Caulking for a Foam Roof

You need to caulk a foam roof when damage appears on the roofing system to prevent compromising the water-tightness of the structure. Regular maintenance using a caulking method on a Spray Polyurethane Foam, or SPF, roof delays a costly future respray. According to the SPF Alliance, a properly maintained foam roof can last more than 30 years, so the financial advantage of keeping on top of your roof repairs is significant.

Things You'll Need

Push broom
Cloth
Utility knife

Elastomeric polyurethane sealant
Caulking gun
Putty knife

Instructions

- 1
  Sweep dirt and leaves from the roof using a push broom so that loose debris does not blow onto your repair work. Inspect the roof for damage sites, such as splits, holes and cracked roof-edge seams.
- 2
  Scrub all damage sites on the foam roof with a wet cloth. Clean at least 4 inches of the foam coating that surrounds the damage site. Allow the roof to dry.
- 3
  Cut away loose foam with a sharp utility knife. Use a V-shaped cutting angle for cracks to provide effective adherence for the sealant caulk. Angle the knife at 45 degrees to cut out damaged foam from holes so that the sides of the hole graduate to the center.
- 4
  Contact the SPF roof manufacturer to determine a compatible sealant to use. Typically, use an elastomeric polyurethane sealant. Attach the sealant tube to a caulking gun.
- 5
  Caulk the sealant into the base of the crack or hole. Fill the damage site so that the sealant crowns over the top. Smooth the top to produce a minimum 2-inch-long seal over the surrounding foam, using a putty knife.

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