Hot Mop or built-up roofing (BUR) is a dirty and hazardous job best left for professionals. Basically its molten asphalt tar being used to cover the roof. They can be found in commercial buildings but sometimes you do see them on porch roofs on for some homes. It’s also known as tar roofs, multiply tar roofing, hot-mop asphalt roofing, hot tar roofing and most commonly smelly. Yes, smelly.
Installation: So how is it installed? You can put it down as the first roof or over old hot mopped roofs. First roof installation is done using a base sheet to protect the wood, it’s applied using melting blocks of asphalt in a large metal cauldron. Some contractors use enclosed tanks as a way of limiting the fumes it gives off. It is generally pumped up to the roof and spread out using specific tools. The process is repeated until they attain the thickness they want to get.
Longevity: Hot mop roof generally has a lifespan of between 15 to 30 years.
Pros: The cheap cost of installation is one of the main reasons commercial building owners or property managers use hot mop roofing. It doesn’t take very long to install and it’s quite easy to use with irregular decks or roofs.
Cons: It’s a very messy product to work with. It often leaves dirty splashes of tar on the side of walls. It isn’t a job that you can do for yourself, it has to be professionally installed.