Spray foam insulation and roofing offer many benefits. This seamless material conforms perfectly to slopes, corners, and other irregular parts of your roof, offering comprehensive coverage for your building. Spray foam roof insulation also has incredible R-value and provides remarkable insulation to boost comfort, as well as cost and energy efficiency. However, many people wonder if spray foam can be installed over an existing roof or if they’ll have to install a new roof entirely. The answer is that spray foam works on top of most roof types, but you should know a few things before you begin insulating. Learn more with this rundown of spray foam roof insulation and how it works on existing roofs.

A Dry, Clean, Sound Roof

If you want to install spray foam insulation on an existing structure, the roof must be dry, clean, and sound. These requirements ensure that the spray foam application is as successful and effective as possible. The roof must be dry because any water can affect the chemical mixture of the spray foam and cause problems. You need a clean roof because dirt, debris, and other contaminants make an unfit surface for the spray foam application and cause issues during installation. Finally, a sound roof means that the outermost roofing layer has fully adhered to the insulation below. A roof that isn’t completely secure can create an uneven slope, which prevents accurate installation and can cause problems with drainage in the future.

Types of Roofs To Avoid

Many roofing materials meet the above requirements, but you shouldn’t coat certain roof types with spray foam insulation without extra steps or precautions. Thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) roofing is a type of roof that professionals must mechanically fasten at the seams. This means the roof isn’t fully adhered and it makes an uneven surface for a spray foam coating. If you want to use spray foam on a TPO roof or other mechanically attached roof, you must install a cover board to create a stable surface for the foam.

Advantages of Using Spray Foams on Existing Roofs

We know that spray foam can be installed over an existing roof, but what are the benefits of doing so? If you can add insulation to your existing roof, you don’t have to pay to tear it down and build a new roof. Less construction means a lower cost, so the upgrade is far more affordable. Adding spray foam to an existing roof has environmental benefits, too. Fewer scrapped materials lead to less landfill waste. Plus, the energy efficiency of spray foam insulation saves power, which helps reduce pollution and conserve natural resources.

The benefits of adding spray foam insulation to your existing roof are clear. Are you ready to make the upgrade? Find friendly and high-quality commercial spray foam roofing in Crystal Lake and the surrounding area by contacting Paragon Protection today.