What is Tar Roofing?
Commercial roofs are usually flat and require different materials than regular ones. If you are looking to renovate your flat roofing, then you definitely must learn about tar. By reading this short guide, you will get all the necessary information.
Have in mind though, getting a right estimate must be done with hands-on consultations. Having qualified experts inspect your roofing in person can do wonders for your home.
In the meantime, here is what you should know:
Tar & Gravel
The most popular type of flat roofing or gravel and tar roofing, also known as a buildup roof (BUR), has been installed across Canada and the US installed for over 100 years. Its overall installation and functioning rely on adding multiple layers to achieve maximum resistance.
Tar is one of the two main layers (the other being gravel, of course). It is actually a mixture that that mainly consists of petroleum byproducts and coal tar. Its appearance is dark, oily, and smelly. Smoke is unavoidable during installation since it is applied with tremendous amounts of heat.
Usually, as a customer you will get to choose the number of layers, a maximum of 5, you want to be applied to your roof. A general rule is, the more the merrier. Each of these materials is applied for a reason, bringing various different benefits to the table.
Benefits of Tar
Being so messy and smelly, one could definitely doubt whether they need such coatings. But, tar and gravel bring tons of benefits. One of the main coatings – tar, influences many important things and is installed to increase resistance and protect the roof from water damage and UV rays.
Expected to last from 20 to 35 years, tar can also expend the lifespans of the other layers. Its characteristics also enable the roof to maintain temperature balance on the inside. Along with the power of gravel, these two make wear & tear from bad weather almost impossible.
Depending on your situation, professional roofers Oakville will offer different types of gravel. In any case, remember that this layer serves to protect tar and is usually made from some kind of aggregate material like slag, mineral granules, and pea gravel.
Some Disadvantages
As with any other type out there, tar roofing can certainly be disadvantageous in some situations. First of all, it definitely does damage to the environment during the application process. When the heat gets mixed up with this kind of substance, tons of harmful gases get emitted in the atmosphere.
Even though it is highly durable, when the gravel starts to wear, the tar will be immediately exposed, needing urgent repair. And fixing some cracks along the way isn’t so easy with tar. It definitely requires more complicated labor.
However, as technology has developed, manufacturers found ways to circle around these disadvantages. For instance, you can always opt for the “cold” installation that doesn’t emit any harmful gases. Consult with your chosen roofing repair experts Toronto to find out more options about your flat or low-slope roofs.