SPF Spray Foam For Hurricane Repairs?

We've never chased hurricane work, and we're really not inclined to install roofs in areas where we don't normally work. However, it seems to me that spray foam would be ideal for emergency repairs after a hurricane, no?

If 10-100% of a roof blows off, leaving the deck pretty much intact, we could come in and shoot an inch of foam and conform to any irregularity or shape. It wouldn't even need to be coated as closed cell will be watertight for months until the adjuster can get out and make arrangements for permanent roof repairs.

Of course the substrate would need to be dry.

What do you guys think about this?

Any idea what an insurance company would pay for such repairs?

We don't have customers in hurricane-prone areas. I'd imagine quickly putting a couple more foam machines online to work the hurricane. The nice thing is, the installers wouldn't need to be very skilled because quality isn't an issue. So long as they can operate the rig and get foam on the roof. It's all coming off in a month or 3 anyway.

Just buy a $200K rig and go out and spray like hell for a week and then take care of your regular customers.

The drawback to this plan would be, after a major weather event are you looking to add more work or are you already deluged with helping your existing customers.

I think it is a great idea and quick too. You would not have to fasten it down for sure, and it would not make any difference if it still leaked a bit. Better than trying to tarp a roof, especially a flatter one. It would be a paint to take apart, but on the same note, probably the area you would be fixing would be cut out and disposed of anyway so yo9u would not have to worry about all but the tie in areas. the rest goes right into the dumpster.

OS, agreed. But I imagine an adjuster would prefer to pay an additional $100/SQR to scarf the foam down to the deck, than to pay out an additional $250,000 in damages to a Soma store. And trust me - my wife shops there - the damages could add up in a HUGE hurry. :-)

As an example, I was offered $9,000 by an adjuster to use 10 buckets of plastic cement to temporarily cover large holes in flashings and control-joints on a strip center about 15 years ago after a hailstorm. That was his number, not mine. My repairs may well have save the insurance company $75,000 additional damage as there were several "delicate" tenants, such as clothing stores in the strip center.

I deducted the $9,000 from the roof job after we got the contract. I guess I didn't have to, but $9,000 for a 2 hours repair with 2 men and a cost off $500 seemed excessive.

Vaa, good points. I think the substrate would need to be "mostly" dry. Don't care if it blisters, it's only a temporary repair that will get torn off in a few months any way. Just need it to not be dry at the edges of the foam - some wetness in the flutes of the decking I wouldn't think would be an issue given the purpose.

The goal is: To be better than a blue tarp.

The insured has an obligation under his policy to have emergency repairs made to mitigate damage. Of course the price needs to be reasonable, but I'd think that $5,000 to foam in a 1500 sq. ft. computers store that cannot suffer additional damage ids reasonable.

I'm not arguing with you, trying to pro & con this.

Part of the "problems" would be trying to take it off to prep the old surface for the new roof you would install. It is a bitch to get off and it sticks to everything.

The beauty of it is that hurricane season starts toward the end of hail season.