Built-up roofing, or tar and gravel, is the century-old system still protecting Mansfield 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 form the membrane, and a gravel surface shields the assembly from UV and foot traffic. On Mansfield buildings that already have BUR, maintenance and restoration often make more sense than replacement, because the same mass and layering that made the system heavy also made it durable.
Assessments start with a free written estimate and a photo-documented inspection of the roof surface, flashings, and drains. We never waive deductibles on insured work, as Texas law requires, and we are not a public adjuster.
Keeping Built-Up Roofs Working in Mansfield
Hail is the main outside threat to a BUR assembly in this area. Hail an inch or larger has been reported within 6 miles of Mansfield in 13 of the last 20 years, and the biggest stone measured 5.0 inches on June 12, 2023. Gravel absorbs some of that energy, but impacts can still fracture the plies underneath, so a post-storm inspection looks below the aggregate rather than just across it.
Much of Mansfield’s building stock is recent, with a median housing build year of 2004, which means many existing built-up roofs are on older commercial buildings that have held up for years and deserve a restoration look first. Our commercial crews service BUR throughout Tarrant County and in neighboring Arlington and Kennedale.
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 Mansfield
How a roof system holds up in Mansfield depends on the storms it has to take and the houses it sits on. Here is what the public record shows.
21
Hail days, 1 in.+ since 2006
7
Golf-ball-size hail days
5 in.
Largest stone on record
2004
Median year homes built
Hail near Mansfield
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 21 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 6 miles of Mansfield. On 7 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 5 inches (softball size) on June 12, 2023. The most recent report: 1.5-inch hail on June 1, 2025.
June 12, 2023: 5-inch hail (softball size)
May 27, 2024: 2.1-inch hail (hen egg size)
May 12, 2014: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
March 8, 2025: 1.75-inch hail (golf ball size)
June 13, 2023: 1.75-inch hail (golf ball size)
How old Mansfield homes are
The median home in Mansfield was built in 2004. A large share of the city's 26,740 housing units are now old enough that original roofs are coming due, while 29% were built in 2010 or later.
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database (hail reports since 2006 within 6 miles of Mansfield); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Data pulled September 2026.
Common questions about built-up roofing (bur) in Mansfield
My Mansfield 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 Mansfield?
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 Mansfield?
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 21 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 6 miles of Mansfield, including 7 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 1.5-inch hail on June 1, 2025.
How old are most homes in Mansfield?
The median home in Mansfield was built in 2004, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. 9% of the city's housing units predate 1980 and 29% were built in 2010 or later. Many homes here are reaching the age when original roofs come due.
