Foam Roofing Is Worth Considering For The Flat Roof On Your Home
by William Gerard
If you have a flat roof on your house, you might want to get foam roofing rather than a membrane when it's time to replace your roof. Foam roofing also doubles as insulation, and it has other advantages over thin membrane materials. Here are details to know about spray foam roofing.
Foam Roofing Is Suitable For Residential Roofs
Foam roofs are often used on commercial buildings, but they're also suitable for homes. They have an attractive white appearance, so a foam roof doesn't give your home an industrial look.
Plus, most of the roof is hidden from view when you have a flat roof. However, if your roof has a slope that allows the foam to be seen from the street, the appearance is attractive since it looks like a white coating or blanket on your roof that's not marred by seams or fasteners.
Foam Often Goes Over Old Roofing
If you have a membrane or built-up flat roof now, spray foam might be applied over your old roof. The contractor has to determine if this is a suitable option first. In the case of a built-up roof or a membrane that's held down with gravel, all the gravel has to be removed first. This may be done with a vacuum machine that cleans the roof as it removes the gravel.
Your roofer then decides if cover boards are necessary. Cover boards are thin boards made from materials, such as plywood, that go over the old membrane roof so the surface is smooth and ready for the foam to be applied.
Spray Foam Roofing Can Help With Drainage
An advantage of foam roofing is that the roofer controls the thickness of the foam as it's applied. This allows them to create a slight slope, if necessary, to improve roof drainage. A flat roof needs a minimal slope so it drains properly. Otherwise, water can puddle on the roof and potentially lead to problems.
Foam Roofing Needs A Coating
Foam is an excellent material for a flat roof since it doesn't have any seams and it can wrap around vents to create watertight flashing. However, spray foam is vulnerable to UV damage. A coating is applied to the foam as the final step in getting a foam roof. The coating blocks the sun so the foam isn't damaged. The coating may wear off after several years, and when that happens, a new coating can be applied so you can put off getting another new roof for as long as possible.
Contact a local roofing company to learn more about flat roof options.
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About Me
Do you know how to tell if you have problems with your flashing, loose shingles, or damaged tar pitch? Well, I didn't either until I experienced some of those issues on my own. One day, I realized that my roof was leaking and that I needed to find a solution fast. After contacting a professional roofing company, they were able to solve my troubles and teach me the signs of trouble. I want you to avoid the same types of hassles, which is why my blog is filled to the brim with information about roofing and home ownership. You never know, these tips could really come in handy!