How Much Does a Spray Foam (SPF) Roof Cost?
Last Updated: June 14, 2022
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Sprayed Polyurethane Foam (SPF) has been used as roofing material only since the 1970s, making it a relative newcomer to the roofing market. But other than the fact that it doesn't have a long track record, you'd be hard pressed to find many complaints about this low-slope roofing material. Offering a low installation cost, weatherability, and virtually maintenance free upkeep, spray foam roofing has a lot going for it. To learn more about spray foam roofs, including how much they cost, continue reading this buying guide.
Spray Foam Roofing: An Overview #
Polyurethane foam is a unique type of plastic that, despite a relatively low density, provides excellent cushioning and thermal insulation. The use of two-component spray polyurethane was developed in the 1990s, and that is the type of foam roofing installed today.
Spray foam roofing contractors begin with an "A" component and a "B" component that is mixed onsite at a one-to-one ratio and sprayed onto the substrate with special equipment. The liquid mixture, when sprayed, turns into foam that expands 20 or 30 times and forms a solid, seamless roofing system. A separate, protective topcoat is applied (sprayed or rolled on) in order to provide the foam surface with stability.
Foam Roofing Average Costs #
Due to factors that include your location, the complexity of the installation, and the product selected, your actual spray foam roofing cost may vary from the prices below.
- Foam roofs start at around $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot installed, but could cost as much as $3.00 to $6.00 or more per square foot. Assuming a roof size of 1,500 square feet, that's a total estimated cost of $2,250 to $9,000.
The Benefits of a Spray Foam Roof #
The chemical properties of polyurethane make spray on foam roofing an excellent alternative to other flat roofing systems such as built-up roofing (BUR) and single-ply roofs. The many reasons why you should consider roof foam for your next roofing project include the following:
- Low Lifecycle Cost: In addition to having a low installation cost, SPF roofing, according to studies performed by Structural Research Inc., offers the lowest lifecycle cost. For the 20 or 30 years that a foam roofing system is expected to last, you can count on it requiring little or no maintenance.
- Seamless Leak Protection: Because it is applied as a liquid, a foam roof creates a single, monolithic (seamless) membrane over the entirety of the substrate. With no seams or joints for water to penetrate, two of the most common sources of leaks are eliminated.
- Protection: Despite being extremely lightweight, foam roofing systems provides some of the best weather protection in the industry, including excellent thermal insulation, wind uplift resistance, hail resistance, and, as mentioned above, water impermeability.
- Sustainability: When properly installed and recoated every 5 to 10 years, it's possible for foam roofing to last 40 years or more. In some cases, it can even last for the lifetime of the building. Eliminating the need for roof replacement, you save not only money, but also landfill space. Waste is also reduced with the application of SPF roofing because it is applied directly over the existing roof material.
Video: The Pros and Cons of Spray Foam Roofing #
Watch the video below to review the benefits and disadvantages of installing a spray foam roofing system:
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