Why does SPF roofing require an elastomeric coating?

The U.S. demand for roofing is expected to rise in value to $27.2 billion by 2017. (SprayFoam.org)
While SPF roofing accounts for only two to three percent of the total U.S. roofing demand, SPF roofing is fast becoming the most popular commercial roofing solution available today. Businesses who rely on SPF roofing often notice as much as a 40 percent decrease in utility energy costs. What helps make SPF roofing so cost-effective is the acrylic UV coating applied over the hardened SPF surface.
We specialize in installing FOAM-LOK SPF roofing solution from Lapolla Industries covered by Lapolla’s Thermo-Flex acrylic UV coating. The protective coating helps deflect harmful UV rays from the sun that threaten to corrode and compromise the underlying SPF solution. Without a protective coating, SPF can experience surface degradation as great as 1/8″ per year. The thicker in mils that an acrylic coating is applied, the longer the life-expectancy of an SPF roofing system.
There are several influencing variables on choosing the right protective coating for your SPF roofing system:
- What is the purpose of the building under the SPF roof?
- Where is your building located and how much weather exposure does your building receive?
- How much traffic occurs on your building’s roof?
Acrylic coatings can preserve your SPF roofing system for an indefinite period of time with regular re-coatings. Many roofs in the early to mid-1980’s that received new SPF roofs are still in leak-free operation because of regular re-coatings of acrylic-based protective layers. Thirty years later and none of the roofs show any signs of compromise in the future.
Our R&A Contracting team helps cover businesses across the greater St. Louis area with SPF roofing and Thermo-Flex. If your SPF roof has not received a recent re-coating of its protective layer, your building may be vulnerable to storm or weather damage this summer.