BUR Flat Roof Restoration
Spray rubber conforms to the extremely uneven surface of the gravel without splitting and creates a fully adhered, watertight membrane. When completed with a UV Thermal top coat, it becomes a highly energy efficient roof as well.
The typical BUR roof systems are overlapping rubber membrane sheets covered with asphalt, coal tar or cold-applied adhesive to the seams.
BUR’s are typically topped with rocks or gravel as well, but use a thin layer of pea gravel or crushed stone as opposed to much larger stones in a ballasted roof. A majority of leaks and built-up roof repairs will occur at flashing details – anywhere the membrane itself has a seam or meets a non flat surface.
BUR roof systems are not fluid-applied like seamless roofing systems so they cannot be custom installed and tailored to meet the particular issues of each individual roof – like flashings, vents, HVAC units, etc. A built-up roof repair is recommended around penetrations and the edges of the building to stop leaks but that will only result as a short-term fix. Surface spudding, repairs and installation of a seamless roofing system will make your roof stronger and more durable than the day it was installed.
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the right equipment for the job
While gravel roofs are common there are challenges and limitations to them. The gravel layer means that damage to the membrane below is not always immediately visible, which can lead to leaks and water damage that are difficult to source. The gravel also means that when it comes time for a new roof the expense and hassle of removing and disposing of the old gravel roof can be daunting.
A seamless liquid rubber roofing system is ideal for retrofitting an existing embedded gravel roof in order to avoid a costly and disruptive tear-off. The most common gravel roof assembly is a loose-laid EPDM membrane over a rigid insulation board. Then, stones or gravel (ballast) are placed on top of the EPDM to hold it in place, without any fastening or adhesion. The weight of the rocks can vary from 10 pounds per square foot to 25 pounds or more. Typically, the edges of the roof and areas around penetrations will be the first sections to deteriorate, allowing water to enter. A ballasted roof repair will be necessary to eliminate all water intrusions, which can be done by moving or removing the ballast.
A seamless rubber membrane is lightweight and is quickly spray applied to any thickness in one coat to the existing roof after all loose gravel is removed. A spray membrane is able to form a seamless rubber membrane without the need of any fabric reinforcement or underlayment. Spray rubber conforms to the extremely uneven surface of the gravel without splitting and creates a fully adhered, watertight membrane. When completed with a UV Thermal top coat, it becomes a highly energy efficient roof as well.
