It’s hot and won’t be cooling off soon. You wouldn’t wear a black raincoat today but that’s what many flat roofed homes have. Black tar and gravel – even in the 1950s it never made sense. Everyone knows a white surface will reflect the sun while a dark one will absorb the heat.
When we speak of insulating value, often hear “r-value”. This is how effectively a building material prevents heat from passing into or out of a building; a higher number means more heat is kept out of your home. The typical Eichler roof of tar and gravel will have an r-value of 0.33. Whereas a spray foam roof will have an r-value of 3.7 per inch of foam. A roof from Foam Roof Solutions will be at least 2 inches, providing an r-value of 7.4.
When a black tar roof with almost no insulting value is replaced with an insulting white spray foam roof, the cooling difference is immediate. The air conditioning system will not have to work as hard to keep the home cool – meaning your HVAC system will last longer.
A spray foam roof will last for the life of the home. This roof has no seams or joints to leak. The foam hardens and can be walked on. A spray foam roof can be applied right over the top of the existing flat roof material. This saves labor and does not add to our landfills.
Changing from a dark roof to a light-colored spray foam roof has several benefits. The home temperature inside will stay consistent. The days are hot and these summer nights do not cool down much. Your home will retain the cool air.
The spray foam roof adds insulation and is airtight. The cool air will not escape through the roof. The heat from outside won’t transfer to the house. You HVAC system will not have to keep cooling the home and will maintain the perfect temperature.
One of our customers had an original style flat roof which was in need of repair. Here’s what they have to say:
My mother’s home is a tract house built in the mid 50’s. With a tar and gravel roof, it’s a hot box in summer and difficult to heat in winter. Dreading another hot summer, I decided to replace it now. A friend referred us to Foam Roof Solutions. The estimate was well within reason, and the full 2 inches of foam sealed the deal. The other foam estimate I had initially gotten was for 1½ inches and was more expensive. The crew worked efficiently and the grounds were left in excellent condition. The last two days have been in the high 80’s, and while this is not yet the test of summer, the house would have been warm. The garage was noticeably cooler, and we could comfortably wear sweats in the house with the windows open. At this point I am happy with my decision and the job well done.
Another customer noticed the difference immediately and how consistent the temperature was in the home:
We moved into our low-slope “Eichler” style house back in September of 2020. During a heatwave where our house got to 95 degrees, we realized that having no insulation or crawlspace was going to be rough. We researched roofs styles, and learned that a spray foam roof would give us the insulation and water-tight requirements we needed. I chose Foam Roof Solutions. The morning after the foam roof went on I immediately could tell the difference. Typically our heater kicks on at 6am, to warm the house up to 65 degrees. That morning, didn’t need to, the house was already at 65. As the day went on, it was a clear sunny day, and that usually means our house will get to 75+ degrees, regardless of the actual temperature outside. The house stayed right around 68-70 all day. Perfect.
Contact us today. Let’s get an immediate evaluation of your roof. Learn more about your flat roof options give us a call at (800) 878-1480 or fill-in the contact form.