Metal shake and slate roofing uses stamped steel or aluminum panels that mimic hand-split cedar shakes or quarried slate, with hidden fasteners and a four-sided interlock. You get the texture and shadow lines of wood or stone with the light weight, Class A fire rating and long life of metal. These are the premium end of the metal shingle family and fit Craftsman, Tudor, colonial and cottage homes where standing seam would look wrong.
What metal shake and slate are
Both are modular metal roofing: panels about one to four feet wide and roughly a foot tall, each formed to look like several individual shakes or slates. Folded edges on all four sides hook into the neighboring panels. Fasteners go through a concealed flange and are covered by the next course, so nothing but the textured face is exposed to the weather.
Shake profiles
Shake panels have a deep, rough grain pressed into the metal, thick-looking butt edges and often staggered or irregular widths to copy the look of hand-split cedar. They come in painted finishes, usually blended browns, grays and weathered-wood tones, or in stone-coated versions with granules bonded to the steel. The deeper the stamping, the more convincing the roof looks from the ground.
Slate profiles
Slate panels are flatter, with a subtle cleft texture and crisp edges that imitate split stone. Colors run to charcoal, gray, green and the purple-red tones of natural slate, often blended on one roof. Slate profiles tend to look best on steeper roofs where the face is visible from the street.
Steel panels are typically around 26 gauge with a PVDF or SMP paint finish or a stone coating. Aluminum panels are thinner but similar in stiffness and are the choice near salt water. Both are far lighter than real slate and lighter than cedar once the wood is wet.
How they are installed
Shake and slate panels are factory stamped and shipped with a matching set of trim: starter, drip edge, rake, valley, hip and ridge, sidewall and endwall flashing. Installation follows the same path as other metal shingles.
- Tear off the old roof, or confirm the system is approved over one flat layer of shingles where code allows.
- Repair the deck and install synthetic underlayment, with self-adhered membrane at eaves, valleys and around penetrations in cold climates.
- Install drip edge, starter strip and valley metal.
- Lay courses from the eave up, interlocking each panel on four sides, staggering the joints so the pattern does not repeat in obvious columns, and fastening through the hidden flange.
- Cut, hem and hook panels at hips, valleys, walls and chimneys, then install the matching flashings.
- Finish with hip and ridge caps, with vented ridge where the attic needs it.
Two things separate a great shake or slate installation from an average one. The first is the stagger: panels have to be offset course to course so the eye does not pick up a repeating grid. The second is the cuts. Every hip and valley means panels trimmed and folded by hand so no raw edge or open flange faces the weather. Manufacturer training is worth asking about.
Where metal shake and slate fit
Roof pitch. Most systems are rated for roughly 3:12 or 4:12 and steeper. They are not low-slope products. Shallow porch roofs are usually done in a color-matched mechanical lock standing seam panel.
Climate. The four-sided interlock handles wind well, and many products carry a UL 2218 Class 4 impact rating for hail and a UL 790 Class A fire rating. That fire rating is why metal shake is a common replacement for real cedar in wildfire-prone areas, where wood roofing is often restricted. In snow country the textured surface holds snow rather than shedding it in sheets. Near the ocean, choose aluminum.
House style. Shake profiles suit Craftsman bungalows, ranches, mountain and lake homes, and any house that once had cedar. Slate profiles suit colonials, Tudors, Victorians, Gothic and French-inspired homes, and churches. In historic districts, metal slate is sometimes accepted where a modern panel would not be, though review boards vary.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Wood or stone look with none of the rot, insects or brittleness
- Class A fire rating where real cedar is restricted
- Light weight, no structural upgrade for a slate look
- Hidden fasteners and four-sided interlock
- Long life, commonly 40 to 60 years or more
- Blended colors hide small dents and dirt
Cons
- Among the pricier metal shingle options
- Labor heavy on roofs with many hips and valleys
- Visible pattern repeats if panels are not staggered well
- Not for low slopes
- Repairs need the exact product and color years later
- Fewer trained installers than standing seam in some regions
Approximate 2026 cost
As a broad national range, metal shake and slate roofing runs roughly $12 to $22 per square foot installed in 2026, or about $1,200 to $2,200 per roofing square. Steel shake with an SMP finish on a simple roof sits at the low end. Aluminum slate with a blended PVDF finish on a steep, complex roof sits at the high end. That is well below natural slate, above asphalt shingles and in the same neighborhood as standing seam.
These are approximate figures, not quotes. Pricing varies by region, roof pitch and complexity, metal and finish, tear-off and deck repairs, and the season, and metal prices move. Three written bids will tell you where your roof lands. See the metal roof cost guide for the factors behind the number.
What to ask the installer
You are buying a look as much as a roof, so ask about the product and the craftsmanship in equal measure.
Confirm the contractor license where required, liability and workers compensation insurance, a written contract naming the product, color blend, underlayment, trim and payment terms, and a permit where your town requires it. Our guide on choosing a metal roofing contractor has a full checklist.
Common mistakes and red flags
After installation, treat the roof as a no-walk surface for anyone who has not been told where to step. Panels are supported at their edges and can dent in the middle. Keep the product name, color blend and lot information from your contract so a future repair can be matched. Our metal roof maintenance guide covers what to watch for.
Related guides
For the plainer version of this idea, read metal shingles roofing. For the granule-surfaced alternative, see stone-coated steel roofing. If you are choosing between steel and aluminum, our aluminum roofing guide explains when the extra cost pays off. Find installers who list these styles at the metal shake directory and the metal slate directory, or search by state at Find a Metal Roofer.
Frequently asked questions
Does metal shake look like real cedar?
From the street, a deep-textured shake panel in a blended color reads as wood, especially once you are more than a few steps away. Up close you can see that several shakes are formed from one sheet of metal. The most convincing products have deep, irregular grain, staggered edges and multi-tone finishes. Ask to see a completed roof from the curb before you decide.
Is metal slate a good replacement for real slate?
For most homes, yes. Natural slate is heavy, brittle and expensive to install and repair, and few roofers work with it. Metal slate gives a similar look at a fraction of the weight and cost, with hidden fasteners and a Class A fire rating. In a historic district the review board may still require natural slate on the street-facing roof, so check local rules before you order.
How long do metal shake and slate roofs last?
The steel or aluminum panels commonly last 40 to 60 years or more, with finish warranties usually in the 30 to 40 year range for PVDF paint. That is far longer than cedar shakes, which often need replacement in 20 to 30 years depending on climate, and close to the life of the underlayment under natural slate. Installation quality and climate matter as much as the product.
Can metal shake be used in a wildfire zone?
It is one of the common choices there. Metal shake panels carry a UL 790 Class A fire rating, the highest class, while real wood shakes are restricted or banned in many wildfire-prone areas. Pair the roof with closed eaves, ember-resistant vents and metal valley and edge details, and ask your installer about any local wildfire building code requirements.
Are metal shake and slate panels steel or aluminum?
Both are available. Steel is more common and costs less; it is Galvalume or galvanized under a PVDF or SMP paint finish, or stone-coated. Aluminum costs more, never rusts and is the right choice within a few miles of salt water. Aluminum is softer, so ask about the thickness and look at the panel in person if hail or foot traffic is a concern.