Built-up roofing, or tar and gravel, is the century-old system still protecting Plano buildings that were roofed before single-ply existed, and still a legitimate choice for the right structure.
Built-up roofing creates a roof from redundant layers: alternating bitumen and reinforcing felts, topped with gravel that shields the assembly from UV and foot traffic. On existing BUR in Plano, maintenance and restoration often make more sense than replacement, because the mass and redundancy that made the roof heavy also made it durable.
Building owners get a free written estimate and a photo-documented inspection. We do not waive deductibles, which Texas law forbids, and we are not a public adjuster.
Assessing Built-Up Roofs in Plano
Hail is the first question on any Plano BUR assessment. Since 2006, the area within 8 miles of the city has recorded 43 days of hail an inch or larger and 18 days at golf-ball size or above, with the largest stone reaching 4.5 inches on March 24, 2019. Gravel surfacing absorbs a lot of that energy, but hail can still fracture the top plies and displace the gravel, so our inspection maps bare spots and checks the layers underneath instead of judging from a quick walk.
Age matters as much as storms. Plano’s housing has a median build year of 1993, a sign of a city that has been developing for decades, and an older BUR roof with sound layers is often a restoration candidate rather than a tear-off. The same crews handle commercial roofs in Collin County neighbors Richardson 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 Plano
How a roof system holds up in Plano depends on the storms it has to take and the houses it sits on. Here is what the public record shows.
43
Hail days, 1 in.+ since 2006
18
Golf-ball-size hail days
4.5 in.
Largest stone on record
1993
Median year homes built
Hail near Plano
Hail is a regular event around Plano. NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 43 separate days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 8 miles of the city, and on 18 of those days the stones reached golf ball size or bigger. Hail that size was reported in 15 of the last 20 years. The largest stones on record nearby measured 4.5 inches (softball size) on March 24, 2019. The most recent report: 1.75-inch hail on April 27, 2026.
March 24, 2019: 4.5-inch hail (softball size)
June 13, 2012: 3.25-inch hail (teacup size)
June 11, 2023: 3-inch hail (teacup size)
April 20, 2023: 3-inch hail (teacup size)
May 19, 2023: 2.5-inch hail (tennis ball size)
How old Plano homes are
The median home in Plano was built in 1993, and 18% of the city's 117,686 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 Plano); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Data pulled September 2026.
Common questions about built-up roofing (bur) in Plano
My Plano 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.
Do you install this on shops and outbuildings near Plano?
Yes. Barns, workshops, and outbuildings are first-class projects out here, not afterthoughts, and the material conversation (usually metal-forward) covers them alongside the house.
How often does hail hit Plano?
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 43 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 8 miles of Plano, including 18 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 1.75-inch hail on April 27, 2026.
How old are most homes in Plano?
The median home in Plano was built in 1993, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. 18% 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.
