News & Advice

A built-up commercial roof (BUR) is a layered roof typically consisting of alternating layers of bitumen and reinforcing fabrics.

Here’s a brief overview of the components typically found in a built-up roof…

• Base Sheet – The bottom layer of a built-up roof, often fiberglass or organic felt saturated with asphalt or coal tar.
• Interply Sheets – Additional reinforcing fabric layers are installed between bitumen layers to boost strength and durability.
• Bitumen – Asphalt or coal tar acting as the waterproofing agent, applied hot to bind layers and create a unified membrane.
• Surfacing – The top layer is applied to shield underlying materials from UV rays, weather damage, and foot traffic, with options like gravel, mineral granules, or reflective coatings.