Brava composite tile,slate and shake reimagined.
Brava molds composite tiles that carry the depth of natural slate and cedar shake, and every tile carries a Class 4 impact rating with a 50-year limited warranty. Old World Slate weighs about a tenth of the stone it replaces, so it goes on standard framing.
The short answer
Is Brava a good slate alternative for Omaha?
Yes, and hail is the reason. Brava tiles carry a UL 2218 Class 4 impact rating, the highest the test gives, because the composite flexes under a strike where natural slate shatters and cedar splits. That rating can earn an insurance premium discount of 10-30% depending on your carrier. The tiles weigh a fraction of stone, so your framing needs no reinforcement, and the color blends are formulated to resist fading through UV exposure. You get the look that stone and cedar promise, built in a material that suits what our weather actually does.
The lineup
Old World Slate vs Cedar Shake
Both lines share the Class 4 impact rating and the 50-year limited warranty. The choice is about which natural material you want the roof to read as.
| Line | The look | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Old World Slate | Quarried slate, in standard and heavy profiles | The heavy profile deepens the shadow lines; colors run from grays to earth browns |
| Cedar Shake | Weathered cedar, in barrel and straight-edge profiles | Class A fire rating where wood shake is Class C; multi-width tiles keep the layout natural |
Old World Slate
The slate look without the slate problems.
Natural slate asks a lot of a house. It needs reinforced framing, it cracks under hail and foot traffic, and replacement tiles never quite match the ones that weathered around them. Old World Slate answers each of those. The tiles weigh about a tenth as much, they carry the Class 4 rating, and the manufacturing keeps color and structure consistent from tile to tile. If you are planning a full roof replacement and slate is the look you want, this is the practical way to get it here.
Brava Cedar Shake finished roof, photo coming
Cedar Shake
Shake that never needs staining.
Real cedar splits and cups as it dries, it feeds moss and algae in humid stretches, and it carries a Class C fire rating. Brava's Cedar Shake holds its shape because the composite does not move the way wood does, and it carries a Class A fire rating. The pre-mixed color blends give it the weathered cedar look from the day it goes on, and there is no treatment or staining schedule to keep up with afterward.
Wind and water
Rated for 110, tested past 200.
The warranty wind rating is 110 mph, and the tiles have been tested to 188 mph with nails and 211 mph with screws, so there is real margin behind the number. The interlock design keeps wind-driven rain out of the field of the roof. Brava requires certified installer training for the warranty to activate, and the deck has to be solid sheathing, so the system is only as good as the crew that puts it on. We install it to the manufacturer specifications because that is what the warranty and the roof both depend on.
Brava Old World Slate finished roof, photo coming
Who's behind it
Built on a builder's standard.
Tailwind Roofing is led by David Nelan, with 25+ years in the trades, two decades of it building and finishing exteriors across the Omaha metro, and a Class B contractor's license. A composite tile roof rewards careful layout and clean flashing work, and every Brava job is held to the standard he has worked to since 2003.
Questions
Common questions about Brava roofing
How does Brava compare to natural slate?
Brava's Old World Slate gives you the slate look at about one-tenth the weight of quarried stone, so it installs on standard framing with no structural reinforcement. It carries a UL 2218 Class 4 impact rating, which natural slate cannot match, because the composite flexes under a hail strike where stone shatters. It also costs less than natural slate once you count the labor and the framing work slate demands.
What does the Brava warranty cover?
The 50-year limited warranty covers material defects, and the first ten years are non-prorated. Impact resistance and fade resistance are included in the coverage, and the warranty transfers to the first subsequent owner if you register it properly. It requires installation by a certified contractor following the manufacturer specifications, which is how we install it.
Does a Brava roof qualify for insurance discounts in Nebraska?
Many carriers offer a premium discount for a UL 2218 Class 4 roof, and the range runs 10-30% depending on the carrier. The discount is not automatic, so call your agent and ask what your policy offers, and we document the installed product so you have what you need to request it.
How does Brava hold up to Omaha wind?
The warranty wind rating is 110 mph, and the tiles have been tested well past that, to 188 mph with nail fastening and 211 mph with screw fastening. The interlock design also resists wind-driven rain, which matters here because the storms that test a roof's wind rating test its water shedding at the same time.
What does Brava cost compared to other roofs?
More than asphalt shingles and less than natural slate or clay tile. What you are buying for the difference is a 50-year warranty, a Class 4 hail rating, and a roof that does not need staining, sealing, or treatment to keep its look. The Class 4 insurance discount also chips away at the premium every year the roof is on the house.
Thinking about a Brava roof?
We'll look at your roof, walk the slate and shake lines with you, and give you a detailed estimate.
Comparing synthetics? See DaVinci synthetic slate or every product line we carry.