Built-up roofing, or tar and gravel, is the century-old system still protecting Rowlett 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 felt, finished with gravel that shields the assembly from UV and foot traffic. The weight that comes with all those layers is also where the durability comes from, so an existing BUR roof in Rowlett frequently earns maintenance and restoration before anyone talks about replacement.
Building owners get a free written estimate and a roof inspection documented with photos. Texas law bars waiving a deductible, and we never do; we are also not a public adjuster.
Keeping built-up roofs working in Rowlett
Storms set the maintenance calendar here. Rowlett has seen hail an inch or larger within 6 miles in 16 of the last 20 years, with 9 days of golf-ball size or bigger since 2006. Gravel surfacing absorbs a lot of that punishment, but displaced gravel and bruised plies are worth a look after each event, along with drains, flashings and seams. Catching those early is what keeps a BUR roof on the restoration path instead of the tear-off path.
Only 10 percent of Rowlett’s housing predates 1980, a sign of how much of this Dallas County city was built in the decades since. Our commercial crews cover Garland and Rockwall on the same routes, which keeps Rowlett scheduling flexible for post-storm checks.
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 Rowlett
How a roof system holds up in Rowlett depends on the storms it has to take and the houses it sits on. Here is what the public record shows.
28
Hail days, 1 in.+ since 2006
9
Golf-ball-size hail days
4 in.
Largest stone on record
1997
Median year homes built
Hail near Rowlett
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 28 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 6 miles of Rowlett. On 9 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 4 inches (grapefruit size) on April 11, 2016. The most recent report: 2-inch hail on April 27, 2026.
April 11, 2016: 4-inch hail (grapefruit size)
September 24, 2023: 2.25-inch hail (hen egg size)
April 27, 2026: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
March 23, 2016: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
September 18, 2011: 2-inch hail (hen egg size)
How old Rowlett homes are
The median home in Rowlett was built in 1997. A large share of the city's 24,216 housing units are now old enough that original roofs are coming due, while 24% were built in 2010 or later.
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database (hail reports since 2006 within 6 miles of Rowlett); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Data pulled September 2026.
Common questions about built-up roofing (bur) in Rowlett
My Rowlett 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 Rowlett?
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 Rowlett?
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 28 days since 2006 with hail one inch or larger reported within 6 miles of Rowlett, including 9 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 Rowlett?
The median home in Rowlett was built in 1997, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. 10% of the city's housing units predate 1980 and 24% were built in 2010 or later. Many homes here are reaching the age when original roofs come due.
