Built-up roofing, or tar and gravel, is the century-old system still protecting Bedford buildings that were roofed before single-ply existed, and still a legitimate choice for the right structure.
Built-up roofing earns its reputation through redundancy: alternating layers of bitumen and reinforcing felts, topped with gravel that shields the assembly from UV and foot traffic. On Bedford buildings, existing BUR often warrants maintenance and restoration instead of replacement, since the mass that makes it heavy is also what makes it durable. Our evaluation starts with a free written estimate and an inspection recorded in photos. Texas law keeps us from waiving any deductible, and we do not operate as a public adjuster.
Keeping Bedford’s Built-Up Roofs in Service
Multiple plies and a gravel surface give BUR some cushion, but hail still tests it, and Bedford gets tested often. Since 2006, the area within 5 miles of the city has seen 25 days of hail an inch or larger, and 14 of the last 20 years brought at least one such day. After a storm, we look for displaced gravel and exposed felts, where UV can start working on the bitumen. A BUR roof on an older Bedford building may have been patched more than once, so our written findings map every repair before we recommend restoration or replacement. Owners get the full picture on paper before committing. We cover Tarrant County, with the same crews serving Hurst and Euless.
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 Bedford
How a roof system holds up in Bedford depends on the storms it has to take and the houses it sits on. Here is what the public record shows.
25
Hail days, 1 in.+ since 2006
8
Golf-ball-size hail days
3 in.
Largest stone on record
1983
Median year homes built
Hail near Bedford
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 25 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 5 miles of Bedford. On 8 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 13, 2007. The most recent report: 1-inch hail on August 3, 2025.
April 13, 2007: 3-inch hail (teacup size)
May 27, 2024: 2.75-inch hail (baseball size)
April 3, 2012: 2.75-inch hail (baseball size)
April 6, 2018: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
April 19, 2011: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
How old Bedford homes are
The median home in Bedford was built in 1983, and 38% of the city's 21,878 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 5 miles of Bedford); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Data pulled September 2026.
Common questions about built-up roofing (bur) in Bedford
My Bedford 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 Bedford?
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 Bedford?
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 25 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 5 miles of Bedford, including 8 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 August 3, 2025.
How old are most homes in Bedford?
The median home in Bedford was built in 1983, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. 38% of the city's housing units predate 1980 and 3% were built in 2010 or later. Most homes here are well past the life of their original roof.
