Murmurs and hearsay about open cell spray foam insulation have been gaining traction for a while.
Spray foam roof deck.
Despite the advantages of using spray foam under the roof deck there are some potential risks.
It rots roofs people have told me.
Proper drainage prevents ponding water deck deflection and protects the roof from leaks and premature failures.
The concern here is with an unvented attic where insulation is installed directly under the roof deck the shingles may degrade rapidly due to the increased heat caused by the insulation.
Not long ago someone even told me that in florida roofing companies won t let their workers go up on roofs with open cell spray foam because the roofs are so spongy the guys fall right through.
Skimping on roof deck preparation can reduce spf s adherence factor and reduce the useful life of the roof.
The spray foam can also serve as the thermal and vapor control layers in both new and retrofit construction.
Spray foam roofing has become a particularly popular solution in the commercial roofing industry but that doesn t mean it can t be right for your residential roof.
I m assuming that you are installing the spray polyurethane foam to the underside of the roof deck.
The primary risks are rainwater leaks condensation from diffusion air leakage and built in construction moisture.
But spray foam insulation used at the underside of the roof deck would need to be covered by a thermal barrier and intumescent coatings are commonly used.
While spf offers decent r value when precisely applied its thermal resistance is only as good as the worker controlling the spray foam mix.
If you use open cell spray foam on your roof rafters you should cover the finished application with a paint or sealant that retards water vapor.
Even small gaps can allow the passage of.
Other considerations to get the best performance out of spray foam insulation you must cover the roof rafters and surrounding areas as thoroughly as possible.
This results in extended life span.
The movement of air into indirect conditioning of an unvented attic is a slow gradual process that will not be noticeable by occupants and typically will not put any strain on the hvac system.
This concern is over exaggerated.