Clay tile is the original: the terracotta barrel and flat profiles that define Spanish and Mediterranean homes in Arlington, fired to a color that never fades.
Clay’s color runs through the material rather than sitting on it as a coating, so a clay roof in Arlington looks the same in year forty as in year four. Clay is lighter than concrete tile but more brittle, costs more, and rewards installers who respect its handling. On architecture built for it, nothing else looks right.
Our clay tile work starts with a free written estimate and an inspection documented in photos. Under Texas law a deductible cannot be waived, and we never do it. Cedar Crest is also not a public adjuster.
Clay Tile, Brittleness, and Arlington Hail
Brittleness is the clay question in Arlington. Hail an inch or larger has fallen within 9 miles of the city in 15 of the last 20 years, and 21 hail days since 2006 have produced golf-ball-size stones or bigger. If big cores can crack concrete tile, a more brittle clay tile deserves careful handling after a storm, and our post-storm checks include the attic side, not just the surface.
The housing stock tells you where clay fits. With 33 percent of Arlington homes built before 1980 and only 8 percent built in 2010 or later, most houses here were not designed around a clay roof, so the right ones are the architecture that calls for it. For an existing clay roof, the lift-and-relay option means aging tile is not automatically a replacement. Our crews also serve Pantego and Dalworthington Gardens in Tarrant County, and the inspection is free.
THE SYSTEM
Clay Tile Roofing, up close.
Clay tile. S-profile courses with proper headlap and mortared caps, good for decades of Texas service.
PUBLIC RECORD
The local record behind Clay Tile Roofing in Arlington
How a roof system holds up in Arlington depends on the storms it has to take and the houses it sits on. Here is what the public record shows.
41
Hail days, 1 in.+ since 2006
21
Golf-ball-size hail days
5 in.
Largest stone on record
1986
Median year homes built
Hail near Arlington
Hail is a regular event around Arlington. NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 41 separate days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 9 miles of the city, and on 21 of those days the stones reached golf ball size or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 15 of the last 20 years. The largest stones on record nearby measured 5 inches (softball size) on June 12, 2023. The most recent report: 1-inch hail on April 26, 2026.
June 12, 2023: 5-inch hail (softball size)
May 27, 2024: 3.25-inch hail (teacup size)
June 13, 2012: 3-inch hail (teacup size)
May 24, 2011: 2.75-inch hail (baseball size)
June 1, 2025: 2.5-inch hail (tennis ball size)
How old Arlington homes are
The median home in Arlington was built in 1986, and 33% of the city's 153,137 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 9 miles of Arlington); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Data pulled September 2026.
Common questions about clay tile roofing in Arlington
Clay vs concrete tile in Arlington: what is the real difference?
Clay holds color permanently and weighs less but costs more and is more brittle; concrete is tougher and cheaper with color that mellows over decades. Both need structure rated for tile weight.
Is clay tile practical in DFW hail?
Clay can crack in significant hail, though individual tiles replace readily, which is the system's design logic. Owners committed to the look accept occasional tile replacement as part of a fifty-year roof.
Should we match the original material when re-roofing in Arlington?
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 Arlington?
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 41 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 9 miles of Arlington, including 21 days with golf ball size stones or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 15 of the last 20 years. The most recent report was 1-inch hail on April 26, 2026.
How old are most homes in Arlington?
The median home in Arlington was built in 1986, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. 33% of the city's housing units predate 1980 and 8% were built in 2010 or later. Many homes here are reaching the age when original roofs come due.
