BUR Roofing in Edmonton

Built-up roofing (BUR) is the original multi-ply flat roof system — alternating layers of bitumen and reinforcing felts, finished with gravel or a smooth cap. It has been keeping commercial buildings dry for over a century, and it still earns its place on Edmonton roofs where redundancy and proven performance matter. Carriere Flat Roofing installs and repairs BUR systems across Edmonton. Twenty years on commercial roofs — twelve as a foreman — means we know how BUR behaves in Alberta freeze-thaw, and we tell you honestly whether it is the right system for your building.

How BUR works

BUR is built in place, ply by ply. Hot bitumen bonds reinforcing felts into a monolithic membrane, typically three or four plies, finished with aggregate surfacing or a cap sheet. The result is a thick, redundant roof — damage to the surface rarely means damage all the way through.

Where BUR fits

• Buildings where multi-ply redundancy is the priority
• Roofs with heavy foot traffic or rooftop equipment
• Owners who want a proven, inspectable, repairable system
• Recover projects over sound existing roofs

Honest limitations

BUR is heavier than single-ply systems and takes longer to install. It needs the right weather window for hot-applied work. We will tell you upfront whether your deck can carry it and whether the schedule works — backed by an infrared scan before any work, on every visit.

Repairs and maintenance

BUR repairs are straightforward when you know the system: we find the failed ply with infrared, open it cleanly, and rebuild the layers properly. Our Roof Watcher maintenance program keeps BUR roofs performing with scheduled inspections, infrared moisture checks, documented condition reports with photo evidence, and budget forecasting. Standing water past 48 hours is treated as an action item, every visit.

Compare your options

We also install SBS torch-on, EPDM and TPO — four systems in total: SBS torch-on, BUR, EPDM, TPO. See our Commercial Flat Roofing Edmonton overview, or call 780-405-4440 for a free inspection with infrared scan.