Synthetic Cedar Shake Roofing: What Maryland Homeowners Should Know Before a Full Roof Replacement
- Toni Interiano
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Maryland has no shortage of homes built for a cedar shake roofline: farmhouses, cottages, and craftsman-style homes throughout Howard, Montgomery, and Anne Arundel counties, where a warm, textured wood-shake look fits the architecture. If you love that look but not the maintenance real wood shake demands, you've probably wondered whether there's a way to get the appearance without the upkeep. For most homeowners planning a full roof replacement, the answer is synthetic cedar shake, one of the four materials Restoration Roofing Co. installs.
Here's what synthetic cedar shake actually is, how it compares to real wood shake, and what to weigh before choosing it for your replacement.
What Is Synthetic Cedar Shake Roofing?
Synthetic cedar shake is an engineered composite roofing product, typically made from polymer blends or recycled rubber and plastic, molded and colored to reproduce the split, textured look of real wood shake. It's manufactured by companies like DaVinci Roofscapes and EcoStar, among others, and installed piece by piece the way traditional wood shake is, rather than printed onto a flat shingle.
It's a different product from architectural asphalt shingles made in shake-inspired colors and textures. True synthetic cedar shake is a dimensional, individually shaped piece designed to reproduce wood shake's thickness and shadow lines; a shake-look asphalt shingle is a flat shingle with a printed or embossed pattern meant to echo that look at a lower cost.
Synthetic Cedar Shake vs. Shake-Look Asphalt Shingles
Homeowners sometimes use “cedar shake” loosely to describe both products, but they're not the same thing. Shake-look asphalt shingles give you a similar color palette and some surface texture at asphalt shingle pricing. Synthetic cedar shake is a thicker, more dimensional product built to reproduce wood shake's actual profile, at a higher price point than standard asphalt. If your priority is the lowest upfront cost, an architectural asphalt shingle in a shake-inspired color may be the better fit. If you want the deeper shadow lines and dimensional look of true shake, synthetic cedar shake is worth a closer look. The right call depends on your home's style and your budget.
How Synthetic Cedar Shake Compares to Real Cedar Shake
The biggest practical differences between synthetic and real cedar shake come down to fire risk, maintenance, and durability, not weight; both materials are relatively light compared to something like slate or clay tile.
Untreated real wood shake is combustible, and some jurisdictions and insurers require fire-retardant treatment or restrict its use altogether, especially where wildfire risk is a factor. Synthetic cedar shake products commonly carry a Class A fire rating, the highest fire-resistance classification a roofing material can earn, along with a Class 4 impact rating, the highest available rating for resistance to impact damage like hail.
Maintenance is the other major difference. Real cedar shake needs regular cleaning, periodic wood treatments, and occasional shake replacement to manage rot, moss, and insect damage over its life, upkeep that adds real cost over time. Synthetic cedar shake is manufactured to resist rot, moisture, insects, and UV fading, and generally needs little more than routine inspection.
On cost, real cedar shake typically runs $25 to $30 per square foot installed, while synthetic cedar shake typically runs $12 to $20 per square foot installed, roughly 40 to 50 percent less. A full real cedar shake replacement on an average home commonly lands between $18,000 and $25,000, though your actual number depends on:
Roof size and pitch
Number of roof planes, valleys, and penetrations (chimneys, skylights, vents)
Condition of the existing roof decking
Removal and disposal of the old roofing
Accessibility of the home
The specific synthetic product and wood grade selected
Treat any published price range as a starting point for the conversation, not a quote for your specific home.
On lifespan, real cedar shake typically lasts 20 to 30 years with consistent maintenance, while synthetic cedar shake typically lasts 40 to 60-plus years, and many manufacturers back their products with warranties of 50 years or longer.
Why Synthetic Cedar Shake Fits Maryland Homes
Maryland's humid summers and freeze-thaw winters are tough on real wood shake; both accelerate moss growth, curling, and splitting, exactly the kind of maintenance cycle synthetic cedar shake is designed to avoid. For farmhouses, cottages, and craftsman-style homes throughout Howard County and the surrounding region where the shake look is part of the architecture, synthetic cedar shake offers a way to keep that character through a full replacement without signing up for the ongoing wood-treatment schedule real shake requires.
Some homeowners associations and historic districts have specific rules about roofing materials, colors, and profiles. The final call on what's allowed belongs to your HOA board or local preservation authority, not your contractor, so confirm any requirements before finalizing your material if your property falls under one.
Is Synthetic Cedar Shake Right for Your Home?
Synthetic cedar shake tends to make the most sense if:
You want the dimensional, textured look of wood shake without ongoing wood treatment and upkeep
Fire resistance and impact resistance matter to you, especially compared to untreated real wood
You're planning a full roof replacement, not a smaller project
Long-term durability matters more to you than the lowest upfront price
It may not be the right fit if your main priority is the lowest possible cost. Architectural asphalt shingles, including shake-inspired colors and textures, are a more economical option for many homes, and that tradeoff is worth weighing honestly before you decide.
Why Work With a Contractor Who Installs Synthetic Cedar Shake
Restoration Roofing Co. is a family-owned, full-replacement roofing contractor serving Howard County and the surrounding Maryland region. We're MHIC-licensed (#137778) and a CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster, ranked the #3 CertainTeed installer in Maryland out of roughly 2,500 companies. Alongside asphalt shingles, metal, and synthetic slate, we install synthetic cedar shake roofing systems, as outlined in our full material comparison guide, which walks through asphalt, metal, synthetic cedar, and synthetic slate side by side.
We serve homeowners throughout Howard County, MD and across Maryland. Every estimate is written, itemized, and free, with no pressure to sign on the spot.
FAQs About Synthetic Cedar Shake Roofing
What is synthetic cedar shake roofing made of?
It's typically an engineered composite made from polymer blends or recycled rubber and plastic, molded and colored to reproduce the split, textured look of real wood shake.
Is synthetic cedar shake roofing cheaper than real cedar shake?
Yes, generally 40 to 50 percent less. Synthetic cedar shake typically runs $12 to $20 per square foot installed, compared to $25 to $30 per square foot for real cedar shake.
How long does synthetic cedar shake roofing last?
Typically 40 to 60-plus years, with many manufacturers backing it with warranties of 50 years or longer. Real cedar shake typically lasts 30 to 50 years with consistent maintenance.
Is synthetic cedar shake fire-resistant?
Most synthetic cedar shake products carry a Class A fire rating, the highest available for roofing materials. Untreated real wood shake is combustible, and some jurisdictions and insurers require fire-retardant treatment or restrict its use.
Does synthetic cedar shake need less maintenance than real wood shake?
Yes. Real cedar shake needs regular cleaning, periodic wood treatment, and occasional shake replacement over its life. Synthetic cedar shake is built to resist rot, moisture, insects, and UV fading, and generally needs only routine inspection.
What's the difference between synthetic cedar shake and shake-look asphalt shingles?
Synthetic cedar shake is a thicker, dimensional composite piece built to reproduce wood shake's actual profile. Shake-look asphalt shingles are flat shingles with a printed or embossed pattern meant to echo that look at asphalt shingle pricing.
Is synthetic cedar shake a good choice for a home in a historic district or under an HOA?
It can be, but check with your specific historic district or HOA's architectural-review authority first. Some have specific requirements for roofing materials, colors, and profiles, and the final determination is theirs, not your contractor's.
Does Restoration Roofing install synthetic cedar shake roofs?
Yes. Alongside asphalt shingles, metal, and synthetic slate, synthetic cedar shake is one of the four roofing systems we install as a full-replacement contractor.
Choosing the right roof for your home shouldn't be a guessing game. Call us at 410-489-7663 or book your free roof replacement estimate today, and we'll help you decide if synthetic cedar shake is the right fit for your home, your budget, and your style, no pressure, no pitch.
