Gerard roofing is a stone-coated steel roof that two unrelated companies have sold under one name. Outside North America, the Gerard trademark belongs to IKO Metals Europe NV, part of Canada’s IKO Industries, which bought it together with DECRA in 2018. In the United States, the Gerard business passed from Metals USA to Headwaters, then Boral, and its plant and best-known profiles now continue as Westlake Royal’s Unified Steel.
That split explains most of the confusion in Gerard reviews. This review works from primary documents: the Miami-Dade and Florida approvals filed under the Gerard name, Westlake Royal’s March 2026 discontinued-panel bulletin and October 2025 warranty, QAI Laboratories code evaluation CERus-1008, IKO’s Gerard specification pages, Fletcher Building’s 2018 sale notice, and two federal court dockets.
By The Roofing Brief Team. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Gerard roofing key numbers at a glance
A Gerard roof is pressed steel with an aluminum-zinc coating and a bonded stone-chip surface, weighing roughly 1.2 to 1.6 pounds per square foot. Installed cost for the Metro, Gerard, and Boral family has been reported at $7.50 to $14.50 per square foot. The figures below are the ones buyers search for most, each tied to its source document.
| Metric | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Gerard trademark owner (worldwide) | IKO Metals Europe NV, Tongeren, Belgium (IKO Industries) | gerardroofs.eu privacy policy and company page |
| US successor to Gerard USA | Unified Steel, Westlake Royal Building Products | Westlake Royal Technical Bulletin UNS550300, revised March 2026 |
| Installed cost (Metro / Gerard / Boral) | About $7.50 to $14.50 per sq ft ($750 to $1,450 per square) | HomeGuide, Stone-Coated Steel Roofing Cost (April 2023) |
| Steel | Minimum 26 gauge, ASTM A792 AZ50 aluminum-zinc coated, 0.017 in. thick | Florida evaluation FL16448-R3; QAI CERus-1008 |
| Weight | 1.5 lb per sq ft (Unified Steel); about 1.2 to 1.6 lb per sq ft (IKO Gerard tiles) | QAI CERus-1008; our calculation from gerardroofs.eu tile data |
| Minimum slope | 3:12 (Unified Steel); 12 to 15 degrees, about 2.5:12 to 3.2:12 (IKO Gerard) | QAI CERus-1008, Section 3.0; gerardroofs.eu profile pages |
| US successor warranty | 50 years; labor covered only in years 1 to 20; 120 mph wind; hail under 2.5 in. | Unified Steel Limited Fully Transferable Warranty, October 2025 |
Who makes Gerard roofing today?
Gerard roofing is made by two different companies depending on the market. IKO Industries owns the Gerard brand worldwide through IKO Metals Europe NV and IKO Asia Pacific. In the United States, the original Gerard maker no longer sells under that name: its Oceanside, California plant and three Gerard profiles continue as Unified Steel, owned by Westlake Royal Building Products.
The global Gerard brand: New Zealand to IKO
Gerard’s European site credits founder Lou Fisher with inventing the first stone-chip coated steel roof tile in New Zealand in 1957, and the business grew as AHI Roofing, a subsidiary of Fletcher Building. On November 1, 2018, Fletcher Building told the NZX it had sold Roof Tile Group, which operated under the Gerard and Decra brands, to IKO for US$39 million (NZ$59.8 million).
The NZX notice described Roof Tile Group as 450 employees manufacturing in four countries. IKO’s own release said the deal added production sites in New Zealand, Hungary, Malaysia, and the United States. Today the gerardroofs.eu privacy policy names IKO Metals Europe NV as owner of the Gerard trademark, and the New Zealand site carries an IKO Asia Pacific Limited copyright.
The US Gerard business: Metals USA to Westlake Royal
The American Gerard business followed a separate ownership chain, documented in press releases and regulatory filings. The table traces it step by step. The sources we read do not explain how the US business and the New Zealand brand came to be separated, so we do not speculate on it.
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Gerard founded in the US; later described as the second largest US maker of stone-coated metal roofing | Headwaters acquisition release, May 2014 |
| By 2013 | Operates as Gerard Roofing Technologies, a division of Metals USA Building Products, L.P. | Willow Greene HOA v. Gerard Roofing Technologies (E.D. Tex., 2014 order) |
| May 2014 | Headwaters Inc. buys Metals USA’s roofing products business (“Gerard”) for $28 million; seven primary profiles | Headwaters release via Roofing magazine |
| 2017 | Boral Roofing acquires Headwaters, including Gerard and Metro | Boral Roofing Boral Steel launch release, April 2019 |
| June 2017 | Gerard brochure, now marked “A Boral Company,” shows four profiles: Canyon Shake, Tile, Barrel Vault, and Granite Ridge | Boral Roofing Gerard brochure G5943 |
| April 2019 | Boral Steel launched with five consolidated Gerard and Metro profiles | Boral Roofing release |
| October 1, 2021 | Westlake completes $2.15 billion purchase of Boral’s North American building products | Westlake release |
| January 26, 2022 | Westlake Royal Building Products brand launched; Boral Steel becomes Unified Steel | Westlake Royal release; Technical Bulletin UNS550300 |
| December 2023 | Unified Steel’s Florida evaluation lists the same Oceanside plant address and phone number used by Gerard Roofing Technologies in 2017 | FL27408-R4 and FL16448-R3 evaluation reports |
Two ownership claims that circulate online do not match these documents. We found no manufacturer, regulatory, or court record linking Gerard to Roser or to TAMKO distribution. DECRA is not a Westlake Royal brand either: it came to IKO in the 2018 Roof Tile Group purchase, and IKO relaunched it in North America as DECRA by IKO Metals on September 28, 2026.
Is Gerard roofing still sold in the US?
Not as a current line from its original US maker. Westlake Royal’s discontinuance bulletin states that, effective May 1, 2018, Gerard Classic Tile, NB Tile, Canyon Shake, and Guardian Shingle were discontinued and replaced by Unified Steel profiles, with Gerard Barrel Vault, Granite Ridge, and Pacific Tile carried forward. IKO’s 2026 North American metal launch uses the DECRA name, not Gerard.
The Gerard name still shows up in US quotes. Some contractors list Gerard Metal Roofing among their certifications, and dealers sell IKO-made Gerard tiles in export markets. A US quote labeled “Gerard” is usually one of three things: a Unified Steel roof sold under its old name, imported IKO Gerard tiles, or a repair on an existing legacy roof. Ask whose name will be on the warranty.
The bulletin also maps every legacy profile to its replacement and says plainly which ones will not match an existing roof. That matters for anyone repairing a Gerard roof installed before 2019.
| Legacy Gerard US profile | Unified Steel replacement | Panels per square | Will it match an existing roof? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gerard Barrel Vault | Barrel-Vault Tile | 24 | Listed as the same product renamed; no mismatch noted |
| Gerard Granite Ridge | Granite-Ridge Shingle | 24 | Listed as the same product renamed; no mismatch noted |
| Gerard Pacific Tile | Pacific Tile | 20 | Listed as the same product renamed; no mismatch noted |
| Gerard Classic Tile (discontinued June 1, 2016) | Pacific Tile | 20 | No: dissimilar size |
| Gerard NB Tile (discontinued June 1, 2016) | Pacific Tile | 20 | No: dissimilar size |
| Gerard Canyon Shake | Pine-Crest Shake | 20 | No: dissimilar size |
| Gerard Guardian Shingle | Granite-Ridge Shingle | 24 | No: dissimilar profile |
Source: Westlake Royal Technical Bulletin UNS550300, Discontinuance of Panel Profiles, issued March 2022, revised March 2026. Westlake also warns that reused battens are not allowed for coverage under the performance section of its warranty when panel sizes change.
Gerard roofing profiles and specs
Gerard profiles fall into two families. IKO’s international range has eight pressed tiles, including the Corona shake and Senator shingle, each about 1.32 m long with a 12 to 15 degree minimum pitch. The US successor range, Unified Steel, has five panels at 1.5 pounds per square foot and a 3:12 minimum slope. Specs differ, so confirm which family a quote covers.
IKO Gerard tiles (international range)
IKO publishes tile length, cover size, tiles per square meter, net weight, and minimum pitch for each Gerard profile. We multiplied tiles per square meter by net weight per tile to get an installed weight per square foot, which excludes battens, ridges, and trim. The lightest is Diamant at about 1.23 pounds per square foot; the flat Eleganta is heaviest at about 1.61.
| Profile | Tile length | Cover (length x width) | Tiles per m² | Net weight per tile | Approx. weight (our calculation) | Minimum pitch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | 1,320 mm | 1,265 x 369 mm | 2.14 | 3.05 kg | 1.34 lb/sq ft | 12° (21%) |
| Heritage | 1,320 mm | 1,250 x 367 mm | 2.18 | 3.01 kg | 1.34 lb/sq ft | 12° (21%) |
| Milano | 1,335 mm | 1,215 x 369 mm | 2.23 | 3.02 kg | 1.38 lb/sq ft | 12° (21%) |
| Diamant | 1,335 mm | 1,270 x 398 mm | 1.98 | 3.03 kg | 1.23 lb/sq ft | 14° (25%) |
| Corona (shake) | 1,330 mm | 1,250 x 371 mm | 2.16 | 3.13 kg | 1.38 lb/sq ft | 15° (27%) |
| Senator (shingle) | 1,320 mm | 1,260 x 369 mm | 2.15 | 3.11 kg | 1.37 lb/sq ft | 15° (27%) |
| Alpine | 1,335 mm | 1,250 x 368 mm | 2.18 | 2.90 kg | 1.29 lb/sq ft | 15° (27%) |
| Eleganta (flat) | 1,305 mm | 1,260 x 320 mm | 2.47 | 3.18 kg | 1.61 lb/sq ft | 15° (27%) |
Source: gerardroofs.eu profile pages (IKO Metals Europe NV), accessed October 2026. Weight per square foot is our conversion (1 kg/m² = 0.2048 lb/sq ft).
Colors vary by country. The Classic page lists Ashwood, Chestnut, Charcoal Carbon, Forest Green, Scarlet, Terracotta, Dark Silver, and Spanish Red, and tells buyers to confirm availability with a local Gerard partner.
US successor: Unified Steel panels
Unified Steel panels are 0.017 inch ASTM A792 steel with an AZ50 aluminum-zinc coating, colored stone granules in an acrylic base coat, and a clear acrylic glaze. QAI’s CERus-1008 gives every profile a product weight of 1.5 pounds per square foot and a 3:12 minimum slope. Below that slope the panels count only as decorative and need a code-compliant roof beneath.
| Profile | Look | Installed exposure | Panels per square | Install method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pine-Crest Shake | Hand-split shake | 14.5 x 50 in. | 20 | Batten or direct to deck |
| Pacific Tile | Mediterranean tile | 14.5 x 50 in. | 20 | Batten or direct to deck |
| Cottage Shingle | Two-course shingle | 14.25 x 47.5 in. | 22 | Direct to deck |
| Barrel-Vault Tile | Spanish barrel tile | 14 x 43.625 in. | 24 | Batten or direct to deck |
| Granite-Ridge Shingle | Low-profile shingle | 13.6875 x 44 in. | 24 | Direct to deck |
Sources: QAI Laboratories CERus-1008, Table 1 and Section 2 (revised March 2026); Westlake Royal Technical Bulletin UNS550300.
The Granite-Ridge figures line up with Gerard’s own 2017 Florida evaluation, which described Gerard Granite Ridge Shingle as 13-11/16 by 44 inches of coverage with a Pittsburgh lock at the head lap. In both the 2017 Gerard and 2023 Unified Steel Florida evaluations, the Granite Ridge direct-to-deck assembly needs a 4:12 slope, steeper than the 3:12 general minimum in CERus-1008.
How much does a Gerard roof cost?
A Gerard roof has been reported at $7.50 to $14.50 per square foot installed, or $750 to $1,450 per 100 square foot roofing square. That is HomeGuide’s April 2023 range for the Metro, Gerard, and Boral family, now sold as Unified Steel. For 20 squares of roof area, the range works out to about $15,000 to $29,000 before unusual repairs.
These are dated, published ranges, not quotes. Prices shift with steel costs, region, and roof complexity, and Westlake Royal and IKO sell through dealers and contractors rather than posting retail prices. For current brand-by-brand pricing see our metal shingle roof cost guide.
| Cost line | Published range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Metro / Gerard / Boral, installed | $7.50 to $14.50 per sq ft | HomeGuide (April 2023) |
| DECRA, installed | $8 to $14 per sq ft | HomeGuide (April 2023) |
| Stone-coated steel labor only | $3.50 to $7.00 per sq ft | HomeGuide (April 2023) |
| Ridge, hip, and rake trim | $6 to $10 per linear ft | HomeGuide (April 2023) |
| Tear-off and disposal | $1 to $3+ per sq ft | HomeGuide (April 2023) |
| Roofing permit | $150 to $500 | HomeGuide (April 2023) |
Two choices move a Gerard-style quote most. Tile profiles generally cost more than shingle profiles, according to HomeGuide, and battens raise installation cost but add ventilation, per the same source. Going over an existing roof can remove the tear-off line, and Westlake’s evaluation report allows installation over existing roofs when the panels are anchored through to the sheathing.
Fire, hail, and wind: what the documents say
Gerard-family panels carry strong ratings, but each one has conditions. Class A fire for Unified Steel depends on specific underlayments. Class 4 hail is backed by a warranty against penetration, not dents. Wind performance is documented in Florida design pressures, while the warranty itself stops at 120 mph. The sections below give the exact limits.
Fire: Class A depends on the underlayment
Unified Steel is Class A only in the assemblies listed in CERus-1008, Table 2. New batten installs need one layer of Sol-R-Skin BLUE, two layers of Fyratek, or two layers of GAF VersaShield over 15/32 inch plywood. Two reroof assemblies rate only Class B: a 76 pound G3 cap sheet over existing shakes, shingles or built-up roofing, and one layer of GAF VersaShield over existing built-up roofing. Installing over an existing classified roof keeps that roof’s existing rating.
The older Gerard paperwork treats fire separately. Miami-Dade NOA 14-1008.09 lists a 1998 UL 790 test report but states that fire classification is not part of the acceptance, and the 2017 Florida evaluation says fire is outside its scope. Boral Roofing’s June 2017 Gerard brochure advertised a Class A fire rating, a Class 4 impact rating, a 120 mph wind warranty, a 2-1/2 inch hail warranty, and 1.4 pounds per square foot. If you are in a wildfire zone, see our fire-resistant roofing guide and confirm the full assembly in writing.
Hail: Class 4, VSH, and a 2.5 inch penetration warranty
CERus-1008 lists all five Unified Steel profiles for UL 2218 Class 4 and FM 4475 Very Severe Hail when installed per its Table 3. The October 2025 warranty promises panels will not be penetrated by hailstones under 2.5 inches. Dents and granule scuffs are not penetration, so cosmetic hail marks may fall outside that clause.
IKO’s European Gerard pages make a smaller claim: resistance to hail up to 30 mm, about 1.2 inches. Read the warranty for your country rather than the marketing page. For how steel roofs actually fail in hail, see our guide to metal roof hail damage.
Wind: design pressure versus the warranty cap
Unified Steel holds Florida approval FL27408-R4 under the 2023 Florida Building Code, approved February 13, 2024, for use inside and outside the High Velocity Hurricane Zone at a design pressure of minus 150 psf. It also holds Miami-Dade NOA 24-0318.01, valid to May 9, 2029. The warranty still excludes damage from hurricanes or tornadoes over 120 mph and from wind-borne debris.
| Document | Holder | Products | Key limit | Status (October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade NOA 14-1008.09 | Gerard Roof Products LLC dba Gerard Roofing Technologies, Brea, CA | NB Tile, Barrel Vault, Canyon Shake | Minus 93.5 psf; 2:12 slope or greater | Expired July 23, 2015 |
| Florida FL16448-R3 | Gerard Roofing, Oceanside, CA plant | Granite Ridge, Barrel Vault, Canyon Shake, Gerard Tile | Up to minus 202.5 psf | Approved December 12, 2017 under the 2017 FBC; no listing found under the 2020 or 2023 code |
| ICC-ES ESR-1188 | Gerard Roofing Technologies | Gerard, Allmet, Storm Loc, Energy Loc panels | Not reviewed | Appears in a January 2008 ICC-ES report listing; not retrievable from the ICC-ES directory |
| Florida FL27408-R4 | Westlake Royal Roofing LLC, Unified Steel | All five Unified Steel profiles | Minus 150 psf; HVHZ approved | Approved February 13, 2024 |
| Miami-Dade NOA 24-0318.01 | Westlake Royal Roofing LLC | All five Unified Steel profiles | Per profile | Expires May 9, 2029 |
| QAI CERus-1008 | Westlake Royal Roofing LLC | All five Unified Steel profiles | Class A (listed assemblies), Class 4, VSH | Revised March 2026; expires March 2028 |
Distributor listings still cite ICC-ES ESR-3012 for Unified Steel, but that report could not be retrieved from the ICC-ES directory in October 2026, and Westlake’s resource library now posts the QAI report instead. Our explainer on the Miami-Dade NOA roofing approval shows how to check any number yourself.
The Gerard warranty, clause by clause
The warranty depends on which Gerard you buy. The US successor, Unified Steel, carries 50 years but pays labor only in years 1 to 20. Legacy US Gerard roofs were sold with a limited lifetime warranty that became 50 years once the house changed hands. IKO’s European Gerard tiles carry 25 years full plus 25 years of diminishing pro-rata coverage.
| Clause | Unified Steel (October 2025) | Legacy Gerard US (as quoted in 2019 court complaint) | IKO Gerard Europe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | 50 years from installation | Purchaser’s lifetime; 50 years from installation after a transfer | 25 years full, then 25 years diminishing pro-rata |
| Labor | Reasonable labor in years 1 to 20; product only in years 21 to 50 | Not stated in the quoted text | Varies by country; ask the distributor |
| Transfer | Automatic to later owners during the term | To subsequent owners of the property | Varies by country |
| Wind | Up to 120 mph | Up to 120 mph | Not stated on the warranty summary |
| Hail | No penetration by hail under 2.5 in. | No penetration by hail under 2.5 in. | Not stated on the warranty summary |
| Coating | Keeps surface appearance except normal weathering, which may include minor granule loss or fading | Will not materially deteriorate beyond normal weathering, including minor granule loss | Not stated on the warranty summary |
| Claims | Proof of purchase; notify within 30 days of learning the facts | Limited Warranty Certificate required | Through the local Gerard representative |
Sources: Unified Steel Limited Fully Transferable Warranty (Westlake Royal, October 2025); Wyse v. Gerard Roof Products, LLC, Complaint, N.D. Fla. No. 3:19-cv-00121, paragraph 33; gerardroofs.eu Classic profile page. In New Zealand and Australia, IKO’s Gerard FAQ cites up to 30 years for perforation and up to 20 years for surface coating.
The Unified Steel exclusions decide most claims. The warranty does not cover installation errors, roof traffic, falling objects, storms over 120 mph and their debris, other acts of God, mold, mildew or other growth, structural movement, or color fading. Unapproved repairs void it, except emergency repairs, and Westlake may replace a discontinued panel with one of similar design and color.
Gerard roofing reviews: complaints, lawsuits, and upkeep
We do not publish star ratings we cannot verify. What can be verified are two federal cases filed against Gerard’s former US makers, plus the maintenance and walking guidance Westlake publishes for the successor panels. Allegations in a complaint are not findings, and neither case below produced a published ruling that the product was defective.
Wyse v. Gerard Roof Products, LLC (N.D. Fla., No. 3:19-cv-00121) was a proposed class action filed January 22, 2019. It alleged the roofing discolored from mold, algae, or fungus and that warranty claims were denied. The docket shows mediation ended at impasse in December 2020, and the case was dismissed with prejudice by joint stipulation on January 21, 2021, before any class was certified.
Willow Greene Homeowners Association v. Gerard Roofing Technologies (E.D. Tex., No. 4:13-cv-176) involved an HOA that alleged its 2005 Granite Ridge roofs leaked. The defendants denied the allegations and raised defenses including improper installation. In 2014 the court dismissed only the implied warranty claim as time-barred and let the other claims proceed; we did not find a final merits ruling.
Westlake’s Warranty and Maintenance Guide speaks to the same issues in plain terms. It says mildew, algae, and moss grow on dust that settles on stone-coated panels, not on the panel itself, and its warranty excludes that growth. Its guidance for owners and sub-trades:
- Cleaning: use a professional, a pressure washer at no more than 1,000 psi, the nozzle about one foot from the panel, and a 10% chlorine solution, tested first on a small area.
- Walking: homeowners should not walk the roof. Trades step on the nose of each course where it overlaps the panel below and stay off side laps; Granite-Ridge is the easiest profile to walk.
- Scratches: repair with Westlake’s touch-up kit of basecoat and stone chip, not colored spray paint, which the guide says will fade.
- Salt spray: rinse areas rain does not reach, such as under overhangs, with fresh water.
Gerard vs DECRA vs Unified Steel
Gerard, DECRA, and Unified Steel are all stone-coated steel at about 1.2 to 1.6 pounds per square foot, so the real differences are owner, market, warranty structure, and paperwork. IKO owns both Gerard and DECRA but sells DECRA in North America. Unified Steel is the US continuation of Gerard USA and offers the most transferable warranty of the three.
| Feature | IKO Gerard | DECRA by IKO Metals | Unified Steel (Westlake Royal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | IKO Metals Europe NV (IKO Industries) | IKO (Roof Tile Group, 2018) | Westlake Royal Building Products |
| Main market | Europe, Asia-Pacific, export | US and Canada (relaunched September 28, 2026) | US |
| Profiles | Classic, Heritage, Milano, Diamant, Corona, Senator, Alpine, Eleganta | Villa Tile, Shake XD, Shingle XD, Shingle Plus (ESR-1754) | Pine-Crest Shake, Pacific Tile, Cottage Shingle, Barrel-Vault Tile, Granite-Ridge Shingle |
| Weight | About 1.23 to 1.61 lb/sq ft (our calculation) | 1.3 lb/sq ft (ESR-1754) | 1.5 lb/sq ft (CERus-1008) |
| Minimum slope | 12 to 15 degrees | 3:12; 4:12 for Shingle XD (ESR-1754) | 3:12 |
| Code report | None found for the US | ICC-ES ESR-1754, reissued November 2025 | QAI CERus-1008; FL27408-R4; NOA 24-0318.01 |
| Warranty term | 25 years full plus 25 years pro-rata (Europe) | Lifetime limited for the original owner of a detached single-family home | 50 years, labor in years 1 to 20 |
| Transfer | Varies by country | Once, within the first 20 years | Automatic for the full term |
| Wind / hail warranty | Not stated on the summary | 120 mph; hail up to 2.5 in. (per IKO, via Roofing Contractor) | 120 mph; no penetration under 2.5 in. |
| Installed cost | Not sold through US channels we found | $8 to $14 per sq ft (HomeGuide, 2023) | $7.50 to $14.50 per sq ft (HomeGuide, 2023, as Metro / Gerard / Boral) |
For DECRA’s profile-by-profile costs see our DECRA stone-coated metal roofing review, and for the rest of the portfolio around Unified Steel see the Westlake Royal roofing review. The category overview lives in our stone coated steel roofing guide.
Which one should you pick?
The right choice depends on what you are trying to do. Repairing a legacy US Gerard roof points to Unified Steel’s matching profiles. A new roof in a hurricane zone needs whichever brand has a current Florida or Miami-Dade approval, and a buyer who plans to sell soon may weigh warranty transfer terms most heavily.
| Your situation | Look first at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Repairing a US Gerard roof installed before 2019 | Unified Steel Barrel-Vault, Granite-Ridge, or Pacific Tile | Westlake lists these as the renamed Gerard profiles; Classic, NB Tile, Canyon Shake, and Guardian will not match |
| New roof in Florida’s HVHZ | Unified Steel, or any brand with a current approval | FL27408-R4 is HVHZ approved; legacy Gerard approvals are expired |
| You plan to sell within 20 years | Unified Steel | The 50 year warranty transfers automatically for its full term |
| You plan to stay for decades | DECRA by IKO Metals | Lifetime limited coverage while the original owner holds the home |
| Roof below 3:12 in the US | A different roof system | Below 3:12 these panels are decorative only over a code-compliant roof |
| Wildfire zone requiring Class A | Whichever brand’s listed assembly your roofer will build | Unified Steel needs specific underlayments for Class A |
How to vet a Gerard roofing quote
Most problems with a Gerard quote come from not knowing which Gerard it is. Ask for the manufacturer’s legal name, the current approval number, and the fire-rated assembly in writing before you sign. On a repair, measure the panels you have against the replacement profile first.
- Ask which company manufactured the panels and whose name appears on the warranty: Westlake Royal, IKO, or another maker.
- Get the current Florida approval, Miami-Dade NOA, or evaluation report number and look it up yourself; legacy Gerard numbers are expired.
- If you need Class A fire, have the roofer name the underlayment from CERus-1008, Table 2, or the equivalent table for the brand quoted.
- For a repair, measure the panel exposure on your roof and compare it with the bulletin before ordering; ask for a sample panel against the roof to check color.
- Read the labor clause: under the Unified Steel warranty, labor is covered only in the first 20 years.
- Register the warranty, keep proof of purchase, and report any defect within 30 days of noticing it.
- Compare at least two quotes per square, with ridge, hip, tear-off, and underlayment priced as separate lines.
Gerard roofing pros and cons
Gerard-family steel is light, hail-rated, and backed by long warranties. Its weak spots are the split ownership, which complicates warranty claims on older roofs, discontinued profiles that will not match, and Class A ratings that hold only with specific underlayments. Upkeep is mostly cleaning and keeping foot traffic off the panels.
Pros
- About 1.2 to 1.6 lb per sq ft, roughly a tenth of concrete tile by IKO’s comparison.
- UL 2218 Class 4 and FM 4475 VSH listings on the US successor panels.
- Current HVHZ approval (FL27408-R4) and a Miami-Dade NOA valid to 2029 for the successor line.
- 50 year warranty that transfers automatically on the US successor.
Cons
- Two unrelated owners use the Gerard history, which can confuse warranty claims.
- Four legacy US Gerard profiles have no matching replacement panel.
- Class A only with specific underlayments; Class B in two reroof assemblies.
- Labor coverage ends after year 20; growth and fading are excluded.
The verdict: is Gerard roofing good?
As a material, yes, on the evidence: Gerard-family steel carries current Class 4 and VSH listings, HVHZ approval, and a 50 year warranty in its US form. The catch is identity. In the US, buy it as Unified Steel with Westlake Royal’s paperwork, buy DECRA if you want IKO, and treat any older “Gerard” approval number as expired.
A Gerard roof also tends to pay off for owners who keep up with it. The documented complaints center on growth and appearance, which the current warranty excludes, so budget for periodic low-pressure cleaning in humid climates.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Gerard roofing?
IKO Industries owns the Gerard brand worldwide through IKO Metals Europe NV, which its European site names as the trademark owner. IKO bought it from Fletcher Building in November 2018 as part of Roof Tile Group, for US$39 million. In the US, the former Gerard business is now Unified Steel, owned by Westlake Royal Building Products.
Is Gerard roofing still sold in the United States?
Not as a current line from its original US maker. Westlake Royal’s bulletin says Gerard Classic Tile, NB Tile, Canyon Shake, and Guardian Shingle were discontinued, while Gerard Barrel Vault, Granite Ridge, and Pacific Tile continue under the Unified Steel name. IKO’s 2026 North American launch uses the DECRA brand rather than Gerard.
How much does a Gerard roof cost?
HomeGuide reported Metro, Gerard, and Boral stone-coated steel at $7.50 to $14.50 per square foot installed in April 2023, or $750 to $1,450 per square. A 20 square roof would land near $15,000 to $29,000 at that range. Treat it as a dated benchmark and get local quotes with tear-off and trim priced separately.
What warranty comes with Gerard roofing?
It depends on the market. Unified Steel, the US successor, has a 50 year limited warranty that transfers automatically, covers labor only in years 1 to 20, and covers 120 mph winds and hail under 2.5 inches. IKO’s European Gerard tiles carry 25 years full plus 25 years pro-rata coverage, subject to local conditions.
Is Gerard better than DECRA?
Neither is clearly better, and IKO owns both brands. In North America, DECRA is IKO’s active line, with lifetime limited coverage for the original owner and one transfer within 20 years. Unified Steel, the US Gerard successor, offers 50 years with automatic transfer. Both cite Class 4 hail ratings and 120 mph wind coverage.
Is Gerard roofing Class 4 and Class A?
The US successor panels are listed for UL 2218 Class 4 and FM 4475 Very Severe Hail in QAI report CERus-1008. Class A fire applies only in listed assemblies, for example with one layer of Sol-R-Skin BLUE or two layers of GAF VersaShield on plywood. Two reroof assemblies (over existing roofing) rate only Class B.
Can you walk on a Gerard roof?
Westlake Royal advises homeowners not to walk on its stone-coated panels and to call a roofer. Trades should step on the nose of each course, where it overlaps the panel below, and avoid side laps. Granite-Ridge Shingle supports walking most easily. Roof traffic damage is excluded from the Unified Steel warranty.
Which Gerard roofing profile is best?
It depends on roof pitch and look. Among IKO’s international tiles, Classic, Heritage, and Milano go down to 12 degrees, while Corona, Senator, Alpine, and Eleganta need 15. In the US successor line, Granite-Ridge Shingle is the lowest profile, while Barrel-Vault Tile and Pine-Crest Shake give the strongest tile and shake looks.
Sources: gerardroofs.eu company, privacy policy, and profile pages (IKO Metals Europe NV, accessed October 2026); gerardroofs.co.nz and gerardroofs.com.au FAQ pages (IKO Asia Pacific); Fletcher Building NZX announcement, Fletcher Building divests Roof Tile Group (November 1, 2018); IKO Industries, IKO Acquires Roof Tile Group (November 1, 2018); IKO Metals North America product pages and Roofing Contractor launch coverage (October 2026); Headwaters acquisition release via Roofing magazine (May 22, 2014); Boral Roofing Introduces Boral Steel, Roofing Contractor (April 2019); Boral Roofing Gerard brochure G5943 (June 2017); Westlake completion release (October 1, 2021); Westlake Royal brand launch release (January 26, 2022); Westlake Royal Technical Bulletins UNS550300 (Discontinuance of Panel Profiles, rev. March 2026) and Walking on Your Roof (rev. March 2022); Unified Steel Limited Fully Transferable Warranty (October 2025) and Warranty and Maintenance Guide (October 2025); QAI Laboratories CERus-1008 (revised March 2026); Florida Product Approvals FL16448-R3 and FL27408-R4 with CREEK Technical Services evaluation reports GRT15001.2 (2017) and WRR18002.4 (2023); Miami-Dade NOAs 14-1008.09 and 24-0318.01; ICC-ES evaluation reports ESR-1754 (DECRA, reissued November 2025) and the January 2008 ICC-ES listing of ESR-1188; HomeGuide, Stone-Coated Steel Roofing Cost (April 5, 2023); Wyse v. Gerard Roof Products, LLC, N.D. Fla. No. 3:19-cv-00121 (complaint and docket); Willow Greene Homeowners Association v. Gerard Roofing Technologies, E.D. Tex. No. 4:13-cv-176 (2014 order).