Built-up roofing that stands the test of time

By Jenny Yu.  

BITEC’s Viking system helps contractors move faster while delivering long-term performance. 

When it comes to commercial and industrial flat roofs, built-up roofing and coal tar pitch are some of the oldest, most reliable systems. Joel Shealey, president of BITEC, joined The Coffee Shops™ for a conversation to offer insight into the tried-and-true material and why contractors should consider adding it to their service offerings. 

“You see coal tar pitch a lot on very large structures because it is such a durable roof system. Some of these roofs are 50-60 years old,” Joel explained. “Coal Tar is self-healing, so if you stab a screwdriver into it, it's going to flow back and cover itself back up. And it doesn't oxidize as quickly as asphalt that's exposed to UV.” 

These properties make coal tar pitch ideal for weatherproofing and waterproofing large buildings, and it holds up well to heavy foot-traffic. BITEC’s Viking® Coal Tar Pitch (CTP) is specially formulated to a natural resistance to the severe effects of temperature, moisture and corrosive elements found in many environments. 

“It traditionally involves putting down a layer of either asphalt or pitch, followed by a layer of felt. It used to be what they called rag felts, then moved to fiberglass felts,” Joel shared. This is where BITEC positions itself apart from competitors. “In our coal tar system today, we use a polyester felt. Typically, about four layers are applied, and then the top is a flood coat and gravel.” 

In using a polyester felt as opposed to a traditional fiberglass tar felt, BITEC fits more into each roll of product. “Traditional fiberglass tar felt rolls are 4 square and our polyester rolls are 10 square, so when a contractor's working, they can cover a lot more area quickly without having to get more rolls,” Joel stated. “By using our system, we see people able to get on and off jobs a lot quicker. You can get a lot more coverage in one day.” 

For contractors looking to include coal tar pitch in their offerings, Joel emphasized proper training and preparation. “It's not like handling hot asphalt; it does have some unique properties that you need to consider for your crews’ safety,” Joel said. “We've got a technical team that can provide some training and resources to help out in the application of or even the removal of coal tar systems.” 

Learn more about how BITEC’S Viking Coal Tar Pitch is the ultimate option for flat roofing!