Western red cedar is the default cedar, the species most Richardson shake and shingle roofs are made of, prized for its grain, workability, and natural weather resistance.
In Richardson, a cedar roof almost always 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 space underneath. Cedar breathes, and a roof that traps moisture beneath it ages fast. Free written estimates, photo-documented inspections, no waived deductibles under Texas law, and no public adjusting: that is how we handle every shake roof. We are not a public adjuster, and we do not interpret your policy.
Western red shakes on Richardson homes
Much of Richardson’s housing is older, with 44 percent of homes built before 1980. Those houses often have attic ventilation that was never planned around a breathing wood roof, so we check airflow and decking before we recommend a grade. Hail is the other factor. The area has seen hail an inch or larger in 14 of the last 20 years, with 12 golf-ball-plus days since 2006 within 6 miles, and red cedar shakes can split under that kind of impact. A heavier premium grade holds up better, and photographing the roof’s condition after storms keeps any claim grounded in evidence. Between shakes and sawn shingles, the choice is mostly about the look you want; between grades, it is about how many seasons you expect the roof to serve. We work across Dallas County, and the same shake crews install in Addison and Plano.
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 Richardson
How a roof system holds up in Richardson depends on the storms it has to take and the houses it sits on. Here is what the public record shows.
36
Hail days, 1 in.+ since 2006
12
Golf-ball-size hail days
3 in.
Largest stone on record
1986
Median year homes built
Hail near Richardson
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 36 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 6 miles of Richardson. On 12 of those days, the stones were golf ball size or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 14 of the last 20 years. The largest stones on record nearby measured 3 inches (teacup size) on April 20, 2023. The most recent report: 1.75-inch hail on April 27, 2026.
April 20, 2023: 3-inch hail (teacup size)
April 11, 2016: 2.5-inch hail (tennis ball size)
June 13, 2012: 2.5-inch hail (tennis ball size)
September 24, 2023: 2.25-inch hail (hen egg size)
April 6, 2018: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
How old Richardson homes are
The median home in Richardson was built in 1986, and 44% of the city's 47,960 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 Richardson); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Data pulled September 2026.
Common questions about western red cedar shake in Richardson
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 Richardson?
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 Richardson?
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 Richardson?
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 36 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 6 miles of Richardson, including 12 days with golf ball size stones or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 14 of the last 20 years. The most recent report was 1.75-inch hail on April 27, 2026.
How old are most homes in Richardson?
The median home in Richardson was built in 1986, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. 44% of the city's housing units predate 1980 and 21% were built in 2010 or later. Many homes here are reaching the age when original roofs come due.
