Foam spray roof ?

[jlybolt]

Anybody have any good information of foam spray roofs about 5 to 6 inches thick. What should I be looking for during the inspection? Any help would be appreciated. Information regarding this type of roof on the net is limited and just wanted others opinions.

[whandley]

http://www.metacrylics.com/application/uret.html

http://www.sprayfoam.com/

http://www.polythane.com/

http://www.internationalfoam.net/

[Steven C. Waskewicz]

http://www.professionalroofing.net/a....aspx?A_ID=782

[gbeaumont]

Hi to all,

I inspect a lot of SPF roofs down here, the biggest problems I find are from, Blistering due to moisture, some jobs look like a relief map of the moon!! (the blisters rupture exposing the foam), Mechanical damage caused by tree limbs or tradesmen damaging the surface when swapping out mechanical equipment, poor application of UV resistant coatings.

Here are a couple of images, including one from this mornings job.

Regards

Gerry

BTW the last image is what they should look like

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Originally Posted by gbeaumont

Hi to all,

I inspect a lot of SPF roofs down here, the biggest problems I find are from, Blistering due to moisture, some jobs look like a relief map of the moon!! (the blisters rupture exposing the foam), Mechanical damage caused by tree limbs or tradesmen damaging the surface when swapping out mechanical equipment, poor application of UV resistant coatings.

Here are a couple of images, including one from this mornings job.

Regards

Gerry

BTW the last image is what they should look like

Gerry, could you elaborate on this?

I am looking at SPF roof here that I have never seen nor know how they perform, but your pictures seem to indicate a Ballast on the first three pictures and the ballast size seems different and the fourth picture appears to be more of a sand texture. Are those the same roofs?

Confused.

Why the ballast? aesthetics? or performance?

Thanks

Marcel

[gbeaumont]

Hi Marcel,

SPF roof s are very common down here on commercial and condo structures, either ballast or elastomeric sealants are used as the finish (sometimes both), personally I perfer the sealant roof as it seems to protect the foam better. On some ballasted roofs the agregate itself causes problems from wind scouring (they use crushed stone rather than river run, so any movement of it (or heavy traffic on it) causes problems.

There is a good write-up about SPF roofs here: http://www.ncfi.com/EDU_Article.htm

and about 1/4 way down this page, very good coverage of the different coatings: http://www.wbdg.org/design/env_roofing.php

Regards

Gerry

[Dale Duffy]

Gerry,

Those pictures are the craziest I've ever seen....what the hell is with the rock....

I can just see the AC walking to each unit and pushing the stone right to the sheathing...unreal.....

Of all the Foam roof coating I have inspected here, never have I seen ballast...

[gbeaumont]

Originally Posted by dduffy

Gerry,

Those pictures are the craziest I've ever seen....what the hell is with the rock....

I can just see the AC walking to each unit and pushing the stone right to the sheathing...unreal.....

Of all the Foam roof coating I have inspected here, never have I seen ballast...

Hi Dale,

I agree mate, I shake my head every time I see it (on average once a week this year) I can't believe it's approved by the foam manufacturers but it is, the argument is that it is much cheaper than an elastomeric coating, and requires less maintenance, however an elastomeric coating seals the foam reducing it's off-gassing rated (thus maintaining it's thickness for insulation) also it provides a good moisture barrier (the foam itself is not totally water proof) moisture vapors will tend to be drawn through the roof deck in areas that are normally cooled, like Florida

Personally I hate to see the ballasted system, especially down here where that covering will become someones debris field during a high wind event, the last picture I posted was of a new SPF roof with an elastomeric coating onto which a fine aggregate had been applied while the coating was still wet, those particular roofs were very well done and very consistent (probably machine Applied rather than hand sprayed)

Regards

Gerry

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Thanks Gerry ;

and I agree with Dale, Ballast does not make sence other than adding this 10 lbs. per sq. ft. to the structure design. Crushed rock, Wow. Like installing sand paper with a 0 grit' on a ballon membrane. ha. ha.

I will stick to the reqular fully adhered membrane. ha. ha.

Marcel

[gbeaumont]

Hi to all,

Here's a few more images for you delight and delectation

From left to right:

1. Blistering
2. Scouring of the aggregate
3. Hole formed by blistering (probably caused by poor surface preperation when re-coated or repaired)
4. Savagely attached by Palm tree!!

Regards

Gerry

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Gerry,

You need to be more carefull how you walk on these roofs during your inspection. Blowing up these cute air pockets is not amusing to the seller.

Inspections are suppose to be non-destructive.

Marcel

Gerry;

Thanks

[Brian E. Kelly]

If I did not see the worn areas Gerry I would have sworn that was not a foam roof.

[gbeaumont]

Hi to all,

I hear you Brian, when the stuff is machine applied it can go down very evenly, I am guessing that your second picture was caused by the machine not tracking properly along the previously laid down material, and the 3rd image is of a void in the roof, the last image looks like some small patch repairs (probably done immediately after the covering had been applied).

Regards

Gerry

[Brian C. Hoagland]

In florida we have the luxury of 12 days a year when the manufacture's criteria for appplication of this product can be fully met with respect to temperature and humidity. How the hell did we get so many of these roofs? Also what I have read would indicate that every one of those ballasted(rocks applied) roofs should be sealcoated too with elastomeric. Great example of a bad Idea which has really done well.

[gbeaumont]

Originally Posted by bhoagland

In Florida we have the luxury of 12 days a year when the manufacturer's criteria for application of this product can be fully met with respect to temperature and humidity. How the hell did we get so many of these roofs? Also what I have read would indicate that every one of those ballasted(rocks applied) roofs should be seal-coated too with elastomeric. Great example of a bad Idea which has really done well.

Do I detect a note of cynicism there Brian ??

I agree

Regards

Gerry