By The Roofing Brief Team. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Synthetic cedar shake roofing cost runs about $12 to $20 per square foot installed, versus $25 to $30 per square foot for real cedar shake, per HomeGuide’s 2026 cedar shake cost guide. HomeGuide’s separate composite roof cost guide puts composite shake wider, at $6 to $18 per square foot installed, and brand material prices run from $400 per square (DaVinci, low end) to $1,600 per square (CeDUR, high end). On a 2,000 sq ft roof surface (20 squares), that is roughly $24,000 to $40,000 for synthetic shake against $50,000 to $60,000 for real cedar, before tear-off.
What is synthetic cedar shake roofing?
Synthetic cedar shake roofing is a composite shingle molded from polymer, polyurethane, or recycled plastic and rubber to copy the grain, thickness and shadow lines of split cedar. DaVinci describes its Multi-Width Shake as virgin resins with UV and thermal stabilizers and a fire retardant; Brava describes recycled-content polymer; CeDUR lists its shake at 170 lb per square. The category is also sold as composite cedar shake, faux cedar shake roof, and polymer shake shingles.
The three names buyers see most are DaVinci Roofscapes (a Westlake Royal Building Products brand), CeDUR, and Brava Roof Tile. Brava lists its shake at 22 in long with widths of 5, 7 and 12 in and a 10 in maximum exposure, and states its tiles vary from 5/8 in to 7/8 in thick to build shadow lines. Color runs through the material rather than sitting on the surface. For one brand in depth, our CeDUR roofing review walks through its code reports, installed cost, and warranty exclusions.
How much does synthetic cedar shake roofing cost?
Synthetic cedar shake roofing costs about $12 to $20 per square foot installed per HomeGuide (2026), or $1,200 to $2,000 per roofing square (100 sq ft). HomeGuide’s composite guide says labor is about 50% of the total and tear-off of the old roof adds $1 to $3 per square foot; its cedar guide gives $1 to $5. On a 2,000 sq ft roof surface, $12 to $20 per square foot works out to $24,000 to $40,000 before tear-off.
Pricing splits by brand, from $300 to $1,600 per square for materials. The table shows material-only prices per square from HomeGuide’s 2026 composite roof guide, with each maker’s published warranty and ratings. Installed cost adds labor, which HomeGuide puts at about half the job.
| Product | Material cost (per sq ft) | Material cost (per square) | Warranty | Fire / impact / wind (maker) | Weight | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DaVinci Multi-Width Shake | $4.00 to $12.00 | $400 to $1,200 | Lifetime Limited Material Warranty | Class A fire, Class 4 impact, “Hurricane Wind Performance Rated” | Not listed on product page | HomeGuide price; Westlake Royal / DaVinci |
| Brava Cedar Shake | $7.00 to $11.50 | $700 to $1,150 | 50-year limited | Class A with FR underlayment, Class C with standard underlayment; Class 4; 188 mph with nails, 211 mph with screws | 321 lb per square | HomeGuide price; Brava |
| CeDUR Shakes | $8.00 to $16.00 | $800 to $1,600 | 50 Year Limited Material Warranty | Class A with no special underlayment; UL 2218 Class 4; 115 mph rated, warrantied to 90 mph | 170 lb per square | HomeGuide price; CeDUR installation recommendations |
| Enviroshake / Enviroslate | $5.70 to $10.00 | $570 to $1,000 | See maker | See maker | See maker | HomeGuide price |
| EcoStar | $3.00 to $8.00 | $300 to $800 | See maker | See maker | See maker | HomeGuide price |
CeDUR roofing cost: the maker’s own figures
CeDUR’s synthetic cedar shake roofing cost page quotes materials at $800 to $1,700 per square and installation at $500 to $1,500 per square, so $1,300 to $3,200 per square, or $13 to $32 per square foot, all in. That top end sits above HomeGuide’s $12 to $20 installed range, so get a written per-square bid that separates material, labor and tear-off. CeDUR’s installation recommendations call for 8 bundles (168 field pieces) per square at a 10 in exposure and a minimum 4:12 pitch.
Worked example: 2,000 sq ft roof surface (20 squares)
| Scenario | Rate used | 20-square total | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synthetic shake, installed | $12 to $20 per sq ft | $24,000 to $40,000 | HomeGuide cedar shake guide, 2026 |
| Composite shake, installed (wider range) | $6 to $18 per sq ft | $12,000 to $36,000 | HomeGuide composite guide, 2026 |
| CeDUR, material plus install | $1,300 to $3,200 per square | $26,000 to $64,000 | CeDUR cost page |
| Real cedar shake, installed | $25 to $30 per sq ft | $50,000 to $60,000 | HomeGuide cedar shake guide, 2026 |
| Add: tear-off and disposal | $1 to $5 per sq ft | $2,000 to $10,000 | HomeGuide cedar shake guide, 2026 |
For context on where synthetic shake sits against every other material, our roofing materials comparison ranks options by cost, lifespan, and priority. HomeGuide puts asphalt shingles at $3 to $5 per square foot installed, so synthetic shake at $12 to $20 runs about 2.4 to 6.7 times an asphalt roof on a per-square-foot basis.
Which roof fits your situation: decision table
| If your situation is | Lean toward | Threshold or rule |
|---|---|---|
| Roof pitch below 4:12 | Neither shake as a weather roof without the maker’s written approval | CeDUR: minimum 4:12, below that “decorative”; CSSB recommends 4:12 for Certi-label shakes; IRC R905.8.2 allows wood shakes from 3:12 |
| Wildfire area where a Class A roof is required | CeDUR, DaVinci, or Brava with its FR underlayment | Untreated wood shakes are unrated; a Class A wood roof needs Class B treated shakes in a tested assembly (IBHS) |
| Hail region, chasing an impact-resistant roof | Any of the three synthetic lines | All three list a Class 4 impact rating (UL 2218 for CeDUR) |
| Older framing or a weight concern | CeDUR | 170 lb per square (CeDUR) vs 321 lb per square (Brava) |
| Coastal high-wind exposure | Brava, or a maker-approved high-wind install | Brava: 188 mph nailed, 211 mph screwed; CeDUR: 115 mph standard, warrantied to 90 mph |
| HOA or historic district that requires natural wood | Real cedar with Certi-Guard treatment | Get the written rule first; real cedar runs $25 to $30 per sq ft installed (HomeGuide) |
| Budget capped near $15 per sq ft installed | Lower-priced composite lines | HomeGuide brand range: EcoStar $300 to $800 and DaVinci from $400 per square, materials only |
Synthetic shake vs real cedar: side-by-side
Real cedar wins on genuine wood character. Synthetic shake wins on fire rating as delivered, published impact ratings, written material warranties, and installed price: $12 to $20 vs $25 to $30 per sq ft in HomeGuide’s 2026 figures. The table lists each difference with its source.
| Factor | Synthetic cedar shake | Real cedar shake | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installed cost | $12 to $20 per sq ft | $25 to $30 per sq ft | HomeGuide, 2026 |
| Lifespan | 40 to 60 years | 30 to 50 years with maintenance | HomeGuide cedar shake guide |
| Fire rating (as delivered) | Class A (CeDUR, DaVinci); Brava Class A with FR underlayment | Untreated: unrated; Certi-Guard treated: Class B (red label) or Class C (blue label) | Makers; IBHS; CSSB |
| Impact rating | Class 4 on all three lines | No blanket rating; some Certi-label shakes withstood 2 in steel balls dropped 20 ft | Makers; IBHS |
| Minimum slope | 4:12 (CeDUR) | 3:12 by code (IRC R905.8.2); 4:12 recommended by CSSB | CeDUR; ICC; IBHS |
| Routine maintenance | Debris clearing; no preservative cycle | Preservative every 3 to 5 years, $500 to $1,500 per treatment | HomeGuide |
| Material warranty | 50-year limited (CeDUR, Brava) to lifetime limited (DaVinci) | Treatment warranty from the treating company, if any | Makers; CSSB |
Is synthetic cedar shake more fire resistant than real cedar?
Yes, as delivered. CeDUR’s installation recommendations state a Class A fire rating “without the requirement of a special fire-resistant underlayment”, DaVinci lists Class A for Multi-Width Shake, and Brava lists Class A when tested with FR underlayment and Class C with standard underlayment. Untreated wood is lower: the IBHS cedar shingles and shakes guide states that untreated shakes and shingles are unrated, meaning they do not meet the requirements for Class C.
Real cedar can be upgraded, but it takes work. Pressure-impregnated fire-retardant shakes carry the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau Certi-Guard label, red for Class B and blue for Class C, and IRC R902.2 requires that treatment to be full-cell vacuum-pressure per AWPA C1 with each bundle labeled. Per IBHS, a Class A wood roof uses a Class B shake in a tested assembly with additional materials beneath it. If wildfire exposure is your main concern, see our guide to fire resistant roofing and Class A materials.
How long does each roof last?
HomeGuide puts real cedar shake at 30 to 50 years with proper maintenance and synthetic shake at 40 to 60 years, and its composite guide gives 40 to 50 years for composite roofing generally. The written warranties are 50-year limited for CeDUR and Brava and lifetime limited for DaVinci; IBHS notes that a cedar roof’s life varies with climate, wood grade, installation and maintenance.
Real cedar reaches the top of its 30 to 50 year range less often on shaded, damp roofs, where IBHS points to overhanging branches and debris on the roof surface as the items to control. Our 2026 roofing material lifespan report sets published lifespan ranges against manufacturer warranty terms across material types, including wood and synthetic shake.
What maintenance does each require?
Synthetic cedar shake needs debris clearing and no preservative cycle; CeDUR notes that its shakes shift color in the sun over the first months and then stabilize at a weathered wood color. Real cedar needs an active cycle: HomeGuide lists annual inspections, debris and moss removal, and wood preservative every 3 to 5 years at $500 to $1,500 per treatment.
A real cedar shake roof typically needs the following on a recurring schedule:
- Inspect once a year, as HomeGuide lists, staying off the roof surface where possible, as IBHS advises.
- Trim overhanging branches and clear leaves, gutters and downspouts promptly (IBHS).
- Treat moss and mildew before it lifts shakes; avoid amateur pressure washing, which IBHS warns can damage wood.
- Reapply preservative every 3 to 5 years, about $500 to $1,500 per treatment (HomeGuide).
- Replace split or curled shakes using ring-shank nails, which gave the highest UL 1897 uplift results in CSSB member testing cited by IBHS.
Keeping natural cedar? See our cedar shake roof maintenance guide and cedar shake roof repair guide.
Does synthetic cedar shake look like real wood?
From ground level, synthetic shake reads as split wood because makers texture it to copy split shakes and vary thickness: Brava states 5/8 in to 7/8 in, and mixes 5, 7 and 12 in widths in each 12-piece bundle. Color is blended through the material; Brava names colors such as Beechwood, New Cedar Shake and Lake Forest. Close up, the molded repeat and surface sheen show.
Because color is molded through the polymer, synthetic shake skips the silvering that real cedar goes through, though CeDUR states its shakes shift color in sun exposure before stabilizing at a weathered wood tone. DaVinci offers Cool Roof (Title 24) colors at an up-charge, which matters if you build in California.
Is synthetic cedar shake worth it?
Synthetic cedar shake is usually worth it when you want the cedar look without a 3 to 5 year preservative cycle, need a Class A or Class 4 roof, or plan to stay long enough to use a 50-year or lifetime limited warranty. At $12 to $20 per square foot installed it costs 40% to 80% of real cedar at $25 to $30 per HomeGuide, but 2.4 to 6.7 times asphalt at $3 to $5.
Real cedar still makes sense when an HOA or historic district requires natural wood, the roof is 3:12 or steeper, and you will pay for Certi-Guard treated shakes and the maintenance cycle. Get the HOA or historic-district rule in writing before ordering, since some require natural materials and others accept approved synthetics.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a synthetic cedar shake roof cost?
Synthetic cedar shake roofing costs about $12 to $20 per square foot installed per HomeGuide (2026), or $1,200 to $2,000 per square. HomeGuide’s brand table puts materials alone at $400 to $1,200 per square for DaVinci, $700 to $1,150 for Brava and $800 to $1,600 for CeDUR. A 2,000 sq ft roof surface runs about $24,000 to $40,000 before tear-off.
Is synthetic cedar shake cheaper than real cedar?
Yes. Synthetic cedar shake runs about $12 to $20 per square foot installed, while real cedar shake runs $25 to $30, per HomeGuide (2026). Real cedar also needs preservative every 3 to 5 years at about $500 to $1,500 per treatment, which synthetic shake does not.
How long does synthetic cedar shake roofing last?
HomeGuide puts synthetic shake at 40 to 60 years and real cedar at 30 to 50 years with proper maintenance. CeDUR and Brava carry 50-year limited material warranties, and DaVinci carries a lifetime limited material warranty.
What fire rating does synthetic cedar shake have?
CeDUR and DaVinci list Class A, and CeDUR states it needs no special fire-resistant underlayment for that rating. Brava lists Class A with FR underlayment and Class C with standard underlayment. Untreated cedar is unrated per IBHS, and Certi-Guard treated cedar carries Class B or Class C labels.
Does synthetic cedar shake look like real wood?
From ground level, yes. Makers texture the tiles to copy split shakes, and Brava states thickness varies from 5/8 in to 7/8 in with 5, 7 and 12 in widths mixed in each bundle. Color runs through the material, and CeDUR states its color shifts in the sun and then stabilizes at a weathered wood tone.
Will an HOA allow synthetic cedar shake roofing?
Check the governing documents and get written approval before ordering. Some HOAs and historic districts require natural wood, while others accept synthetic shake with Class A fire (UL 790) and Class 4 impact (UL 2218) ratings. Bring the maker’s spec sheet showing those ratings to the architectural review committee.