Modified Bitumen & Built-Up Roofing in Texas

Modified Bitumen & Built-Up Roofing: what to expect

Built-up roofing, alternating layers of bitumen and reinforcing felt, usually finished with gravel or a mineral cap, and modified bitumen, its single- or two-ply modern relative, still cover a large share of older Texas commercial buildings. They are tough and repairable, and unlike single-ply they show their age honestly: blisters, ridging over insulation joints, alligatoring of exposed asphalt, granule loss and open laps.

Common repairs

• Cutting, drying and re-sheeting blisters rather than simply coating over them.
• Base flashing repair at parapets and curbs, where these systems most often fail.
• Cap sheet or ply replacement in sections, torch-applied, cold-applied or self-adhered.
• Re-surfacing with granules or an approved reflective coating to slow UV degradation.
• Drain and scupper repair, since gravel-surfaced roofs are prone to blocked sumps.

Torch safety

Torch-applied modified bitumen involves open flame on a roof, and torch-related fires are a recognised risk in the industry. Ask any contractor about their hot work procedure, fire watch policy and whether a cold-applied or self-adhered alternative is suitable for your building, on an occupied Texas building it very often is.