Spray Foam Roof Deck Problems

Even small gaps can allow the passage of warm air through the foam rendering the foam all but useless as an insulator.

Spray foam roof deck problems.

As one of the most quickly adopted high performance building materials available in the market there has been a lot of noise made about spray foam insulation and its performance ability. Fumes emitted during the spraying process present a potential hazard to employees or customers in or around the building. If you directly condition the attic however now you need a thermal barrier and no builder s gonna do that. Furthermore not sealing ceiling penetrations helps the attic become indirectly conditioned.

Much like the concern about fake news found on social media channels noise about building materials such as spray foam insulation can create confusion among builders architects building owners and even regulators. By encapsulating the attic and leaving the old insulation up there that filth is in your conditioned space. Spray foam causes moisture problems in the roof line. Yeah you probably still breathed some of it but not as much as you will now with spray foam on the roof deck.

The problem with that solution though is that it violates the building code for an attic with exposed spray foam insulation. While this does not pose a health concern it is a concern for surrounding property. The foam will also contract and expand depending on the weather which again reduces cracks. Spf roofing systems should be regularly inspected whether there is known damage or not especially after severe weather events that could cause damage such as hail storms tornadoes and hurricanes.

Rooftop hvac units must be covered and the entire hvac system shut down during spraying. Your indoor air quality may get worse. Since the spf roof is installed by a spray application there is a risk of the wind carrying overspray onto surrounding cars and other surfaces. To get the best performance out of spray foam insulation you must cover the roof rafters and surrounding areas as thoroughly as possible.

At west roofing systems we take extra care to prevent overspray. Spray on roofs can also be levelled out more easily reducing the collection of water in ponds. Spf s key ingredient isocyanate is hazardous when inhaled or when it comes into contact with the skin. Punctures and damage should be caught early to prevent leaking into the facility.

This is because the top floor ceiling is no longer the air barrier for the house the spray foam at the roof deck underside in the attic is the air barrier. It s ok to leave the foam exposed in an attic if you cover it with an ignition barrier.