Spray Foam or Rubber Roof???

[DrDan]

I have a 26' X 32' flat carport roof that necessarily has a very low pitch. It is only about 5 years old and had a shingle roof put on when it was built. UNFORTUNATELY - the water pools on the sags in the roof and seeps through the shingles. The contractors that built it tell me I either need a spray on foam roof or a rubber roof. The rubber roof guys say that the foam is chit because birds pick at it and make nests in it causing it to fail. The foam guys say that's bullchit. Anyone have any experience with either type of roofing material?

Dr Dan

 

[scotd1]

I have had rubber roofs on some of my roofs for 10 years or so and have had zero problems. It's the only way I know of to really fix a flat roof and based on what I see they are pretty common now. The last one I had installed was made by Goodyear and was guarenteed for 25 years.
I am not familiar with the foam roof system.

 

[DrDan]

Thanks for the reply. Another thing I thought of is how can you get excess snow off a foam roof? With the rubber, if you are careful you could get it off with a plastic shovel, but foam kind of scares me.

 

[Bird]

DrDan, my last two RVs had rubber roofs; hard to keep clean, but otherwise lasted very well. My parents had a mobile home with a metal roof, and my brother and I installed a rubber roof on it and that, too, worked very well. They later bought a new mobile home to which they had the spray on foam added; looked great - for a couple of years - then gradually dried, shrunk, etc. Maybe they have better foam now, but I'd go with the rubber.

Bird

 

[cowboydoc]

I agree go with the rubber roof. Lasts longer and you can clean it off. Also I think it's cheaper too.

 

[GlueGuy]

Have some friends with the spray-on foam roof. They are real happy with it, and have had it for at least 7 or 8 years. They are also real happy with the improved insulation. Their roof is not flat, but has a very low pitch, something like 1 in 12. They have never said anything about birds pecking at it.

We also don't get snow, so that is another consideration. Any information on warrantees?

The GlueGuy

 

[DrDan]

I guess I just don't know where I am going with this decision. I can't fathom rubber lasting for 20+ years. If an old inner tube laid out on the ground for that time it would be brittle and weak (I believe). Maybe they make it out of some special type of rubber. On the other hand, it seems like foam would not be very flexible. If the roof sagged or moved as wood does with changes in weather and weight placed upon it does the foam stay fixed to it without cracking?

I may have to ask the handyman guy on the call in radio show and see what he thinks.

Thanks all,

Dr Dan

 

[Bird]

DrDan, the rubber roofs are a different rubber from the old inner tubes. I'd worry about the foam cracking, too. For your application, you'd probably never need to repair a rubber roof, but it's real easy to do (lots of RVs scrape under limbs and sometimes tear a roof, whether rubber or metal). All you have to do is clean it, apply contact cement to another piece and put the patch in place. But I think you'll find that the rubber roof will last as long, or longer, than composition shingles.

Bird

 

[GlueGuy]

My impression was that the foam was pretty flexible too. More like air-filled rubber than polystyrene. Have to admit that I've never seen one up close. Have seen a couple of them from the street though.

The GlueGuy

 

[foz]

DrDan; Go with the rubber roof if you do NOT have any trees overhanging the carport. The reason I say if no trees is that falling branches can puncture the rubber. Howevr, it is easily repaired. If you do have overhanging trees I would go with a "cold-process" modified roof which is similar to rolled roofing except that the material is much thicker & more flexible. In either case the cost to "go-over" your existing shingles should be around $2,500 including a seperation layer between the shingles & new roofing.

 

[DrDan]

Yes I think I will go for the rubber. The spray foam bid came in at $1600 with a 10 year guarantee and the rubber is at $2200 with a 20 year guarantee. I want to put it on and forget it if possible. Wish I had put it on in the first place instead of shingles.

I'm roofing poor this summer. Just got done putting "Ondura" on a 30' X 50' concrete block storage building that had some serious sags in the roof. "Ondura" is great stuff! It will bend to fit the curves in an old roof with sags in it. Cost me $2600 total and the bid for removing the roof and putting up trusses and reshingling was $18,000 so if this lasts it is a bargain.

So far it looks great!

Dr Dan

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

Dr Dan,

I agree with everyone else. Go with the rubber. I have a buddy that applies this type of roofing and it is relatively easy to repair if it has been installed correctly. I believe it is basically the same stuff they use for pond liners, I think they call it EPDM. Also, can you give me a little more info on <font color=red> "Ondura" </font color=red> what is it, how long have you had it, and how do you like it? /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Thanks
SHF

 

[DrDan]

I believe they "tile" all Pizza Huts with Ondura. I got the 4' X 6' sheets and put it right over the old shingles. Being made of a fiber material it has flew and will conform to an out of square sagging roof. Unlike the thin plastic panels this stuff is about 1/4" thich and has about 2 1/2" corrugations. Costs about $12.50 a sheet here in Ohio. Just put it on but investigated several installations that had been on for years. Only thing is you are supposed to paint it about every five years. That's ok with me since I have a spray gun. Comes in an assortment of colors. It really looks great!

Dr Dan

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

Dr Dan,

Thanks for the info. Will keep my eye out and pass it along. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

SHF