Foam roofing

Written by No Doubt Marketing

Clay roof tiles are an excellent option for a solid, natural roof replacement. They are extremely popular with many people, for several excellent reasons.

Foam roofing is a "green" solution for your flat roof structure. These roofs can save you money with the increase in energy efficiency they bring — in fact; they can pay for themselves within five years, in some cases.

The sprayed on polyurethane foam roofing should be the first choice for economy and value, as well as ecological interest. They are the roofing system that is most "green-friendly" because of the energy savings, up to 30 percent, enjoyed by those businesses that install these roofs.

The system will be designed specifically for your location and climate, taking into consideration the average temperatures and precipitation. The roofs go in very quickly and without a great deal of construction mess to worry about. The installation should not affect your daily operations in the least.

The Specs

A sprayed polyurethane foam (SPF) roof is sprayed on by a special spray gun made for the purpose. There are two liquids that combine to create the foam. One is an isocyanate, integral to the formation of polyurethane. It is known as component "A."

There is another component called component "B," which is a resin (also known as a polyol). These two liquids are pumped out of individual 55-gallon drums and mixed together in a one –to-one ratio in the spray gun. When they are mixed together, the substances A and B expand to 20 or 30 times their original size. The resulting foam is applied in "passes" over a roof. Each pass adds ½ to 1 inch of roof, so a finished roof may require several passes to finish.

A foam roof can be applied over nearly any roofing material including a flat roof membrane, concrete, wood, and steel, as well as most other roofing systems. It is not indicated for an APP (atactic polypropylene APP) roof, however.

Longevity and wear

Foam roofs are remarkably durable. People generally assume that such roofs are soft and susceptible to damage, but in fact, foam roofs can be extremely durable. You can walk on a foam roof without damaging it, and these roofs also offer the ability to withstand construction traffic or any other kind of traffic a roof may need to handle.

Foam roofing is quite durable, if it is maintained properly. After 10 to 15 years, it is necessary to clean, prime and recoat the roof. However, if this maintenance is performed regularly, the roof can last up to 50 years.

Insulating Properties and Density

The higher the density in this roofing business, the more strength and higher R-value you'll find in foam roofing. The average density is 2.5 pounds to 3 lbs. When looking at an SPF roof, remember that the higher the density of a roof, the higher the insulating power and the higher the energy savings.

The strength in foam at 3 pounds per cubic foot will have strength of about 50 psi and R-value of 7.14. This lowers slightly as the roof ages.

Each manufacturer could have slightly different specifications, but this gives a general idea.

Cost

On average, the costs for foam roofing starts at $2.50 a square foot, and goes up depending on the thickness (and insulating properties) of the roof.

Ready to find foam roofing for your home? Use BuyerZone's free request for foam roofing price quotes, and we'll match you to multiple contractors in your area.