Spray Foam Roof Insulation

In case you are considering insulation of your roof with spray foam it will be good to understand what is insulation and what is spray foam.

For instance let’s say you have wood shingles on your roof. With passage of time, shingles develop minute cracks that you may not be able to see at times. Outside air enters you room thru these cracks and changes the temperature of your room. If the cracks are filled with some material, the outside air has no chance of entering your room to affect its temperature. One of the materials used for filing these cracks is foam.

But, what is spray foam? Spray polyurethane foam, or SPF, is simply insulating foam plastic. It is sprayed in liquid form, but on getting cured, expands many times its original size.


Two varieties of the product are available: High Density and Low Density. Now, you have to decide which one to use for insulating your roof.
It’s good to go for the high density. The high-density insulation gives you more value for your money as it has a higher R-value per inch. But, note that higher density foam is liable to get rigid. It becomes very stiff on getting fully cured.

DIY kits are available in case you like to carry the insulation on your own, but it is highly desirable getting it done from a professional, more so if it is going to be high density foam which expands and needs to be handled with caution lest it causes any damage.

One big advantage of using spray foam for insulating roof is that it is not prone to getting damaged by moisture, thus acting like an insulator as well a barrier for moisture. That means it traps more heat, as it has no escape route. The result--your power bills are reduced. On the negative side, it traps humidity also, and humidity can make you feel miserable.

Please understand that spray foam is an excellent insulating material but don’t think it can replace your ceiling. You need to have a ceiling that needs insulation with foam.

In case you decide to have the application of foam as a DIY project, here’s the most important precaution that you must not ignore. Before you start spraying, make sure there is no trapped moisture. So, the best part of the year for undertaking this project will be in summers when it hasn’t rained for a long time. That makes it certain there is no moisture entrapped in your ceiling.