Built Up Tar And Gravel Roof

If you have a home with a flat roof a tar and gravel roof may be a good option for you.

Built up tar and gravel roof. The standard roofing for this situation is built up from layers of hot tar and thick roofing felt and topped with a layer of gravel. Built up roofs or burs also called a tar and gravel roof is a well established and popular style of flat roof that is made up of alternating layers of roofing felt or fiberglass and asphalt that is applied with heat which combine to make a long lasting sturdy roofing system. First let s define what a tar gravel or built up roof bur is. While the asphalt is still hot gravel is typically spread over the roof to deflect heat and light and to protect the felt and asphalt which provides the actual water proofing.

A tar and gravel roof or built up roofing consists of several layers of waterproof material alternated with hot tar and a surface layer of mineral aggregate often smooth river stone. It s been used for well over 100 years. Most houses with flat or nearly flat roofs are topped with built up roofing or tar and gravel roofing made from fiberglass based asphalt sheeting that is applied in layers with hot bitumen tar mopped on between each layer. It s made up of 3 to 5 laminated layers hot tar and roofing felt.

It also has a layer of bitumen and an aggregate top layer. It is comprised of several layers of asphalt saturated felt which are layered in opposite directions then covered with hot asphalt roof coating. This surface layer weighs down the built up roof protects it from sun exposure and serves as decoration. A built up roof bur sometimes called a tar and gravel roof is a tried and true style of flat roof.

This is called built up roofing.