The benefits of foam roof insulation are countless. The insulation material used is created from polyurethane foam. It is applied in liquid form and dries up to create a single film lining that covers the entire roof. This creates a seam free area, which is ideal because this is normally the source and reason for most leaks in roofs. It is actually safe to apply the foam directly to the roof. There is no reason to worry. The foam can actually be applied to just about any chosen surface and it easily molds into irregularly shaped roofs and overhangs.
Polyurethane is a lightweight yet very durable and firm material. On the average, one square foot of foam insulation is equal to about 50 pounds of worth as compared to 100 to 800 pounds for other roofs. It has a higher R value, which is a measure of thermal resistance or resistance to heat flow. Correspondingly, the higher the R value the more effective the insulation is. Polyurethane foam roof insulation has a higher R value than even the standard fiberglass. This allows for the home to be cooler. Homes with attics know that attics store heat even after the sun has gone down. This makes the foam roof insulation a necessity for homes even those without attics because it is able to cool the home significantly.
Foam roof insulation can also be used for mobile homes and trailers. This in effect, increases the R value of the mobile homes and trailers to nearly double. As for air-conditioned buildings such as livestock operations, barns and commercial buildings, it is quite an essential to have to be able to maintain the right comfortable temperature inside. The versatility of foam roof insulation is quite admirable. It can be painted on and even be covered over with shingles or an asphalt layer.
Foam roof insulation is very practical. Instead of having the air-conditioning run twice as long without insulation, having the roof insulated significantly reduces the heat that penetrates the home. Poor insulation can also result to water and wind damage to the roof. The good thing with foam roof insulation is that it is preventive. The foam sprayed into the roof and in between the tiles is a very cost efficient way to correct future problems. It is also an effective way to prevent those roof tiles or shingles from being blown off by strong winds during storms. Foam roof insulation has proven to withstand over two hundred mile an hour winds. Which goes to show that it is very reliable. Foam roof insulation also reduces the risk of dew point issues. Left untreated, this will later lead to water condensation. Water condensation or moisture that penetrates into the building is actually the primary reason behind the structure being damaged. By having a layer of foam in between the roof, it allows a the same layer to stop any leakage from penetrating any further even if the top layer of the foam roofing gets ruined. Many hairline fissures may appear in the top layer, but no leaks can get through even after a decade without repair as proven by the incident with the Super Dome in New Orleans.
Another good thing about foam roof insulation is that it requires very minimal to almost no maintenance whatsoever. Foam is proven to last longer than any popular roof coverings available in the market today. And what’s more is that it certainly costs much less compared to having to repair the roof and it takes much less time to complete. Foam roof insulation costs anywhere between $0.50 to $2.25 per square foot. This costing would depend on the climate in a specific area and on the desired R value in the product. A standard attic may go from $750 to around $1,100.