Built-up roofing, or tar and gravel, is the century-old system still protecting Mesquite 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, topped with gravel that shields the assembly from UV and foot traffic. On Mesquite buildings, an existing BUR system often deserves maintenance and restoration rather than replacement, because the mass that made it heavy also made it durable.
Commercial owners get a free written estimate and an inspection documented with photos. When a storm claim is involved, we do not waive deductibles, which Texas law prohibits, and we are not a public adjuster.
Mesquite hail and the gravel-surfaced roof
Hail an inch or larger has struck within 7 miles of Mesquite on 23 days since 2006, and in 11 of the last 20 years. On a BUR roof the gravel takes part of that impact, but the plies beneath can still bruise, which is why we survey with instruments instead of relying on a walk-over. What the moisture survey finds decides whether the roof is restored or replaced.
Mesquite is an established Dallas County city, with a housing median year of 1983, and many of its existing built-up roofs have decades of service behind them. That age is a reason to survey carefully, not a reason to tear off by default. Our commercial crews also cover Seagoville and Balch Springs.
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 Mesquite
How a roof system holds up in Mesquite 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
7
Golf-ball-size hail days
2.5 in.
Largest stone on record
1983
Median year homes built
Hail near Mesquite
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 23 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 7 miles of Mesquite. On 7 of those days, the stones were golf ball size or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 11 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: 1.5-inch hail on June 2, 2026.
June 2, 2017: 2.5-inch hail (tennis ball size)
June 12, 2023: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
June 13, 2023: 1.75-inch hail (golf ball size)
June 1, 2019: 1.75-inch hail (golf ball size)
April 30, 2011: 1.75-inch hail (golf ball size)
How old Mesquite homes are
The median home in Mesquite was built in 1983, and 41% of the city's 53,953 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 Mesquite); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Data pulled September 2026.
Common questions about built-up roofing (bur) in Mesquite
My Mesquite 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 Mesquite?
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 Mesquite?
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 23 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 7 miles of Mesquite, including 7 days with golf ball size stones or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 11 of the last 20 years. The most recent report was 1.5-inch hail on June 2, 2026.
How old are most homes in Mesquite?
The median home in Mesquite was built in 1983, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. 41% of the city's housing units predate 1980 and 6% were built in 2010 or later. Most homes here are well past the life of their original roof.
