Western red cedar is the default cedar, the species most Decatur shake and shingle roofs are made of, prized for its grain, workability, and natural weather resistance.
When someone says cedar roof in Decatur, 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 Decatur 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 Decatur
There is a Decatur 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 Decatur’s building department; we handle the filing and the inspection scheduling as part of the job. When the next core drops through Wise County, shakes split on impact and every carrier knows it, which makes documentation before and after storms a cedar owner’s best friend. The same crews run Bridgeport, Boyd, and Rhome, so comparable local installs are usually close enough to go look at. If the roof is not a fit for this system, the inspection says so, and 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 Decatur
How a roof system holds up in Decatur depends on the storms it has to take and the houses it sits on. Here is what the public record shows.
18
Hail days, 1 in.+ since 2006
6
Golf-ball-size hail days
4.25 in.
Largest stone on record
1988
Median year homes built
Hail near Decatur
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 18 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 5 miles of Decatur. On 6 of those days, the stones were golf ball size or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 12 of the last 20 years. The largest stones on record nearby measured 4.25 inches (grapefruit size) on April 4, 2008. The most recent report: 1.25-inch hail on April 28, 2026.
April 4, 2008: 4.25-inch hail (grapefruit size)
November 5, 2015: 2.75-inch hail (baseball size)
April 9, 2008: 2.5-inch hail (tennis ball size)
March 26, 2017: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
May 26, 2009: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
How old Decatur homes are
The median home in Decatur was built in 1988, and 38% of the city's 3,424 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 5 miles of Decatur); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Data pulled September 2026.
Common questions about western red cedar shake in Decatur
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 Decatur?
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 Decatur?
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 Decatur?
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 18 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 5 miles of Decatur, including 6 days with golf ball size stones or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 12 of the last 20 years. The most recent report was 1.25-inch hail on April 28, 2026.
How old are most homes in Decatur?
The median home in Decatur was built in 1988, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. 38% of the city's housing units predate 1980 and 15% were built in 2010 or later. Many homes here are reaching the age when original roofs come due.
