Built-up roofing, or tar and gravel, is the century-old system still protecting Kaufman buildings that were roofed before single-ply existed, and still a legitimate choice for the right structure.
BUR builds a roof in redundant layers: alternating bitumen and reinforcing felts topped with gravel that shields the assembly from UV and traffic. Existing BUR in Kaufman often earns maintenance and restoration over replacement, since the mass and redundancy that made it heavy also made it durable.
We install and service built-up roofing (bur) across Kaufman and the surrounding DFW communities. That includes free written estimates, documented inspections, and honest guidance on whether this system actually fits your home and budget.
The local case in Kaufman
What Built-Up Roofing (BUR) costs and returns in Kaufman depends on the houses it goes onto. The ring towns mix housing eras freely: a 1970s ranch, a 1990s two-story, and a this-year build can share one street, and each takes this system differently. That inventory rewards the boring commercial virtues: documented seams, maintained drains, and a membrane matched to the building’s actual use.
The permit runs through Kaufman’s building department; we handle the filing and the inspection scheduling as part of the job. When the next core drops through Kaufman County, single-ply shows bruise fractures that a chalk circle will not catch. Instrument surveys find what walking the roof misses. Because Terrell, Forney, and Crandall share our dispatch routes, examples of this exact system nearby are easy to arrange. We put the whole thing in writing (findings, grade, price, warranty) before you commit to anything.
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 Kaufman
How a roof system holds up in Kaufman depends on the storms it has to take and the houses it sits on. Here is what the public record shows.
9
Hail days, 1 in.+ since 2006
1
Golf-ball-size hail days
2.75 in.
Largest stone on record
1976
Median year homes built
Hail near Kaufman
Reported hail is less frequent around Kaufman: NOAA lists 9 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger within 5 miles. Fewer reports can also reflect fewer storm spotters in smaller communities, so a quiet record is not a guarantee. Hail that size was reported in 8 of the last 20 years. The largest stones on record nearby measured 2.75 inches (baseball size) on May 24, 2011. The most recent report: 1-inch hail on May 24, 2024.
May 24, 2011: 2.75-inch hail (baseball size)
April 20, 2023: 1.5-inch hail (walnut size)
March 14, 2022: 1.5-inch hail (walnut size)
March 24, 2021: 1.5-inch hail (walnut size)
April 29, 2017: 1.5-inch hail (walnut size)
How old Kaufman homes are
The median home in Kaufman was built in 1976, and 61% of the city's 2,762 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 Kaufman); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Data pulled September 2026.
Common questions about built-up roofing (bur) in Kaufman
My Kaufman 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.
Do you install this on shops and outbuildings near Kaufman?
Yes. Barns, workshops, and outbuildings are first-class projects out here, not afterthoughts, and the material conversation (usually metal-forward) covers them alongside the house.
How often does hail hit Kaufman?
NOAA lists 9 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger within 5 miles of Kaufman. Smaller communities have fewer storm spotters, so reports tend to undercount what actually falls. The most recent report was 1-inch hail on May 24, 2024.
How old are most homes in Kaufman?
The median home in Kaufman was built in 1976, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. 61% of the city's housing units predate 1980 and 10% were built in 2010 or later. Most homes here are well past the life of their original roof.
