What is a Built-Up Roof?
A built-up roofing system is most favored for buildings with shallow slopes or flat roofs, which require a suitable solution for proper water drainage without increasing the roof's sloping angle.
A built-up roof or BUR is fabricated of alternating coats of reinforcing fabric (like felt) and bitumen (like asphalt, cold tar, or cold-applied adhesive). It's topped with sturdy composite material (like stone or gravel) to create a durable, continuous, sealed, and waterproof layer that can withstand weather conditions and is long-lasting.
A reflective coating is sometimes added to enhance cooling, which keeps internal temperatures consistent. In addition, the multiple bitumen layers protect against fire and wind, making this an ideal roofing option.
How to Repair and Maintain the Built-Up Roof?
A built-up roofing system can last up to 40 years and is one of the most preferred and effective roof solutions available today. However, a few issues can crop up with this system that an expert roofing contractor like Blue Ribbon Roofing can mend in no time.
- Blisters in the coatings - Sometimes, bubble-like defects appear in the roof system's sealant layer due to the coating's expansion caused by heat or moisture. These blisters need to be repaired by cutting open the blister to relieve the pressure on the layer. Roofing cement can then be spread in the gap created by the blister to reseal it. An asphalt shingle or a strip of a felt membrane can be pressed into the cement to repair it completely.
- Open roofing joints - Earthquakes can shock a roofing system and cause the roofing joints to split or open up, leading to severe damage. An expert roofer near you like Blue Ribbon Roofing should be consulted immediately in case an emergency roof repair is needed. An easy solution to this problem is to pour roofing cement in the crack and then seal it with a section of a felt membrane to enable cohesion of the layers.
- Undulations in the roof layers - It is not uncommon to witness waves or undulations in the roofing system, generally due to poor installation. Since the already laid out BUR coating is dried up, applying a fresh layer of sealant and substrate over it to level the wave is the simplest solution to rectify this damage.
- Cracks in roofing membranes - Weather can be the harshest enemy of any roofing structure, and BUR is no stranger to these conditions. Over time, the weather element can cause cracks in the roofing membranes. In such cases, restoring the roof can be done by cleaning the area and applying a fresh layer of roofing cement and sealant to the cracks.
Depending on the extent of damage, repairing the built-up roofs can be simple in case of blisters and waves. But issues like cracks and split joints need a more thorough approach, like an expert roofing contractor's replacement of the system. One must go to a reliable and certified roofing contractor to install a roofing system.
Why Contract Blue Ribbon Roofing?
Blue Ribbon Roofing is one of the most dependable commercial roofers in Fayetteville, NC, valued for its quality assurances of delivering expert services through well-trained and highly experienced teams. The glowing customer testimonials speak well of their trusted reputation and expertise in providing cost-effective roofing solutions to every client. Moreover, their unfailing dedication to their craft has won them several accolades and awards, making them the most preferred roofer in Fayetteville, NC. With more than two decades of experience, they stand true to their claim of being reliable and efficient in providing excellent roofing solutions, no matter the neCallcall them at (910) 483-7663 or emthem ail at info@blueribbonroofingnc.com.