Cedar shake and shingle roofs (what many Allen owners simply call wood roofs) offer a warmth no manufactured product fully matches, with maintenance realities worth walking into open-eyed.
Choosing cedar in Allen is a commitment. It weathers beautifully and insulates naturally, and it asks more of both the installer and the owner than asphalt does. Fire treatment matters. Ventilation matters twice as much, because wood has to breathe. DFW hail is also harder on wood than on Class 4 composites. For owners who love the material, nothing substitutes. For those drawn only to the look, our synthetic shake guide lays out the alternative honestly.
Every cedar project starts with a free written estimate and an inspection documented in photos. We will not waive your deductible, because Texas law forbids it, and Cedar Crest is a contractor, not a public adjuster.
Is cedar the right call for an Allen home?
Look at when Allen was built. Two thirds of its homes, 66 percent, went up between 1980 and 2009, and the median year is 2003. Most of those roofs started as builder-spec shingles. Owners replacing them get a clean chance to pick a material on purpose, and cedar is the choice that changes the character of a house the most.
It is also the choice that hail tests hardest. Hail of an inch or more has hit within 6 miles of Allen in 13 of the last 20 years, and the largest stone recorded was 4.5 inches on March 24, 2019. A cedar owner here should expect periodic inspections and keep photo records on file. We install and maintain cedar throughout Collin County, with the same crews working in Fairview and Parker.
THE SYSTEM
Cedar Roofing, up close.
Cedar shake. Hand-split shakes across a complex roofline, with character that earns its maintenance.
PUBLIC RECORD
The local record behind Cedar Roofing in Allen
How a roof system holds up in Allen depends on the storms it has to take and the houses it sits on. Here is what the public record shows.
27
Hail days, 1 in.+ since 2006
12
Golf-ball-size hail days
4.5 in.
Largest stone on record
2003
Median year homes built
Hail near Allen
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 27 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 6 miles of Allen. On 12 of those days, the stones were golf ball size or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 13 of the last 20 years. The largest stones on record nearby measured 4.5 inches (softball size) on March 24, 2019. The most recent report: 1-inch hail on March 29, 2025.
March 24, 2019: 4.5-inch hail (softball size)
June 13, 2012: 3.25-inch hail (teacup size)
May 19, 2023: 2.5-inch hail (tennis ball size)
April 21, 2017: 2.5-inch hail (tennis ball size)
March 25, 2025: 2.25-inch hail (hen egg size)
How old Allen homes are
The median home in Allen was built in 2003. A large share of the city's 39,094 housing units are now old enough that original roofs are coming due, while 27% were built in 2010 or later.
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database (hail reports since 2006 within 6 miles of Allen); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Data pulled September 2026.
Common questions about cedar roofing in Allen
How long does a cedar roof last in Allen?
Well-installed, well-ventilated cedar typically serves twenty to thirty years in North Texas. DFW sun and hail are harder on wood than milder climates. Maintenance quality moves that range meaningfully.
Is cedar allowed under fire codes in Allen?
Fire-treated cedar products meet the ratings most DFW jurisdictions require, while untreated shake generally does not. We confirm your city's specific requirements as part of any cedar project.
Is upgrading from builder-grade shingles worth it in Allen?
Usually at the first replacement or claim: Class 4 impact-rated systems earn many Texas carriers' premium discounts, and newer communities' HOA standards generally approve them easily. The math works hardest on homes facing decades of DFW hail.
How often does hail hit Allen?
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 27 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 6 miles of Allen, including 12 days with golf ball size stones or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 13 of the last 20 years. The most recent report was 1-inch hail on March 29, 2025.
How old are most homes in Allen?
The median home in Allen was built in 2003, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. 7% of the city's housing units predate 1980 and 27% were built in 2010 or later. Many homes here are reaching the age when original roofs come due.