Built-up roofing, or tar and gravel, is the century-old system still protecting Garland buildings that were roofed before single-ply existed, and still a legitimate choice for the right structure.
Built-up roofing works through redundancy: alternating layers of bitumen and reinforcing felts, topped with gravel that shields the assembly from UV and foot traffic. On Garland buildings with existing BUR, maintenance and restoration often make more sense than replacement, because the mass that made the roof heavy also made it durable.
Building owners get a free written estimate and a photo-documented inspection. We never waive deductibles, as Texas law requires, and we are not a public adjuster.
Garland Hail and the Case for Layered BUR
Garland has seen 12 days of golf-ball size or larger hail since 2006, and the largest stones on record hit 2.5 inches on June 2, 2017. A gravel-surfaced, multi-ply roof takes that kind of punishment differently than a single sheet: damage has to work through several layers before water reaches the deck. After a storm, the useful question on a BUR roof is usually how much restoration it needs, and a documented survey answers that before anyone prices a tear-off.
Commercial owners also deal with rooftop equipment traffic and ponding zones, and both belong in the same assessment. We service built-up roofs throughout Dallas County, with crews also working in Richardson and Rowlett, and the written estimate spells out scope and timeline for your building.
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 Garland
How a roof system holds up in Garland depends on the storms it has to take and the houses it sits on. Here is what the public record shows.
37
Hail days, 1 in.+ since 2006
12
Golf-ball-size hail days
2.5 in.
Largest stone on record
1978
Median year homes built
Hail near Garland
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 37 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 7 miles of Garland. On 12 of those days, the stones were golf ball size or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 16 of the last 20 years. The largest stones on record nearby measured 2.5 inches (tennis ball size) on June 2, 2017. The most recent report: 2-inch hail on April 27, 2026.
June 2, 2017: 2.5-inch hail (tennis ball size)
September 24, 2023: 2.25-inch hail (hen egg size)
April 27, 2026: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
April 23, 2021: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
April 21, 2017: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
How old Garland homes are
The median home in Garland was built in 1978, and 55% of the city's 86,216 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 7 miles of Garland); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Data pulled September 2026.
Common questions about built-up roofing (bur) in Garland
My Garland 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 Garland?
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 Garland?
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 37 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 7 miles of Garland, including 12 days with golf ball size stones or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 16 of the last 20 years. The most recent report was 2-inch hail on April 27, 2026.
How old are most homes in Garland?
The median home in Garland was built in 1978, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. 55% 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.
