Cedar Shake vs Synthetic Shake Roofing

Quick answer

Real cedar shake costs $10 - $18 per square foot installed, lasts 20 - 30 years, and gives you the genuine weathered Pacific Northwest / Cape Cod look. But it requires real maintenance, has serious fire concerns, and is getting harder (and more expensive) to insure. Synthetic shake from DaVinci, CeDUR, or EnvirShake costs $12 - $20/sqft installed, lasts 50 years, carries Class A fire ratings, and looks close enough that almost no one can tell from the curb.

Cedar shake real talk

Cedar shakes are split (not sawn) cedar shingles, traditionally Western Red Cedar from BC or the Pacific Northwest. They're the look on every classic Cape, Nantucket cottage, and PNW lodge. They're also wood - which means everything that happens to wood happens to your roof.

• Cost: $10 - $18/sqft installed (varies by grade)
• Lifespan: 20 - 30 years (treated); 30 - 50 with active maintenance
• Maintenance: Power wash and treat every 3 - 5 years
• Fire rating: Class C untreated; Class B with treated factory dip; Class A only with continuous deck-applied fire retardant
• Grades: Premium (100% edge-grain heartwood), #1 (a mix), #2 (avoid). Always specify Premium or #1.

The good news: a properly installed cedar roof with periodic cleaning and treatment can run 40+ years. The bad news: the " properly maintained" part is where most cedar roofs fail early. Moss takes over, untreated areas rot, and the install drops to a 15-year roof.

Synthetic shake

Polymer (sometimes recycled rubber and plastic) molded from real cedar shakes so the texture and edge variation are authentic. The leading brands:

• DaVinci Roofscapes: The market leader. Single-width and multi-width shake profiles.
• CeDUR: Polyurethane-based, lightweight, Class A fire rating, made in Colorado.
• EnvirShake: Engineered polymer, made from recycled material, available in long "hand-split" profile.

• Cost: $12 - $20/sqft installed
• Lifespan: 50 years (with 50-year warranties)
• Maintenance: Essentially none
• Fire rating: Class A on most brands
• Weight: 250 - 350 lbs/square - close to asphalt, no structural retrofit

The fire-rating problem

California's WUI (Wildland-Urban Interface) zones, parts of Colorado, parts of Oregon, and increasing portions of Texas and Washington now require Class A fire-rated roofs on new and replacement work. Untreated cedar is Class C - banned. Cedar can hit Class A with under-deck treatment, but the treatment doubles the cost and isn't available everywhere.

If you're in or near a WUI zone, synthetic shake is the practical choice. Verify the manufacturer's test data and the local code requirements before quoting either option.

Insurance reality

A growing number of carriers in CA, CO, OR, and TX won't write new policies on homes with untreated cedar roofs. Others will write but add 20 - 50% premium loading. Get a coverage quote on each material before deciding - your premium delta may pay for the synthetic upgrade.

HOA & aesthetic considerations

Most HOAs that mandate cedar (common in historic Cape Cod, parts of the PNW, and some master-planned communities) now allow approved synthetic substitutes - DaVinci and CeDUR are commonly on the approved list. If you're in a covenant-controlled neighborhood, get written approval before signing a contract for either material.

The takeaway

Cedar still has a place: forever home in a moderate climate, no WUI fire concerns, you actively enjoy roof maintenance, and the aesthetic is non-negotiable. Everyone else gets a better long- term outcome from premium synthetic shake - longer life, lower maintenance, better fire rating, easier to insure, and the look is genuinely close. Run both through the calculator with your roof dimensions to see the actual delta.

Sources: Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau · NRCA