As early as 1968 the professionals at Lundin Roofing Company pioneered the use of polyurethane foam as a roofing material in Louisiana. Since that first polyurethane foam roofing system was installed, Lundin Roofing Company has successfully installed millions of square feet of foam roofing throughout Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Combining an isocyanate (A) component with a polyol (B) component through special metering equipment forms Polyurethane Foam. With this special equipment the two components can be sprayed directly onto a prepared surface to form a rigid closed cell insulating plastic foam material that becomes the base of the roofing system. As an added advantage, several different types of polyurethane foam roofing systems can be used in combination with each other or with other conventional insulation products to offer a wide range of economical roofing installations. The polyurethane foam can even be sprayed in multiple layers to provide positive slope to the roof. The foam can also be used to fill in low or ponding areas caused by deteriorating built up roof systems and/or faulty construction design.

After the polyurethane foam is applied to the roof, weather resistant top coatings are applied to deter the effects of ultra-violet radiation and mechanical abrasions. These coatings can also add a measure of fire protection. To achieve the maximum ultraviolet light protection, the polyurethane foam is covered with two coats of silicone, acrylic or urethane coating. These coatings are usually sprayed, but can also be rolled or brushed. Most of these coating systems are considered to be "breathable" (>1.0 perms) and are capable of venting moisture vapor while preventing water intrusion. Polyurethane foam is applied continuously, without seams, and can adhere to most irregular roof structures. With this process there are no seams to delaminate and repairs can easily be made in a watertight fashion. Because polyurethane foam is a closed cell material, once properly applied it is totally waterproof.

Even existing roof systems, properly prepared, can provide an excellent base upon which to apply polyurethane foam. In many cases the Lundin Roofing professionals have been able to prevent having to tear off the old roofing system, thus saving their customers labor and disposal costs in addition to eliminating the danger of having the building exposed during inclement weather.

For existing structures with older traditional roofs, weight and load strengths become very critical safety factors. While a traditional roof can weigh more than 800 pounds per hundred square feet, a complete polyurethane foam roofing system will weigh less than 28 pounds per hundred square feet. Frequently the total amount of gravel and debris removed from an existing roof will weigh more than the new polyurethane roofing system. Spray polyurethane foam roofing systems will meet the UL-790 class A requirement for fire tests of roof coverings and will meet the most demanding wind uplift requirements. In addition, polyurethane foam provides a "R" value of approximately 7 per inch of thickness and has proven to be the best insulation per inch of all the commonly used roofing insulations on the market today. The energy savings alone could pay for the roof system in just a few years.

Spray polyurethane roofing systems from Lundin Roofing Company offer a 1, 5 or 10-year non-prorated direct factory warranty. Once these roofing systems are properly installed and certified, a full service maintenance contract on the roof can address any minor refurbishing problems during the annual inspection by your professional roofing contractor. By utilizing a maintenance program you can be assured that just prior to the expiration of the original warranty your professional roofing contractor can renew your warranty with a reapplication of the weather resistant topcoat. With proper maintenance this roofing system can last the lifetime of the building.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I have never heard of Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) being used for a roof?

A: Sprayed-in-place polyurethane foam has been protecting buildings since the 1960s.

Q: Where have they ever used spray polyurethane foam for a roof?

A: Superdome, Tacoma Dome, Sears, J.C. Penny, Texas A&M University, Ford Motor Company, Olin Chemicals, Union Carbide, Tulane University and the NY Metropolitan Museum of Art just to name a few.

Q: Is this type of roof very expensive?

A: Depending upon the application, the initial installation of a SPF roofing system can be competitive with a traditional roofing system, but the cost of owning a SPF roofing system is much less. Heating and cooling costs can drop an average of 30%.

Q: What about roof seams and irregular roof surfaces?

A: Polyurethane foam can be applied directly to most substrates and will conform to any unusual roofing configurations. It is self-flashing and seamless, virtually eliminating a major source of leaks.

Q: What happens if the foam gets wet?

A: Spray polyurethane foam is a closed cell material and will not allow water to quickly enter. It does not allow water to travel laterally under the roof. Repairs can be made easily when discovered during scheduled routine inspections.

Q: What would I need to do if I wanted to add insulation?

A: Nothing, inch for inch, sprayed polyurethane foam provides greater resistance to the transfer of heat than most insulating materials. Polyurethane Foam provides a "R" value of 7 for each inch of thickness.

Q: Would the roof be strong enough to walk on?

A: Sprayed polyurethane foam has a compressive strength of approximately 6,480 pounds per square foot, which can easily handle normal roof traffic. Special walkways are easily added for heavy traffic areas and temporary protection (plywood) can be utilized to move overweight loads, such as heavy equipment.

Q: Does foam make the roof heavy?

A: A complete polyurethane foam roofing system will weigh less than 1/2 pound per square foot compared to a traditional built up roof that can weigh 8+ pounds per square foot. Oftentimes, more weight is removed from the building when it is cleaned than is added from the new foam roofing system.

Q: Why is it necessary to use a coating over the foam?

A: Spray-applied polyurethane foam must be protected from the sun's ultraviolet light, so a special protective elastomeric coating is always applied over the polyurethane foam.

Q: What about high temperatures and roof movement on a building?

A: Spray polyurethane foam reduces thermal shock and has excellent flexibility properties that will allow it to "move" with the surface it is applied to.

Q: What about minor repairs?

A: In-house personnel using nothing more than simple hand tools and sealants can usually repair minor damage to the spray polyurethane foam. Your professional roofing contractor should always handle warranty work and all major repairs.

Q: My building has an old traditional roof, I can't use foam on it can I?

A: YES you can, because spray-applied polyurethane foam is lightweight, permeable and can fully adhere to any clean surface. As an added cost saving, normally the old roof does not need to be fully removed in order to apply a new foam roofing system.

Q: Can I get a warranty with this roofing system?

A: YES, whether new construction or roof replacement, warranties are available for most spray-applied foam roofing systems ranging from 1 year to over 10 years, depending upon the foam system and protective coating that you wish to be used on your roof.

The original 10-year warranty can even be renewed for an additional 10 year under most circumstances. Roof maintenance programs are available to cover non-warranty repairs.

Q: Can this type of roof be used where the temperature ranges are really extreme?

A: Spray polyurethane foam has been tested from the very cold (-175F) to the extremely hot (+180F) without structural failures.

Q: Can this roof hold up in high winds, like a hurricane?

A: The latest data available from Hurricanes Hugo and Andrew showed that buildings with spray-applied polyurethane foam roofs survived these storms better than other buildings with conventional roofing materials.

Q: Does this type of roof require a lot of maintenance?

A: Spray polyurethane foam roofs, like all roofs, should be inspected by your roofing professional at least once a year to identify and correct any minor problems. When you add a full service maintenance program as part of your roofing system, your professional roofing contractor will address any minor problems during the scheduled inspections.

Q: Is installing this type of roof going to be disruptive to my business?

A: Applying a spray polyurethane foam roofing system is always less disruptive since tear-off of the old roof is minimal and the project is finished faster because application is quieter, quicker and requires far fewer laborers.

Q: What does it cost to have my roof inspected?

A: Whether you are pricing an existing roofing problem or budgeting for maintenance and future replacements, Lundin Roofing Company professionals offer you no obligation consultations for all your industrial and commercial roofing projects.