Generally, roofs with slants and inclines are favored by most residential and commercial residences. Slanted, traditional roofs successfully stream away rain and snow without installing commodious insulation systems at an affordable rate.
Built-up roofing is a variation of flat roofing that is mostly seen in commercial and industrial facilities. They have been used in the U.S. for almost a century and are usually referred to as tar and gravel roofs, as these are some of the primary materials used in its construction.
Built-up roofing takes coal tar-saturated cotton fabrics and gravel-like materials, like asphalt, to assemble alternating layers of bitumen (tar) and roofing felts or ply sheets directly over the roof decks and insulation. The tar eventually soaks into the roofing felt to firmly glue all the elements together.
Built-up roofing began in the 1840's and was the oldest and most reliable way to install a new roof. All it requires is three essential components: a waterproofing component, a reinforcing component and a surfacing component. Many roofs employ variations of these components to create stronger and better waterproofed roofs. A few even use around 10 ply sheets for just one roof! This ensures the roofs protection from leakage while sustaining a durable platform for any solar panels or roof gardens installed on the roof.
Built-up roofs have been a dependable roofing option for years, but they do have some drawbacks. Maintenance is the primary concern. Built-up roofs are built flat and as one so when a leak occurs it can be difficult to place the location of it, causing one to have to dismantle the entire roof. 1. In order to avoid major damage, maintenance must take place on the roofing system regularly. Re-asphalting the layers is usually not necessary if the roofing surface is properly cared for. This would include draining the rain that forms on the roof after storms and remodeling the top layer with reflective materials to prevent heat damage.
On the contrary, because built-up roofs are flat it makes maintenance easy to take care of. These flat roofs also create more flexibility because you can add things to your roofing space such as roofing gardens, solar panels, furniture or in-ground pools. Roofing gardens and solar panels are more easily installed on flat, built-up roofs than traditional sloped roofs.
Then benefits of this type of roof are great, however, the drawbacks are something to consider. Remember, a built-up roof requires labor and maintenance, unless your ready to take that on; think twice. Built-up roofing is a great option for all building types while remaining reliable and cost-effective.