Built-up roofing, or tar and gravel, is the century-old system still protecting DeSoto buildings that were roofed before single-ply existed, and still a legitimate choice for the right structure.
Built-up roofing is a roof made of redundancy: alternating layers of bitumen and reinforcing felts, topped with gravel that shields the assembly from UV and foot traffic. On existing DeSoto buildings, BUR often earns maintenance and restoration over replacement, because the mass and layering that made it heavy also made it durable.
Building owners get a free written estimate and a photo-documented inspection of the membrane, flashings, and drains. We never waive a deductible, which Texas law forbids, and we are not a public adjuster, so claim decisions stay with you and your carrier.
Built-up roofs through DeSoto storm seasons
Commercial roofs in DeSoto sit under a steady hail pattern. Within 6 miles of the city, 23 days since 2006 brought hail an inch or larger, and 4 of those days reached golf-ball size. The largest stone measured 2.0 inches on June 12, 2023. A gravel-surfaced BUR hides impact damage well, so after a storm we survey the roof with instruments rather than trusting a walk-over to find fractured felts or trapped moisture.
The same approach applies to the older buildings mixed among a housing stock whose median year is 1993 and whose pre-1980 share is 21 percent: inspect first, then decide between restoration and replacement. Our commercial crews also serve Lancaster and Glenn Heights in Dallas County.
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 DeSoto
How a roof system holds up in DeSoto depends on the storms it has to take and the houses it sits on. Here is what the public record shows.
23
Hail days, 1 in.+ since 2006
4
Golf-ball-size hail days
2 in.
Largest stone on record
1993
Median year homes built
Hail near DeSoto
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 23 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 6 miles of DeSoto. On 4 of those days, the stones were golf ball size or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 12 of the last 20 years. The largest stones on record nearby measured 2 inches (hen egg size) on June 12, 2023. The most recent report: 1.25-inch hail on June 6, 2026.
June 12, 2023: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
April 9, 2021: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
April 26, 2017: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
June 13, 2012: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
March 9, 2019: 1.5-inch hail (walnut size)
How old DeSoto homes are
The median home in DeSoto was built in 1993, and 21% of the city's 21,718 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 DeSoto); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Data pulled September 2026.
Common questions about built-up roofing (bur) in DeSoto
My DeSoto 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 DeSoto?
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 DeSoto?
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 23 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 6 miles of DeSoto, including 4 days with golf ball size stones or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 12 of the last 20 years. The most recent report was 1.25-inch hail on June 6, 2026.
How old are most homes in DeSoto?
The median home in DeSoto was built in 1993, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. 21% of the city's housing units predate 1980 and 14% were built in 2010 or later. Many homes here are reaching the age when original roofs come due.
