CLEAR BENEFITS OF
SPRAY FOAM ROOFING
So, you’ve come to a juncture where you need a new roof and are looking for prospects. Fixing leaks after the leak is becoming a rather irritating part of your job description. Should you continue the short-term gain of fixing leaks, or should you invest in a more cost-effective, long-term option? The first question I have for you is, how long until you plan to retire? The second question I have for you is, how open are you to making changes in how you do things? When it comes to spray foam roofing systems most people aren’t open to change and just install the same roofing system they’ve had on for years. But for anyone to change, clear benefits need to be there.
Let me elaborate on this…
The 7 Primary Advantages of a Spray Foam Roofing System:
1. Spray foam roofs have a high R-value
Spray foam has the highest R-value of any commonly used roof insulation. Here are the average R-values for some common roof materials
- Spray Foam: 6.6 per inch
- Metal: 0.00 per inch
- BUR Gravel: 0.34 per inch
- EPS Insulation: 3.85 per inch
- Polyiso: 5.5 per inch
- BUR Smooth: 0.24 per inch
- XPS Insulation: 5.0 per inch
R-value is the capacity of an insulating material to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more significant the insulating power.
The higher the R-value, the less heat or cool air that will pass through. Higher R-value = less HVAC use = lower energy costs
Total payback of your new roof usually occurs in less than ten years through savings in heating and cooling costs.
2. Spray foam roofs are renewable
One of the benefits of a foam roof is its ability to be re-coated. A properly installed and maintained spray foam roof should not require re-coating for 10 to 20 years. The best way to determine when a spray foam roof needs to be re-coated is to measure the remaining coating thickness on the roof and recoat before the coating is too thin to provide U.V. protection. The first application of the coating is usually applied at a thickness of 20-30 mils. After 10 years, the coating could be reduced to a thickness of 7-10 mils, depending on the wear of the roof. Many coating manufacturers offer extended warranties with each re-coat. This option, along with scheduled maintenance, allows a spray foam roof to be a truly renewable roof system.
3. Spray foam roofs can be applied quickly
Spray foam roofs are typically installed quicker than any other roofing system, due to:
- Spray foam roofs are spray-applied, meaning they can go around penetrations with ease
- Spray foam roofs require less material and equipment than traditional roofing systems
- Most SPF roofing projects involve little to no tear-off
One example would be roofing around a penetration. With spray foam being “spray-applied”, it would take about 2 minutes to roof around a penetration, as opposed to rubber roofing, which can take at least 30 minutes due to the custom cutting of materials.
4. Spray foam roofs are self-flashing
Self-flashing refers to spray foam’s ability to conform to irregular shapes. Watch the video below which shows spray foam being sprayed around a curb:
In the video, it says it might take a conventional roofer 30 minutes to flash around a curb, spray foam can be applied in about two minutes.
Other roofing systems, like rubber, will need to be custom cut to be installed properly around a curb.
Self-flashing allows spray foam to be applied faster around all penetrations, including:
- Parapet walls
- Vents
- Drains
- Pipes
- HVAC units
- Skylights
5. Spray foam is seamless
A big advantage spray foam has over other roofing systems is that it’s seamless.
Being seamless, and therefore monolithic and watertight, bypasses conventional single-ply membrane seams that are oftentimes the origins of leaks.
6. Spray foam roofs are effortless to maintain
Perhaps a sharp tool has been dropped or the HVAC guy planted the HVAC panels in your roof like a javelin.
To fix these minor repairs, all you’ll need is a utility knife and some caulk.
Step 1: Cut out the defective area
Step 2: Dry the area out
Step 3: Apply caulk and smooth
That’s it. Minor repairs can be done by the in-house maintenance team.
In fact, here at ArmorThane, we’ll take time at the end of the project to demonstrate to you how easy it is to repair a small incision.
7. Spray foam is a proven, beneficial, roofing solution
Since the early 1960s, spray foam roofs have been installed and re-coated, bolstering the popular phrase, “A spray foam roof is the only roof you’ll ever have to install.”
Multiple roofs that have been installed decades back are going on their 2nd or 3rd re-coat.
Spray foam: A cost-effective and versatile roofing solution
Perhaps a sharp tool has been dropped or the HVAC guy planted the HVAC panels in your roof like a javelin.
To fix these minor repairs, all you’ll need is a utility knife and some caulk.
Step 1: Cut out the defective area
Step 2: Dry the area out
Step 3: Apply caulk and smooth
That’s it. Minor repairs can be done by the in-house maintenance team.
In fact, here at ArmorThane, we’ll take time at the end of the project to demonstrate to you how easy it is to repair a small incision.
Multiple roofs that have been installed decades back are going on their 2nd or 3rd re-coat.
