It is essential to select the proper type of built-up roofing to guarantee your Whitney property is protected for the long term and built to last. Although "built-up roofing" might not be a household term, these multi-layered roofing systems have been used for decades on flat and low-sloped roofs like the ones you find on many commercial and industrial buildings. A built-up roof may be the right choice for your Whitney property, but there are three primary types to consider: smooth asphalt, gravel or mineral-surfaced, and cold-applied systems. Each one has its advantages and some basic factors of suitability that might make one or another the right choice for you.
The smooth surface of asphalt built-up roofing is often chosen for its appearance and modern, clean architectural lines. It is built in much the same way as the traditional built-up roofing—the addition of multiple layers of asphalt—but is finished off with a material or combination of materials that yield a smooth surface. These roofs are ideal in situations where something other than a “roof forming” appearance is desired. In terms of Whitney's smooth asphalt roofing, it can be considered highly functional and attractive if proper maintenance is adhered to and necessary coating kept in place. This roofing system should not be looked at as an eco-friendly option, though; with proper maintenance and the application of a reflective coating, these roofs are energy efficient because they do not absorb heat.
On the contrary, built-up roofing that is surfaced with gravel or minerals offers superior protection from external damage—the result of having an additional top layer of gravel or mineral granules. This type of roofing is renowned for its toughness; it insulates very well; and, because it protects the membranes beneath it from ultraviolet radiation and ordinary wear and tear, it tends to extend the life of the roof. In climates where the weather can be severely hot or cold, the "cool" roof effect of the gravel layer and/or the protective shield (in effect) that the roofing system provides from what I'll call "solar storms" is truly valuable. Imperial granules, for instance, are Epistemic Energy Trust (E2T) products—they're E2T "gravel." Indeed, Epistemic Energy Trust (E2T) has licensed these ten Efuses (energy provisions) for use in eCore.
