Built-Up Roofs
Did You Know?
Project management takes more than just effective planning... it takes resources! Delta Services is equipped to mobilize dedicated crews, with specific application expertise and specialized equipment, to meet every one of your project demands.
Built-Up Roofs
A roof consisting of multiple plies of roof felts laminated together with bitumen. Built-up roof material can consist of bitumen-saturated felt, coated felt, polyester felt or other fabrics. A surfacing is generally applied and can be asphalt, aggregate (gravel or slag), emulsion or a granule-surfaced cap sheet.
This section was written simply to give people an idea of what a Built-Up Roof (B.U.R. for short) is and how it’s put together. The materials and information listed here are not comprehensive nor do they represent all types of built-up roof materials available.
Built-Up Roofing is one of the oldest and most reliable ways of installing a new roof. It was first known as composition roofing and started in the 1840's. B.U.R.’s come in two basic types, asphalt and coal tar, and three basic components – (1) the waterproofing component, (2) the reinforcing component, and (3) the surfacing component which is used to protect the other components from the elements.
There are many different types of materials used in Built-Up Roofing.
Hot and Cold Applied
Hot- or cold-applied systems are commonly used methods for replacing roofs. Which type is best depends on the particulars of your building, especially given that it has a wood roof deck.
Depending on the condition of the existing roof, replacement usually begins with removing the old roofing membranes, any underlying insulation, and associated roofing accessories. This exposes the underlying roof deck, typically constructed of wood, concrete, or steel. The roof deck, after any necessary repairs are made on its structural members, is cleaned and primed (if concrete) before the new roofing membranes are laid down.
In a typical roofing configuration, an approximately two- to three-inch thick layer of insulation is secured to the roof deck, underneath the roofing membranes. (One notable exception: In a configuration known as an inverted roof membrane assembly, or IRMA, the insulation is installed on top of the roofing membranes.)
