The purpose of gravel on a flat roof
- Gravel to protect Built-Up Roofs. A built-up roof (BUR), sometimes called a tar-and-gravel roof, is a tried-and-true style of flat roof.
- Added benefits of BUR flat-roof gravel. Because the gravel holds and releases heat, the layer of gravel on a BUR flat roof can both help water evaporate and keep heat ...
- Additional benefits of ballast on a flat roof. ...
Why put rocks on roofs?
- (1) Stabilization. In a typical tar-and-gravel roof (which, by the way, is gradually being supplanted by gravelless roof systems), you put down a layer of tar paper, then tar, and ...
- (2) Protection. ...
- (3) Ballast. ...
Why are rocks placed on roofs?
Rocks on the roof can be traced to the Native Americans who lived here long before anyone dreamed of professional hockey and were adopted by homesteaders. The idea is thus: During the day the rocks soak up the sun’s heat. In the cool of the night the rocks give off the heat and because hot air rises, the escaping heat would cause a kind of updraft that would help cool off the house.
How do you repair a built up roof?
Roof repair kits come with all the supplies you need to patch up a roof. Many of them include caulk for sealing cracks as well as patches for treating larger areas of damage on the roof membrane. Getting a kit means you don’t have to hunt down the individual components you need for a repair. Match the patch to the type of roof you have.
How to repair a flat gravel roof?
- From inside, measure the distance from where the leak is visible to the two nearest walls.
- Use those measurements on the rooftop to create a starting point for your search.
- Most flat roofs are very slightly sloped to facilitate runoff, so explore from the point of the water’s entrance up the slope, since water runs downhill.
Introduction of Built-Up Roof with Gravel
BURs (also known as tar and gravel roofs) are a well-known and popular form of flat roof made composed of alternating layers of roofing felt or fibreglass and asphalt that is placed using heat, resulting in a long-lasting and robust roofing system.
Why Do They Put Gravel on Flat Roofs?
Many flat-roof (low-slope) commercial buildings have gravel on top of their roofs. Have you ever wondered why contractors place gravel on flat roofs?
Gravel to Protect Built-Up Roofs
A built-up roof (BUR), often known as a tar-and-gravel roof, is a tried-and-true flat roof type. To build a long-lasting roof system, alternating layers of roofing felt (typically fiberglass) and hot-applied asphalt are used.
Purpose of Gravel on a Flat Roof
The usage of a ballasted commercial roofing system is primarily motivated by two factors:
Added Benefits of Bur Flat-Roof Gravel
The coating of gravel on a BUR flat roof may both assist water evaporate and keep heat away from the underlying roof structure since it stores and releases heat. When doing maintenance or repairs, the gravel gives a stronger grip for foot traffic.
Gravel on a Ballast Roof System
Ballast is a kind of gravel that is used in single-ply roofing systems. Although the primary function of ballast is to weigh down roofing materials, it also provides the same protective advantages as indicated above.
Additional Benefits of Ballast on a Flat Roof
A ballasted roof’s gravel absorbs heat, keeping the sun from heating the roof materials below and making the roof more energy-efficient.
What is a built up roof?
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 combines to make a long-lasting sturdy roofing system. The gravel embedded on the top coat of asphalt (the flood coat) ...
Why do you put tar and gravel on a flat roof?
Contractors and builders use gravel on flat roofing for two primary reasons; the first is to protect the underlying layer of roofing materials on built-up roofs (BURs), and the second is to secure or weigh down the roofing material, ...
Why do you need proof of tar and gravel roof?
This is because if a natural disaster or significant damage of some kind happens, you have proof of the prior condition of your built-up or tar and gravel roof, which will make your upcoming insurance claim much easier to process. You will thank yourself – and your public adjuster will thank you too – later.
What is ballast used for?
Ballast is commonly used with roofs made of tar-and-gravel roof alternatives, including ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) single-ply flat roofs. It’s fire resistance (ballast roofing offers Class-A ...
What is gravel on asphalt?
The gravel embedded on the top coat of asphalt (the flood coat) protects the underlying layers from the elements, including ultraviolet rays and natural threats like roof hail damage or heavy rains. Various types of BURs require a different type and weight of gravel depending on the underlying layers, the structure of the building, ...
What is modified bitumen roofing?
The two most common types of modified bitumen roofing are SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene) and APP (atactic polypropylene). SBS improves the flexibility of the roofing membrane, giving it stronger expansion and contraction capabilities, while APP improves the ability of the roofing system to stay strong as it ages.
How long does a tar roof last?
The benefits of a tar and gravel roof are numerous. They tend to have a lifespan of around 20 to 25 years depending on the location and the structure of the rest of the property (barring any major natural disasters of course). The weatherproofing aspects of the gravel embedded in the roof can prevent degradation like cracking or blistering ...
