Introduced during the 1840s, built-up ("tar and gravel") roofing remains the
predominant system installed on low-slope ("flat") roofs.
A built-up roof consists of plies of reinforcing material (organic felts,
fiberglass mats or polyester), inter-ply layers of bitumen (asphalt or coal tar)
and a finish surfacing, such as gravel or decorative rock, mineral surface cap
sheets, or coatings. Owing to energy concerns, many built-up systems today
incorporate rigid board insulation as well.
The repetitiveness of a built-up roofing system -- its layer upon layer nature
-- provides both flexibility and durability. The number of plies and the
materials used for surfacing can be varied to adapt the system to virtually any
environmental or aesthetic concerns. For the same reason, a built-up roof is
more forgiving of abuse after application than are many other roofing systems.
However, in today’s money-conscience society, many have been leaning towards
Polyurethane Foam for its impressive impact in lowering costly utility bills and
overall heating and cooling costs.
Available for: New (Re)Roofs & Repairs
