Built-up roofing, or tar and gravel, is the century-old system still protecting Grapevine buildings that were roofed before single-ply existed, and still a legitimate choice for the right structure.
Built-up roofing earns its keep through redundancy: alternating layers of bitumen and reinforcing felt, finished with gravel that shields the assembly from UV and foot traffic. On Grapevine buildings that already have BUR, maintenance and restoration often make more sense than replacement, because the mass that made the system heavy also made it durable.
Assessments come with a free written estimate and photo documentation of what we find. Deductibles are never waived under Texas law, and we do not work as a public adjuster. If the building is not a fit for this system, the inspection says so, and that answer is free too.
Built-Up Roof Care for Grapevine Commercial Owners
Grapevine’s hail history is the main reason a BUR roof here deserves scheduled attention. Hail an inch or larger has struck within 6 miles on 32 days since 2006, and 12 of those days brought golf-ball-size stones or bigger. Gravel absorbs a lot of that punishment, but impacts can still reach the plies beneath, and instrument surveys find what walking the roof misses. After an event like the 4.0-inch hail on June 11, 2023, a documented survey is how an owner learns what the layers actually took.
Grapevine has been building for decades, with a residential median build year of 1993, so many roofs in town have already been through at least one cycle. For an older BUR assembly, maintained drains and documented repairs usually buy more years than a premature tear-off. Our Tarrant County commercial crews work Grapevine on the same routes as Coppell and Southlake.
THE SYSTEM
Built-Up Roofing (BUR), up close.
Flat / low-slope membrane. Single-ply and built-up systems chosen by what the roof actually does all day.
PUBLIC RECORD
The local record behind Built-Up Roofing (BUR) in Grapevine
How a roof system holds up in Grapevine depends on the storms it has to take and the houses it sits on. Here is what the public record shows.
32
Hail days, 1 in.+ since 2006
12
Golf-ball-size hail days
4 in.
Largest stone on record
1993
Median year homes built
Hail near Grapevine
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 32 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 6 miles of Grapevine. 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 4 inches (grapefruit size) on June 11, 2023. The most recent report: 1-inch hail on June 2, 2026.
June 11, 2023: 4-inch hail (grapefruit size)
June 6, 2018: 3-inch hail (teacup size)
April 3, 2012: 3-inch hail (teacup size)
April 13, 2007: 3-inch hail (teacup size)
May 27, 2024: 2.75-inch hail (baseball size)
How old Grapevine homes are
The median home in Grapevine was built in 1993, and 16% of the city's 22,885 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 Grapevine); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Data pulled September 2026.
Common questions about built-up roofing (bur) in Grapevine
My Grapevine building has tar-and-gravel. Replace it?
Not automatically. Sound BUR restores and maintains well; its redundancy is real. A moisture survey tells you whether the assembly beneath the gravel is dry, and that answer decides.
Why did BUR fall out of fashion?
Weight, installation labor, and odor during application. Single-ply installs faster and lighter. Neither of those points makes an existing sound BUR roof bad.
Should we match the original material when re-roofing in Grapevine?
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 Grapevine?
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 32 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 6 miles of Grapevine, 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-inch hail on June 2, 2026.
How old are most homes in Grapevine?
The median home in Grapevine was built in 1993, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. 16% of the city's housing units predate 1980 and 18% were built in 2010 or later. Many homes here are reaching the age when original roofs come due.
