Key numbers
77 verified hail storms with stones of 1.75 inches or larger reached Travis County, which includes Austin, from 1984 to 2025 in the storm records we keep; the largest measured 5 inches (softball size) on May 20, 2011 (NOAA NCEI).
| Hail storms by decade, 1984 to 2025 | 1980s: 8, 1990s: 16, 2000s: 24, 2010s: 13, 2020s: 16 Source: NOAA NCEI |
|---|---|
| Largest hail | 5 in. (softball), May 20, 2011 Source: NOAA NCEI |
| Costliest hail storm | $160 million insured losses (2006 dollars), April 20, 2006 Source: Insurance Journal |
| 5.19 million | Wood shingles or shakes were the main roofing material on 5.19 million U.S. homes in 2020. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2020 |
| About 20 | NAHB's 2007 study puts asphalt shingle roof life at about 20 years, fiber cement shingles about 25 years and wood shakes about 30 years. Source: National Association of Home Builders / Bank of America Home Equity, 2007 |
A storm counts when NOAA lists a report in Travis County. Each hail size is the storm's largest report in the seven Austin-area counties, which may have fallen in a neighboring county, and insured losses cover every area the storm hit.
Synthetic cedar roofing is usually the better way to get a cedar shake look on an Austin home than real wood: it gives the same rustic, layered look without rot, splitting, termite damage or curling, and it is easier to fit within fire rules on the west side of town. Synthetic shakes are molded from polymer in real-shake textures and widths, installed over solid decking with underlayment, and carry manufacturer warranties. The cedar roofs we install in Austin are synthetic.
Synthetic cedar vs wood shake
| Synthetic cedar | Natural cedar shake | |
|---|---|---|
| Upkeep | Little; no sealing or treatment | Periodic cleaning and treatment |
| Heat and sun | Built with UV inhibitors | Dries, cups and splits over time |
| Insects and rot | Not a food source; does not rot | Vulnerable without treatment |
| Fire | Product-dependent; ask for the fire class | Combustible unless treated |
| Look | Uniform quality, blended colors | Each shake unique; weathers to gray |
Fire rules matter here
Austin’s Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) code applies to homes near wildland: Zone A within 50 feet, Zone B from 50 to 150 feet, and Zone C up to 1.5 miles from 750 acres or more of wildland. In those zones the roof assembly must be Class A, and replacing 50% or more of the roof requires replacing all of it. A shake-look roof can meet that only if the specific product and its installed assembly are rated Class A, so get the rating in writing before you choose. Check your address on the city’s interactive WUI map; if you live in Lakeway, Bee Cave or Dripping Springs, your own city’s rules apply instead.
Replacing an old shake roof
- Full tear-off. Georgetown and Pflugerville both rule out laying a new roof over wood shake.
- Solid decking. Older shake roofs were often installed over spaced boards, which do not support a modern roof; new sheathing usually goes over or in place of them.
- Underlayment and flashing suited to long, hot summers.
- Ventilation. Shake roofs breathe through gaps; a new solid roof needs proper attic intake and exhaust.
Is synthetic cedar right for you?
It suits Hill Country, craftsman and rustic homes where the shake look matters. If budget is the priority, a luxury asphalt shingle imitates shake for less. For a heavier, longer-lived look, compare slate, tile or a shake-profile stone-coated metal roof. Our residential roofing page compares all five.
We are veteran-owned, family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor, and have 650+ Google reviews. Financing is available. Call (512) 610-5897 or book a free Austin roof inspection; we reply the same business day.
Sources: City of Austin, Wildland-Urban Interface Code; City of Georgetown, Re-Roofing Permits; City of Pflugerville, Re-Roof Inspection Certificate.
