Built Up Roof Systems in Oklahoma City, OK.

BUR Assessment on OKC Legacy Buildings

We assess aging BUR systems with moisture core pulls at representative locations and visual inspection of the gravel surface, drain conditions, and parapet flashing condition. Gravel-surfaced BUR obscures moisture intrusion — a roof that looks intact from the surface can have saturated felts in multiple locations that only core pulls reveal. We pull cores at five to ten locations on any BUR assessment and add locations near drains, at parapets, and at any visible alligatoring or ponding areas.

On large OKC BUR roofs — warehouse and industrial buildings above 100,000 square feet — we recommend infrared scanning as a supplement to core pulls. Infrared can identify wet insulation patterns that discrete core pulls miss and produces a documentation map useful for both capital planning and insurance-claim support after hail events.

BUR Recover vs Single-Ply Conversion for OKC Buildings

BUR recover — installing a modified bitumen cap sheet or a new BUR surface over an existing sound base — is the lower-capital option when core pulls confirm the existing plies are dry. The recover extends the roof asset , which avoids the cost of a full tear-off. The limitation is that most BUR recover systems do not qualify for 20-year NDL manufacturer warranties, and they do not reset the insulation to current Oklahoma energy code R-values unless new insulation is added above the existing deck.

Single-ply conversion — full tear-off of the BUR and installation of TPO or EPDM over new polyiso insulation — produces a current-code compliant system with a 20-year NDL warranty and an impact-resistance documentation package for Oklahoma insurance discounts. For OKC building owners planning a long hold period or with lenders requiring current-condition documentation, conversion is often the better capital decision despite the higher upfront cost. We model both options and present the comparison before asking for a contract.

BUR and Oklahoma Wind-Uplift Conditions

Original BUR systems from the 1960s and 1970s were specified to gravity-load standards, not the wind-uplift requirements now required under ASCE 7-22 and Oklahoma's adopted building code. For OKC buildings where we are recovering rather than replacing, we assess the existing BUR attachment to the deck and specify supplemental perimeter fastening where wind-uplift calculations indicate the existing adhesion is insufficient for the building's current exposure classification.

On buildings in open-terrain sites — the west OKC growth corridor, airport-adjacent industrial zones, elevated sites in Canadian County — the uplift exposure category drives the perimeter and corner zone specifications even on recover work. We do not assume that an existing BUR system's edge conditions are adequate for the building's current use and wind classification.

Frequently asked questions

My OKC building has a 1970s BUR system. Do I need to replace it?

Not necessarily immediately — but you need to know what it is. We pull moisture cores, assess drain conditions, and document the parapet flashing condition. If the system is dry and the flashings are holding, a recover may buy 10 to 15 more years at reasonable cost. If core pulls show widespread moisture or the flashings are failing, replacement is the honest scope. We give you the assessment before you make any commitment.

Does BUR qualify for Oklahoma insurance hail-resistance discounts?

Standard BUR systems do not carry FM 4470 or UL 2218 impact ratings. If your insurer requires those ratings for a premium discount, the path is replacement with a single-ply system over an HD cover board that qualifies for the rating, not recovery of the existing BUR. We document the situation honestly and help owners understand what the insurance qualification actually requires.

Can BUR be recovered with modified bitumen in Oklahoma City?

Yes, if core pulls confirm the existing base is dry and well-adhered. A new granulated SBS cap sheet over a sound BUR base is a defensible recover option. The limitation is warranty — most manufacturers will not issue a no-dollar-limit warranty on a system recovered over existing BUR. We document the warranty terms accurately before the project starts.

BUR assessment or replacement scope for an OKC building?

Our project managers pull cores, assess drainage and flashing conditions, and deliver a written comparison of recover and replacement options with honest warranty documentation for each path.