal with a lot of rain and hurricanes.

Karen
Karen
4 years ago

We have an old 1895 2-story farmhouse in Los Angeles area with a wood shingle roof that has maybe 3 yrs life left. Love wood but don’t like the fire hazard. Shake might be better than shingle, in my opinion. Weight is an issue for our house. Also, some tile is very brittle…can’t walk on it (e.g., cedarlite). So what cedar tiles do you think we should consider?

Kristy Sheets
Kristy Sheets
4 years ago

Have you reviewed Brave materials? If so what are your thoughts?

JohnQuill
JohnQuill
4 years ago

Hello
Thanks you for the review.
Do you have a more updated review on the CeDur product.
Thinking of using it on Cape Cod

James Love
James Love
2 years ago
Reply to  JohnQuill

CeDUR vs. DaVinci?

Diane
Diane
1 year ago
Reply to  JohnQuill

Hello John Quill,
I read your question about CeDur shake shingles on this site: https://www.rtastudio.com/2019/02/composite-cedar-shake-roofing-residential-architect-ohio/ I was wondering which you went with….the CeDur or the Davinci? I am now needing to replace my shake roof in Colorado and love the look of CeDur over DaVinci but am worried about the the weight. I was wondering what shake you went with and how do you like it? Do the crevice’s (such as in a dormer) need a metal flashing? I want something as natural looking as possible. Thank you, Diane

Andrew Rosen
Andrew Rosen
3 years ago

Richard,

What are your thoughts on Brava Roof Tiles?

Gail Strahs
Gail Strahs
3 years ago

Having looked at various synthetic shakes online and receiving samples of of Cedar Lite 600, I like the CeDUR product the most as far as similarity to actual cedar shake. I have a 100 year old home in Los Angeles. Called the CeDUR company and was told their shake does not warp and can be walked on without fear of breakage to service it. I like the fact that also, it is much lighter than the Cedar Lite product. Can you see any negatives to the CeDUR product besides price which I think is somewhat more than other synthetic shakes?

Lance
Lance
3 years ago

Any new ideas on Davici vs cedur? Have you seen warping of cedur? I am looking for a composit type shake shingle.

Eugene Hand
Eugene Hand
1 year ago
Reply to  Lance

Hi Lance, Yes , these newer companies like Cedur are having issues. Cedur, Foam shingles, will likely not survive as the same company with the curling issues. Ecostar llc is the oldest formulation that seams to be holding up. what do you think of them ?

Diane
Diane
1 year ago
Reply to  Lance

Hi Lance, I’m curious what you went with…CeDur or DaVinci faux shakes? I love the CeDur look but worry about warping and any weight issues. my neighbors have the DaVinci but, to me, those don’t look at authentic as CeDur. thx, Diane

gail
gail
1 year ago
Reply to  Diane

I am also deciding between CeDur and Brava and would love more input. I really don’t like the look of the Davinci. They look like a lego roof to me, so plastic-y. Thoughts? Thanks!!!

Maryanne Borseth
Maryanne Borseth
2 months ago
Reply to  gail

Did you go with CeDur and are you happy with your choice

june
june
10 months ago

Can you tell me how Davinci roof tiles perform after numerous years? Have you had any leaks or cracking/warping/curling on any of the Davinci roofs you have installed?