5 common questions about spray foam roofing

By Evelyn Witterholt. 

General Coatings answers your most pressing questions about spray foam roofs, including how durable and energy efficient they are. 

The spray foam (SPF) roofing industry is growing fast. Just earlier this year, the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance’s (SPFA) SprayFoam Convention and Expo saw a record number of 2,400 attendees. With burgeoning interest in this type of roofing comes many different questions. That’s why General Coatings Manufacturing Corp. has a comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions page dedicated to answering your top questions about SPF roofing. 

Here are just a few of their answers to your most pressing questions: 

1 – Are SPF roofs energy efficient? 

SPF roofs are incredibly energy efficient, as they reduce the amount of solar energy absorption during the summer. SPF roofs are a continuous layer of insulation on the exterior of the roof, providing seamless and monolithic thermal break. During the winter, they prevent warm air loss through the roof deck. According to General Coatings, “Heating and cooling systems won’t have to work as hard to regulate indoor temperatures, using less energy and saving you money on energy bills.” 

2 – What is the R-value of SPF roofs? 

R-value is a way of measuring building materials’ resistance to heat flow. General Coatings states that “our SPF roof foams typically have R- value from 6.7 to 6.9 per inch using ASTM C518 method.” 

3 – Are SPF roofs a good investment? 

Not only are SPF roofs a great investment for keeping people dry, but they are a sustainable roof system and their life cycle can be extended with an additional layer of roof coating. General Coatings says that “they are easily repairable in most cases of normal wear, and they usually pay back that recover roof investment quickly.” 

4 – How long until you can walk on an SPF roof after installation? 

For General Coatings SPF roofs, you can walk on their systems 15 minutes after installation. The roofs get tougher after curing for 24 hours. They advise installing granulated walkways or walk pads on high-foot traffic areas. 

5 – Can SPF roofs be installed over an existing roof? 

Yes! SPF recover systems can go over existing roofs, provided it’s dry, fully adhered and over a single roof assembly.  

Learn more about SPF roofs and other roof coating systems on General Coatings’ Frequently Asked Questions page