Roofers have a tough job. They work at heights, carrying heavy shingles and nailing them to the roof's surface. In addition to working hard, roofers are also very knowledgeable. They can recommend the best roofing material to fit your budget and preferences, and they can make repairs, as needed, to ensure your roof continues to keep your home safe. There's a lot to learn about roofing. We are not professionals, but we consider ourselves to be well-informed, and we share the information we know on this website. As you read, you will learn more about roofing as a profession, and you may also pick up some roofing tips you can use on your own home.
An inefficient roof can increase your home's energy costs by absorbing solar radiation and facilitating heat loss. According to EPA estimates, homeowners can reduce 11% of their total energy costs by minimizing heat loss and gain through insulation. Before insulating your roof, you need to choose the most efficient and reliable product for the structure.
Traditional insulation materials such as fiberglass and cellulose are far from perfect. While they have good insulating properties, they face stiff competition from modern solutions such as spray foam roofing. Below are some reasons you should choose spray foam over conventional insulation solutions.
Strengthens the Roof
Traditional insulation solutions were primarily used to prevent heat loss in a building. Besides sealing air leaks and preventing heat loss, spray foam strengthens the roof too. Spray foam insulation is usable both on the roof's surface and underside. When installed on the surface, the material expands to fill every hole, gap, and cranny. Once it cures, the material hardens and creates an additional layer of protection over the structure.
Stay-in-place spray foam protects the roof from humidity, storms, and structural damage from falling tree branches. It is also heat resistant, and this makes it an excellent addition to your structure. This is unlike conventional insulation materials that are applied to the underside only. As a result, they increase the structural strength of the roof.
Saves You Money
Installing roof insulation can be costly. With traditional materials such as fiberglass and cellulose, you need to measure the installation surface and ensure that the material covers the area sufficiently. Failure to do this will leave gaps and pockets through which air may escape. This process is costly due to the increased labor hours.
Spray foam insulation is easy to install. The installers use a spray gun to apply the liquid product. Since the product comes in liquid foam, it easily adheres to hard-to-reach areas. The process is simple, fast, non-intrusive, and this translates into reduced installation costs. Additionally, stay-in-place spray foam doesn't require regular touch-ups or repairs. Thus, the insulation is low-maintenance and cost-saving.
Provides a Sustainable Solution
A sustainable insulation material is one with the following properties:
- Low maintenance
- Energy efficient
- Durable
- Improves a building's lifespan
- Reduces environmental pollution
Most traditional insulation materials do not meet the criteria for sustainability. For example, loose-fill insulation settles when exposed to moisture, which significantly reduces its lifespan. Spray foam is a green and sustainable material. Once sprayed in place, the insulation can last a lifetime. Its R-value does not decrease with time. Since it doesn't require replacement, very little of it ends up in the landfills.
Spray foam comes with many benefits that most conventional insulation materials lack. Talk to a roofing contractor about installing spray foam insulation in your home. Learn more about foam roofing system installation today.