DECRA is a stone-coated metal roofing system: aluminum-zinc coated steel panels topped with acrylic-bonded stone granules, priced at roughly $8 to $14 per square foot installed per HomeGuide, or about $19,200 to $33,600 on a 2,400 square foot roof. It mimics shake, shingle, or barrel-tile looks, carries a Class A fire rating (UL 790) and Class 4 impact rating (UL 2218), and lasts 40 to 50-plus years. DECRA is owned by Canada’s IKO Industries and competes in the stone-coated steel category with Westlake Royal’s Unified Steel, the US successor to the Gerard and Metro lines.
What is DECRA stone-coated metal roofing?
DECRA is a stone-coated steel roofing product built from a steel base with an AZ50 aluminum-zinc alloy coating (per ICC-ES report ESR-1754), a bonding acrylic layer, and a top surface of crushed natural stone granules. The stone hides the metal look, dampens rain noise, and shields the coating from UV. It reads as tile, shake, or architectural shingle from the street while weighing a fraction of what real tile or slate weighs, about 150 to 160 pounds per roofing square versus roughly 600 to 900 pounds for concrete or clay tile.
The category is often called stone-coated steel or decorative metal roofing. DECRA is one of the brands that popularized it in the U.S. market. It came to Canada’s IKO Industries in November 2018, when IKO bought Roof Tile Group, which operated under the Gerard and Decra brands, from Fletcher Building, per Fletcher’s NZX sale notice. IKO now sells it in North America as DECRA by IKO Metals. Because the granular surface and profile stamping do the visual work, a stone-coated panel gives the curb appeal of a heavy roof without the structural load.
The layers that make up a stone-coated steel panel
A stone-coated steel roof is a multi-layer system, and each layer does a specific job. Understanding the stack explains both the durability and the price. Most competitor guides skip this and quote a number without saying what you are paying for.
- Steel core: 26-gauge structural steel, stamped into the profile shape (shake, tile, or shingle).
- Aluminum-zinc (Galvalume) coating: a corrosion barrier bonded to the steel, rated for decades of exposure.
- Acrylic base coat: primes the surface and bonds the granules.
- Stone granule layer: crushed natural stone or ceramic-coated granules that provide color, texture, and UV protection.
- Acrylic overglaze: a clear top seal that locks the granules and adds weather resistance.
DECRA profiles and product lines
DECRA’s site lists five profiles, each imitating a traditional roof style. The profile you pick changes the look, the install method, and the price: HomeGuide reports that shingle styles are typically the cheapest stone-coated option and tile styles cost the most. IKO’s new North American metals site also shows profiles under names such as Spanish Tile, Mediterranean Tile, and Farmhouse Shake, so confirm which product name appears on your quote.
| DECRA product line | Look it mimics | Install method | Minimum roof pitch |
|---|---|---|---|
| DECRA Shingle XD | Architectural asphalt shingle | Direct-to-deck, hidden fastener | 4:12 |
| DECRA Shake XD | Cedar shake | Direct-to-deck, hidden fastener | 3:12 |
| DECRA Tile | Spanish / Mediterranean barrel tile | Batten-mounted | 3:12 |
| DECRA Villa Tile | Low-profile clay tile | Batten-mounted | 3:12 |
| DECRA Shake | Split cedar shake, deeper profile | Batten-mounted | 3:12 |
Minimum pitches are from DECRA’s specifications sheet. The XD lines use a batten-less, direct-to-deck system with a hidden fastening clip, which speeds installation and lowers labor. The tile and traditional shake profiles usually mount on a batten grid, which adds material and labor but delivers a deeper, more authentic shadow line.
DECRA profile specs at a glance: fire, impact, wind, weight, and best-for
Every DECRA profile shares the same core ratings, Class A fire and Class 4 impact, but they differ on install method, panel weight, and which look they nail. This side-by-side is the detail buyers ask for and that most guides leave out, because they quote one blended range for the whole category instead of separating the lines.
| Profile | Fire (UL 790) | Impact (UL 2218) | Wind warranty | Installed weight | Warranty | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shingle XD | Class A | Class 4 | 120 mph | 150 lbs/sq (1.5 lb/sq ft) | Lifetime limited | Lowest-cost DECRA line, simplest direct-to-deck install, clean shingle look |
| Shake XD | Class A | Class 4 | 120 mph | 150 lbs/sq (1.5 lb/sq ft) | Lifetime limited | Cedar-shake look without battens, faster labor than traditional shake |
| Tile | Class A | Class 4 | 120 mph | 150 lbs/sq (1.5 lb/sq ft) | Lifetime limited | Deep Spanish barrel-tile shadow line, batten-mounted |
| Villa Tile | Class A | Class 4 | 120 mph | 160 lbs/sq (1.6 lb/sq ft) | Lifetime limited | Low-profile clay-tile look, heaviest DECRA line, Mediterranean homes |
| Shake | Class A | Class 4 | 120 mph | 150 lbs/sq (1.5 lb/sq ft) | Lifetime limited | Deepest split-shake profile, most authentic wood-shake shadow |
Ratings and weights above come from DECRA’s published product specification sheet and its third-party test listings. The Roofing Brief compiles and cross-checks manufacturer and code-body documentation; we do not independently lab-test roofing products, so treat these as the manufacturer and certifying-body figures, verified against a real quote for your roof.
How much does a DECRA roof cost in 2026?
A DECRA stone-coated metal roof costs roughly $8 to $14 per square foot installed, or $800 to $1,400 per roofing square (100 square feet), per HomeGuide’s April 2023 stone-coated steel cost guide. On a 2,400 square foot roof, that works out to about $19,200 to $33,600. Stone-coated steel material alone runs $350 to $600 per square, per the same source; the rest is labor, tear-off, underlayment, trim, and accessories.
Published estimates for stone-coated steel vary, and HomeGuide’s figures predate the 2026 steel tariff changes, so treat them as a dated benchmark. Where a specific job lands depends on profile (tile costs more than shingle), roof pitch and complexity, tear-off of the old roof, and regional labor rates. These are planning ranges, not fixed quotes. Stone-coated steel sits above standard corrugated or exposed-fastener metal and lands near premium standing seam. For the wider category math, see our metal roof cost breakdown, and for brand-by-brand pricing see our guide to metal shingle roof cost.
| Cost component | Typical range (per square, 100 sq ft) |
|---|---|
| Stone-coated steel material | $350 to $600 |
| Labor (install) | $350 to $700 |
| Tear-off of existing roof | $100 to $300 |
| Underlayment material | $10 to $90 |
| Battens (batten-mounted profiles) | $50 to $80 |
| DECRA installed total | $800 to $1,400 |
Source: HomeGuide, Stone-Coated Steel Roofing Cost (April 2023), cost per square and cost by manufacturer tables. Ridge, hip, and rake trim adds $6 to $10 per linear foot, per the same source.
DECRA vs Gerard vs Metro vs Unified Steel
DECRA, Gerard, Metro, and Unified Steel are the four names buyers most often compare, but only two are current US product lines. IKO owns DECRA and the global Gerard brand, both acquired with Roof Tile Group in 2018. Westlake Royal Building Products owns Unified Steel, which continues the US Gerard and Metro lines that Boral acquired with Headwaters in 2017. All use the same basic aluminum-zinc-steel-plus-stone construction, so the differences come down to profile selection, warranty terms, and price.
| Brand | Owner | Profiles offered | Installed cost/sq ft (HomeGuide, 2023) | Notable feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DECRA | IKO Industries (DECRA by IKO Metals) | Villa Tile, Tile, Shingle XD, Shake XD, Shake | $8 to $14 | Batten-less XD lines; lifetime limited warranty for the original owner, transferable once within 20 years |
| Gerard | IKO Industries (IKO Metals Europe NV) | Classic, Heritage, Milano, Diamant, Corona, Senator, Alpine, Eleganta (sold outside North America) | Not sold as a current US line | Former US Gerard profiles continue as Unified Steel |
| Metro (legacy US) | Line absorbed into Unified Steel (Westlake Royal) | Metro Shake II and Metro Cottage Shingle carried forward as Pine-Crest Shake and Cottage Shingle | See Unified Steel | Roman Tile and Shingle discontinued |
| Unified Steel (ex-Boral) | Westlake Royal Building Products | Pine-Crest Shake, Pacific Tile, Cottage Shingle, Barrel-Vault Tile, Granite-Ridge Shingle | $7.50 to $14.50 (as Metro / Gerard / Boral) | 50-year transferable warranty; labor covered in years 1 to 20 |
Sources: decra.com and iko.com/na/metals; Westlake Royal Unified Steel product pages, warranty (October 2025), and Technical Bulletin UNS550300 (rev. March 2026); gerardroofs.eu; HomeGuide (April 2023). Treat brand choice as roughly a wash on core performance. Local installer availability and who honors the warranty in your region often matter more than the brand name. DECRA and Unified Steel have different owners, so check whose name is on the warranty. For how the Gerard name split between IKO and Westlake Royal, see our Gerard roofing review.
What standards and approvals does DECRA carry?
DECRA products are tested and listed against the major U.S. roofing standards for fire, hail, and wind, and they hold code approvals that matter in hurricane and hail zones. Naming the exact listings lets you verify a claim rather than trust a brochure adjective, and lets your insurer confirm any premium credit.
- Fire, Class A: UL 790 (ASTM E108, Classes A, B, and C), plus CAN/ULC-S107 in Canada.
- Hail impact, Class 4: UL 2218, the highest of the four impact classes, the tier many insurers tie discounts to.
- Wind uplift, Class 90: UL 580 and UL 1897, with a 120 mph wind speed warranty.
- Wind resistance test reports: Texas Department of Insurance reports RC-548 (Shingle XD), RC-235 (Shake XD), RC-282 (Villa Tile), and RC-281 (Tile, Shake, Shingle Plus).
- High-velocity hurricane zone: Miami-Dade County NOA #18-1015.06 covering Tile, Villa Tile, Shake, Shingle Plus, and Shake XD.
- ICC-ES evaluation report: ESR-1754 (reissued November 2025) covers Villa Tile, Shake XD, Shingle XD, and Shingle Plus. The older ESR-2901, which covered the batten-mounted Tile, Shake, and Shingle Plus lines, is marked suspended in the ICC-ES directory.
- Cool-roof / solar reflectance: ASTM E903, E408, and E1980; select colors meet California Title 24 cool-color requirements.
These figures are the manufacturer and certifying-body listings, not Roofing Brief measurements. Ask your installer for the current evaluation report and NOA numbers before signing, since listings are periodically renewed and re-numbered.
Pros and cons of stone-coated metal roofing
Stone-coated metal roofing trades a high upfront cost for a very long service life and strong weather resistance. It suits homeowners who plan to stay in the house, live in a fire or hail zone, or want a tile or shake look without the structural weight. It is a weaker fit if the budget is tight or the roof is being flipped short-term.
Pros
- Lifespan of 40 to 50-plus years, often with a limited lifetime or 50-year warranty.
- Class A fire rating (UL 790) and Class 4 impact rating (UL 2218), the top tiers, which can qualify for insurance discounts. See our guide to the Class 4 insurance discount.
- Wind rated to 120 mph under warranty and Class 90 uplift when installed to spec, strong in hurricane and high-wind zones.
- Light weight, 150 to 160 pounds per square (about 1.5 to 1.6 pounds per square foot), roughly a quarter of concrete tile, so most structures need no reinforcement.
- Energy reflectivity, the granule surface reflects solar heat and, with a vented install and cool-color granules, can cut heat transfer meaningfully in warm climates.
- Curb appeal, delivers a tile, shake, or shingle look that reads as a premium roof.
Cons
- High upfront cost, two to four times the price of a standard asphalt shingle roof.
- Installer expertise required, fewer crews are trained on stone-coated systems, and a bad install can void the warranty.
- Denting is possible from very large hail or falling limbs, though the granule layer hides minor marks.
- Granule loss over decades, similar to asphalt shingles, some granule shedding occurs with age.
- Batten-mounted tile profiles add weight and cost versus the direct-to-deck shingle lines.
For how these issues show up on real roofs and what the DECRA by IKO Metals warranty leaves out, see our guide to common stone-coated steel problems and warranty exclusions.
How long does a DECRA roof last, and how does it compare?
A properly installed DECRA stone-coated steel roof lasts 40 to 50-plus years, outliving asphalt shingles (15 to 30 years) and rivaling standing seam metal (40 to 70 years). The steel core resists rot and insects, and the stone surface resists UV degradation that ages asphalt. Manufacturer warranties commonly run 50 years or a limited lifetime term, with DECRA offering a lifetime limited warranty on single-family detached homes in the U.S. and Canada.
Field-measured lifespans often differ from marketing claims, which is why service life should be checked against real data rather than brochure numbers. Compare category-by-category figures in our 2026 roofing material lifespan report, and see where stone-coated fits among all the options in our overview of metal roofing types.
When stone-coated metal is the wrong choice
Stone-coated metal is not always the right pick. If the budget cannot absorb a premium roof, a mid-tier architectural asphalt shingle delivers 25 to 30 years for a fraction of the cost. If you want a modern, sleek metal look with concealed clips and clean lines, standing seam is the better match; stone-coated is designed to look like tile or shake, not like metal.
Stone-coated also makes less sense on a home you plan to sell within a few years, since you may not recover the full premium at resale. For a direct head-to-head on the most common trade-off, read our metal vs asphalt shingle comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Is a DECRA metal roof worth it?
A DECRA roof can be worth it for homeowners who plan to stay long term or live in a fire, hail, or high-wind zone. Its 40 to 50-plus year lifespan spreads the high upfront cost across decades, and Class A fire plus Class 4 impact ratings may earn insurance discounts. It is less worthwhile on a short-term hold or a tight budget, where architectural asphalt shingles make more financial sense.
How much does a DECRA roof cost per square foot?
DECRA stone-coated metal roofing costs about $8 to $14 per square foot installed, or $800 to $1,400 per square, per HomeGuide’s April 2023 data. Shingle styles typically cost the least and tile styles the most. On a 2,400 square foot roof, that range works out to about $19,200 to $33,600. Treat these as dated planning ranges and confirm with a local quote.
Which DECRA profile should I choose?
Pick Shingle XD for the lowest-cost DECRA line and a clean architectural-shingle look with a fast direct-to-deck install. Choose Shake XD or the deeper batten-mounted Shake for a cedar look, and Tile or Villa Tile for a Spanish or clay-tile profile. All five carry the same Class A fire and Class 4 impact ratings, so the decision is mostly about appearance, install method, and budget.
Does stone-coated metal roofing dent?
Stone-coated steel can dent from very large hail or heavy falling branches, but it holds a Class 4 impact rating under UL 2218, the highest tier, which means it resists the impacts that crack tile or bruise asphalt. The stone granule surface also hides minor marks that would show on smooth metal. Most homeowners see no visible denting from routine weather.
Is a DECRA roof noisy in the rain?
A DECRA roof is quieter than exposed smooth metal. HomeGuide credits the stone granule coating together with the roof deck, underlayment and attic insulation, and says a correct install keeps noise equal to or better than an asphalt shingle roof. DECRA Tile and DECRA Shake go on battens under DECRA’s batten installation guide, and HomeGuide notes that batten installs add sound-dampening space between the steel and the sheathing. A home with no attic space may need a sound-dampening underlayment, per HomeGuide.
Can you install stone-coated metal over an existing roof?
Stone-coated metal can sometimes install over one existing layer of asphalt shingles where local code allows, since the panels are light at about 1.5 pounds per square foot. Many roofers still recommend a full tear-off to inspect the decking and install fresh underlayment, which protects the warranty. Confirm the manufacturer and code requirements before choosing an overlay.
How long does stone-coated steel roofing last?
Stone-coated steel roofing lasts 40 to 50-plus years when installed correctly, and most brands back it with a 50-year or limited lifetime warranty. The Galvalume-coated steel resists corrosion and the stone surface resists UV breakdown, so it outlasts asphalt shingles by decades. Actual service life depends on install quality, climate, and maintenance.
Reviewed by The Roofing Brief Team. Last reviewed: October 2026.