Overview
Newark Quality Roofing delivers expert built up roofing in Bloomfield — with prices starting from $5–$9/sq ft and free estimates available today. Built-up roofing is the original flat-roof technology on many of Bloomfield's commercial and institutional buildings, and dozens of structures along Bloomfield Avenue, Broad Street, and the municipal campus still wear BUR systems that have performed for thirty to fifty years. The alternating layers of bitumen and reinforcing fabric that define BUR construction create a thick, monolithic waterproofing assembly that early Bloomfield developers trusted for their retail strips, office buildings, and public facilities. Many property owners encountering BUR for the first time during a re-roofing project are surprised to learn that the material beneath their aging gravel surface is engineered to a higher structural redundancy than any modern single-ply membrane.
Bloomfield's remaining BUR inventory concentrates on buildings constructed between 1945 and 1975 -- the post-war commercial development era that built out the Bloomfield Avenue corridor and the light industrial zones flanking the Garden State Parkway. These buildings share common characteristics: steel bar joist or concrete plank construction, parapet walls with cap flashing, and roof areas ranging from two thousand to fifteen thousand square feet. The original BUR systems on these structures have typically been patched, re-coated, and recovered multiple times, creating multi-generational assemblies that require careful assessment before specifying replacement.
For Bloomfield property owners evaluating whether to replace aging BUR with another built-up system or switch to TPO or EPDM, the decision hinges on building-specific factors. BUR's multi-layer construction provides superior puncture resistance and foot-traffic durability -- advantages that matter on mechanically active rooftops. Its gravel surface ballast provides hail resistance without the denting that damages exposed single-ply membranes. However, BUR's installed weight, application complexity, and higher labor cost make it less economical than single-ply alternatives on buildings where these durability advantages are unnecessary.
Local Challenges in Bloomfield
Weight is BUR's fundamental limitation on Bloomfield's older commercial buildings. A standard four-ply BUR assembly with gravel ballast weighs approximately six to eight pounds per square foot -- two to three times the weight of a mechanically attached single-ply system. Buildings along Bloomfield Avenue with lightweight steel bar joist construction may lack the structural capacity for a new BUR installation over the existing assembly, requiring full tear-off that adds significant demolition and disposal cost. Structural engineering review is mandatory before specifying BUR on any Bloomfield building where the original structural drawings are unavailable or where the building has been modified since construction.
Moisture entrapment in multi-generation BUR assemblies is the most common failure mechanism on Bloomfield's aging commercial roofs. When previous contractors recovered existing BUR with new layers rather than tearing off, moisture trapped in the original or intermediate layers becomes permanently sealed between impermeable plies. This trapped moisture has nowhere to go except outward through blister formation or inward through deck deterioration. Core sampling Bloomfield BUR roofs frequently reveals saturated insulation layers sandwiched between intact membrane plies -- a condition invisible from the surface that makes the entire assembly unsalvageable.
Application logistics for hot-asphalt BUR installation on occupied Bloomfield commercial buildings create tenant coordination challenges. The kettle that heats asphalt produces visible smoke and a distinctive petroleum odor that can be noticeable inside the building and across adjacent properties. Bloomfield Avenue restaurants and food-service businesses are particularly sensitive to these conditions. Cold-process BUR using adhesive-applied plies eliminates the kettle but increases material cost and application time. We assess tenant sensitivity during the project planning phase and specify the application method that balances installation quality with occupant comfort.
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Our Built-Up Roofing Process
BUR installation for Bloomfield commercial buildings begins with structural assessment, core sampling, and tenant coordination planning. We verify the building's capacity to support the proposed assembly, evaluate existing roof layer condition through multiple core samples across the roof area, and meet with building tenants to schedule noisy and odor-producing work phases. For Bloomfield Avenue properties, we also coordinate with adjacent building owners if shared-wall construction affects access or staging.
Tear-off and substrate preparation expose the structural deck for inspection and correction. On Bloomfield buildings with multiple accumulated layers, tear-off frequently reveals localized deck deterioration from decades of moisture migration through failed earlier systems. We replace damaged deck sections, install vapor retarder where conditions warrant, and then build the new BUR assembly: polyiso insulation in staggered courses with tapered sections for drainage, followed by the base sheet, interply felts with bitumen application, and the cap sheet with granule or gravel surface protection.
Quality verification on BUR installations follows rigorous protocols because the material's multi-layer construction makes post-installation repair more invasive than single-ply systems. We verify interply adhesion by testing mopping temperature and bitumen coverage at each ply application. Flood testing of all drainage pathways confirms that tapered insulation creates positive slope. Edge terminations, penetration flashings, and drain connections receive individual water testing. The completed project documentation includes core sample results from the removed system, photographs of each installation phase, warranty registration, and a maintenance specification for annual inspection and drain service.
Built-Up Roofing Cost in Bloomfield
$5–$9/sq ft
traditional built-up roofing system
Why Choose Us for Built-Up Roofing in Bloomfield
- Specialized built-up roofing experience in Bloomfield — we know the local building stock, codes, and common issues specific to Bloomfield homes and businesses.
- NJ licensed and GAF Certified with 15+ years of built-up roofing projects across Essex County.
- Transparent, written estimates for every built-up roofing project — no hidden fees and no pressure to commit.
- Local Bloomfield crew providing same-day estimates and 24/7 emergency response when you need us most.