Synthetic shake delivers cedar's texture without its maintenance calendar. It is engineered polymer for Arlington owners who love the look but not the upkeep.
Polymer shake exists for owners who like the look of cedar but not the upkeep that comes with real wood. Quality synthetic lines are molded from actual shakes, carry Class 4 hail ratings and strong fire ratings without treatment, and skip the cleaning-and-treatment cycle wood demands in a DFW climate. The honest trade is character: cedar ages into individuality, while polymer stays uniform.
Cedar Crest installs and services synthetic cedar shake in Arlington with free written estimates and inspections documented in photos, so you see what we saw on your roof. We will not waive an insurance deductible, because Texas law does not allow it, and we are a roofing contractor, not a public adjuster.
Why Polymer Shake Suits Arlington Rooflines
Arlington’s median home was built in 1986, and 33 percent of the housing went up before 1980. Plenty of those houses have already been through a roof cycle or two, which makes the next reroof a natural point to change the look of the house and raise its impact resistance in the same project.
Hail is the other half of the argument. Within 9 miles of the city there have been 41 days of hail an inch or larger since 2006, 21 of them with golf-ball-size stones or bigger, and the largest on record measured 5.0 inches on June 12, 2023. A polymer profile rebounds where wood splits, and that is what the Class 4 rating is for. Our crews cover the rest of Tarrant County as well, including Pantego and Kennedale, and the first step anywhere is a free inspection of the deck.
THE SYSTEM
Synthetic Cedar Shake, up close.
Synthetic shake. The character of hand-split cedar with none of the cupping, splitting, or treatment cycle.
PUBLIC RECORD
The local record behind Synthetic Cedar Shake in Arlington
How a roof system holds up in Arlington depends on the storms it has to take and the houses it sits on. Here is what the public record shows.
41
Hail days, 1 in.+ since 2006
21
Golf-ball-size hail days
5 in.
Largest stone on record
1986
Median year homes built
Hail near Arlington
Hail is a regular event around Arlington. NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 41 separate days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 9 miles of the city, and on 21 of those days the stones reached golf ball size or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 15 of the last 20 years. The largest stones on record nearby measured 5 inches (softball size) on June 12, 2023. The most recent report: 1-inch hail on April 26, 2026.
June 12, 2023: 5-inch hail (softball size)
May 27, 2024: 3.25-inch hail (teacup size)
June 13, 2012: 3-inch hail (teacup size)
May 24, 2011: 2.75-inch hail (baseball size)
June 1, 2025: 2.5-inch hail (tennis ball size)
How old Arlington homes are
The median home in Arlington was built in 1986, and 33% of the city's 153,137 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 9 miles of Arlington); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Data pulled September 2026.
Common questions about synthetic cedar shake in Arlington
Synthetic shake vs real cedar in Arlington: the honest comparison?
Cedar wins on authentic character and ages into individuality; synthetic wins on maintenance, fire rating, and hail resistance. Budget long-term care into cedar's price when comparing.
Do synthetics fade?
Quality lines are through-colored and UV-stabilized, so expect gradual mellowing over decades rather than the peeling or streaking of coated products.
Should we match the original material when re-roofing in Arlington?
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 Arlington?
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 41 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 9 miles of Arlington, including 21 days with golf ball size stones or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 15 of the last 20 years. The most recent report was 1-inch hail on April 26, 2026.
How old are most homes in Arlington?
The median home in Arlington was built in 1986, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. 33% of the city's housing units predate 1980 and 8% were built in 2010 or later. Many homes here are reaching the age when original roofs come due.
