Asphalt Tar And Gravel Roof

A built up roof bur sometimes called a tar and gravel roof is a tried and true style of flat roof.

Asphalt tar and gravel roof.

Light colored gravel is used to cover the dark layers. Heat and uv accelerate the deterioration of the asphalt roofing materials underneath the gravel. An asphalt and gravel roof is composed of several membranes that are layered with tar. 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.

This type of roofing is generally reserved for flat or nearly flat commercial roofs that aren t necessarily visible from ground level. Tar and gravel roof systems are traditionally comprised of several layers of coated felt that is built up and sealed together with asphalt bitumen or tar. This acts as an adhesive when it cools. Gravel roofs our experience is that most gravel roofs are 3 ply hot mopped asphalt built up with a gravel finish applied.

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. 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. This surface layer weighs down the built up roof protects it from sun exposure and serves as decoration. Here alternating layers of roofing felt usually fiberglass and hot applied asphalt are combined to create a long lasting roof system.

A top layer of bitumen and extra top mineral coating is also added. The asphalt is then covered with a layer of gravel to protect it from uv radiation and heat.