Brava Synthetic Shake
& Slate Roofing.
The look of cedar or natural slate, without the weight, the splitting, or the maintenance cycle. Specified and installed as a complete system across Western NC's premium homes.
Quick answer
What is synthetic roofing, and who chooses it?
Synthetic roofing uses engineered composite materials made to look like slate or cedar shake while weighing far less and standing up to weather better than natural equivalents. It is often chosen for mountain homes that want a heritage appearance without the weight or upkeep of natural slate. Highlander installs synthetic roof systems throughout Western North Carolina.
- Slate and shake appearance at lower weight
- Engineered for wind and moisture exposure
- Installed as a complete system with matched flashing
Limited material warranty registered as part of every install.
Significantly lighter than slate; no structural reinforcement typically required.
Color and shape stable through UV, freeze-thaw, and the rainfall load WNC delivers.
A Complete Brava System —
Specified for Your Home.
- Brava Old World Slate — the look of quarried slate at a fraction of the weight
- Brava Cedar Shake — the look of cedar without the splitting, cupping, or moss
- Coordinated color blending specified to the home, not pulled from stock
- Full ice-and-water shield underlayment for mountain climates
- Trim, ridge, and termination detailing installed as a complete system
- ARB submission packages and warranty registration handled for you
What actually drives synthetic roofing cost here
We do not publish a headline price, because a number pulled off a chart is not an estimate — and in Western North Carolina, two properties on the same street can price very differently. What we can do is show you every variable that moves the number, then put a written scope in your hands.
Pitch and complexity
Steeper mountain roofs need staging, fall protection, and slower production rates. Valleys, dormers, and multiple planes add cut waste and flashing labor.
Site access
Narrow gravel drives, steep grades, and tight tree lines change how materials get staged and how debris comes off the property — sometimes by hand instead of by truck.
Decking condition
Deck replacement is unknown until tear-off. We price a per-sheet rate up front so any rot found underneath is billed at a number you already agreed to.
Material system
Dimensional shingle, standing-seam metal, synthetic, and cedar sit at very different price points, and each carries its own underlayment, fastener, and trim package.
Ventilation and details
Intake and exhaust corrections, chimney and skylight flashing, ice-and-water coverage, and snow retention at elevation are scope items, not afterthoughts.
What your written estimate includes
- On-site measurement and photo documentation of current conditions
- Grouped-cost scope: tear-off, decking allowance, underlayment, roofing system, flashing, ventilation, cleanup
- Named material specifications and color selections, not generic allowances
- A per-sheet decking rate so hidden rot has a known price before we open the roof
- Projected schedule window and the weather assumptions behind it
Want a real number?
Tell us the address and what you are seeing. We measure the roof, walk the variables above with you, and send a written scope you can compare line by line against any other bid.
Scheduling reality in the mountains
Current lead timeInspections are typically scheduled within a few business days. Scheduled synthetic roofing usually starts a few weeks out, and that queue lengthens after every significant storm.
Weather windows narrowAt Western NC elevations, late fall and winter bring cold mornings, ice, and wind. Shingle sealing and safe steep-slope access both depend on dry, warmer days, so usable install days get scarce.
Cost of waitingIf a roof is already compromised, water keeps moving through it. Small leaks turn into wet decking, insulation, and drywall, which widens the repair scope and the price.
We do not run countdown offers. If the roof can safely wait until spring, we will tell you that during the inspection.
Every Great Project
Starts with a
Conversation.
Share a few details about your property and what you're looking to accomplish. A Highlander advisor — someone who knows these mountains, these materials, and these building conditions — will review everything and follow up personally to discuss scope, timing, and next steps.
Step 1 of 2 — What you need
About a minuteNo obligation · No sales pressure · Your information stays private
Pick the next step that fits
Some people need someone on the roof this week. Others are six months out and still gathering information. Both are welcome — start wherever you actually are.
Get eyes on it and a number in writing
On-site look, photo documentation, and a written scope you can compare line by line.
- 4.8★ Google · 158 reviews
- Licensed and insured
- Crews based in Franklin, serving Western North Carolina
What homeowners say about our synthetic roofing work
"After three bad experiences with other contractors, we were skeptical. Highlander changed that completely. James came out personally, gave an honest assessment — no pressure, no upselling. The install crew was clean, fast, and meticulous."
"We've used Highlander for two properties now. Their standing seam metalwork is exceptional — these are the only crews I'd trust at 3,800 feet. They genuinely understand what mountain weather demands."
Configure your Brava synthetic roof
An optional guided pathway for homeowners specifying a Brava shake or slate system — profile, color blend, ARB documentation, and detailing. We use it to prepare a precise on-site assessment.
- Material & system
- Priorities & tier
- Photos & notes
Not an instant quote. A real scope brief reviewed by a Highlander advisor as soon as possible.
~3 minutes · Optional
NC GC #87668
Licensed NC General Contractor · fully insured
Family-owned in Franklin since 2017
Showrooms in Franklin & Sylva
4.8★ · 158 Google reviews (as of September 2026)
Google Business Profile reviews
19 WNC towns served
Across 10 mountain counties
Recent: Metal Roofing
Highlands, NC · 3,200 sq ft roof replacement
Common Questions About
Brava Roofing.
Brava holds color and profile dramatically longer than cedar in mountain climates. Real cedar cups, splits, and grows moss in the moisture and UV conditions across Highlands and Cashiers.
No. Brava is significantly lighter than natural slate and roughly comparable to standard asphalt shingles. Existing framing almost always accepts it without modification.
Most WNC club community ARBs approve Brava with documentation. We prepare and submit the package including profile and color samples.
Brava is made-to-order in your specified color blend. We plan for several weeks of lead time and quote accordingly.
Brava carries a manufacturer limited material warranty. We handle registration as part of the install.
Related reading and local coverage for Synthetic Roofing
- Western North Carolina Roofing Guide: Best Roofs, Costs and Mountain Home Maintenance
Which roofing materials perform best in the Western North Carolina mountains, what replacement costs in 2026, and how to
- Metal Roofing for Bryson City Vacation Rentals: What Owners Should Know
Bryson City rental cabins take heavy rain, heavy guest turnover, and very little downtime. Here is how standing seam met
- Common Roofing Problems in Cullowhee, North Carolina
The roofing problems we most often find on Cullowhee, NC homes and what to do about them before they get worse.
- Synthetic Roofing in Franklin
Franklin, NC · Macon County · 2,119 ft
- Synthetic Roofing in Highlands
Highlands, NC · Macon County · 4,118 ft
- Synthetic Roofing in Cashiers
Cashiers, NC · Jackson County · 3,484 ft
- Synthetic Roofing in Sylva
Sylva, NC · Jackson County · 2,037 ft
- All Service Areas
Every Western North Carolina town we cover.
- Virtual Roof Designer
Upload a photo of your home and preview roofing materials and colors before you decide.
- Get My Written Estimate
Written scope from a Western NC team — 828-524-7773.
Common concerns, answered straight
The five questions we hear most often — and exactly what we do about each one.
"I don't know what this will cost."
We measure your roof on site and send a written, grouped-cost scope that names materials, quantities, and labor line by line. You see what drives the number before you decide anything, and nothing is added later without a signed change order.
"I don't want to fight my insurance company."
We document the damage with dated photos and a written condition report you can submit with your claim, and we can meet the adjuster on site so everyone is reading the same roof. We do not decide your claim, but we make sure the evidence is complete and the scope language is clear.
"Contractors always run behind."
Mountain weather moves schedules, so we build the calendar around real weather windows and tell you the plan in writing before materials are ordered. If a date shifts, you hear it from your project contact the same day rather than finding out from an empty driveway.
"Who is actually showing up at my house?"
Our crews are Franklin-based and led by a foreman you meet before work starts, not a rotating pool of day labor. You get one named point of contact for the whole project and daily progress updates while the crew is on your property.
"I'll be cleaning up nails for a year."
We tarp landscaping and staging areas, keep debris moving to the dumpster through the day, and run magnetic sweeps of the drive and lawn before we leave each evening. The final walkthrough is done with you, and anything you spot gets handled before we call it complete.
One conversation.
One local team.
Tell us about your property. A project advisor — not a call center — responds as soon as possible with a clear next step.
- 4.8★ Google · 158 reviews
- Licensed and insured
- Crews based in Franklin, serving Western North Carolina
Our Promise to You
4.8★ rated. 4.8★ rated. Roofing & Construction across Western NC since 2017.