Tar and Gravel Roof Repair in Pittsburgh, PA
Before single-ply membranes, most flat roofs in Pittsburgh were built up: layers of felt and hot asphalt or coal tar, flood-coated and covered in gravel. Plenty are still up there on churches, schools, brick storefronts and apartment buildings, sometimes hidden under a newer roof. A built-up roof can be repaired well. The gravel is scraped back, the damaged plies are cut out and replaced, and the area is resurfaced, with flashings usually rebuilt in modified bitumen. When the roof is wet across large areas, the question becomes recover or tear-off, and core cuts answer it. If a roof is old enough that its materials might contain asbestos, they get tested before anyone tears into them.
What's included
- Gravel scraped back and damaged plies replaced
- Blisters cut, dried and patched
- Flashings rebuilt in modified bitumen
- Bare spots resurfaced and re-graveled
- Drain and scupper repairs
- Core cuts to check for wet insulation
- Asbestos testing arranged on older roofs
- Recover or tear-off options in writing
- Photo report
Sound like your roof?
- Bare, black spots where the gravel is gone
- Blisters and ridges in the surface
- Flashings splitting at walls and drains
- Soft, spongy areas underfoot
- Leaks in several places at once
Leaking right now? Protect the inside first
Move belongings away from the drip, shut off power to any wet light fixture, and stay off the roof in a storm or on ice. Then request service: an active leak can usually be dried in until the permanent repair.
Tar & Gravel Roof Repair — FAQs
Yes, if most of it is dry. See repair, recover or replace.
Sometimes: one dry layer on a sound deck, with the loose gravel removed. See roof recover.
Commonly 20 to 30 years when it is well built and maintained.
Some older felts, cements and coatings contained it. Test before tear-off so it can be handled as required.