In the San Francisco Bay Area, a great number of homes and commercial buildings have flat roofs because of our relatively mild climate and the fact that snowfall is an extremely rare phenomenon. Flat roofs are also quite modern and stylish – made popular by such modernist as Frank Lloyd Wright and Joseph Eichler – so in the forward-thinking culture of San Francisco, many people have chosen to live in a home with a slick flat roof that could be built with less material and much more affordably than typical sloping roofs.
Unfortunately, flat or low-sloped roofs have a number of issues that should be addressed to avoid costly roof damage and poor energy-efficiency.
Energy Efficiency
Issue
Anyone living in a home with a built-up roof (also known as BUR or tar & gravel roofs) knows that utility bills for heating in winter and cooling in summer can “go through the roof.” This is because these roofs are not very good at trapping heat within the home in winter and reflecting it during the hot summer months.
Solution
The solution to this problem is replacing your BUR roof with Armstrong’s Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) or Foam Roofing. For over 40 years, Armstrong has been helping San Francisco Bay Area homeowners reduce their heating and cooling systems’ energy consumption by up to 40%. This can be achieved because foam roofing is the most energy-efficient material available for flat roofs. It is, in fact, over 500% more efficient than conventional roofs.
Homes and buildings with foam roofing are also classified as having “cool roofs” since they are most commonly covered with a white reflective coating. Consequently, they are able to reflect the sun’s heat and ultraviolet rays. Moreover, white roofs have also been found to reduce “the urban heat island effect” during the hot summer months which reduces our demand for electricity.
Drainage & Moisture Damage
Issue
Another drawback of flat roofs is poor drainage which results in moisture damage. Normally, flat roofs should be constructed with about a 15° slope to allow for rain drainage. However, the reality is that a large percentage of flat roofs do not drain as efficiently as pitched roofs. Poor drainage permits water to form puddles on roofs which can eventually damage your roof. In most cases, water damage usually goes unnoticed because it first soaks through the roof, then through the insulation and any structure below. By the time it is noticed, the majority of damage is done.
Solution
When Armstrong Foam Roofing installs foam roofing systems on flat roofs, drainage issues and moisture damage are no longer a concern. SPF roofing is by far your best choice for avoiding moisture damage. It offers you excellent waterproofing and affordable and long-lasting protection.
The fact that Armstrong foam roofing systems have no seams or burdensome built-up layers, eliminates the expanding and contracting and separating that allows water and microbes to seep in and damage your roof.
Last Word
In addition to protecting your roof against moisture damage, SPF roofing is extremely strong while at the same time ultra-lightweight. Its proven longevity classifies it as a sustainable low-slope roofing system. This means that, in most cases, it will only require periodic recoating for decades of service!
Schedule Your SPF Roofing Consultation Today
During the past 40 years, Armstrong Foam Roofing has installed more residential foam roofing than any other company in America!
We offer you the best, longest-lasting warranties available. Before you consider any other roof for your flat or low-sloped roof, let Armstrong show you why our Bay Area Foam roofing is the best investment for your home.
Contact us today to book your Free Satellite Roof Estimate!