Plenty of homeowners love the look of a cedar shake roof. Fewer want to live with the upkeep. The good news: you have choices. Below, we set three cedar look options side by side, using roofs Martin Exteriors has put on real homes in Rockton and Beloit, plus the steel option we also install. Photos, specs and plain advice.
The Three Options at a Glance
| Option | How it gets the look | Made of | Our posted job | Maker’s warranty headline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GAF Timberline HDZ, color Shakewood | A warm brown color blend with shadow bands | Asphalt architectural shingle | Armstrong Ave, Rockton, IL and Henderson Ave, Beloit, WI | Lifetime limited warranty, plus 25 year algae warranty on StainGuard Plus labeled shingles |
| GAF Woodland, color Cedarwood Abbey | Oversized, hand cut style tab shapes | Asphalt designer shingle | Yale Bridge Road, Rockton, IL | Lifetime limited transferable warranty, UL Class A fire rating |
| DECRA Shake | Hand split style shake lines in stone chip colors | Stone coated steel panels | Lifetime limited warranty, wind coverage to 120 mph |
Warranty terms, eligibility and exclusions come from each maker. GAF says its 25 year StainGuard Plus algae warranty is available only on packages bearing the StainGuard Plus logo, and it points to its Shingle & Accessory Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions. Ask us for the written terms before you decide. Sources are listed at the bottom of this page.
What “Cedar Look” Really Means
Real shakes are split wood. Each piece has an uneven edge, a deep shadow line and a color that weathers over time. A lookalike roof copies three things: the uneven edge, the shadow and the earthy color. Each option here leads with a different one.
Option 1: Color Leads, With Timberline HDZ in Shakewood
This is the simplest route to a cedar feel. The shingle is a standard architectural one. The warm brown color does most of the work.
Look at how the color changes with the house. On the Rockton brick ranch it blends in and feels earthy. On the Beloit one story, the dark gray walls make the roof stand out as warm and bright. Same shingle, two different moods. You can read each job on its own page: the Armstrong Ave roof in Rockton and the Henderson Ave roof in Beloit.
Best for: ranches and simple rooflines, where you want warmth without a busy pattern.
Option 2: Shape Leads, With Woodland in Cedarwood Abbey
Woodland changes the tab itself. The tabs are oversized and cut in varied shapes, so the roof reads as hand cut rather than machine even. GAF files it under designer shingles.
In this photo the roof reads as a quiet gray brown, with tab sizes that vary across the roof. It is a very different feel from Shakewood. It suits a home with steep gables and a lot of roof on show. See the full job on the Yale Bridge Road page.
Best for: larger rooflines and homes with dark siding or trim.
Option 3: Texture Leads, With DECRA Stone Coated Steel Shake
This option changes the material. DECRA shake panels are steel, finished with colored stone chips and formed with split shake lines. DECRA lists the panels at 14 5/8 by 53 inches, installed over battens, at 150 pounds per 100 square feet. Shake colors listed by DECRA: Charcoal, Chestnut, Granite Grey, Shadowood and Weathered Timber.
DECRA stone coated steel comes in shake, shingle and tile looks, and we install all three. Our one posted DECRA job is a tile roof, so we will not pass it off as a shake example. Read about it on the Rockton DECRA page, or see our metal roofing options.
Best for: homeowners who want a deep shake texture and a metal roof’s warranty terms.
How to Choose
- Start with the house. Beige, tan and clay tones pair well with Shakewood. Dark siding, dark trim and lots of roof point to Woodland.
- See samples outside. Roof colors shift between a showroom, a photo and your own yard. Hold samples up next to your siding and trim before you pick.
- Ask about the deck. Steel shake goes over battens, so the roof structure matters. We will go over it at your estimate.
- Get all three quotes side by side. A free estimate lets you compare the looks on your own home.
Questions People Ask
Can shingles really look like cedar shakes?
From the street, often yes. Color, shadow lines and tab shape do the work. Up close, real cedar has a rougher, more irregular surface that no lookalike matches exactly.
Is Shakewood the same thing as Woodland?
No. Shakewood is a color in the Timberline HDZ line. Woodland is a separate designer shingle with its own shape. Cedarwood Abbey is a Woodland color. Same maker, different roofs.
Does Martin Exteriors install DECRA?
Yes. We install all three DECRA stone coated steel looks: shake, shingle and tile. The DECRA job we have posted so far is a tile roof in Rockton. Tell us the look you want at your free estimate.
What warranty comes with each option?
GAF lists a lifetime limited warranty on Timberline HDZ and on Woodland, and DECRA lists a lifetime limited warranty on single family homes. Each has conditions, such as what “lifetime” means and what is excluded. We will walk you through the written terms at your estimate.
How do I get a price on all three?
Call us or book online. We look at your roof and write up each option so you can compare. The estimate is free.
Want to See These on Your Home?
Book a free inspection and estimate or call (815) 624-6278. Martin Exteriors has served Roscoe, Rockford, northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin since 2006.
