Polyurethane Foam Roofing: Overview

What is Polyurethane Foam Roofing?

A polyurethane foam roofing system uses a compound that can be sprayed onto any roof or base. Such a roofing system is waterproof and weather resistant, and needs only to be maintained every ten to fifteen years in order for it to last longer.

If you have been canvassing through stores and catalogs for the perfect roofing system for your house, then you might have come across membrane roofing. Membrane roofing involves the use of large sheets as material which are fused at the roof joints in order for the roof to form a wide, continuous surface.

Membrane roofing systems can include the use of thermosetting plastic, modified bitumen, or polyurethane foam roofing. Membrane roofs can be made of rubber, plastic, asphalt, polyester, fiberglass, or sprayed-in-place polyurethane foam, or SPUF.

Two Components Of Polyurethane Foam Roofing

The sprayed-in-place polyurethane foam that is used in polyurethane foam roofing is actually made up of two main components in liquid form. The A component is a compound called isocyanate, a liquid; while the B component is a compound called polyol or resin, also a liquid.

When the A component and B component are mixed, the two liquids interact and participate in a chemical reaction, in which they form a solid mixture that expands twenty to thirty times the original size of the mixed liquids. This solid foam system can form a seamless roof system that fully adheres to its base, and that is fully sealed and closed.

Polyurethane foam roofing is not only seamless and well spread, it is also resistant to water forces, whether in the form of rain or hail. Like standing seam roofing, polyurethane foam roofing is also recommended for areas where the weather can be extremely cold or hot: because of its physical properties, sprayed-in-place polyurethane foam can insulate a home or building from extreme temperatures.

Versatile Roofing

Sprayed-in-place polyurethane foam is not used on its own. It needs to be sprayed onto a base, and, in this case, sprayed-in-place polyurethane foam is quite versatile. It can be placed over a large variety of roofing systems, such as steel, concrete, and wood. This means that using sprayed-in-place polyurethane foam can allow you to save on expenses associated with removal of the roof, as well as landfill fees that you might need to pay after roof removal.

Polyurethane foam roofing can also be used on different roofing structures. Experts in applying sprayed-in-place polyurethane foam can spray the material on tapered roof systems, which can allow you to do away with expensive insulation systems for tapered roofs. Sprayed-in-place polyurethane foam can also be used on places where roofs terminate onto vertical walls, so that even these terminations are integrated into the overall roof system. This can also help you do away with costs that are associated with the installation of additional roof and wall integrating components.

Elastomeric Seal

In order to be more durable, sprayed-in-place polyurethane foam has to be coated with an elastomeric seal. An elastomeric coat can consist of silicone, various urethane compounds, butyl rubber, or acrylic, all of which can protect the foam from both mechanical and sun-associated damage. An elastomeric coat can also stretch with the sprayed-in-place polyurethane foam, which expands and contracts in response to changes in temperature.

These different coatings are applied in three different stages, beginning with a strong base, a middle coat, and a final protective coat. Builders, contractors, and roofing experts will often embed granules into the final coats; such granules can add more protection, and can increase the resistance of the polyurethane foam roofing to fire.

Advantages of Polyurethane Foam Roofing

What are the advantages of polyurethane foam roofing? Such a roofing system can be extremely durable, despite the images of softness and pliability that the word “foam” can conjure up. A roof of sprayed-in-place polyurethane foam can handle even the weight of human feet; damage to such a roof, however, is more visible, but it can be repaired easily with some caulking using more polyurethane.

A sprayed-in-place polyurethane foam roofing system is not only high in thermal resistance, but is very dense and strong. Many sprayed-in-place polyurethane foam roofing systems can be as dense as three pounds to a cubic foot, which translates to about 50 psi compressive strength for the roof. This means that you can actually save on energy costs because such a roof can keep your house or building better insulated. Studies have shown that a sprayed-in-place polyurethane foam roofing system can help reduce energy costs by nearly sixty percent.

If you are interested in installing polyurethane foam roofing for your home or building, take into account your needs and budget. A sprayed-in-place polyurethane foam roofing system needs to be maintained every ten to fifteen years, and, if properly cleaned, can give you fifty years or more of good roofing. With an investment such as this, you can be sure that a polyurethane foam roof can pay for itself!