Modified Bitumen
Reinforced roof fabrics are applied to act as “carriers” for bitumen, which is later cut and installed in layers similar to BUR membranes. These roofing systems are generally fastened to commercial rooftops as two-ply systems, adhered to the roofing deck for maximum stability and protection.
Maintenance of modified bitumen roofs are fairly simple, typically only requires an annual inspection and cleaning. They offer enhanced tensile strength compared to most other flat roof types that experience regular foot traffic, and that means if you anticipate a lot of activity on your commercial building roof, modified bitumen may be ideal.
Built-up roofing membrane
Built-up roofing also known as “BUR” is essentially your standard tar-and-gravel roof. It’s built with multiple layers (piles). This is a flexible roof type as the number of layers can be varied to help control costs or meet certain durability requirements you may need to address. It’s a very old low-slope roof system, and is one of the most cost-effective and tough roofing types available today.
What are built-up roofing systems?
One of the oldest commercial roofing types is built-up roofing, or BUR. Built-up roofing systems feature a continuous and semi-flexible membrane made of felt or fabric layers (called plies). The plies are alternated with layers of other asphalt-based materials like tar/bitumen and aggregate, which is why we sometimes refer to BUR as “tar and gravel” roofs.
BUR systems have good fire resistance and are incredibly durable and waterproof.
Because built-up roofing is so unique, not all roofing companies can install or properly repair it due to lack of knowledge, skill, or equipment. At All American Construction, we can install and care for BUR, unlike many of our competitors. Built-up roofing was so common for so long—more than 120 years in the USA—that many older buildings in our service area still have this roofing material. And these BUR systems require skilled maintenance from a knowledgeable commercial roofing resource like All American Construction to continue performing at their best.
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