Built-up roofing, or tar and gravel, is the century-old system still protecting Carrollton buildings that were roofed before single-ply existed, and still a legitimate choice for the right structure.
Built-up roofing puts redundancy into the assembly: alternating layers of bitumen and reinforcing felts, topped with gravel that shields the roof from UV and foot traffic. On Carrollton commercial buildings, existing BUR often earns maintenance and restoration before replacement, because the mass and redundancy that make it heavy also make it durable.
Estimates are free and in writing, with photos of every finding. We never waive deductibles, which Texas law prohibits, and we are not a public adjuster.
Keeping built-up roofs working in Carrollton
Hail damage on a gravel-surfaced roof can be hard to read from a walk, which is why the inspection method matters. Within 6 miles of Carrollton there have been 26 days of hail an inch or larger since 2006 and 11 days with golf-ball size or larger stones, and the biggest reached 3.0 inches on June 6, 2018. After a storm we check the gravel surface, the flashings, and the drains, and an instrument survey finds what walking the roof misses, including whether the layers underneath stayed dry. The city itself supports a restoration-first approach. Carrollton is established, with a median home built in 1988 and 26 percent of housing older than 1980, and on a roof that still has its mass and dry felts, maintenance is usually worth pricing before replacement. Our commercial crews cover Dallas County, including Farmers Branch and Addison.
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 Carrollton
How a roof system holds up in Carrollton depends on the storms it has to take and the houses it sits on. Here is what the public record shows.
26
Hail days, 1 in.+ since 2006
11
Golf-ball-size hail days
3 in.
Largest stone on record
1988
Median year homes built
Hail near Carrollton
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 26 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 6 miles of Carrollton. On 11 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 3 inches (teacup size) on June 6, 2018. The most recent report: 1.5-inch hail on May 23, 2026.
June 6, 2018: 3-inch hail (teacup size)
April 3, 2012: 2.75-inch hail (baseball size)
June 11, 2023: 2.5-inch hail (tennis ball size)
September 25, 2024: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
June 13, 2012: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
How old Carrollton homes are
The median home in Carrollton was built in 1988, and 26% of the city's 54,365 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 Carrollton); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Data pulled September 2026.
Common questions about built-up roofing (bur) in Carrollton
My Carrollton 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 Carrollton?
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 Carrollton?
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 26 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 6 miles of Carrollton, including 11 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 May 23, 2026.
How old are most homes in Carrollton?
The median home in Carrollton was built in 1988, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. 26% of the city's housing units predate 1980 and 16% were built in 2010 or later. Many homes here are reaching the age when original roofs come due.
