Adding Texture and Timeless Character with Our Bartile Roof

When you’re building a home, the roof isn’t always the most glamorous decision—but it can completely define the look of your house. From asphalt shingles and metal to cedar shake, slate, concrete, or clay tile, there are so many roofing choices out there. And depending on where you live, the cost can swing dramatically!

When I started dreaming up our English Tudor, I had my heart set on a cedar shake or slate roof. Both have such timeless appeal—cedar shake roofs give that rustic, textured look I love, and slate roofs are classic and elegant, lasting for generations. But once the bids came back, reality set in. A true cedar shake roof was three times the cost of a Bartile roof. Even CeDUR, a synthetic cedar shake roof alternative, was still double the cost of what I’d paid for our last home.

So, I adjusted the vision!

Why We Chose Bartile (Again)

We had a Bartile roof on our last home and loved it. It’s a custom concrete roofing tile that can be made to look like slate or shake at a fraction of the price. It comes with a 75-year warranty, holds up beautifully in Utah’s wild climate, and requires far less maintenance than wood. In all the years we lived there, we never had a single issue. That experience made it an easy decision for this new house.

The only thing I didn’t love about traditional Bartile is the thick overlap at the fascia where the tile stacks (see above example) . To fix that, we added a custom copper drip edge to conceal the overlap, and it completely changed the look. In fact, I was the first to use this detail with Bartile, and now it’s become a common installation. We repeated the same approach here, this time with a 3” copper drip edge, and I love how seamless and sleek it looks.

Designing Our Custom Roof

The beauty of Bartile is how customizable it is. They can make any look you’re after with over 20 styles and 700 colors. On our last house, I went for a deep charcoal. But for this home, I wanted something a little more nuanced—almost like a slate roof alternative with warmer undertones.

Here’s the combo we landed on:

• Tile: Modified #648 in the New England Slate profile
• Layout: Cottage Stagger
• Texture: Swirl Brushed finish
• Colors: A custom blend of charcoal and brown

This custom blend perfectly complements the darker pop-outs, asphalt driveway, and the warmer tones in our stone. Even with our super high-pitched rooflines, the finished look feels balanced, textured, and timeless.

Why Bartile Roofs Just Makes Sense

Besides the beauty and customization, here are the reasons I went with a Bartile roof:

• Durability: Backed by a 75-year warranty
• Safety: Class A fire rating (huge if you live in dry climates)
• Weather Resistance: Some styles even have a Class 4 hail rating
• Value: A cedar shake roof alternative or slate roof alternative without the steep price tag
• Heritage: Family-owned since 1942, and they stand behind their product

It’s the kind of roof you can put on once and not worry about again—a huge peace of mind when you’re investing in a forever home.

Final Thoughts on my Bartile Roof

Picking a roof might not sound exciting, but it’s one of the biggest factors in your home’s character and longevity. For us, Bartile gave us the rustic cedar shake and timeless slate look we loved, but with the durability and affordability of a custom concrete roofing tile. Twice now, I’ve chosen a Bartile roof—and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

If you’re building or considering an upgrade, take a look at Bartile’s options here. You’ll be amazed at how many ways you can design the roof of your dreams.

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