Built-Up Roofing

What This Service Involves

Built-up roofing, the classic tar-and-gravel system, stacks alternating layers of bitumen and reinforcing felts into a thick, redundant membrane that has protected flat roofs for generations. That layered construction is reassuring in our climate because a single weak spot does not translate into an immediate interior leak. We finish the assembly with a gravel or cap-sheet surface that shields the bitumen from UV and cushions it against hail and foot traffic. Proper slope and clean drainage remain essential, so we integrate tapered insulation to keep water from lingering on the finished surface.

Benefits

Multiple plies provide redundant protection against leaks; Thick assembly resists punctures and rooftop foot traffic; Gravel or cap surface shields bitumen from UV degradation; Proven, time-tested system with a long track record; Excellent durability on large low-slope commercial decks

Our Process

1) Prepare the deck and install insulation with positive slope; 2) Mop or apply base sheet and reinforcing felt plies in bitumen; 3) Build up successive layers to the specified ply count; 4) Apply the flood coat and gravel or cap-sheet surfacing

What Affects the Cost

Number of plies and the total roof square footage; Type of bitumen and surfacing material selected; Insulation and tapered layout needed for drainage; Access and staging for hot or cold application methods; Removal of any existing roof and deck repairs found

Best Time of Year

We install built-up roofs in warm, dry summer weather so the bitumen flows and bonds correctly during application.