So, you love the look of slate roofs, but don’t want to pay the slate price. Now you’re turning to the new(ish) kid on the block, synthetic slate roofing. 

The problem is, you don't know how much it’s going to cost. How can you decide if a synthetic slate roof is right for you without knowing the price?

Here at Bill Ragan Roofing, our goal is to answer these tough questions for you, especially since the rest of the industry avoids them. That’s why we’ll be breaking down how much a synthetic slate roof costs and what impacts the price. 

I’ll also be giving you 3 more things to know about getting a new synthetic cedar shake roof to help you even further decide if it’s the right roof for you. 

How much does a synthetic slate roof cost?

Even though synthetic slate roofing won’t cost as much as real slate, it’s still considered a premium roof system. Because of this, it’s going to be a bigger investment when comparing it to the commonly used asphalt shingles. 

It’s impossible to give you an exact cost on a synthetic slate roof because of all the factors that go into pricing a new roof (more on that in a minute). However, I can give you a general price range.

the cost of a synthetic slate roof

A new synthetic slate roof will cost around $10.00 to $12.00 per square foot with the potential to get up to $20.00 or more per square foot. If you add upgrades like a metal accent or copper flashing, you’ll be a lot closer to the higher end of the price range. 

The truth is, most homeowners aren’t going to be able to afford this premium roof system. If you’re on a tight budget or looking for affordability, synthetic slate roofing won’t be the right option for you. 

What impacts the cost of your synthetic slate roof?

Like I said earlier, it’s impossible to give an exact price on a roof because there are too many cost factors. The cost of synthetic slate roofing materials themselves should be pretty much the same across the board. 

However, most of the factors depend on your roof and the roofing contractor you hire. 

Below is a list of the factors that directly affect the price of your new synthetic slate roof.

  • The type of roof you choose (synthetic slate)
  • The rest of the roof system’s materials
  • Labor and time
  • Your roof’s accessibility
  • The number of roof penetrations
  • Your roof’s size and the complexity of it
  • The amount of decking that needs to be replaced
  • Dump fees
  • Operating costs of your roofing contractor

This is just a quick rundown of what impacts the cost of a new synthetic slate roof or any other type of roof. For a deeper breakdown of these cost factors, check out the 9 factors that impact the cost of your new roof.

3 more things to know about getting a synthetic slate roof

Now you know how much a synthetic roof costs and the factors that determine the price. But before deciding if a synthetic slate roof is right for you, you need to know a few more things. 

1. You don’t have to worry about the weight of your synthetic slate shingles

Through your research, you should have learned natural slate roofs are incredibly heavy. Your home has to actually be built or framed to carry the weight of the natural slate tiles.

When getting a synthetic slate roof, you don’t have to worry about this weight issue. Synthetic slate shingles are considered a lightweight roofing material and are actually lighter than luxury asphalt shingles. 

Because of this, you don’t have to retrofit your home or anything else to hold the weight when getting synthetic slate shingles installed. This saves you money and still gives you the slate look you want your roof to have. 

2. How long a new synthetic slate roof lasts

The lifespan of your roof is how many years you’ll get out of it after it’s installed. I like to look at it as the return you get out of your roof investment. 

As long as it’s installed correctly, you can expect to get around 40-50 years of life out of a synthetic slate roof. What makes a synthetic slate roof so durable is the impact rating. 

For example, DaVinci Roofscapes (the leading synthetic shingle brand) slate shingles have a Class 4 impact rating. This is the highest rating a roofing material can have and means they’ll stand up to anything that hits your roof, including extreme weather, such as hail. 

While a synthetic slate roof won’t last as long as a natural slate roof, it still has one of the longest lifespans on the market. 

3. The material warranty you get with a synthetic slate roof 

After your new synthetic slate roof is installed, you’ll have two warranties on it to protect your investment. One will be on your contractor’s workmanship and one from the manufacturer on your synthetic slate roofing materials.

The length of the material warranty depends on the manufacturer of your synthetic slate shingles. However, synthetic slate roofs usually come with a lifetime limited material warranty that will be prorated after a certain number of years. 

Before jumping in and investing in a new synthetic slate roof, talk to your roofing contractor about the manufacturer they use and your material warranty options.

Make sure you hire a great roofing contractor

After reading this article, you should have a good idea if it’s the right type of roof for you. If you’re unsure if a synthetic slate roof is right for you, take this Roof Type Quiz to find one that fits your situation better. 

But if you’ve already made up your mind and want a synthetic slate roof, you’re ready to find a great roofing contractor. You probably don’t think this is that hard, but the truth is it’s the most important decision you’ll have to make. 

The roofing contractor you hire has the biggest impact on every aspect of your roof investment. That’s why you need to hire a great one in your area. 

To help you do this, we developed a checklist of 16 questions every homeowner needs to ask a roofing contractor. It even gives you the right answers the roofing contractor should give back. 

With the checklist of questions to ask a roofing contractor, you’ll be able to make the right hiring decision to avoid wasting your hard-earned money. 

Since 1990, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has provided high-quality roofing services to homeowners in Nashville and surrounding areas. You can count on our workmanship and lifetime warranty to take care of your roof for decades. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need roof repairs, a full roof replacement, insurance claim help, or anything else in the Nashville area. 

Get this Checklist of 16 Questions to Ask a Roofing Contractor to find a great one in your area today.

checklist of questions to ask a roofing contractor