If you are the one paying the bills for heating or cooling your warehouse, production facility, retail space or other commercial structure with a flat roof, you can benefit by installing a foam roof. Polyurethane foam is flexible to maintain a watertight seal yet will not flatten under normal use. It is also inert, offers no interest to insects or rodents, and will not be destroyed by fungi. The two major benefits are an extreme weight reduction from a gravel-covered flat roof and the increase in insulative R value. After the correct foam formula is chosen, here is how it is applied by our expert roofing technicians.
Surface Prep
The gravel top layer found on old flat roofs is removed. After the roof surface is completely cleaned down to the rubber or other material, it is inspected for damaged areas such as blisters or areas where the flashing is separating. Blisters are cut, coated with a primer and then sealed with foam. Damaged flashing is often easily repaired with a layer of the watertight polyurethane foam.
Primer Coat
After the blisters and damaged flashing are sealed, the roof surface is coated with a primer to increase the adhesion of the polyurethane foam that will be sprayed over the roof surface. Every square inch of the roof surface receives a coating of the primer. Technicians apply the liquid primer with spray equipment.
Polyurethane Layer
We use our own Max-X foam gun to apply the polyurethane foam to your roof. The foam begins to expand immediately. It creates what is called a monolithic barrier. That means it forms into one solid covering over your roof from edge to edge. The foam adapts to imperfections and fills all the nooks and crannies to make a watertight barrier. Foam also covers vertical surfaces and protrusions. There is no need to redo flashing over every object that protrudes through the roof surface from skylights to vents to pipes.
Ultraviolet Protection Top Coats
Polyurethane foam is watertight and an excellent insulator. It is lightweight and greatly reduces stress on the roof structure. However, it needs to be protected from ultraviolet light from the sun. An elastometric membrane and top coat are sprayed onto the polyurethane to provide full and complete protection from the sun and elements.
An important difference in our commercial polyurethane roof installations is our Max-X foam gun. Polyurethane foam roofing components must be mixed properly at the spray gun in order for the foam to expand and cure properly. Our spray gun ensures a proper mix of the components that make up the final polyurethane foam roof coating product. The Max-X foam gun is so effective that other companies purchase it from us. If you want the best, contact us at Foam Experts Roofing at 480-835-5404
