Knowledge Base · Metal Roofing Basics
What Is a Metal Shake Roof?
A metal shake roof is metal roofing formed to look like split wood shakes, with deep, irregular grain lines and thick-looking butt edges. Interlock's Shake profile is heavy-gauge aluminum with a baked-on finish, so it gives a rustic wood look without rot, splitting, moss or rust, at roughly 0.4 to 0.7 lb per square foot.
Technically reviewed by Scott Plumptree, Director of Marketing · Updated 2026-10-07
At a glance
- Metal shake is metal formed to look like hand-split wood shakes.
- Interlock's Shake profile is heavy-gauge aluminum with a baked-on finish.
- Shake is rougher and more rustic; Cedar Shingle is flatter and more tailored.
- It does not rot, split, absorb water or rust.
- Cedar must be torn off before a metal shake roof goes on.
What is a metal shake roof and what does it look like?
A metal shake roof is a roof of metal panels shaped to resemble hand-split wood shakes. From the street, it shows the uneven texture, deep shadow lines and thick-looking lower edges that people associate with a rustic cedar roof. Wood shakes are split rather than sawn, which leaves a rough face and varying thickness. A metal shake profile reproduces that by pressing grain-like texture and staggered edges into each panel. Interlock's Shake profile is formed from heavy-gauge aluminum and finished with a baked-on coating. The panels lock together on all four sides, which hides the fasteners and keeps the courses straight. The result reads as wood from a normal viewing distance while behaving like metal: it sheds water, does not hold moisture, and does not need treating.
How is metal shake different from metal cedar shingle?
Metal shake imitates thick, hand-split shakes, while a metal cedar shingle profile imitates thinner, sawn cedar shingles. Shake has a coarser, more rustic texture; cedar shingle looks flatter and more tailored. In New England, both looks have a long history. Sawn cedar shingles are familiar on Capes and coastal cottages, especially on Cape Cod and the Islands. Heavier shakes show up more on farmhouses, barns, camps and mountain homes. Interlock makes both profiles. Our New England job book lists 102 Cedar Shingle roofs and 15 Shake roofs, so cedar shingle is the more common choice here. The right one depends on the style of the house and what was on it originally. If you are matching a historic appearance, check with your local historic district commission before choosing.
How does metal shake compare with real cedar shakes?
Metal shake gives a similar look with far less maintenance and none of wood's decay problems. Real cedar shakes are a natural material with real character, but they absorb water, grow moss in shade, split with freeze–thaw cycles, and eventually rot. Cedar also needs periodic cleaning and preservative treatment to reach its potential life, and that life varies widely with exposure. In damp New England conditions, the north slope of a wooded lot can age far faster than the sunny side of the same house. Aluminum shake does not absorb water or rot and does not rust in salt air. For fire, Interlock roofs are Class A Fire Rated Available, as a complete assembly. Real wood has a look and smell some owners love, and that is the main reason to keep it.
Which homes suit a metal shake roof?
Metal shake suits homes where a rustic wood roof looks right: farmhouses, Adirondack-style and mountain homes, camps, barns, carriage houses and some coastal cottages. It fits naturally in Vermont, the White Mountains of New Hampshire and western Maine. It can also work on Capes and Colonials, though many owners of those styles prefer the cleaner lines of Cedar Shingle or Slate. Seeing a finished roof helps; shake has a heavier, more textured presence than a sawn shingle look. The roof needs a minimum slope of 3/12 for Interlock shingle profiles, which covers most pitched New England roofs. Very low-slope sections, such as some porches and additions, may need a different approach. Snow guards over entrances and decks are worth planning, since snow can slide more readily off metal than wood.
What colors are available for a metal shake roof?
Interlock offers nine colors, from the copper tones and Tile Red to Hunter Green, Black and Deep Charcoal, and the most common choices for a shake look are the browns and grays. Colonial Brown and Tudor Brown suggest newer or stained wood. Deep Charcoal suggests cedar that has weathered to a dark gray, which is how many old New England wood roofs look. Hunter Green suits homes in wooded settings. All finishes are baked-on coatings backed by a 30 Year Alunar® coating warranty. Screen colors are unreliable, so look at samples outdoors, next to your siding and trim, at different times of day. We bring samples to the consultation, and seeing a finished roof nearby is even better.
Can a metal shake roof go over my existing roof?
Only over a single layer of asphalt shingles, and only if an inspection finds it suitable. If your current roof is cedar shakes or shingles, natural slate or concrete tile, it is always torn off first. Cedar in particular is uneven and holds moisture, so covering it would trap rot under the new roof. Many older cedar roofs also sit on spaced boards that need solid sheathing before metal is installed. Tear-off is also the chance to fix attic ventilation. That matters for moisture and ice dams, which are caused by heat loss and poor ventilation rather than by the roofing, and which no roof prevents by itself. Ice damming is excluded from the material warranty. We review the deck, attic and ventilation with you before work begins.
Common questions
Is a metal shake roof made of steel or aluminum?
Metal shake products are made from steel, aluminum or other metals depending on the manufacturer. Interlock's Shake profile is heavy-gauge aluminum, which does not rust. That matters most on coastal homes in salt air and on roofs that stay damp for long periods.
Does a metal shake roof look fake?
From a normal viewing distance, most people read it as a wood roof. Up close, the metal surface and panel seams are visible. The texture depth and color choice make the biggest difference, so compare real installations rather than photos.
How heavy is a metal shake roof?
Interlock aluminum panels weigh roughly 0.4 to 0.7 lb per square foot. That is lighter than cedar shakes once they have absorbed water, and far lighter than slate or tile.
What warranty comes with an Interlock shake roof?
The Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty covers material and finish for the original purchaser while they own the home and transfers once, with the second owner covered to 50 years from substantial completion. Workmanship is excluded. The finish also has a 30 Year Alunar® coating warranty.
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