Phoenix Built-up Roof Repair & Installation

Built-up roofing, in simple terms, means multiple layers of roofing products usually referred to as a base, ply and a cap. The base is exactly what is sounds like: the layer on the bottom creates a base. This can be a fire rated material which some building codes require. The second layer, called a ply, is an intermediate layer of an asphalt based felt. You can add one layer of ply or three layers of ply. Usually, the more layers the longer the warranty and longevity of the roof. The last layer, referred to as a cap, is a thicker layer of an asphalt-based membrane that has granules adhered to the membrane to provide a protection from the sun and other environmental factors. These layers are either adhered with hot asphalt or are self-adhering sheets.

Built-up roofing is installed in layers that are adhered based on the type of material that is being installed. It can be adhered with hot asphalt, a glue adhesive, or the membrane is a self-adhering product that requires no other product to adhere it to the roof deck.

Built-up roofs typically are grey, white or tan granules that look like 3’ wide sections that can be as long as 180’ long. They are installed in a staggered or brick layered pattern.

This depends on how many layers, size of the roof, and access to the building. You can expect to pay as little as $250 a square to $1,000 a square. For commercial buildings, it’s hard it give a budget number without taking into consideration of parapet walls and roof mounted curbs.

Built-up roofs allow you to get a fire rating for your property, they are economical for new builds, and add longevity to your roof with easy maintenance.

The layers applied are what make built-up roofing stronger than other roof types. Think of it as skin. Would you want one layer of skin or 5 layers of skin to protect you? The thinner the skin, the easier it is to bleed. The thinner your roof, the easier it is to leak.

Built-up roofing remains to be one of the best roofing systems out there. The reason it has declined in installation is due to environmental issues. Built-up roofing is an asphalt-based system and the cost of asphalt has been on the rise for years. If the system is applied with hot tar, the fumes that are off-gassed are not preferable for some installations. Another downside is insurance costs to the contractor. The risk for injury is higher with hot asphalt and torch down so you may have a hard time finding a contractor that will install a built-up roofing system that isn’t self-adhered.

If you do the minimum, you can expect 10 years before you might need to start looking at maintenance and built-up roof repair. If you install a better system with multiple layers, you could get 30 years on a well-maintained roof.

The most common repairs for built-up roofs are split seams, bubbles, and material degradation in areas where water sits. All can be repaired without replacing the roof.