Built-up roofing, or tar and gravel, is the century-old system still protecting Irving buildings that were roofed before single-ply existed, and still a legitimate choice for the right structure.
A built-up roof is made of redundant layers: alternating bitumen and reinforcing felts, capped with gravel that shields the assembly from UV and foot traffic. On Irving buildings, existing BUR often earns maintenance and restoration instead of replacement, because the mass and redundancy that make it heavy also make it durable. The assessment starts with a free written estimate and a photo-documented inspection. Deductibles are never waived, as Texas law requires, and we represent the roof work, not the claim: we are not a public adjuster.
Built-up roofs under Irving’s hail pattern
The gravel surface on BUR is a real asset in a hail zone, and Irving sits in one. Since 2006, the area within 8 miles has recorded 33 days of hail an inch or larger, 9 of them at golf-ball size or above, with hail of that size arriving in 15 of the last 20 years. The largest stone, 4.25 inches, came down on May 24, 2011. After storms, we check for displaced gravel, split felts, and flashing damage before recommending repair, restoration, or a new roof. The city is established, with a median year built of 1986 for its housing, and many built-up roofs in Dallas County have been in service for decades. A careful survey tells you whether yours has more years left in it. We service BUR in Farmers Branch and Euless as well.
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 Irving
How a roof system holds up in Irving depends on the storms it has to take and the houses it sits on. Here is what the public record shows.
33
Hail days, 1 in.+ since 2006
9
Golf-ball-size hail days
4.25 in.
Largest stone on record
1986
Median year homes built
Hail near Irving
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 33 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 8 miles of Irving. On 9 of those days, the stones were golf ball size or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 15 of the last 20 years. The largest stones on record nearby measured 4.25 inches (grapefruit size) on May 24, 2011. The most recent report: 1.5-inch hail on March 25, 2025.
May 24, 2011: 4.25-inch hail (grapefruit size)
June 6, 2018: 3-inch hail (teacup size)
June 13, 2012: 3-inch hail (teacup size)
April 3, 2012: 3-inch hail (teacup size)
May 27, 2024: 2.75-inch hail (baseball size)
How old Irving homes are
The median home in Irving was built in 1986, and 36% of the city's 102,512 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 8 miles of Irving); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Data pulled September 2026.
Common questions about built-up roofing (bur) in Irving
My Irving 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 Irving?
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 Irving?
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 33 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 8 miles of Irving, including 9 days with golf ball size stones or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 15 of the last 20 years. The most recent report was 1.5-inch hail on March 25, 2025.
How old are most homes in Irving?
The median home in Irving was built in 1986, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. 36% 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.
