Bitumen roofing
A commonly chosen form of roofing for flat roofs is bitumen roofing. Also known as roofing leather or roofing, bitumen is popular due to its longevity, low maintenance and low purchase price. What exactly bitumen is, how our professionals install it and the cost of bitumen on your roof can be read on this page.
Quickly go to
Cost bitumen roofing
Bitumen is a widely chosen form of roofing due to its excellent value for money. Purchasing bitumen is relatively inexpensive compared to alternative roofing types. The average price for having bitumen roofing installed by the experienced roofers of Roofers 24/7 can be found in the table below. This average price includes VAT and labor costs:
Werkzaamheden Prijs per m² (incl. arbeidskosten en btw)
Bitumen over oude dakbedekking aanbrengen € 45
Oude dakbedekking verwijderen en bitumen dakbedekking plaatsen € 85
*The above prices are an average price for guidance. Would you like to know exactly what you will pay for having bitumen installed on your roof? Then request a free, no-obligation quote from us.
Types of bitumen roofing
By nature, bitumen is not elastic and must be treated to serve as roofing material. There are two different processed types of bitumen commonly used as roofing material.
Multiple compositions
You can read about these two types of compositions and their characteristics here:
APP bitumen
APP bitumen is an amalgamation of bitumen with plastic plastic. The addition of plastic plastic makes bitumen resistant to extreme temperatures and is Uv-resistant. The bitumen also lasts longer with the addition of plastic.
SBS bitumen
SBS bitumen is composed of elastomer. This synthetic rubber gives the bitumen great elasticity. Thus, the bitumen resists expansion and contraction with temperature changes.
Biggest difference between SBS and APP bitumen
The main difference between these two types of bitumen is how resistant it is to Uv light. APP is a lot more resistant to Uv light than SBS, due to the addition of plastic. On the other hand, SBS can be treated with a special coating to make it more resistant to Uv-radiation.
To clarify for you what the further similarities and differences are between SBS and APP bitumen, we have a table below with additional information about both types of bitumen. The average prices in this table include VAT and labor costs:
| Soorten bitumen | APP bitumen | SBS bitumen |
|---|---|---|
| Gemiddelde prijs per m² (incl. arbeidskosten en btw) | € 45 – € 52,50 | € 48 – € 55 |
| Levensduur | ± 30 jaar | ± 30 jaar |
| Voordelen | – Goed bestand tegen Uv-straling – Onderhoudsarm – Eenvoudig te repareren | – Sterke hechtkracht aan de ondergrond – Elasticiteit zorgt ervoor dat het onderliggende materiaal bestand is tegen temperatuurschommelingen – Eenvoudig te repareren |
| Nadelen | – Kwetsbaar voor wortelgroei en onkruid | – Bij een hoge Uv-straling wordt het materiaal poreus, daardoor is grind nodig ter bescherming – Kwetsbaar voor wortelgroei en onkruid |
*The above prices are an average price for guidance. Would you like to know exactly what you will pay for having bitumen installed on your roof? Then request a free, no-obligation quote from us.
Different colors of bitumen
Bitumen comes standard in the color black, but nowadays the range of different colors of bitumen is increasing. For example, you can also choose the colors blue, red, brown and white. Especially white bitumen is increasingly popular, because it reflects the sunlight, the impact on the roof is even smaller. This indirectly makes the roof last longer.
How bitumen is applied by Roofers 24/7
Bitumen roofing can be placed on top of the existing roofing or the existing roofing can be removed and replaced for bitumen. This depends on the condition of the existing roofing, your personal preference and the advice of our experienced roofer.
Bitumen is supplied in rolls and it is applied to the roof in strips, with an overlap of about 10 centimeters to achieve complete waterproofing.
Then there are four different methods by which the bitumen can be attached to the roof. These four methods of installing bitumen are:
Detached system
In this method, the underlayment is applied loosely to the substrate. The bitumen roofing is attached to the underlayment. To protect the whole, a ballast layer (aggravating layer) is laid. This ballast layer reflects sunlight and extends the life of the roof. Often tiles, gravel or pebbles are chosen as the ballast layer.
Fully bonded system
This system involves fully bonding the bitumen roofing to the substrate of the roof. This is done in most cases with a gas torch, but it can also be chosen to work with cold adhesives or the old pouring method.
Mechanically attached system
First, this method involves placing an underlayment, which is secured to the roof using roof drilling screws and shims. The bitumen roofing is then burned onto this underlayment.
Partially bonded system
This system is usually used when the bitumen roofing is attached over the existing roofing.
Free quote?
What to look out for with bitumen roofing?
Installing bitumen roofing is a careful job that should be done under the right weather conditions. Thus, the best results with bitumen are achieved by an experienced roofing specialist. The experts at Roofers 24/7 go about installing bitumen efficiently and carefully, paying extra attention to the points below:
- Working with caution gas burner: Working with a gas burner requires vigilance and following clear safety restrictions.
- Good seam connection: The strips overlap at least 10 centimeters to achieve complete waterproofing.
- Prevent blistering: Blistering under the bitumen can cause puddling and poorer drainage of rainwater. So we take care to prevent blistering.
- Avoiding counter seams: To avoid counter seams, our experts apply the bitumen strips in the direction of drainage.
Installing your own bitumen roofing
Are you considering adding bitumen to your roof yourself? Then keep in mind beforehand that it is a labor-intensive job that requires some experience. Thus, an experienced do-it-yourselfer can attempt it on his or her own, keeping in mind safety, the right materials and keeping in mind the right fastening technique. Not to mention the right weather conditions. Don’t have enough roofing experience? Have the installation of bitumen done for you by an experienced specialist from Roofers 24/7. This will ensure professional and efficient roofing installation and you will have a guarantee on the work done. If you choose Roofers 24/7, you choose quality.
Alternatives to bitumen roofing
There are several possible reasons why bitumen for your flat roof may not be your preference. If for any reason you are looking for an alternative to bitumen roofing, please review the options below. Please note that these are alternatives for flat roofs:
- EPDM roofing: An environmentally friendly and increasingly popular form of roofing is EPDM roofing. It consists of synthetic rubber, which makes it highly elastic and resistant to wide temperature variations. This makes it less likely to crack and longer lasting.
- PVC roofing: A PVC roof is easy to install and good protection in several weather conditions. PVC stands for Poly Vinyl Chloride and is therefore a plastic. A PVC roof usually does not last longer than about 25 years.
- Green roof: Even in the case of a flat roof, green roofs are increasingly being chosen. A green roof is a roof covered with (green) plants. A major advantage is the good insulation that this form of roofing offers and of course this choice is completely environmentally friendly and the option to combine with solar panels is also available.
Lifetime and maintenance bitumen roofing
How long a bitumen roof lasts depends on the brand of materials, the method of installation and the location of the roof. At best, bitumen can last about 30 years as a properly functioning roofing material. This is considerably shorter than some alternative types of roofing, though. By continuing to observe the bitumen roof closely to notice defects quickly, the lifespan can be extended. Respond immediately when you notice damage or defects. Is water staying on parts of the roof? Do you see that the roof has been affected by sunlight? If so, contact the experts at Roofers 24/7 to address your bitumen roof in a timely manner!
Have bitumen roofing installed by a professional roofing company
The roof your home, commercial building or factory hall is not only to protect the property, but also has a major impact on the energy bill you pay each month. So the roof is an important piece of value to your property. Is your flat roof in need of replacement or would you like to have completely new roofing installed? Choose quality, choose the professional roofers at Roofers 24/7. Our specialist roofers possess the necessary experience and knowledge to install bitumen professionally and efficiently.
Request a free quote
At Roofers 24/7, we think it’s important to work hard, but also to be transparent. We provide you with a customized quote that includes more information than just our prices. After your quote request, you will receive our quote within 24 hours at the email address known to us. We will contact you a few days after the quote is issued for any additional questions and/or comments. For more information or to request a free, no-obligation quote, please email info@dakdekkers247.nl or fill out the contact form on our contact page. You can request a quote by phone by calling: 06-40125121.
- Free of charge
- Completely without obligation
- Within 24 hours
- Cut costs
Strengths of 24/7
- Nationwide coverage
- Cut costs
- Years of experience
- A quote within 24 hours
- Recognized and certified
- Best value for money
Request for proposal process
- Uw beschrijft uw project zo gedetailleerd mogelijk.
- Onze erkende specialist bekijkt uw aanvraag.
- U ontvangt binnen 24 uur een offerte op maat.