Key numbers
NAHB's 2007 study puts asphalt shingle roof life at about 20 years, fiber cement shingles about 25 years and wood shakes about 30 years (National Association of Home Builders / Bank of America Home Equity, 2007).
| 5.19 million | Wood shingles or shakes were the main roofing material on 5.19 million U.S. homes in 2020. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2020 |
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For most homeowners in Colorado Springs, Denver and Austin, synthetic cedar is the better choice than natural cedar: it gives the shake look with a Class A fire rating available, no rot or splitting, and far less upkeep, while real wood shakes are now restricted inside the City of Colorado Springs and in wildfire-zone rules across Colorado and parts of Austin. Natural cedar still wins on authenticity and the silver patina it develops, and it can be the right call on an outbuilding or a historic home where the city wants the original material.
Side by side
| Natural cedar shakes | Synthetic cedar | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Real grain; weathers from gold to silver gray | Molded to copy shakes; color stays more uniform |
| Fire | Wood burns; treated shakes still face code limits | Class A assemblies are available; check the product listing |
| Code in the City of Colorado Springs | Solid wood excluded for homes | Allowed when the assembly is Class A |
| Hail | Splits, especially once dry and brittle | Depends on the product; ask for its impact rating |
| Upkeep | Cleaning, treatment, replacing split shakes | Little beyond inspections |
| Decking | Often spaced boards | Usually solid decking, so ventilation changes |
| Weight | Moderate | Varies by product; ask before assuming |
| Historic districts | Matches original roofs | May need review as a material change |
Product ratings vary by brand and model, so we show you the actual fire and impact listings for anything we quote rather than general claims.
The rules that decide it
Colorado Springs. PPRBD’s reroof guidelines require one- and two-family homes in the City of Colorado Springs to have at least a Class A roof covering, excluding solid wood roofing products. A new wood shake roof on a city home is off the table. Colorado’s Wildfire Resiliency Code adds Class A requirements in mapped wildland-urban interface areas elsewhere. Our cedar shake fire hazard guide covers both.
Denver. Ordinary Denver homes can choose either, subject to the permit and the wind and fire rules. In a landmark or historic district, Denver says a change of material, including a synthetic version of the existing material, may need Landmark Preservation Commission review. See using cedar to match the local look in Denver and our Denver cedar roof cost guide.
Austin. Inside the City of Austin’s wildland-urban interface areas, a Class A roof assembly is required, and replacing 50 percent or more of a roof requires a full replacement and a permit. Our Austin synthetic cedar page covers local options.
When natural cedar still makes sense
- A historic home where the reviewing body wants the original material.
- A detached outbuilding where your jurisdiction allows it and you accept the maintenance.
- A homeowner who values the patina and will treat and inspect the roof on schedule.
If you keep real cedar, plan for regular inspections, prompt replacement of split shakes, and keeping the roof clear of needles and debris.
Four questions to settle before you choose
- Is the home inside the City of Colorado Springs, a mapped wildfire zone, or Austin’s WUI area? If so, a Class A assembly is required.
- Is the home a Denver landmark or in a historic district? If so, plan for design review.
- What fire and impact ratings does the exact product carry, as installed?
- Will the deck and ventilation need to change? On a shake roof, usually yes.
What changes when wood comes off
Most wood roofs sit on spaced boards that let the shakes breathe. Synthetic cedar, stone-coated steel and asphalt usually need solid decking, which changes how the attic vents. Read why cedar-to-asphalt switches need ventilation changes and how to size roof ventilation. For how shake looks fit the shapes and materials common in Colorado Springs, see favorite roof styles in Colorado Springs. If you are weighing other premium looks, compare slate and resale value and tile on Denver homes.
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews, with offices in Colorado Springs, the Denver area and Austin. Call (719) 488-2800, book a free Colorado Springs roof inspection, or see cedar roofing in Colorado Springs.
Sources: Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, Reroofing Guidelines (rev. 03/05/2024); City and County of Denver, Design Review for Roofing; City of Austin, Wildland-Urban Interface Code; Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code.
