Hurricane season is always an ominous time for those of us living in coastal regions, each time a named storm threatens our coast we fear not only for our lives but for our homes. Studies show that between 50% and 70% of hurricane induced losses are caused by roof failures. Apex Foam Industries is proud to announce the STORMSEALinsulation and fortification system, using the patented FoamSeal Hurricane Adhesive. This system is a one of a kind, cost effective method for reducing wind and water losses, while increasing your piece of mind during a storm.
Apex Foam Industries, one of the leaders in polyurethane spray foam insulation, and FoamSeal Hurricane Protection have teamed up to offer homeowners an unbeatable combination of Insulation and Fortification. STORMSEALis a two part process, our first step is to fortify your roof from the threat of high winds using the FoamSeal application technique. The second step is to insulate using Apex's award winning Ecoguard Insulation System. This process of insulation and fortification is so unique that you can't find this combination of incredible products anywhere else.
What do you mean by Insulate and Fortify?
STORMSEAL is a spray applied system that encorporates two proven techniques for reducing energy bills while also strengthening the roof deck from high storm winds and water. The first part is the Foamseal Hurricane Adhesive being sprayed to both sides of the roof truss along all the seams to seal gaps left open between the sheathing connections. This process will increase the uplift strength of the roof UP TO 5 TIMESstronger than nails alone. Water intrusion will also be reduced by 99%, if the roof covering (shingles or tile) fail. The second part is the application of Ecoguard spray foam insulation. Ecoguard is sprayed at 5 inches and the rafters are coated to eliminate conduction and convection in the roof assembly. Ecoguard contains the highest renewable resource based content of any spray foam in its class and is also one of the most flame resistant spray foam insulation products in the world, with the STORMSEAL process you can rest easy knowing that not only do you have a healthy, energy efficient home but a roof that can stand up to the best of Mother Nature.
Contact Us today for more information concerning our products and services.
The Science of Roof Failure
Wind produces inward pressure on walls and the roof facing the wind and outward negative pressure on the opposite walls and roof. At the corners wind pressure can be twice as high! As the storm hits the windward side of the roof, positive pressure starts pushing on the roof loosening the tiles beginning the water intrusion process.
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The positive wind pressure on windward side of the roof passes over the back or the roof. This creates very strong amounts of negative pressure pulling upwards on the back of the roof.  This uplift pressure can often be the most destructive force the roof will face. A roof is designed with the nails going straight down through the sheathing into the truss. The suction of the negative pressure causes large amounts of uplift pressure to be place on the sheathing pulling the nails in a vertical direction back out of the wood, similar to prying a nail out with a hammer. The vertical direction of this pressure is the easiest way to remove the nails holding the roof together.
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 Building codes have been improved over recent years due to the high percentages of roof failures during minor hurricanes. These improvements require nailing patterns to be closer together and larger nails to be used. The goal of these improvements is to provide sufficient uplift resistance for pressures associated with a category III hurricane. However if the building envelop is breached, internal pressures can double causing roofs to fail in even minor hurricanes. Category IV or V hurricanes can produce sufficient uplift pressure to separating the sheathing from the truss without a window or door failure.
During a hurricane the load placed on the roof must be transferred from the top of the roof through the sheathing, into the rafters and down through the wall. Do to the design of roofs; the weakest link in this load path is at the connection of the sheathing to the rafters by a nail every 12 inches. StormSeal hurricane adhesive provides a continuous bond on both sides of the truss with the sheathing greatly increasing the strength of the connection while creating a water-tight seal throughout the roof.
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