Tar And Gravel Roof Removal

For a durable flat roof, you can’t go wrong with tar and gravel. Tar and gravel roofs are affordable, exceptionally durable, and long-lasting. But, even though tar and gravel roofs are excellent, there are several reasons as to why someone might want to and should remove them.

What Are Tar And Gravel Roofs?

A tar and gravel roof is a roof that consists of asphalt sheets, hot tar, and roofing felt. Together, these elements offer excellent roof protection and enhanced durability for both the roof and the home/business that the roof is protecting. Every single tar and gravel roof consists of multiple layers, each one containing those exact same materials. Right on top of a tar and gravel roof, there is a small layer of gravel, which protects the bottom layers from excessive sun and moisture while also holding those layers together.

• A tar and gravel roof is a roof that consists of asphalt sheets, hot tar, and roofing felt
• Every tar and gravel roof consists of multiple layers and the top layer is gravel
• By having this gravel on top, the roof is held together and the gravel can protect the bottom layers from excessive sun and moisture

What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Tar And Gravel Roofs?

Every year, Colorado experiences a significant amount of snow and a decent amount of rain – around 300-days of sunshine, 17-inches of rain, and anywhere from 60-to-100-inches of snow, as per the statewide annual average. Both of these elements can easily seep into an unprotected flat roof and damage the interior of the property that the roof is protecting.

But, with a tar and gravel roof, it is much more difficult for the elements to damage the interior of a property. More and more homes and businesses are using flat roofs, but in order to ensure those flat roofs are protected, the flat roofs must be made of strong and durable materials. Tar and gravel roofs are ideal for that since they offer a wide variety of protective measures that keep the elements out of a home/business.

Advantage – Durability

Tar and gravel roofs are exceptionally solid and, due to their multi-layered nature, they are extremely dense. Because of these qualities, tar and gravel roofs are capable of preventing excessive moisture from flowing through the roof and into the interior of a home/business. But, it is worth noting that, in the areas of Colorado where there is an extreme amount of snow and rain – the mountains, for example – tar and gravel roofs can fall apart far more quickly.

Advantage – UV Protection

To go along with that, tar and gravel roofs offer excellent UV protection. This UV protection allows tar and gravel roofs to last for multiple decades because the sun doesn’t cause the materials that comprise the roof to actively break down and decay.

Advantage – Affordability

Even though most flat roofs tend to be pricey, tar and gravel roofs are very affordable. Due to this affordability, tar and gravel roofs are excellent for homeowners and business owners who need a strong, durable, and long-lasting flat roof, but don’t have the money to spend on, for example, a PVC flat roof.

Disadvantage – Improper Installation

The most notable disadvantage of owning a tar and gravel roof is that, if they are improperly installed, they can easily lead to significant damage. For example, if the hot tar isn’t applied properly, it can burst into flames and destroy an entire property. Even if the hot tar is applied in the proper manner, if the individual layers aren’t connected properly, significant leakage issues can follow.

Those are just two examples of what the improper installation of a tar and gravel roof can lead to. But, beyond those problems, tar and gravel roofs are simply quite difficult to install and very heavy, which can be inconvenient to deal with.

• Every year, Colorado experiences a lot of snow and rain

• Most flat roofs require extra protective measures to protect against that snow and rain since water can be trapped on a flat roof

• Tar and gravel roofs offer that protection since they consist of multiple layers, all of which are very durable

• To go along with that, tar and gravel roofs are a great fire retardant and they protect against UV rays, which allows them to last for many decades

• If a tar and gravel roof is improperly installed, it can lead to very significant problems

• Problems such as the hot tar bursting into flames and significant leakage issues
• Beyond that, tar and gravel roofs are very difficult to install and very heavy, which can be very inconvenient to deal with

Why Should Tar And Gravel Roofs Be Removed?

A tar and gravel roof is only meant to last for around 20-to-30-years. Once that point has been reached, it’s time for a tar and gravel roof removal. That is one of the most common reasons for a tar and gravel roof being removed. But, along with that, tar and gravel roofs may also need to be removed due to having been improperly installed, experiencing too much sun and moisture damage, or being unsuited for the needs of a particular property.

Even though tar and gravel roofs are very strong, they are only meant to last for around 20-to-30-years. Once they’ve reached that point, tar and gravel roof removal is the best choice, as the roof is no longer able to protect the interior of the property from the elements.

As mentioned earlier, if a tar and gravel roof is improperly installed, it can lead to significant issues. Significant issues such as the hot tar bursting into flames, and damaging the entirety of the property, or excessive leakages. If a tar and gravel roof is improperly installed, then it must be removed.

More often than not, even in places where there is heavy rain and snow, tar and gravel roofs will hold up quite well. But, if that rain and snow don’t have anywhere to go, and stays on the roof for too long, this can lead to roof depressions, which are sunken areas of the roof that have experienced too much moisture. These can be filled in, but if there are too many of them, or if new depressions are created on a frequent basis, then the tar and gravel roof is unsuited for the needs of that particular place and it should be removed and replaced.

• Tar and gravel roofs are strong, but they are only meant to last for 20-to-30-years; past that point, and they need to be replaced

• If a tar and gravel roof is improperly installed, it must be removed, because it can cause significant damage to the rest of the roof and the property

• Even though tar and gravel roofs can be quite useful in places with heavy snow and rain, certain problems can easily arise

• Problems such as depressions being created along portions of the roof and excess moisture being on the roof for too long

• If there are too many depressions being created, and there’s already a good drainage system, then that means the roof is unable to meet the needs of that particular place and should be removed and replaced

What Does It Take To Remove A Tar And Gravel Roof?

Tar and gravel roof removal is often long and difficult, due to the density and durability of tar and gravel roofs, yet not particularly complicated. Replacing the tar and gravel roof is far more challenging and consists of many more variables, which is why it’s best left to professionals.

For proper tar and gravel roof removal, a roofing tear-off shovel, carbide roofing cutter, and pry bar are all necessary. By having these tools, the upper layers of the tar and gravel roof can be removed, the individual layers of the roof can be sliced into, and then those layers can be pried off.

Even though the process isn’t particularly complicated, it is difficult and it can be unsafe. Because of that, if you aren’t sure what to do, hiring a professional is the best choice. And, when it comes to installing a new roof, hiring a professional is always the safest, easiest, and best choice.

Professional Tar and Gravel Roof Removal

By working with B&M Roofing, we will help you determine what your roofing and budgetary needs are, what is right for your roofing and budgetary needs, and what roof will best fulfill those needs. The installed roof will be strong, sturdy, and completely safe.

• Tar and gravel roof removal is often long and difficult, but not complicated

• All you really need is a roofing tear-off shovel, carbide roofing cutter, and a pry bar

• By having those three tools, you can remove the upper layers of the roof, slice into the bottom layers, and pry those layers off

• Hiring a professional for that process is often the best choice if you don’t know what you are doing

• For replacing that roof, hiring a professional is the best choice because it is the safest and easiest choice

By hiring B&M Roofing, we will work with you on determining your budgetary and roofing needs and then fulfilling those needs in the best way possible.