Western red cedar is the default cedar, the species most Carrollton shake and shingle roofs are made of, prized for its grain, workability, and natural weather resistance.
In Carrollton, a cedar roof usually means western red: hand-split shakes for texture, or sawn shingles for a cleaner, tailored line. Grade matters a great deal, since premium heartwood grades earn their price in service life. So does the air beneath the roof. Cedar breathes, and a roof that traps moisture under it ages in fast-forward.
You get a free written estimate and an inspection documented with photos. We follow Texas law and never waive a deductible, and we are a roofing contractor, not a public adjuster.
Western red cedar and the Carrollton housing stock
Carrollton is not a new-build market. Only 16 percent of its homes were built in 2010 or later, while 26 percent predate 1980. On older framing, the ventilation path under a red cedar roof deserves a close look, and the decking gets inspected before any shakes go on. The weather adds its own terms. Hail an inch or larger has hit within 6 miles of the city on 26 days since 2006, and shakes split on impact, so grade selection and storm documentation belong in the spec from the start. The largest stone on record here, 3.0 inches on June 6, 2018, shows what the upper end looks like. A higher heartwood grade will not stop a stone that size, but it holds up better through the smaller storms that come far more often. Carrollton is in Dallas County, and we run the same red cedar crews in Addison and Coppell.
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 Carrollton
How a roof system holds up in Carrollton depends on the storms it has to take and the houses it sits on. Here is what the public record shows.
26
Hail days, 1 in.+ since 2006
11
Golf-ball-size hail days
3 in.
Largest stone on record
1988
Median year homes built
Hail near Carrollton
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 26 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 6 miles of Carrollton. On 11 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 3 inches (teacup size) on June 6, 2018. The most recent report: 1.5-inch hail on May 23, 2026.
June 6, 2018: 3-inch hail (teacup size)
April 3, 2012: 2.75-inch hail (baseball size)
June 11, 2023: 2.5-inch hail (tennis ball size)
September 25, 2024: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
June 13, 2012: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
How old Carrollton homes are
The median home in Carrollton was built in 1988, and 26% of the city's 54,365 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 6 miles of Carrollton); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Data pulled September 2026.
Common questions about western red cedar shake in Carrollton
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 Carrollton?
Premium heartwood grades. The price difference buys decay resistance and service life. Economy cedar grades in a DFW climate are a false saving.
Should we match the original material when re-roofing in Carrollton?
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 Carrollton?
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 26 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 6 miles of Carrollton, including 11 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 1.5-inch hail on May 23, 2026.
How old are most homes in Carrollton?
The median home in Carrollton was built in 1988, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. 26% of the city's housing units predate 1980 and 16% were built in 2010 or later. Many homes here are reaching the age when original roofs come due.
