The Roofing Book

Materials / Built-Up Roof (BUR)

Built-Up Roof (BUR)

BUR

A traditional low-slope system of alternating layers (plies) of bitumen and reinforcing felts, typically topped with gravel or a cap sheet. The original redundant membrane roof.

Category family
BUR
Typical lifespan
15–30 years
Typical wind resistance
gravel-surfaced assemblies perform well; varies by build
Typical fire rating
Class A
Weight per square
250–700 lbs
Cost band
$$
Slope suitability
low
Typical warranty
10–20 years
Pros
  • multiple redundant plies
  • excellent waterproofing track record
  • gravel surface protects from UV and adds fire resistance
Cons
  • heavy
  • labor-intensive install
  • hot asphalt fumes and hazards
  • difficult leak diagnosis under gravel

Manufacturers

BITEC Tremco Roofing CertainTeed Elevate Tarco GenFlex Roofing Systems Johns Manville The Garland Company Henry Company IKO Texas Refinery Corp Malarkey Roofing Products Mule-Hide Products Performance Roof Systems Polyglass USA SOPREMA U.S. Ply, Inc. WeatherBond

Named products

BITEC Beta BaseBITEC BURmastic Composite Ply HTTremco Roofing BURmastic Composite Ply PremiumTremco Roofing BURmastic Glass PlyTremco Roofing BURmastic Glass Ply 28 lbTremco Roofing BURmastic Supreme Composite PlyTremco Roofing CertainTeed All Weather/Empire Base SheetCertainTeed CertainTeed Flintglas MS Cap SheetCertainTeed CertainTeed Flintglas Ply 4CertainTeed CertainTeed GlasBase Base SheetCertainTeed Elevate Ply IVElevate Elevate Ply VIElevate Fiberglass Mineral Surfaced Roll RoofingTarco GenFlex MB BaseGenFlex Roofing Systems GlasBase PlusJohns Manville GlasKapJohns Manville GlasPly IVJohns Manville GlasPly PremierJohns Manville GlasTite FlexibleJohns Manville HPR Glasbase / HPR Premium GlasbaseThe Garland Company HPR Glasfelt / HPR Premium GlasfeltThe Garland Company Henry 604 25# Fiberglass Base SheetHenry Company Henry 607 33# Fiberglass Base SheetHenry Company IKO Type IV Glass Ply SheetIKO LeakBarrier Glass BaseTarco MIGHTYPLY Roofing MembraneTexas Refinery Corp Malarkey 502 Pano CapMalarkey Roofing Products Malarkey 515 Pano BaseMalarkey Roofing Products Mule-Hide G2 BaseMule-Hide Products PRS Glass BasePerformance Roof Systems PRS Glass Ply IVPerformance Roof Systems PRS Vented BasePerformance Roof Systems PermaPly 28Johns Manville PolyTHERM Roofing PlyTremco Roofing Polyglass G2 BasePolyglass USA Polyglass Ply IVPolyglass USA Polyglass Ply VIPolyglass USA SOPRA VISOPREMA THERMglass Premium VITremco Roofing THERMglass Type IVTremco Roofing Type II GlasbaseTexas Refinery Corp USP Base SheetU.S. Ply, Inc. USP NVBU.S. Ply, Inc. USP Type IV Glass Ply SheetU.S. Ply, Inc. USP Type VI Premium Glass Ply SheetU.S. Ply, Inc. Ventsulation FeltJohns Manville Viking AB IIBITEC Viking CTPBITEC Viking Poly-ShieldBITEC Viking Roofing AsphaltBITEC Viking TOFBITEC Viking Type IV Ply SheetBITEC Viking Type VI Ply SheetBITEC WeatherBond G2 Base SheetWeatherBond WeatherBond SureMB Vented Base SheetWeatherBond WeatherBond Type IV Glass Ply FeltWeatherBond

Related guides

Asphalt vs. Metal vs. Tile Wind & Fire Ratings New Roof Cost

Sources