A premium cedar-look roof built for the Front Range: Class 4 hail protection, a 50-year warranty, and zero maintenance.

A Brava synthetic shake roof gives a Cherry Hills home the hand-split look of natural cedar with the strength of advanced composite. It carries a Class 4 impact rating, a Class A or Class C fire rating, and a 50-year limited warranty, so it stands up to Colorado hail far better than wood or standard asphalt shingles. Excel Roofing recently tore off an aging asphalt roof on a Cherry Hills property and replaced it with Brava synthetic shake, and the project below shows exactly how the system goes together.

Brava synthetic shake at a glance

• Material: Brava composite shake, molded from real cedar and made from recycled polymer with a honeycomb-style structural back
• Impact rating: Class 4, the highest rating on the UL 2218 hail-impact test
• Fire rating: Class A or Class C available
• Warranty: 50-year limited, transferable
• Expected lifespan: about 50 years
• Appearance: staggered layout with a blended color for an authentic hand-split cedar look
• Best for: hail-prone Front Range homes, cedar-look neighborhoods, and long-term owners

What is a Brava synthetic shake roof?

Brava synthetic shake is a composite roofing tile molded directly from hand-split cedar to capture its texture and depth, then manufactured from recycled polymers for a durability real wood cannot match. The tiles vary in thickness from roughly one-half inch to seven-eighths of an inch and come in 5-inch, 7-inch, and 12-inch widths, which creates the natural shadow lines of a true cedar roof. Unlike natural wood, Brava will not rot, curl, split, attract pests, or feed a fire, and it needs virtually no maintenance over its life. The result is the warm, high-end look of cedar with the toughness of modern engineered materials.

Why Cherry Hills homeowners choose Brava

Cherry Hills Village sits squarely in the Front Range hail corridor, and many of its neighborhoods favor the timeless look of a cedar-shake roof. Brava lets homeowners keep that high-end aesthetic while solving the two biggest problems with real wood in Colorado: hail damage and fire risk. The blended-color, staggered installation reads as authentic cedar from the street, supports the architectural character valued in Cherry Hills, and protects long-term resale value, all without the staining, sealing, and repairs that natural shake demands.

How does Brava hold up to Colorado hail?

Brava carries a Class 4 impact rating, the top result on the UL 2218 impact test. In that test, a 2-inch steel ball is dropped from 20 feet onto the roofing material to check for damage. On the Cherry Hills job, our team demonstrated this on camera by throwing a 2-inch rock hard at an installed Brava tile, and the tile shrugged it off. An asphalt shingle in the same spot would have been damaged.

Just as important are the hip and ridge lines, which run along the diagonal peaks and typically take the worst of any hailstorm because of their exposed angle. On a Brava roof, these are finished with matching Brava hip and ridge units, so the most vulnerable part of the roof is also among the most protected. For most homeowners, that means a Brava roof will never be totaled by hail again.

Inside this Excel Roofing Brava system

A premium tile is only as strong as what goes underneath it, so this Brava roof we installed is built on a layered, double-protection system:

This is the install specification our crew followed on this Brava project, and it is what turns a great tile into a complete, weather-tight roofing system.

• High-temperature ice and water shield: we use Carlisle WIP 300HT, a high-temperature membrane rated to withstand up to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Lower-temperature products can soften and ooze off the edge in summer heat, while the high-temp membrane stays put at the eaves, valleys, and penetrations where leaks start.
• Radiant-barrier underlayment: over that, we install SolarHide, a synthetic underlayment with a foil-like reflective backing. It bounces radiant heat back up and away from the roof deck, which helps keep the home cooler and is one of the best things you can do at the underlayment layer.
• Brava shake field tiles: installed in a staggered layout with a blended color for an authentic, natural cedar appearance.
• Matching hip and ridge units: Brava hip and ridge tiles finish every ridge and diagonal, protecting the areas most exposed to hail.

How much does a Brava synthetic shake roof cost in Colorado?

Installed Brava synthetic shake roofing typically runs about $12 to $20 per square foot in the Colorado market. The table below compares it with two common alternatives so you can see where it fits.

*Figures are typical installed ranges in the Colorado market and are provided for comparison. Your exact price depends on roof size, pitch, complexity, and tear-off. The best way to get an accurate number is a free, no-obligation Excel Roofing estimate.

Financing your Brava roof

A Brava roof is a long-term investment, and Excel Roofing offers financing options to fit a range of budgets.

Ask your Excel Roofing Project Manager which option fits your project best.

How long does installation take?

Most Brava synthetic shake roofs take about one to two weeks to install, depending on the size and complexity of the home. On the Cherry Hills project, our crew was on site for roughly a week, with another three to four days to complete the remaining sections, including a smaller structure on the property.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a Brava synthetic shake roof last?

A Brava synthetic shake roof has an expected lifespan of about 50 years and is backed by a 50-year limited, transferable warranty. Because the tiles are molded from recycled polymer rather than wood, they do not rot, curl, or split the way natural cedar does, so they hold their look and performance for decades with virtually no maintenance.

Is Brava synthetic shake a good choice for Colorado hail?

Yes. Brava carries a Class 4 impact rating, the highest result on the UL 2218 impact test, in which a 2-inch steel ball is dropped from 20 feet onto the material. That makes it one of the most hail-resistant roofing options available, which matters on Colorado's Front Range where large hail is common. Most homeowners will never have a Brava roof totaled by hail.

Does a Brava roof really look like real cedar?

It does. Brava shake is molded directly from hand-split cedar, so it captures the same texture, depth, and shadow lines. Installed in a staggered layout with a blended color, it reads as a high-end natural wood roof from the street, without the maintenance, fire risk, or short lifespan of real cedar.

Is Brava synthetic shake fire resistant?

Yes. Brava shake is available with a Class A or Class C fire rating, the strongest fire classifications for roofing. This is a meaningful advantage over natural cedar shake, which is highly combustible and banned in many wildfire-prone areas.

How much does a Brava synthetic shake roof cost in Colorado?

Installed Brava synthetic shake roofing typically runs about $12 to $20 per square foot in the Colorado market. Your exact price depends on roof size, pitch, complexity, and tear-off. Excel Roofing provides free, no-obligation estimates, and you do not pay a cent until you are content.

Can a Brava roof help with my home insurance?

It may. Because Brava holds a Class 4 impact rating, many insurers offer an impact-resistant roofing discount, and a hail-rated roof is far less likely to generate claims. Discounts and terms vary by carrier and policy, so confirm the details with your insurance provider.

How long does it take to install a Brava roof?

Most Brava synthetic shake roofs take about one to two weeks to install, depending on the size and complexity of the home. The Cherry Hills project shown in our video ran roughly a week, with another three to four days to finish the remaining sections.

Get a free Brava roofing estimate

Excel Roofing is a family-owned, Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor serving Colorado and Wyoming since 1993. From our Cherry Hills and Denver-metro work to projects across the Front Range, our team installs Brava synthetic shake to a complete, double-protection specification built for our climate. If you are considering a roof that can take Colorado hail and last about 50 years, a Brava synthetic shake roof is worth a serious look.

Request your free, no-obligation estimate today. You don't pay a cent until you're content, and we're on top of it.

Sources

Brava Roof Tile product specifications (impact, fire, warranty, dimensions); Carlisle WIP Products WIP 300HT high-temperature ice and water protector data sheet; UL 2218 impact-resistance standard. Cost figures reflect 2026 Colorado-market ranges.