Commercial Roofing
Built-Up Roofing (BUR) for North County Commercial Properties
The tar-and-gravel roofs on older Carlsbad and Oceanside commercial buildings have been doing their job for decades, and there is a reason built-up roofing has lasted that long in the industry. A BUR system is many layers deep, alternating plies of bitumen and reinforcing felts, topped with gravel that shields everything below from the coastal sun. That layered redundancy is genuinely tough.
We work on BUR two ways: keeping existing systems alive through repair and restoration, and replacing them when the felts have finally given out. Plenty of the gravel roofs we inspect have more life left than the owner assumed, they just need flashing rebuilt and bare spots re-graveled. When a BUR is truly done, we help owners decide whether to rebuild in kind or move to a modern membrane or foam system.
When you need built-up roofing
- An aging tar-and-gravel roof that is leaking or showing bare felts
- Blistering, alligatoring, or cracking across the field of the roof
- Flashing at parapets, curbs, and penetrations has pulled away or cracked
- Gravel has washed or blown off, leaving the bitumen exposed to UV
- You want to restore a serviceable BUR rather than replace it early
- The roof has reached true end of life and needs replacement
- You want a proven multi-ply system for a new low-slope roof
- Ponding or drain problems are accelerating wear on an old BUR
What we do
- Inspect the felts, bitumen, and gravel to judge remaining service life
- Perform test cuts where needed to check for trapped moisture
- Rebuild cracked or pulled flashing at parapets, curbs, and penetrations
- Patch blisters, splits, and bare areas and re-embed protective gravel
- Clear and re-flash drains and scuppers to stop ponding damage
- Recommend restoration versus replacement honestly, based on what we find
- Install a new multi-ply BUR or a modern alternative when replacement is due
- Meet Title 24 insulation and cool-roof requirements on any full re-roof
Roof types & materials
- Hot-applied BUR with asphalt and reinforcing ply felts
- Cold-applied built-up systems where open flame or kettles are restricted
- Gravel-surfaced cap for UV protection on traditional BUR
- Reflective cap or coating for cool-roof and Title 24 compliance
- Flashing rebuild and pitch-pan repair for penetrations
- Restoration coatings to extend the life of a serviceable BUR
Is it worth restoring an old built-up (tar and gravel) roof, or should it be replaced?
It depends on the condition of the felts and whether moisture has gotten into the system. Many BUR roofs that look worn only need flashing rebuilt, bare spots patched, and gravel re-embedded, which can add years of service. If test cuts show wet, deteriorated felts across the roof, replacement is the better long-term call. An honest inspection with test cuts is the only way to know.
If a BUR replacement is on the table, these related systems are worth comparing against a rebuild.
Reviews
What customers value about working with us
We publish verified reviews here as customers post them, rather than writing our own. Here is what people in North County San Diego tell us matters most.
Built-Up Roofing questions, answered
How long does a built-up roof last?
Why does the gravel matter on a BUR roof?
Can you repair just part of an old BUR roof?
Should I replace my BUR with the same system or something modern?
What affects the cost of BUR work?
Get built-up roofing done right
Free inspection and an honest estimate from a local North County crew.