SPF Roof Inspection for Commercial Roofs

A Spray Polyurethane Foam roof, or SPF for short, is a material that’s sprayed as a liquid so it can expand into a foam, creating a solid layer across an existing roof. Using this technique is easy to install, energy efficient, and easy to maintain. However, there are certain things to look out for when inspecting an SPF roof.

There are five main areas you need to pay attention to. These areas include: gutters, scuppers, and drains; rooftop units and penetrations; flashings, roof edges, and expansion and control joints; field or surface area of the roof; and defects in the roof surface.

For the gutters and scuppers, we check for any debris that could clog drainage. Also, we check the seal and make sure all screens and strainers are in place.

Next, for the rooftop units and penetrations, we make sure that the vents, skylights, HVAC equipment, and anything else sticking out of the roof have solid seals to keep out bad weather.

For flashings, roof edges, and expansion and control joints, we look for cracks or breaks in the seal and double-check that all joints and flashings are sealed.

When looking at the field or surface area of the roof, you need to confirm that damage such as heavy tools hitting the roof or other objects, such as hail, haven’t occurred.

Last but not least, we look for defects in the roof surface. This means looking for damage and erosion to the polyurethane foam. We are looking for pinholes and moisture penetration in the foam.