Built-up roofing, or tar and gravel, is the century-old system still protecting Allen buildings that were roofed before single-ply existed, and still a legitimate choice for the right structure.
Built-up roofing makes a roof out of redundancy: alternating layers of bitumen and reinforcing felt, finished with gravel that shields the assembly from UV and foot traffic. The same mass that makes BUR heavy also makes it durable, so an existing built-up roof in Allen often earns maintenance and restoration before anyone talks about replacement.
That judgment starts with a free written estimate and an inspection documented with photos. Cedar Crest does not waive deductibles, which Texas law prohibits, and we are not a public adjuster, so our role is the roof and the record of its condition.
Keeping Allen’s built-up roofs in service
A BUR roof in Allen has had plenty of chances to prove itself. The area within 6 miles of the city has seen 27 days of inch-plus hail since 2006, and 12 of those days produced golf-ball size stones or bigger. The gravel surface absorbs much of that impact, but repeated storms can displace it and expose the bitumen below. Our inspections check for bare spots, blistering, and felt damage, then weigh whether targeted repair and a restored surface will carry the building forward.
Because the median building year in Allen is 2003, many built-up roofs here are still structurally sound and good candidates for restoration. We service BUR across Collin County, including Plano and Parker, and the written estimate covers scope, timeline, and both warranty layers.
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 Allen
How a roof system holds up in Allen depends on the storms it has to take and the houses it sits on. Here is what the public record shows.
27
Hail days, 1 in.+ since 2006
12
Golf-ball-size hail days
4.5 in.
Largest stone on record
2003
Median year homes built
Hail near Allen
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 27 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 6 miles of Allen. On 12 of those days, the stones were golf ball size or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 13 of the last 20 years. The largest stones on record nearby measured 4.5 inches (softball size) on March 24, 2019. The most recent report: 1-inch hail on March 29, 2025.
March 24, 2019: 4.5-inch hail (softball size)
June 13, 2012: 3.25-inch hail (teacup size)
May 19, 2023: 2.5-inch hail (tennis ball size)
April 21, 2017: 2.5-inch hail (tennis ball size)
March 25, 2025: 2.25-inch hail (hen egg size)
How old Allen homes are
The median home in Allen was built in 2003. A large share of the city's 39,094 housing units are now old enough that original roofs are coming due, while 27% were built in 2010 or later.
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database (hail reports since 2006 within 6 miles of Allen); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Data pulled September 2026.
Common questions about built-up roofing (bur) in Allen
My Allen 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.
Is upgrading from builder-grade shingles worth it in Allen?
Usually at the first replacement or claim: Class 4 impact-rated systems earn many Texas carriers' premium discounts, and newer communities' HOA standards generally approve them easily. The math works hardest on homes facing decades of DFW hail.
How often does hail hit Allen?
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 27 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 6 miles of Allen, including 12 days with golf ball size stones or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 13 of the last 20 years. The most recent report was 1-inch hail on March 29, 2025.
How old are most homes in Allen?
The median home in Allen was built in 2003, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. 7% of the city's housing units predate 1980 and 27% were built in 2010 or later. Many homes here are reaching the age when original roofs come due.
