Western red cedar is the default cedar, the species most Denton shake and shingle roofs are made of, prized for its grain, workability, and natural weather resistance.
When a Denton homeowner asks for a cedar roof, western red is usually what they have in mind: hand-split shakes for texture, or sawn shingles for a cleaner, tailored line. Grade matters enormously, and premium heartwood grades earn their price in service life. So does the air beneath. Cedar breathes, and a roof that traps moisture under it ages in fast-forward.
You get a free written estimate from Cedar Crest and an inspection documented with photos. We never waive deductibles, which Texas law forbids, and we are not public adjusters.
Western red cedar on Denton homes
Weather is the hard part of owning cedar in Denton County. Within 9 miles of Denton there have been 46 days of inch-plus hail since 2006, and a split shake is the typical result of a direct strike, so the grade you buy should account for that risk whether you choose shakes or sawn shingles. On the housing side, 27 percent of Denton homes predate 1980. Older homes deserve a careful ventilation check before any cedar goes on, since trapped moisture is what shortens a cedar roof’s life, and we make that check part of the quote. Where the attic cannot move enough air, we say so before any wood is ordered. The same crews serve Corinth and Shady Shores.
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 Denton
How a roof system holds up in Denton depends on the storms it has to take and the houses it sits on. Here is what the public record shows.
46
Hail days, 1 in.+ since 2006
19
Golf-ball-size hail days
4.25 in.
Largest stone on record
1997
Median year homes built
Hail near Denton
Hail is a regular event around Denton. NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 46 separate days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 9 miles of the city, and on 19 of those days the stones reached golf ball size or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 19 of the last 20 years. The largest stones on record nearby measured 4.25 inches (grapefruit size) on March 26, 2017. The most recent report: 1.25-inch hail on September 21, 2025.
March 26, 2017: 4.25-inch hail (grapefruit size)
April 3, 2014: 4.25-inch hail (grapefruit size)
April 11, 2016: 4-inch hail (grapefruit size)
March 14, 2024: 2.5-inch hail (tennis ball size)
September 21, 2023: 2.5-inch hail (tennis ball size)
How old Denton homes are
The median home in Denton was built in 1997. A large share of the city's 60,531 housing units are now old enough that original roofs are coming due, while 25% were built in 2010 or later.
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database (hail reports since 2006 within 9 miles of Denton); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Data pulled September 2026.
Common questions about western red cedar shake in Denton
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 Denton?
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 Denton?
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 Denton?
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 46 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 9 miles of Denton, including 19 days with golf ball size stones or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 19 of the last 20 years. The most recent report was 1.25-inch hail on September 21, 2025.
How old are most homes in Denton?
The median home in Denton was built in 1997, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. 27% of the city's housing units predate 1980 and 25% were built in 2010 or later. Many homes here are reaching the age when original roofs come due.
