An Ultimate Guide to Spray Foam Roofing

If you’re looking for a way to cut energy costs, protect your roof from damage, and improve your home’s insulation, spray foam roofing could be the answer. Despite being a lesser-known roofing material, spray foam is one of the most advantageous and cost-effective roofing solutions on the market. To help you determine if spray foam roofing is right for your industrial, commercial, or residential facility, we’ve composed this ultimate guide to spray foam roofing. Below, you’ll find answers to some of your most pressing questions—from spray foam roofing’s many benefits to the installation process.

What is spray foam roofing?

Let’s start with the basics. Spray foam roofing is a roofing service in which a mixture of polyol resin and some form of isocyanate is sprayed onto a structure’s roof as a liquid. The mixture then expands into a foam and hardens. Once the material hardens, it creates an airtight seal to prevent heat transfer through the roof’s deck and provides various other benefits.

The benefits of spray foam roofing

Spray foam roofing has numerous benefits. Some of the most notable advantages of spray foam roofing include:

• Durability: Spray foam roofing is highly durable, and it can protect your home from common types of roof damage, such as harsh weather. Prolonged exposure to strong winds can often cause adhesives and fasteners on one’s roof to loosen—potentially separating the roof assembly from the substrate—but the durable protective layer that spray foam roofing provides will prevent such costly damage.
• Cost savings: Spray foam roofing can help you save money in several different ways. For one, its superior insulating capabilities will help you significantly cut down on your energy bill for consistent long-term savings. In addition, spray foam roofing can also significantly decrease the lifecycle cost of your roof. The protective layer it provides will protect your roof from damage, preventing the need for expensive maintenance, testing, and repairs.
• Environmental benefits: Spray foam roofing is a great option for people looking to reduce their carbon footprints. Spray foam roofing has an impressively high R-value of 6.6 per inch. In other words, it’s one of the best insulating materials on the market. As such, it will minimize heat flow into and out of your home so that your heating and cooling system doesn’t have to work as hard to keep your home comfortable. This greatly reduces the amount of energy your home consumes.
• Improved drainage: Spray foam roofing provides you with the unique ability to improve your roof’s drainage. Because spray foam roofing can be applied in varying thicknesses, a skilled contractor can apply it in a way that creates channels for water to flow down. These channels will facilitate proper drainage in the case of rain or snow to reduce pooling water, which can damage your roof and cause leaks.
• Eliminates the need for a complete roof replacement: In some cases, you may feel like completely replacing your damaged roof is the only option. Fortunately, spray foam roofing provides a much more convenient and cost-effective option. Instead of having to spend a considerable amount of money replacing your entire roof, you can recover and repair your existing roof with spray foam roofing.

How is spray foam roofing installed?

The process of installing spray foam roofing is complex and potentially dangerous without ample training and experience. It also requires highly specialized equipment. As such, it’s important to hire a skilled spray foam roofing contractor to get the job done safely and effectively.

The first step in installing spray foam roofing is to prepare the existing roof by sweeping, vacuuming, or using air pressure to get rid of any dirt, dust, and other contaminants that have collected on its surface. Once the roof has been prepared, the spray polyurethane foam must be manufactured on the job site due to the highly reactive nature of the two chemicals of which it’s composed. This process is done by pumping the chemicals polyol resin and a form of isocyanate from separate containers through high-pressure hoses into a spray gun, where they’re mixed internally.

After preparing the spray foam, the contractor will then apply the first layer of polyurethane foam to the existing roof substrate. Once the foam has been sprayed, the chemicals will quickly react and expand on contact with the roof to fill any gaps or cracks. Eventually, the foam will harden into a seamless air- and watertight barrier that’s generally around 1 to 1.5 inches thick.

Lastly, a thin coating of elastomeric silicone or acrylic is applied to prolong the lifespan of the roofing. The layer will protect the roof from weather, UV light, and other damaging factors. After this layer has been applied, the spray foam roofing installation process is complete.

How long will spray foam roofing last?

When you’re deciding whether to capitalize on the benefits of spray foam roofing, you’ll likely want to know whether your investment will last. We are happy to inform you that spray foam roofing is one of the most long-lasting forms of insulation on the market. When it’s correctly installed and maintained, you can appreciate the many advantages spray foam roofing provides for half a century. That’s right—you can expect your spray foam insulation to last for a whopping 50 years or more. Considering the amount of energy and roof maintenance savings you’ll likely enjoy during that time, your spray foam roofing will more than pay for itself several times over throughout its lifespan.

If you’re interested in installing spray foam roofing to your home or commercial facility after reading this ultimate guide to spray foam roofing, you can rely on the experts at Paragon Protection to get the job done right. Our highly experienced professional spray foam roofing contractors can service a wide variety of roofs, regardless of their shape or substrate. Our residential and commercial spray foam roofing services are offered in Crystal Lake, McHenry, Lake Zurich, and Wauconda. To start enjoying the many benefits of spray foam roofing, contact us for a complimentary quote today.