TYPES OF FLAT ROOF

Here for all your roofing needs!

Built-Up Roof (BUR)

The traditional hot-tar-and-gravel roof is built from three or more plies of waterproof material alternated with hot tar and ballasted by a layer of smooth river stone.  Once made of tar paper, these types of roofs gradually are using more-advanced materials such as fiberglass membranes.

Pros: Gravel is an excellent fire retardant.  Attractive for windows and decks that overlook the roof.  It’s the cheapest of the four roof varieties.

Cons: Very heavy.  Joists sometimes have to be strengthened.  Smelly and messy to install.  It’s not a DIY installation job and it is hard to find the source of leaks.  Gravel can clog gutters and scuppers.

Modified Bitumen

A single-ply rolled roof similar to ice-and-water shield, but impregnated with a mineral-based wear surface.  Torch-down systems involve heating the adhesive as the material is unrolled.  Newer peel-and-stick systems are safer and easier.

Pros:  Its light-colored mineral surface reflects heat and cuts energy bills.  Its price is in the middle of the pack.

Cons:  It’s not as scuff- or tear-resistant as rubber-membrane roofs.

Rubber Membrane

EPDM (short for ethylene propylene diene monomer) is a true rubber.  The durable material resembles an inner tube, but it’s engineered to resist damage from sunlight.  EPDM can be mechanically anchored with fasteners, ballasted with stone, or glued.

Pros: Homeowner-friendly installation.  The material’s relatively light yet highly resistant to scuffs and tears.  Leaks are easy to patch.