Tar and Gravel Roof Repair

Our tastes vary with almost everything, and what works for one person might work for the next, especially concerning comfort and style. The roofing system of your home or office should exude comfort and style, and this would only be possible if there were no signs of leakage and dents on it.

Tar and gravel roofs are excellent for several reasons –they shield against ultra violet rays, are affordable, and sit pretty on buildings. They can be the perfect finish your house needs, but you must take the extra step to ensure they always look well-kept. Tar and gravel roofs require maintenance and may eventually need repairs in the long run.

This article will guide you to know when your tar and gravel roof needs repair and what to do at such times.

What is a Tar and Gravel Roof?

Tar and gravel roofs are roofing sheets made of the finest materials and offer excellent health benefits to the habitants of that home or office space.

Roofing felt, hot tar, and asphalt-based sheets are laminated layers that makeup tar and gravel roofs. Light-colored gravel lines the topmost layer, shielding it from the sun’s rays and reflecting part of it into the atmosphere.

However, you must always keep an even layer of gravel on the roof, and some tiny rocks should remain loose to protect your roof from puncturing caused by foot traffic.

A tar and gravel roof might be the best option for flat-roofed homes or businesses.

The most cost-effective roof material is tar and gravel, which can last up to 30 years with routine care and repair. It is a terrific alternative for windows and decks that look out over the roof since it offers exceptional UV protection, is energy-efficient and is also an excellent choice for windows.

Since gravel surfaces reflect light rather than absorb it, it helps keep your roof cooler in the summer. Gravel is also an excellent fire retardant.

Due to its low cost and extended lifespan, a tar and gravel roof offers an excellent return on investment. Furthermore, repairs are less frequently needed due to the material’s robustness.

How to Repair a Tar and Gravel Roof

What happens when a tar and gravel roof needs some repair?

This only occurs occasionally, but when it does, there are easy and quick ways to go about it.

Regular maintenance of these types of roofs makes them last even longer.

• Check the gravel at least once a year because the roof’s deterioration is faster if the surface is unprotected.
• Fill up any gaps that might have been left on the roof with gravel.
• Get rid of any accumulated leaf litter. Since the roof is flat, rain doesn’t wash away leaves that gather there, which might lead to ponding. This ponding occurs when water remains on the roof surface for a long, usually 48 hours or more.
• You can fortify your tar and gravel roof by including additional fiberglass or foam layers to improve insulation.
• A more waterproof tar and gravel roof can also be made by adding a fresh acrylic/elastomeric “cool roof” coating.
• Mend the roofing membrane of an older tar and gravel roof. However, for a home, numerous patches could be a sign of prior leaks or weak spots. These places are prone to leak again if the patching was not correctly done in the past.

A qualified roofer should always perform every roof repair task. They can securely maintain your roof while also giving you advice on how to extend the lifespan of your roof. If patches are on one-quarter of the rooftop, you need to replace them. In addition to visible indicators like frequent patching, walking on older roofs and feeling how they are under your feet is the best method to gauge how worn out they are. Check out for cracking, open spots, depressions, degraded surfaces, and discoloration.

B&M Roofing offers after-sale and maintenance services for all roof types, and you can book an appointment today anywhere in Denver.

Tar and Gravel Roof Repair vs. Replacement

Sometimes, people mistake a roof repair for a removal and total replacement, which is unfortunate. The latter would cost you more and might not be necessary anyway. This uncertainty is the reason people employ the services of a professional roof inspector. You can save a lot of money and stress when your roof only needs a repair rather than a replacement. It might be tricky to decipher the difference between the two services, but it is possible.

Generally, when you assess the extent of the damage, it is easy to know if it needs a minor repair or a replacement. You need to replace the roof when it has holes and patches in at least 25% of the total surface area. Failure to do so is detrimental to the home residents or staff in the office space.

A roof often needs a replacement when the early sign of minor damage is ignored; it gets worse as the days pass.

You can also do a self-assessment by gently stepping over the roof with your feet to know the dented and bruised areas. This experiment will also tell you how badly damaged the roof is so that you can mend the holes and dents early enough. If you do these assessments regularly, you will be able to detect faulty parts of the roof and fix them instead of a strenuous replacement in a few months.

Tar and Gravel Roof Repair by B&M Roofing

Tar and gravel roofs are affordable if you are looking for classy and heat-resistant roofing for your home or office space.

B&M Roofing offers commercial and residential roofing services all around Colorado, and you can benefit from expert advice on what type of roofing maintenance you require. It would be best if you also cultivated the habit of regularly checking your roof in the house and office.

These checks/inspections might not sound like something people should remember to do, but it is of immense importance. It could save you money and physical injury, so it is worth every attention.