If the roof on your commercial building is beyond repair and you're looking at the need for a new roof, consider foam roofing. If membrane roofing hasn't performed well for you in the past, it may be time to try something different. Foam is durable roofing that creates a watertight blanket on your roof that has no seams. Foam is a monolithic roof system that even creates its own flashing. Here are two important points to know about foam roofing system installation.
1. Foam Roofs Require A Coating
Spray foam is tough and durable once it's hardened, but it is still vulnerable to UV damage. Since a flat roof is exposed to sunlight most of the day, the foam will last much longer if it's protected by a coating. The roof is coated so UV rays reflect away from the foam. A benefit of reflecting UV rays is that your building is kept cooler in the summer.
Foam roofing system installation requires spraying foam over the surface of the roof and then making a second pass with a coating, such as silicone. The thickness of the silicone is important since the coating needs to be applied again when the first coat wears down. Plus, the length of the warranty may be determined by the thickness of the silicone since a thicker coating should last longer.
2. Cover Boards Make Up The Base Of The Roof
Depending on the type of roof you have now and whether the roofer plans to cover it with spray foam, your roofer may put down cover boards before applying the foam. Spray foam roofing doesn't adhere well to all surfaces, so covering the old roofing with cover boards provides a surface that the foam will bond with so there are no problems with the foam attaching to the roof.
Before cover boards can be put down, the roofer has to make sure there is no water damage to the roof. If there is, the damaged area has to be repaired. Then cover boards can be nailed to the roof deck so the boards are held tightly in place.
Once the boards are down, spray foam is applied to the boards where the foam will bond tightly. The last step in foam roofing system installation is to spray on the silicone coating, which bonds well with the spray foam. There is no need to add flashing since spray foam creates flashing immediately as it is sprayed around pipes and other protrusions through the roof.
Contact a local foam roofing system installation service to learn more.
When you develop a roof leak, you don't have time to ignore it. Issues with leaks can cause problems as simple as incoming water and as wide-ranging as mold accumulation inside your home, which is why you should never let an issue sit. However, if you aren't careful, you could develop problems with roofing that is simply open to the elements, allowing rain and snow to enter your home, melt, and contribute to problems like mold growth. On this blog, you can learn more about the kinds of roofing issues that you could be faced with, and what to do about them.