Polyurethane foam roofing is a resilient and long-lasting roofing material. However, even polyurethane roofs will need some maintenance over time. The primary maintenance that a foam roof needs is recoating. The recoating process will need completed about every 10 to 15 years. The exact timeframe before recoating is needed will vary depending on a number of factors.
Cleaning
Before a recoat, the roof needs to be as clean as possible. Sticks, leaves and other debris need to be removed from the roof. Generally, the large debris is removed by hand and then a blower is used to remove smaller objects, dust and dirt. The roof will then be power washed to clean the roof surface so that the new coating will have a clean surface to adhere. Water alone is sufficient for cleaning most flat roofs. However, roofs that have been contaminated with oil, grease or other substances may need cleaned with an appropriate detergent.
Repairing
Once the roof is cleaned, it needs to be inspected for any issues that require repair. Flat roofs may show surface blisters from moisture that was present when the original coating was completed. These blisters are harmless and can usually be ignored. If there are any areas in need of repair, they will need properly fixed and allowed to completely cure before the final coating is applied.
Recoating
The recoating process is a relatively simple one but it must be done under the right circumstances. The roof needs to be dry before it is coated. However, the roof cannot be too hot as that will make the coating dry too fast. As the Arizona weather rarely cooperates by providing the proper temperature, roof coating installers need to add moisture to the coating and take other steps to help the coating properly cure. An experienced and professional installer is needed to adjust the coating speed and amount to achieve the best possible recoating given the atmospheric conditions.