Built-Up Roofing (BUR)

Built-up roofing is a low-slope system made from alternating layers of bitumen and reinforcing ply sheets, finished with a gravel or cap-sheet surface. Property owners typically look at BUR for flat or low-pitch sections of a home or commercial building where a durable, multi-layer membrane is the right fit. SmithBuilt Roofing and Exteriors works on BUR sections as part of our broader flat-roof and commercial roofing work in Bradenton.

How We Assess a Built-Up Roof

Core Sampling Tools — a small test cut shows every layer of the existing system, so any recommendation is based on what is actually up there rather than a guess.
Moisture Meters — direct readings through the deck and insulation show how far water has traveled under the surface before we decide on repair versus replacement.
Drones with Thermal & High-Res Cameras — aerial thermal imaging finds wet insulation and storm damage across a large flat roof without anyone walking a fragile surface.

Where BUR Fits With Our Other Work

Modified Bitumen — a related low-slope system we also install, often considered alongside BUR for the same building.
Roof Coatings & Roof Restoration — options for extending an existing built-up roof's service life without a full tear-off.
Flat Roof Puncture & Seam Repair — addressing localized damage on an otherwise sound BUR membrane.