Western red cedar is the default cedar, the species most Grapevine shake and shingle roofs are made of, prized for its grain, workability, and natural weather resistance.
Most Grapevine homeowners who ask for a cedar roof mean western red: hand-split shakes for texture, or sawn shingles for a tailored line. Grade makes an enormous difference, and premium heartwood grades earn their cost in service life. So does the air beneath, since cedar breathes and roofs that trap moisture under it age in fast-forward.
You get a free written estimate and an inspection documented with photos before any wood is ordered. Texas law bars waiving an insurance deductible, so we never do it, and Cedar Crest is not a public adjuster.
Western Red Shakes Under Grapevine Skies
Shakes can split under heavy hail, and Grapevine’s record is not light. The biggest stone recorded near the city was 4.0 inches on June 11, 2023, and 32 separate days since 2006 brought hail an inch or larger within 6 miles. For a red cedar owner, that makes grade selection and post-storm photo documentation part of normal ownership rather than an afterthought.
Housing age shapes the install too. Grapevine’s median year built is 1993, only 18 percent of homes date from 2010 or later, and older roofs often hide patched decking and aging flashing. We open that up and correct it before new shakes go on, so the ventilation space works as intended. Grapevine is in Tarrant County, and the same crews handle cedar work in Southlake and Euless.
THE SYSTEM
Western Red Cedar Shake, up close.
Cedar shake. Hand-split shakes across a complex roofline, with character that earns its maintenance.
PUBLIC RECORD
The local record behind Western Red Cedar Shake in Grapevine
How a roof system holds up in Grapevine depends on the storms it has to take and the houses it sits on. Here is what the public record shows.
32
Hail days, 1 in.+ since 2006
12
Golf-ball-size hail days
4 in.
Largest stone on record
1993
Median year homes built
Hail near Grapevine
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 32 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 6 miles of Grapevine. On 12 of those days, the stones were golf ball size or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 14 of the last 20 years. The largest stones on record nearby measured 4 inches (grapefruit size) on June 11, 2023. The most recent report: 1-inch hail on June 2, 2026.
June 11, 2023: 4-inch hail (grapefruit size)
June 6, 2018: 3-inch hail (teacup size)
April 3, 2012: 3-inch hail (teacup size)
April 13, 2007: 3-inch hail (teacup size)
May 27, 2024: 2.75-inch hail (baseball size)
How old Grapevine homes are
The median home in Grapevine was built in 1993, and 16% of the city's 22,885 housing units predate 1980. Many of these houses are likely on their second roof or nearing the point where they need one.
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database (hail reports since 2006 within 6 miles of Grapevine); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Data pulled September 2026.
Common questions about western red cedar shake in Grapevine
Shake or shingle: what is the difference?
Shakes are split, thicker, and textured; shingles are sawn, thinner, and tailored. Same species, different character: shakes read rustic, shingles read refined.
What cedar grade should I buy in Grapevine?
Premium heartwood grades. The price difference buys decay resistance and service life. Economy cedar grades in a DFW climate are a false saving.
Should we match the original material when re-roofing in Grapevine?
Not automatically. A roof on its second or third cycle is a chance to rethink: Class 4 asphalt for the insurance math, metal or premium systems where the home and horizon justify them. We quote the honest options against your actual house.
How often does hail hit Grapevine?
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 32 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 6 miles of Grapevine, including 12 days with golf ball size stones or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 14 of the last 20 years. The most recent report was 1-inch hail on June 2, 2026.
How old are most homes in Grapevine?
The median home in Grapevine was built in 1993, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. 16% of the city's housing units predate 1980 and 18% were built in 2010 or later. Many homes here are reaching the age when original roofs come due.
