Cedar shake
Hand-split cedar texture and multi-tone colour, moulded from real shakes — without the treating, cupping or moss cycle of real cedar.
See cedar shake detailsBrava Composite Roofing in Surrey & the Lower Mainland
Three outstanding styles
Every Brava profile is moulded from the real material it replaces, then coloured all the way through. These are real installed roofs, not renderings.
Old world slate
The depth and variation of quarried slate at a fraction of the weight, so a slate roofline works on structures that could never carry stone.
See old world slate details
Spanish barrel tile
A true barrel profile with blended colour for Mediterranean architecture, engineered for wind and freeze-thaw rather than clay's brittleness.
See spanish barrel tile detailsBrava is a premium composite roof tile built to replicate cedar shake, quarried slate and Spanish barrel tile. For homeowners on the West Coast, it solves a specific problem: our climate is hard on wood roofs, but a lot of houses here were designed around the cedar look and lose their character without it.
We install Brava on houses and strata buildings across the Lower Mainland, usually as a cedar-shake replacement. If you want to understand the product itself before you talk pricing, Brava's own product pages are the best reference — and everything below is what it looks like on a real roof here.
What makes Brava different from other synthetic roofing
Brava tile is compression moulded rather than injection moulded, which produces a denser, stronger tile with a more convincing texture. Colour is blended through the material, so a scuff or a cut edge does not expose a different colour underneath, and the finish is designed to hold its appearance rather than washing out after a few summers. The tile is made from recycled material and is itself recyclable.
The practical version: it looks like the material it imitates, it stays looking that way, and it is light enough to go on most existing structures without structural work. For a deeper walkthrough of the brand, read what makes Brava different.
Brava profiles we install
- Brava Cedar Shake — replaces real cedar shake and shingle. Hand-split cedar texture with multi-tone colour blends. Heritage and West Coast homes that want the cedar look without the cedar upkeep. See pricing, lifespan and climate fit on our brava cedar shake page, or view Brava's official Brava Cedar Shake details.
- Brava Old World Slate — replaces quarried slate. Natural slate variation and thickness, at a fraction of the weight. Character and estate homes where a slate roofline is part of the architecture. See pricing, lifespan and climate fit on our brava old world slate page, or view Brava's official Brava Old World Slate details.
- Brava Spanish Barrel Tile — replaces clay barrel tile. Traditional barrel profile with blended colour. Mediterranean-style homes and structures that cannot carry clay tile loads. See pricing, lifespan and climate fit on our brava spanish barrel tile page, or view Brava's official Brava Spanish Barrel Tile details.
Why Brava suits the West Coast
Cedar does not fail here because it is a bad material. It fails because of what our climate does to it: months of damp, heavy shade on north slopes, moss that holds water against the wood, then a dry stretch that splits what is left. Keeping a cedar roof healthy means cleaning, treating and replacing shakes on a cycle — and eventually the interior repairs that follow a leak nobody caught.
Brava removes that cycle. There is nothing for moss to feed on, nothing to treat, and no shakes to replace one at a time. Coastal exposure and wind-driven rain are handled by the system underneath it — underlayment, flashing detail and ventilation — which is where we spend most of our attention on a Brava install.
Brava compared to cedar, asphalt and natural slate
| Material | Appearance | Maintenance | Weight | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brava composite | Cedar, slate or barrel tile look, moulded from real profiles | Low — no treating, no moss remediation cycle | Light enough for most existing structures | Colour is moulded through the tile; 50-year limited warranty support |
| Real cedar shake | Authentic wood, silvers with age | High — cleaning, treatment, split and rot replacement | Light | Shaded and north-facing slopes in our climate age fastest |
| Architectural asphalt | Dimensional shingle profile | Low to moderate | Moderate | Lowest upfront cost; shortest service life of the three |
| Natural slate or clay tile | The real thing | Low, but repairs are specialised | Heavy — often needs structural review | Highest upfront cost and the most demanding install |
Brava is not the cheapest roof you can buy. It is the one that makes the most sense when you divide total cost by service life — the argument we lay out in why homeowners choose Brava before their cedar roof becomes a problem.
What a Brava installation looks like with us
- Assessment. We look at the roof, the deck condition where we can see it, ventilation, flashing details and access, then confirm Brava is the right call for the building.
- Profile and colour. You pick the profile and blend using physical samples, checked in daylight against your siding, trim and neighbours' rooflines.
- Written scope. One document: tear-off, deck repair allowance, underlayment, flashings, ventilation, the exact Brava product, timeline and price. We also price the asphalt option so the comparison is honest.
- Tear-off and deck work. Old cedar or shingles come off, the deck gets inspected and repaired, and anything soft gets replaced before new material goes down.
- Install. Underlayment, flashings and ventilation first, then the Brava tile to the manufacturer's installation requirements — that is what keeps the material warranty intact.
- Handover. Nail sweep, site clean, a walkthrough, and a folder with your Brava warranty registration details plus our 10-year workmanship warranty.
Brava on strata and multi-family buildings
Strata councils come to us with the same problem homeowners have, at ten times the scale: a complex originally built with cedar, a maintenance line item that keeps growing, and a depreciation report that assumes a replacement nobody has budgeted yet. Brava is worth costing out in that conversation because it changes the long-term number, not just the look.
We can scope it building by building, phase the work so residents stay dry, and give council a written comparison against asphalt. See how we run those projects on our strata roofing page, or read budgeting for a strata roof replacement.
Replacing a cedar shake roof
Most of our Brava work starts with an aging cedar roof. If that is where you are, replacing a cedar shake roof with Brava covers what the upgrade involves, and our roof replacement page explains how we handle full reroofs generally.
Official Brava resources
Product specs, colour options and warranty registration all live on Brava's own site. We would rather you read it there than take our word for it:
- Brava roofing products
All three composite collections with specs and photo galleries.
- Brava Cedar Shake
Colours, blends and product detail for the synthetic cedar profile.
- Brava Old World Slate
Composite slate colours, specifications and installed examples.
- Brava Spanish Barrel Tile
Barrel tile profiles and colour options.
- Request a Brava sample
Order a physical tile sample directly from Brava.
- Brava warranty registration and customer service
Register your warranty within 30 days of purchase.
- Find a Brava preferred roofing contractor
Brava's own contractor directory.
Customer feedback
Roofing Experiences in Surrey & the Lower Mainland
See our reviews on Google
- MC
Rodrigo and his team were excellent from start to finish. Communication with Rodrigo was always prompt, professional, and respectful. We were very happy with the finished product and feel confident knowing that our new roof will stand the test of time. We would highly recommend Rodrigo and his team to anyone looking for quality roofing work!
- LT
Our roof's asphalt tiles were getting crispy and curling up on the edges. I saw several ads on FB and chose True North Strong Contracting for a prompt response and quote. Rod was a knowledgeable salesman, and not pushy. His crew was scheduled to start on the two hottest days of the early summer, so we rescheduled to the following week. With the possibility of rain next day, Rod sent seven workers to do the job in a single day. The crew was cheerful, no yelling, took a decent lunch break, worked hard and steady. They found our roof was double-layered and there was wood rot underneath. The flat kitchen area was a torch-on job. Our chimney's pergola was cracked and the bricks dried out. They brought plenty of materials, but only charged for those used. All these problems were solved and the clean-up was very thorough. The pricing was very fair. We highly recommend this company's work, workers and management! They have our trust! Thank you, Rod and Crew, for a job well done!
- JS
Rodrigo was amazing. He was thorough and his professionalism was amazing. He went over and above to ensure my roof was in good shape. I will definitely call him in the future and I recommend him 100%.
- LB
All I can say is call Rodrigo if you need any repairs to your roof. He goes above and beyond for his clients. His work was done in a timely fashion and he is a pleasure to work with. Will definitely recommend him to family and friends.
- NA
Breakaway Bays south Surrey. Thank you so much for the excellent work. Professional & kind crew. Quality workmanship. I would recommend true north strong contracting to anyone in need of roof. Fair cost to me.
- KL
Nothing but great things to say about TNSC. From the very first meeting, they were very professional and personable. The crew worked very hard and were a terrific group of guys. They were tidy, courteous, and meticulous. When we mentioned something that we wanted changed, they didn’t hesitate to make it right and ensure we were happy. Highly recommend Rod and his company.
- FA
They responded very quickly and helped our clients with their roof leak. Also gave several options on the best option to repair. We will definitely be calling them for all of our roof repairs moving forward.
Read all our reviews on Google.
View all on GoogleCommon questions
Questions we get all the time
Is Brava a good fit for the Lower Mainland climate?
It handles our conditions better than wood does. Our rain, shade and long damp shoulder seasons are what wear cedar out early — moss, splitting and rot. Brava is a composite tile, so there is nothing for moss to feed on and nothing to treat every few years. The look stays close to cedar while the maintenance cycle mostly goes away.
How much does a Brava roof cost in Surrey or Vancouver?
There is no honest flat price. Cost depends on roof area and pitch, tear-off layers, deck condition once we open it up, access, ventilation upgrades, flashing detail and which Brava profile you choose. Brava costs more upfront than asphalt. We give you a written range after a site visit, and we will show you what the same roof looks like in asphalt so the comparison is real.
If you are weighing upfront price against lifetime cost, our article on why homeowners choose Brava walks through the maths.
Can Brava replace my cedar shake roof directly?
In most cases yes. We tear off the existing cedar, inspect and repair the deck, redo underlayment, flashings and ventilation, then install the Brava profile you picked. Because Brava is light, structural changes are rarely needed — but we confirm that on site rather than assuming it.
What warranty comes with a Brava roof?
Brava supports its composite tile with a 50-year limited warranty, registered with Brava after purchase. On top of that you get our 10-year workmanship warranty on full replacements, which covers the installation itself. Material coverage and installation coverage are two different things, and a premium roof needs both.
Does Brava come in colours that suit West Coast homes?
Yes — the cedar and slate lines come in multi-tone blends built to look like weathered natural material rather than a flat painted surface. Colour is moulded through the tile, so scuffs and cut edges do not show a different colour underneath. We can order physical samples so you see them against your siding and trim in daylight.
Is Brava environmentally friendly?
Brava tile is made from recycled material and is itself recyclable, which is a meaningful difference from tearing off a wood roof every couple of decades. The longer service life is the bigger environmental story — fewer tear-offs over the life of the building.
Do you install Brava on strata and multi-family buildings?
We do. Brava suits strata sites where the original look matters to the community and council wants to stop paying for repeat cedar maintenance. We can scope it building by building, phase the work so residents stay dry, and give council a written comparison against the asphalt option for depreciation-report planning.
Complimentary assessment
Thinking about Brava for your roof?
Send us the property details and the look you want. We will tell you honestly whether Brava is the right spend on your building.
Straight answers. No pressure. A real next step.
Tell us about the roof
True North Strong Contracting installs Brava composite roofing across the Lower Mainland. Brava, Brava Roof Tile, Old World Slate and related product names are trademarks of their owner; product specifications and warranty terms are set by the manufacturer at bravarooftile.com. Contact us