A Look at How a Spray Foam Roof Might Be Installed on Your House
A foam roof could be perfect for your home with a flat roof. Foam roofing is used on commercial and industrial buildings because it's so durable and it has a long life. Whether you have a built-up roof or membrane roof now, you could easily make the switch to foam. Here's a look at how a foam roofing system is installed.
Prepare The Roof For The Foam
It's important to prepare the roof properly so the foam adheres well. Depending on the type of roof you have now and the condition of your roof deck, flashing, and roofing, the contractor might remove all the old roofing and make repairs as needed.
Another possible option is to cover the old roofing with the foam as long as the old roof is in fairly good shape and the deck isn't rotted. In that case, the old roof will probably be swept or blown so all debris is removed.
Once the roof is clean, the roofer might put down a layer of primer. The primer helps seal tiny leaks and also helps the foam layer adhere better.
Spray On The Foam
Foam roofing starts out as a liquid. The roofer wears protective equipment to guard against wind blowing the liquid as they spray the roof in an even layer. Within seconds, the liquid expands into a foam due to a chemical reaction.
Shortly after, the foam hardens to form a continuous barrier for the top of your home without any seams that can leak. Spray foam can also be used to make flashing around vent pipes and your chimney.
Apply A Coating
The final step in the foam roofing system installation process is to top the foam with a protective coating. The purpose of the coating is to protect the foam from UV exposure and rain. The coating forms a waterproof barrier over the foam so the foam roof can last for decades as intended.
The roofer may apply two layers of coating and also add ceramic granules in the same way an asphalt shingle roof has granules that protect it from the sun. When finished, your foam roof has a white, attractive appearance that also reflects the sun so you can save money on cooling bills in the summer.
Applying the foam is a fairly quick process, but preparing the roof can be labor intensive depending on the condition of your old roof and whether it has to be removed. It may take a few days to complete all three steps of the foam roofing system installation process, and once the foam is in place, your new roof should last for many years as long as you keep up with repairs.