Polyurethane Foam Roofing Application by a Professional in Fort Worth, TX
Commercial Roofing Company, Roof Coating, Roof Types
Posted on May 17, 2017 by Anderson Industrial Roofing
Do you know that the groundwork for foam roofing was done by Otto Bayer along with his team in 1937? However, polyurethane foam roofing did not become available until 1952.
Initially, polyurethane foam was used in refrigeration and industrial projects like insulation. It was in the early 70s that polyurethane foam was applied for protection of the roof’s surface.
Speaking of which, often times, people fail to realize the necessity and importance of the roof above their heads. Nevertheless, it is one of the basic parts of a structure and sometimes, the most neglected one.
While extensive information is available online to choose from the different types of roofing systems, very little information and guidance is available for carrying out the job perfectly.
An overview of Polyurethane foam roofing in Fort Worth, TX
Before we further discuss the steps that reflect a professional application of polyurethane foam roofing in Fort Worth, TX, let’s have a look at the basic features of an SPF roofing system.
Life Span
The life expectancy of polyurethane foam roofing in Fort Worth, TX depends upon the installation process. In fact, with a well-planned installation, the foam has a potential to last much longer. Similarly, if coated every 10-15 years, there is no estimation of age when the foam would start losing its effectiveness.
Application of SPF
The SPF, as the name indicates, is Spray-Applied Foam. The spraying of foam helps in filling the cracks and gaps of the roof deck. For this purpose, sophisticated spraying machines are used along with long hoses to achieve maximum results without constantly relocating the pump. Once sprayed, the foam then forms a hard surface after it gets solidified.
Maintenance of Polyurethane foam roofing in Fort Worth, TX
When polyurethane foam roofing is coated with silicon, it helps fight against UV ray deteriorations. Although the old coatings need not be removed before applying a new one, however, the roof must be power washed.
As suggested by professionals, there should be a yearly inspection of the roofing material. Also, the damages of less than 3” in diameter should be fixed by using sealant. However, for the more severe damages, the area needs to be recoated and cleaned again.
The Cost and Accessibility
With maintenance, comes the cost. The use of polyurethane foam roofing in Fort Worth, TX costs a bit higher than other roofing systems. However, the low labor cost and long-lasting effectiveness make SPF much cheaper than roofing systems like membrane along with comparable results.
Moreover, despite weighing so less, polyurethane foam roofing in Fort Worth, TX is effective in resisting normal wear and tear and walking. The spray foam is solid and provides stringent resistance against pressure as well as different climatic conditions.
The application of Polyurethane foam roofing in Fort Worth, TX through the eyes of a professional
The life span of SPF roofing mainly depends upon the correct application process. A slight variation or negligence in carrying out the process may lead to severe and irrecoverable damage to a roof’s surface. Therefore, it’s important to hire only professional service providers in order to avoid the damages that might occur much earlier than expected!
Here are a few steps that are taken by a professional in the application of polyurethane foam roofing in Fort Worth, TX.
Preparation in accordance with different roof types
Polyurethane foam comes in handy with its ability to be applied over any substrate. This helps in reducing the cost of tear-off. Also, in some cases, it involves simple cleaning or securing of the roof’s surface. However, in case of;
- A roof with ballast (built-up), this can be removed with the use of wet-vac. And a roof without ballast can be cleaned just with the help of water-blasting or blowing. Same is applicable for metal roofs.
- A Single-ply roof is cleaned by removal of the membrane. Additionally, boards may be screwed down to cover the membrane.
Spraying Polyurethane foam
After the preparation of the roof, foam is sprayed. An effective spray of polyurethane is a mixture of two components (a polyol and isocyanate). This mixture expands up to 20 times of its volume, forming a seamless layer of foam. Moreover, in just four hours, the foam becomes ready for walking and reaches 90% of its full strength.
Also, the R6.5 to R7 per inch insulation value makes it the most efficient thermal insulation available in the market. Since the polyurethane creates a self-flashing, fully adhered and monolithic roof surface, it covers up the cost of a roof system easily and reduces the contraction and expansion of a building.
Silicone Basecoat
In order to protect the roof surface from UV light, normal wear and tear, and weather, two layers of (elastomeric silicone) coating are used. Also, a contrasting dark color is used in the basecoat to provide complete coverage.
In addition, the polyurethane foam roofing in Fort Worth, TX can be recoated repeatedly. However, the silicone caulk repairs most of the roof’s damage and leaves the finished roof with almost no maintenance requirements.
The embedded granules and silicone topcoat
As a final touch to the perfectly light-weighted polyurethane foam roof, a light gray topcoat is applied to reduce the thermal gain. However, the additional layer of the embedded silicone granules in a topcoat drastically increases the life span of the roof system.
The SPF roofing systems add little to a structural load, but reduce an electrical bill by as much as 50 percent. Particularly, the polyurethane foam roof weighs less than the removed ballast from the existing roof, however, this advantage is only achievable with the proper application of polyurethane foam roofing in Fort Worth, TX.
Also, all these above-mentioned factors can be worked around easily by hiring the expertise of a professional service provider. It might sound like a hectic job to spend time searching for the best roofer in town, but it’s time to simply explore the expert portfolio of Anderson Industrial Roofing as they offer top-notch service for their customers.