Western red cedar is the default cedar, the species most Reno shake and shingle roofs are made of, prized for its grain, workability, and natural weather resistance.
When someone says cedar roof in Reno, they usually mean western red: hand-split shakes for texture or sawn shingles for a tailored line. Grade matters enormously (premium heartwood grades earn their price in service life), and so does the air beneath: cedar breathes, and roofs that trap moisture under it age in fast-forward.
We install and service western red cedar shake across Reno and the surrounding DFW communities. The work comes with free written estimates, documented inspections, and honest guidance on whether this system actually fits your home and budget.
On the ground in Reno
There is a Reno version of the Western Red Cedar Shake decision, and it is not the generic one. Age, pitch, and construction quality vary house to house this far out, so housing is less uniform than the inner suburbs and the material fit varies too. Cedar suits the right house there, but it asks for attention this climate does not forgive skipping.
The permit runs through Reno’s building department; we handle the filing and the inspection scheduling as part of the job. When the next core drops through Parker County, shakes split on impact and every carrier knows it. Documentation before and after storms is a cedar owner’s best friend. Crews rotate through Weatherford, Aledo, and Willow Park on the same routes, which keeps Reno scheduling flexible. If the roof is not a fit for this system, the inspection says so. That answer is free too.
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 Reno
How a roof system holds up in Reno depends on the storms it has to take and the houses it sits on. Here is what the public record shows.
11
Hail days, 1 in.+ since 2006
5
Golf-ball-size hail days
2.75 in.
Largest stone on record
1995
Median year homes built
Hail near Reno
Reported hail is less frequent around Reno: NOAA lists 11 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger within 4 miles. Fewer reports can also reflect fewer storm spotters in smaller communities, so a quiet record is not a guarantee. Hail that size was reported in 8 of the last 20 years. The largest stones on record nearby measured 2.75 inches (baseball size) on April 19, 2011. The most recent report: 1.25-inch hail on April 29, 2026.
April 19, 2011: 2.75-inch hail (baseball size)
April 12, 2020: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
March 8, 2011: 1.75-inch hail (golf ball size)
April 3, 2008: 1.75-inch hail (golf ball size)
May 10, 2006: 1.75-inch hail (golf ball size)
How old Reno homes are
The median home in Reno was built in 1995. A large share of the city's 1,225 housing units are now old enough that original roofs are coming due, while 26% were built in 2010 or later.
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database (hail reports since 2006 within 4 miles of Reno); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Data pulled September 2026.
Common questions about western red cedar shake in Reno
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 Reno?
Premium heartwood grades. The price difference buys decay resistance and service life. Economy cedar grades in a DFW climate are a false saving.
Do you install this on shops and outbuildings near Reno?
Yes. Barns, workshops, and outbuildings are first-class projects out here, not afterthoughts, and the material conversation (usually metal-forward) covers them alongside the house.
How often does hail hit Reno?
NOAA lists 11 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger within 4 miles of Reno. Smaller communities have fewer storm spotters, so reports tend to undercount what actually falls. The most recent report was 1.25-inch hail on April 29, 2026.
How old are most homes in Reno?
The median home in Reno was built in 1995, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. 4% of the city's housing units predate 1980 and 26% were built in 2010 or later. Many homes here are reaching the age when original roofs come due.
