Western red cedar is the default cedar, the species most Garland shake and shingle roofs are made of, prized for its grain, workability, and natural weather resistance.
In Garland, “cedar roof” usually means western red: hand-split shakes for texture or sawn shingles for a cleaner, tailored line. Grade makes a big difference, since 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.
Our estimates are free and in writing, inspections come with photo documentation, deductibles are never waived (Texas law), and Cedar Crest is a roofer, not a public adjuster.
Western Red Shakes on Garland’s Older Homes
Garland’s median home was built in 1978, and 55% of the city’s housing went up before 1980. On houses that age, ventilation is usually the first thing we solve, because a western red shake roof lives or dies by airflow. We check the deck and the vents before recommending a grade, so the shakes are not the only new part of the system.
Hail is the other reality. Public records count 37 days of one-inch or larger hail within 7 miles of Garland since 2006, with the biggest stones reaching 2.5 inches on June 2, 2017. Split shakes are a known outcome, so photos taken before and after storms protect a cedar owner at claim time. We serve all of Dallas County, including neighboring Richardson and Sachse.
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 Garland
How a roof system holds up in Garland depends on the storms it has to take and the houses it sits on. Here is what the public record shows.
37
Hail days, 1 in.+ since 2006
12
Golf-ball-size hail days
2.5 in.
Largest stone on record
1978
Median year homes built
Hail near Garland
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 37 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 7 miles of Garland. On 12 of those days, the stones were golf ball size or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 16 of the last 20 years. The largest stones on record nearby measured 2.5 inches (tennis ball size) on June 2, 2017. The most recent report: 2-inch hail on April 27, 2026.
June 2, 2017: 2.5-inch hail (tennis ball size)
September 24, 2023: 2.25-inch hail (hen egg size)
April 27, 2026: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
April 23, 2021: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
April 21, 2017: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
How old Garland homes are
The median home in Garland was built in 1978, and 55% of the city's 86,216 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 7 miles of Garland); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Data pulled September 2026.
Common questions about western red cedar shake in Garland
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 Garland?
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 Garland?
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 Garland?
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 37 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 7 miles of Garland, including 12 days with golf ball size stones or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 16 of the last 20 years. The most recent report was 2-inch hail on April 27, 2026.
How old are most homes in Garland?
The median home in Garland was built in 1978, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. 55% of the city's housing units predate 1980 and 10% were built in 2010 or later. Most homes here are well past the life of their original roof.
