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Spray Foam Improves the Buildings Envelope

The building envelope is a total system of construction materials and design components that control the temperature, movement of air, and moisture both into and out of the building.  A building's insulation, air barrier and vapor barrier all need to work together to achieve a more stable, comfortable and healthier indoor environment.  Many new materials and design practices are being implemeted to extend the sustainable service life of buildings and homes.

Build it Tight, Ventilate Right.
Ventilating the Attic and the Crawl Spaces has long been the traditional and code required method of home design and building.  However, ventilation of these spaces was required because standard materials and building design practices were not capable of addressing radiant heat transfer, condensation, and the results of “stack-effect issues.”

In order to address heat transfer form weather issues, utilities, and the formation of moisture due to condensation and air infiltration, the only option was to ventilate the attics and crawl spaces.  The major problem with ventilating these spaces is that the air brings moisture, pollution and other adverse problems and challenges with it.  Furthermore, the vents to allow it in create voids in the building for insects and rodents to enter, and all our nice conditioned air that escapes, or is pulled from the living spaces to exit.

In fact, in the summer, the incoming air needs power consuming fans to bring it in, and it will never get any cooler than the outside air temperature.  Why would we want 95 degree hot, humid, potentially pollution ridden air into our attic and crawl space?  In the winter this air is freezing cold. 

If our heating/cooling utilities and ducts are located in the attic and/or crawl spaces (most usually are) then their radiant contact with the ducts will cause them to loose up to 10% or more of the hot or cold air flowing through them due to radiant transfer.  Worse yet,
Moisture and mold can also form within the ducts during certain temperature conditions, causing adverse health affects to the building occupants or your family.

Another major reason that traditional methods call for attic ventilation is that during the hot summer months, heat from the sun builds on the roof and radiates into the attic space.  In fact, it can build to upwards of 130 to 150 degrees or more.  (see our section on Urban Heat Islands).  This extreme heat radiates into the attic and the living space causing condensation and the potential for mold.  Our air conditioning systems also need to work harder and consume more energy with all this heat directly above our heads.  The extreme heat also makes it very uncomfortable to enter these spaces. 

Most builders and design professionals are not familiar with modern materials and progressive building science techniques that can virtually eliminate all of these problems that force the traditional, less effective requirement for ventilation in these building spaces. 
Builders and design professionals will also make the argument that your home needs to breathe.  Well, they are absolutely correct.  But why rely on cracks, gaps and holes in your building for passive ventilation, when you can build your home tight, healthy and energy efficient, and let the mechanical ventilation systems due the job properly.

Spray foam insulation can still provide benefits far greater than traditional materials such as fiberglass and cellulose, regardless of whether you decide to ventilate these spaces or not.  By using spray polyurethane foam insulation you can increase your home's energy performance, structural integrity and air quality.

This section will highlight further advantages of spray polyurethane foam insulation, methods of construction and its specific use in the Building Envelope.

Learn More About SprayFoam Roofing Benefits

SPF adheres to just about everything so it can be installed over concrete, wood, steel, and most existing roof systems which saves on the expense of roof removal and landfill fees. SPF Roofing installers can spray apply a tapered roof system with the foam which eliminates the need for costly tapered insulation systems. The cants and vertical wall terminations are also spray applied making them an integral part of the roof system and minimizing additional component costs.

Turns from Liquid to Solid Monolithic Protective Roof Shell

Sprayed Polyurethane Foam is applied as a liquid using plural-component spray equipment to fill cracks and crevices. It then expands approximately 30 times its original liquid volume to form a hard, closed cell monolithic roof surface.

The Polyurethane Foam dries within seconds after applied to the roof surface. Its expansion results in a weather tight roofing membrane that is fully adhered to the substrate. Because of polyurethane's lightweight it adds little additional weight to the structure and is often used in remedial applications.

Polyurethane Foam has a history of more than 35 years as a maintainable roofing medium. Polyurethane Foam adds excellent insulation value to the structure and utility bills can reflect the difference.

Once the SPF has been applied to the proper thickness and finish specifications, a protective layer of elastomeric coating or gravel is applied. This protective layer produces a durable weather resistant surface and that can be walked on for normal maintenance.

Durabilty

When most people hear of a "foam" roof, they automatically think of the type of soft foam similar to that used for seat cushions and are concerned that they won't be able to walk on it without causing problems or damaging the roof. Foam roofs are very durable and can handle foot and construction traffic as well as other roofs. They are still susceptible to damage from dropped tools just as any other roof but the damage is more easily seen and can most often be repaired with some simple polyurethane caulking.

Density & R-Value

Density of SPF is important when it comes to strength and Thermal Resistance. Obviously, higher density means increased strength and higher R-value. Most SPF roofs have densities ranging from about 2.5 pounds per cubic foot to 3 pounds per cubic foot. Three pound density foam has a compressive strength of about 50 psi and an R-value of 7.14 installed and 6.86 aged (these numbers may vary slightly depending on the foam manufacturer). Here's an example of how well a good SPF roof insulates. A school district in southern California had recently installed some new, one-room relocatable classroom buildings. During the late spring and early fall, these classrooms were using their air conditioners an average of 50 minutes every hour. The school district installed foam roofs on some of these classrooms in order to see if it would provide an energy savings. The roofs consisted of three pound density foam, 1.5 inches thick with an acrylic coating system. The air conditioner usage was cut down to fifteen minutes every hour. That's a fifty-eight percent savings on energy costs.

Does this mean an SPF roof pay for itself? Absolutely! Texas A&M studies indicate that an SPF roof in Texas and other southern climates can pay for itself in approximately four and a half years.

Lifespan

If the coating for an SPF roof is properly maintained, then an SPF roof can last a very long time. Every ten or fifteen years, depending on the type and amount of coating installed, the roof will need to be cleaned, primed, and recoated. If this is done, then a quality SPF roof could last 50 years or longer.

Cost

As with all other roof systems, cost depends on several factors. Some of which include building accessibility, complexity of project, foam thickness, foam coating system, and geographical location. Costs may start at about $2.50 per square foot for a cheap system and go up from there.

Protective Coatings for Spray Foam Roofs

Once the SPF has been applied to the proper thickness and finish specifications, a protective layer of elastomeric coating, or gravel is applied. This protective layer produces a durable weather resistant surface and that can be walked on for normal maintenance. More...

Energy Star – Cool Roofs Program and Benefits

ENERGY STAR qualified roof coating products reduce the amount of air conditioning needed in buildings, and can reduce energy bills by up to 50%. The Cool Roof Program defines certain standards for reflectivity, and maintenance of reflectivity, in roof coating systems. These light colored roof coatings reflect the suns heat and UV rays and often lower the temperature of the roof by up to 100 degrees. More...

SPF Roofing Installation

Installation of SPF involves different procedures based on the existing roof structure. It is important to be familiar with all state and local building codes to assure the appropriate materials and procedures meet the necessary requirements in your area.  More...

SPF Roofing Systems Provide Many Benefits to Building Owners.

Waterproofing & Leak Prevention

Greater Insulation Value

SPF has Superior Compressive Strength

SPF is Lightweight

SPF is Self-flashing

SPF is Durable and
Long Lasting