[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.mcdonaldwetle.com\/blog\/ensuring-built-roofing-properly-installed#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.mcdonaldwetle.com\/blog\/ensuring-built-roofing-properly-installed","headline":"Ensuring Your Built-Up Roofing Has Been Properly Installed","name":"Ensuring Your Built-Up Roofing Has Been Properly Installed","description":"Defects in built-up roof installation can be hard to spot due to their layered design, but it\u2019s vital to ensure the job was done correctly. Learn more from McDonald & Wetle.","datePublished":"2020-09-30","dateModified":"2026-01-30","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.mcdonaldwetle.com\/author\/mcdonaldandwetle\/#Person","name":"McDonald & Wetle","url":"https:\/\/www.mcdonaldwetle.com\/author\/mcdonaldandwetle\/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/99051564b38eabb45182d683017f0df9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/99051564b38eabb45182d683017f0df9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Mcdonald & Weltle Inc","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/www.mcdonaldwetle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/590\/2017\/05\/Layer-12.png","url":"http:\/\/www.mcdonaldwetle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/590\/2017\/05\/Layer-12.png","width":390,"height":79}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.mcdonaldwetle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/590\/2021\/02\/Commercial-roof-being-built.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.mcdonaldwetle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/590\/2021\/02\/Commercial-roof-being-built.jpg","height":469,"width":900},"url":"https:\/\/www.mcdonaldwetle.com\/blog\/ensuring-built-roofing-properly-installed","about":["Blog"],"wordCount":516,"articleBody":"When you invest in any type of roofing, you want to know the job is done right, and built-up roofing is no different. Though this style of roof is incredibly common among commercial businesses, not all jobs are done equally. McDonald & Wetle has years of experience serving the roofing needs of the Pacific Northwest business community. Here, we provide the information you need to ensure your built-up roof installation was completed correctly.Proper Built-Up Roof InstallationBuilt-up roofing, or BUR, is constructed from alternating layers of asphalt and finished with a top layer like stone or gravel. This style of roofing is ideal for low-slope or flat roofs because it offers a continuous, sealed surface. Some benefits of correctly installed BUR include:Excellent waterproofing and ultra-violet protectionFire-resistant designGenerally low maintenance and affordable upkeepHow to Spot Improper Built-Up Roofing InstallationIf you\u2019re relying on BUR\u2019s protective elements for your commercial building, it\u2019s even more important for it to be installed correctly. Keep an eye out for the following possible issues with your roof:AlligatoringThis refers to the shrinkage of the asphalt top layer of your BUR. Alligatoring is when your roof starts to crack in patches, resembling a dry, cracked alligator hide. These cracks may not extend completely through every later, but when left uncorrected, cracks and splits can develop, and water may enter deeper layers, causing unseen damage to your roof. Alligatoring can be avoided by ensuring the top layer of your roof is properly installed and regularly inspected.PondingPonding on flat roofs is easy to spot. Any roof that still has water on it 48 hours after rainfall is defined as a ponding roof. This issue is commonly the result of sagging roof joints, which cause perimeter drains to be ineffective by allowing water to pond in the middle of the roof. To avoid this defect, make sure roof joints are sturdy and your drainage is working properly at installation. The effects of ponding can quickly turn into leaks if left unaddressed.BlistersSimilar to alligatoring, a blistering roof refers to when soft bubbles form in the roof\u2019s membrane due to moisture trapped underneath. These bubbles can even grow to be several feet in width. Proper BUR installation should prevent the occurrence of blisters by carefully sealing the built-up roof\u2019s top layer and preventing moisture from being trapped.RidgesRidges are the result of either thermal expansion of roofing material or separation of the underlying insulation from the roof deck. If stress in the ridge is noticed in installation, components can be properly reinforced or replaced to avoid further issues. When not addressed, this stress can eventually tear roofing materials.Get Confident Built-Up Roofing Installation with McDonald & WetleBUR roofing has been proven to be a durable, long-lasting choice for commercial buildings for years \u2013 but only when it\u2019s installed properly. McDonald & Wetle has been dedicated to serving commercial roofing needs since 1921. If you\u2019d like more information about how we can help ensure correct built-up roof installation, contact us in Portland today."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.mcdonaldwetle.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Ensuring Your Built-Up Roofing Has Been Properly Installed","item":"https:\/\/www.mcdonaldwetle.com\/blog\/ensuring-built-roofing-properly-installed#breadcrumbitem"}]}]