If you want the cedar shake look without the typical downsides of real wood, stone-coated steel shake roofing is one of the best premium options to consider. Two popular premium choices are DECRA Shake XD and Westlake Pine Crest.
Both aim for the same end goal: a shake-style roof that delivers premium curb appeal, long service life, and strong weather resistance. The right choice depends on what you value most from the street, your roof geometry, your local weather risks, and how you think about long-term ownership and resale value.
Helpful pages on Top Tier Metals as you read
Metal Shake Roofing: https://toptiermetals.com/collections/metal-shake-roofing
DECRA Shake XD: https://toptiermetals.com/products/decra-shake-xd
Westlake Pine Crest Shake: https://toptiermetals.com/products/pine-crest-shake
DECRA Metal Roofing: https://toptiermetals.com/collections/decra-metal-roofing
Westlake Metal Roofing: https://toptiermetals.com/collections/westlake-metal-roofing
Quick verdict
Choose DECRA Shake XD if you want
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A clean, refined shake look that reads premium and consistent from the curb
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Strong visual definition on large roof planes
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A shake profile that tends to feel intentional and upscale rather than rustic
Choose Westlake Pine Crest if you want
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A more rugged, natural cedar-like shake vibe with deeper texture
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A roof that feels more organic and dimensional from street-level viewing
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A shake look that can add character, especially on traditional or lodge-style homes
Table of contents
1) What these products are
2) What matters most when choosing a metal shake roof
3) DECRA Shake XD vs Pine Crest: side-by-side comparison
4) Best fit by home style and roof geometry
5) Resale value: what buyers actually notice
6) Fast decision checklist
7) FAQs
8) One next step
1) What these products are (plain English)
DECRA Shake XD
DECRA Shake XD is a stone-coated steel shake-style metal roofing product designed to mimic cedar shake aesthetics while delivering metal roofing durability.
Westlake Pine Crest
Westlake Pine Crest is a stone-coated steel shake-style metal roofing product built to deliver a more natural, textured shake appearance with premium performance characteristics.
Both are in the Metal Shake Roofing category on your site.
2) What matters most when choosing a metal shake roof
Most homeowners compare shake roofs by brand first. A better approach is to compare based on what determines satisfaction over the next 20 to 50 years.
The top decision drivers
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Curb appeal from the street at normal viewing distance
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Texture and shadow lines on your most visible roof planes
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Roof geometry complexity and how easy it is to detail transitions cleanly
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Weather risks in your area, especially hail and wind exposure
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Maintenance expectations, mainly around valleys, gutters, and roof penetrations
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Neighborhood style expectations and how conservative or bold your exterior choices can be
Practical takeaway
With premium materials, the biggest differences in real-world outcomes usually come from roof detailing quality and installer discipline, not from a small difference in profile aesthetics.
3) DECRA Shake XD vs Pine Crest: side-by-side comparison
3.1 Curb appeal and overall look
This is where most homeowners ultimately decide.
DECRA Shake XD
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Often reads as a clean, premium shake profile with crisp definition
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Strong fit if you want a refined shake look rather than a rustic one
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Works well when you want consistent visual rhythm across large roof planes
Westlake Pine Crest
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Often reads more organic and rugged, closer to a natural cedar shake vibe
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Strong fit if you want texture and character to be the point of the roof
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Can look especially good on homes that benefit from heavier shadow lines
A simple street-view rule
If you want the roof to look more refined and upscale, lean DECRA Shake XD. If you want the roof to look more natural and rustic, lean Pine Crest.
Direct product comparison pages
DECRA Shake XD: https://toptiermetals.com/products/decra-shake-xd
Westlake Pine Crest: https://toptiermetals.com/products/pine-crest-shake
3.2 Durability and long-term ownership
Both products are stone-coated steel shake profiles, so you are already in a premium durability class. For long-term success, the deciding factors are typically:
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Flashing and transition detailing at valleys, dormers, skylights, and wall intersections
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Penetrations and how they are sealed and integrated
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Ventilation and roof assembly design
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Keeping debris managed in valleys and gutters
Practical takeaway
If your roof is complex, choose the product and detail plan that can be executed cleanly and consistently. The best premium product cannot offset poor detailing.
3.3 Hail and cosmetic impact risk
Homeowners usually ask this as which is better for hail. A more useful question is: how much cosmetic risk do you accept, and what is typical hail severity where you live.
Stone-coated surfaces can help reduce the visibility of minor impacts compared to some smooth-faced metal systems, depending on storm severity and viewing angles. Extreme hail can damage any roof material.
How to reduce hail regret
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Prioritize the profile that looks best on your most visible roof planes
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Avoid unnecessary penetrations and keep details conservative
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Focus on installation quality and clean transitions
3.4 Wind performance and storm stability
Wind performance depends on system design and installation:
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Attachment schedule and fastening discipline
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Edge detailing at eaves and rakes
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Underlayment and substrate decisions
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Quality of terminations and transitions
Both premium shake systems can perform very well when installed correctly. If wind exposure is high, invest attention in edge and termination details rather than expecting one profile to be a magic solution.
3.5 Maintenance expectations
Premium shake-style stone-coated steel roofs are typically low routine maintenance, but not no maintenance.
Most real issues that show up over time come from:
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Debris buildup in valleys and gutters
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Flashing details at penetrations and transitions
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Neglected small issues that become larger water pathways
A simple ownership plan
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Inspect after severe storms
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Keep valleys and gutters clean
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Address flashing concerns early
3.6 Roof complexity and install realism
If your roof is simple
The decision is mostly aesthetics. Either choice can look excellent.
If your roof is complex
Your priority should be a product and detail plan that can be executed cleanly across all transitions. Complex roofs multiply small errors. Choose the system your installer is confident detailing correctly and reduce unnecessary penetrations where possible.
4) Best fit by home style and roof geometry
Traditional homes, craftsman, rustic, cabin, lodge, farmhouse
Pine Crest often fits well where a more natural, textured shake look supports the architecture.
Upscale suburban, transitional, contemporary-traditional blends
DECRA Shake XD often fits well where you want a premium shake look that feels refined and consistent.
Simple rooflines with large visible planes
Both can look excellent. In these cases, choose based on whether you prefer refined (DECRA Shake XD) or rugged (Pine Crest) curb appeal.
Complex rooflines with many transitions
Lean toward the option your installer can detail cleanly and consistently. The best-looking profile is not worth it if the details are not executed correctly.
Explore broader collections if you want to compare adjacent options
Metal Shake Roofing: https://toptiermetals.com/collections/metal-shake-roofing
DECRA Metal Roofing: https://toptiermetals.com/collections/decra-metal-roofing
Westlake Metal Roofing: https://toptiermetals.com/collections/westlake-metal-roofing
5) Resale value: what buyers actually notice
Buyers rarely know the exact product line. They respond to what they can see and what they believe.
Three resale signals that matter most
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The roof looks premium and intentional from the street
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The roof looks consistent, clean, and well-installed
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The material implies long service life and fewer future expenses
DECRA Shake XD resale logic
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Often reads as refined and premium, which can signal a high-end upgrade
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Works well when the neighborhood prefers a polished exterior aesthetic
Pine Crest resale logic
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Often reads as character-rich and dimensional, which can elevate curb appeal
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Works best when the neighborhood and home style support a more rustic or textured exterior
Simple resale rule
Choose the profile that best matches the architecture and neighborhood expectations, then ensure the install is clean and consistent. A mismatch can hurt value more than the difference between two premium products.
6) Fast decision checklist
Choose DECRA Shake XD if most of these are true
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You want a clean, refined shake look that reads premium and consistent
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Your roof has large visible planes where uniform definition looks best
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Your exterior style is upscale, transitional, or modern-traditional
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You want the roof to look intentionally premium rather than rustic
Choose Westlake Pine Crest if most of these are true
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You want a more rugged, natural cedar-like shake vibe
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You want deeper texture and stronger shadow lines
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Your home style is craftsman, rustic, lodge, cabin, or traditional with character
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You want the roof to feel like a design feature with more visual depth
Direct product pages
DECRA Shake XD: https://toptiermetals.com/products/decra-shake-xd
Westlake Pine Crest: https://toptiermetals.com/products/pine-crest-shake
7) FAQs
Will a stone-coated steel shake roof look like real cedar from the street
It can look very close at normal viewing distance, especially when the profile and color fit the home style. The more textured the profile, the more natural the shadow lines can appear.
Which one is better for hail, DECRA Shake XD or Pine Crest
Both are premium stone-coated steel shake systems. In real-world outcomes, installation quality and detailing matter as much as product selection. If hail is common, prioritize correct detailing and the profile that best maintains appearance on your most visible roof planes.
Is a metal shake roof noisy
Noise is typically driven by the roof assembly: decking, underlayment, insulation, and ventilation. A properly built assembly usually does not create problematic interior noise.
What is the biggest mistake homeowners make when choosing a premium roof
Choosing based on one factor like brand familiarity while ignoring roof geometry, detailing plan, and installer capability. Install quality drives real-world performance.
Shop Metal Shake Roofing
If you want to compare premium metal shake systems and narrow to the best fit for your home style and curb appeal goals, start here:
