Foam roofing takes skill and requires a seasoned and professional installer to ensure the roofing membrane is prepared properly and that the foam is sprayed in a consistent and uniform manner. Spraying in swales and proper pitch is important for water shedding. A quality foam roof takes skill which requires practice. Don’t allow someone to practice on your roof. Always use a licensed roofing contractor.
Foam Roofing
WHAT ARE THE TYPICAL CONCERNS OR PROBLEMS WITH FOAM ROOFING?
- Poor preparation and installation of the foam roofing material
- Too much moisture in the roof or in the spray foam mixture when applying the foam to the roof
- Water Ponding
- Foam blisters and fractures
- Foam thickness inadequate
- Poor water shedding capability
- Mechanical damage caused by dropping tools or objects puncturing the foam membrane
- Birds or other animals pecking on exposed foam
- Lack of elastomeric coating, quality of the coating, and lack of routinely coating the foam roofing
- Lack of maintenance and cleaning debris off the foam roofing
- Sunshine, water, and debris are natural enemies of the foam roof.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF A FOAM ROOF?
- A foam roof can be a great roofing system if installed properly and professionally. Maintenance is the key to your foam roof and its longevity. Your foam roof could last 30 to 40 years if properly maintained.
- There are no seams or joints which eliminated water leaks unlike your traditional roofing materials.
- It is flexible. Foam roofing can be sprayed onto almost any surface.
- Light weight at only 50 lbs. per square. Foam roofing is much lighter than traditional roofing materials.
- Thermal insulation value at an R-value of 6.6 per 1 inch of thickness.
- Foam roofing has been proven to be long lasting, dependable, and affordable.
HOW DO YOU INSPECT A FOAM ROOF?
- Yes, you can walk on a foam roof with no problem. Make sure the roof is clean and free of debris to ensure you can perform a proper inspection. Use a moisture meter if and when needed
- Determine the condition of the elastomeric coating and its thickness.
- Inspect the foam roofing for hail damage or wind driven debris damage.
- Look for blisters and any delaminated areas in the coating.
- Look for water stains, ponding water and the overall shedding ability of water off of the foam roofing.
- Are areas of the foam exposed with a color of yellow/orange indication foam exposure.
- Look for cracks, splits, or dents in the foam.
- Confirm all flashings and terminations are sealed properly.
- Look at roof mounted mechanicals such as ac units and heat pumps.
- Take a core sample of the foam roof when needed to determine its thickness.
- If scupper drains are present are they clear of debris and draining properly.
HOW DO YOU REPAIR FOAM ROOFS?
There are a few ways to repair foam roofing, however, it really depends on the type of damage and the severity of the damage. Roof coating and caulking can be used to repair minor areas and foam repair kits can be used in conjunction with a quality roof coating for more significant damage. Heavy damage should most definitely be left to a foam roofing contractor.
HOW MUCH DOES FOAM ROOFING COST?
Foam roofing costs can vary due to many circumstances but on average a new foam roof installation would cost between $2.00 and $3.50 a square foot. Foam roofing repairs is difficult to estimate as all repairs are different in scope and time to complete the repair. Give us a call at Phoenix roofing and remodeling and we’d be happy to give you a free estimate.