Why haven’t I heard of Poly-Foam before?
In many of the desert communities of southern California, Poly-Foam is almost always used on flat roofs because of the dramatic necessity of heat reflection. In San Diego and LA, the climate is milder, so we have an option to use seamed roofing like cap sheet or torch down. But, when you look at the benefits of the long term solutions for ponding, heat reflection and waterproofing that Poly-Foam offers, it is clearly the best choice.

Why don’t other conventional roofers use Poly-Foam?
The high tech equipment necessary to apply the Poly-Foam is very expensive, and requires applicators with at least 5 – 10 years of experience to insure correct installation. Most roofing companies do not have the financial ability or technical knowledge to engage in such a venture.

How does it save energy?

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During the summer, the majority of the building’s heat enters through the roof. When the Poly-Foam roofing system is applied as a thermal blanket, it insulates and shields the roof substrate from the
sun’s infrared rays. The result is that the roof never heats up, and therefore the heat is not radiated inside the building. This results in lower A/C costs.

Can I walk on it? Is it heavy?
The Poly–Foam that Southern California Foam & Coatings installs is extremely dense material, not at all like lighter foams such as Styrofoam. It can easily handle normal walking and wear and tear, though it weighs only a few ounces per square foot.

Will it save money? What is the warranty?
There are several areas of savings for the building owner or manger. The first is in the lack of maintenance necessary: Southern California Foam & Coatings warrants their Poly-Foam roofs to be leak free for 20 years, needing no more care than common sense attention, such as keeping the drains free of debris, and repairing any damage from new construction or mechanical units added to the roof. Another savings is in the possibility of declaring the cost of the roof as a maintenance expense rather than a capital one. Your accountant would advise you about this. Of course, there is the obvious energy savings: Poly-Foam roofs typically support a 20% to 70% energy cost savings, which can repay the entire cost of the new roof in as little as 4 years. The local and state governments also have rebates available from time to time. Another great savings comes at the end of ten years when you do not have to re-roof your building again, as you would with most other roofing systems.

What happens if I have standing water?
One of the many wonderful features of Poly-Foam roofing is that we can fill in those ponding areas to eliminate deep standing water, without adding much weight. We simply spray additional material in the low spot, lifting it up, to allow the water to get back off the roof where it is supposed to go.

Does the old roof need to be torn off?
Poly-Foam is generally applied over the old roof, after it is thoroughly cleaned and any loose material is removed. Since the foam is self flashing, it completely bonds to the substrate it is sprayed on.

How long has Poly-Foam been used on roofs? How long does it last?
Poly-Foam has been used as commercial, industrial and residential roofing material since the late 60’s. Most of the roofs that were installed since that time are still in good condition, if basic care was taken. Though we don’t know exactly how long a Poly-Foam roof will last, the 30+ year old roofs that are still in great condition all over the country can give us a good indication. That is a large difference from the 8-12 years for a cap sheet roof that you may be used to.

What happens if you have to add an HVAC unit or skylight?
Poly-Foam is much easier to repair than roll roofing or tar and gravel, with the right materials. Many of our commercial clients have variety of types of tenants moving in and out of their buildings, some with different equipment requirements. The building owner or manager simply calls us for a repair, and generally within a few minutes, the roof can be restored to its original condition.

How does the price compare with roll roofing or tar & gravel?
On larger roofs, the cost is extremely similar and often much less than a seamed type conventional roof. The additional costs for set up on small roofs can make a Poly-Foam roof slightly more expensive, but certainly very reasonable ad affordable.

What kinds of buildings is Poly-Foam typically installed on?
Poly-Foam has traditionally been used on flat roofs, on commercial, industrial and residential buildings. It is not often used on sloped roofs where appearance is a major consideration, such as those roofs which would normally have tile or shingles.

Have there been any studies done to verify the feasibility of Poly-Foam?
The Air Force, Texas A&M, and several other institutions have completed several year studies of Poly-Foam roofs all over the country. Ask your So Cal Foam representative for more information.