SYNTHETIC
SHAKE
SYNTHETIC Shake
Synthetic or composite "cedar" shake is aesthetically the closest substitute for natural cedar shake. Made from resins and synthetic polymers, it is molded to mimic wood, and is available in a variety of colors, some of which change with the light. Virtually maintenance free and earning the highest available impact rating, synthetic shake provides excellent longevity, durability, 50 year manufacturer's warranties and a 50 year expected life.
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There are several manufacturers of composite shake, with Brava and DaVinci being the industry leaders. Brands vary by color fastness, percent of recycled materials, manufacturing technique, shake size, installation pattern, and color. The photo above is a Brava installation in Woodland. A leading roof installer to whom we spoke reps both Brava and DaVinci, and believes that Brava is a superior product at an equal or lower price than DaVinci.
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COST
VENDOR QUOTES
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Given how well the features of composite shake mimic the qualities of cedar shake, it initially seemed to be the perfect replacement for cedar shake roofs in Golf View. Therefore we solicited cost comparisons from two vendors. The bids were based on the specs used in the 2016 replacement of Gaithers' roof. Vendors were asked to provide prices for cedar, Brava, and an asphalt product that best mimics cedar. The results were as follows:
You can see -
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NexGen declined to provide us a price for cedar. Anchor chose to give us a price for heavy shake. Heavy shake is the top of the line cedar product, and a lower cost could likely be found.
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The vendors differed materially in their quotes, with Anchor being 11% higher than NexGen for the identical Brava product.
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The quotes for Brava were around 50% to 100% higher than the quotes for premium asphalt​.
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​Prices quoted were for a full roof replacement, which was appropriate because base substrates and labor can vary with roofing material.
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[FYI link to Cedar Bureau​: everything you ever wanted to know about cedar and then some]
ONE CONTRACTOR'S OPINION
Homes in Golf View have been selling for between about $800,000 and $1.1 million, depending upon size and improvements. That means that a roof replacement of cedar or Brava could cost more than 10% of the value of the home. This seems excessive. And we noticed that homes in Hollydale, most of which have sold for between $1 and $3 million, all have asphalt roofs. So the opinion of a contractor was sought. He said that roofing materials as expensive as composite would typically not be used on homes under $1.5 million.
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Therefore it was decided that it would be irresponsible not to consider asphalt as an alternative to cedar.