Built-Up and Modified Bitumen Roof Inspection in Middle TN
An inspection of built-up (tar and gravel) and modified bitumen roofs for alligatoring, ridging, blisters, open laps, flashing failures and exposed felts.
- Commercial Roof Inspections
- Walked and photographed
- Middle Tennessee
Built-Up and Modified Bitumen Roof Inspection, explained.
Built-up and modified bitumen roofs are made from layers of asphalt and reinforcement, often surfaced with gravel or a granulated cap sheet. They can serve for decades, but they show their age: the surface cracks into an alligator pattern, laps open, blisters rise and flashings split where the roof meets walls and curbs.
We inspect the surface for exposed felts, bare spots, ridging and blisters, check laps and seams in modified roofs and examine base flashings and counterflashings. We note ponding, drainage problems and past patching. The report describes how much of the roof is sound and what to repair or plan for.
Signs this service fits
- Your roof has gravel or a granulated cap sheet
- There are blisters, ridges or bare spots
- Patches cover large areas
- Water stains appear below
A good fit, and what to know.
We would rather you hear the limits from us than discover them later.
A good fit when
- You have a layered asphalt roof
- You want to know whether it can be repaired or coated
- You are planning for replacement
Worth knowing
- Surface inspection cannot see wet insulation
- Repairs belong to a roofing contractor
Why do it this way.
Age signs read correctly
Alligatoring and blisters are interpreted, not just listed.
Flashings examined
Most leaks begin at the details.
Repair history considered
Patchwork tells a story about the roof.
A clear plan
Repair, monitor or plan replacement.
Before and after: flat roof: visible and thermal
RevealedSurface viewIllustrative scene created to show what a surface view hides and what an inspection reveals. Drag the handle to slide between them.
From first look to finished report.
A clear sequence for every visit.
- 01
Review surface and history
We note the roof build-up, age clues and past repairs.
- 02
Inspect the surface
We look for alligatoring, blisters, ridging, exposed felts and open laps.
- 03
Inspect flashings and drains
Walls, curbs, penetrations, drains and scuppers are examined.
- 04
Report
You receive photos, a defect map and repair priorities.
Services that go together.
C-04Leak DetectionMoisture Survey & MappingA grid-based survey using moisture meters, infrared and core checks to map exactly where a roof system is wet and where it is dry.Moisture and water test
C-02Leak DetectionInfrared Roof InspectionThermal scans that reveal wet insulation and hidden moisture under low-slope roofs, and heat-loss and moisture clues on other roofs, without opening a thing.Infrared thermal
A-13Home InspectionsFlat Roof InspectionAn inspection of flat and low-slope roofs on homes, additions and porches, covering membrane seams, ponding, drains, flashings and edges.Hands-on visual
B-05CommercialRoof Condition ReportsA section-by-section condition rating, remaining-life outlook and multi-year repair and replacement outline for owners who need to budget for roofs.Hands-on visualRead more on this topic.
Commercial Roof Types and How They FailTPO, EPDM, PVC, built-up, modified bitumen and metal: how each is built and where each tends to fail.2 min read Ponding Water on Flat RoofsWhy standing water is a warning sign, what causes it and what it does to a roof over time.2 min read 
How Long Do Roofs Last?Commonly cited service-life ranges by roof type, and the things that shorten or extend them.2 min read BUR & Mod-Bit Inspection FAQ.
What is alligatoring?
A pattern of cracks in the surface coating or bitumen, caused by sun and aging, that exposes the layers below.
Can a built-up roof be coated?
Sometimes, if the roof is sound underneath and dry. Infrared and moisture checks help decide.
Why do blisters matter?
A blister can trap moisture or break open and become a leak. Their size and number matter.
BUR & Mod-Bit Inspection across Middle Tennessee.
Pick your city for its page.
Know your roof. Before the next storm.
Tell us about your roof and what worries you, and we will suggest the right inspection. Most leaks announce themselves long before the ceiling does.