Finding a leak in a sea of gravel can be very difficult even more difficult if the gravel has been set in a layer of hot asphalt.
Why round gravel on roof.
Some other aging clues are curling at shingle corners lack of tab adhesion and broken off pieces as the shingles get more brittle with age.
Granule loss indicates aging of a roof.
The first is to protect the underlying layer of roofing materials on built up roofs burs and the second is to secure or weigh down the roofing material as is the case with single ply flat roofs.
Also a tar and gravel roof is very rugged and safe to walk on.
Therefore you can save money in the long run.
Disadvantages of a tar and gravel roof.
Tar and gravel roofs consist of asphalt sheets hot tar roofing felt and light colored gravel on the top of the layers.
Gravel collects along gravel stops drip edges causing more heat and moisture to be directed against the roof surface causing damage over time.
The gravel prevents sun hail errant baseballs etc from damaging the membrane the all important moisture seal created by the tar paper and tar.
The weight of the gravel is an essential key factor in increasing its importance.
Gravel is an excellent fire retardant.
The gravel provides a better grip for foot traffic when conducting maintenance or repairs.
That s all there is to it.
Contractors and builders use gravel on flat roofing for two primary reasons.
A tar and gravel roof has a life expectancy of about 20 to 25 years.
Here s why gravel is an important component of tar and gravel roofs.
Generally the weight for a gravel coated roof must be within 10 25 pounds per square foot.
Gravel is heavy and concentrations of gravel can contribute to roof deck deflection low areas.
The stones keep the tar paper in place and prevent it from buckling or blowing away in a high wind.
The gravel looks like the little pebbles you can find on a river bank.
My regards to mom.
Advantages to white coating.
As the roof ages more gravel is released increasing the displacement effect.
A tar and gravel roof will generally last around 20 years although if they are well maintained and properly installed this kind of roofing has been known to last almost 40 years.
The fact that the gravel collects dirt and moisture can make patching the leaks just as difficult once they have been located.
Tar and gravel flat roofs are one of the most cost effective roofing solutions.