Spraying silicone coating onto commercial school roof in Parma, Ohio

Spray Foam Roofing Recoat Installed on 97,100 SF School Roof and Domes in Parma, OH

Greg PalyaProject Profiles

In this project profile, you’ll learn:

  • Project overview
  • The problem
  • Why a recoat was chosen
  • The scope-of-work
  • Before, in-progress, and after installation photos and videos
  • Results

Before we start, perhaps the coolest part of the project was installing the Petina Green-colored topcoat on the domes. The color represents landmarks used by the FAA for flight instructions. Maintaining this relationship was paramount, as the color is also a landmark for Parma residents.

Video Summary: We highly recommend you view this 1 min and 20-second video that shows the project from start to finish:

Project Overview

  • Location: Parma, OH
  • Building Type: School
  • Roof Type: Spray Polyurethane Foam
  • System Installed: Spray Foam Recoat
  • 3rd Wing Classroom Roof and Two Domes: 97,100 SF
  • Project Goal: Minimize tear-off and cost, extend roof life, get roof under new and renewable warranty

The Problem

We’ve been working with the same facilities director for multiple decades. He retired mid-project. So we had to bring the new director up to speed on the status/conditions of all the roofs in the Parma District. One issue that was avoided is that when new directors take over, they like to manage roofing systems they are familiar with, whether that’s metal, TPO, etc.

We had to thoroughly explain the spray foam roofing system. Along with the pros and cons of it and other alternative methods they could’ve chosen.

Why a Spray Foam Recoat Was Chosen

It’s the most cost-effective solution. The alternative of a complete tear-off and replacement would cost at least 4x as much as a recoat.

The total square footage was 97,100, and the bid included only 5,760 square feet of roof removal and replacement. Roughly 5.93%.

This meant that roughly 94% of the existing roof stayed. Minimizing tear-off reduces labor, materials, and landfill costs.

Removing 100% of the roof would’ve cost astronomically high.

Summary of Scope of Work

The project includes:

  • Site preparation and safety setup
  • Thorough cleaning of the roof and domes using high-pressure washing
  • Remove 5,700 square feet of wet spray foam
  • Install one-way vents and drain covers
  • Install spray foam at 1.5″ thick
  • Applying high-solids silicone coatings to specified thicknesses
  • Install Petina Green topcoat on domes to continue the relationship with the FAA

The project concludes with a full site cleanup, oversight by an OSHA 30-hour-trained superintendent, and a 20-year warranty provided to the owner upon completion.

Before, In-progress, and After Installation Photos and Videos

Before:

Normandy High School before a spray foam recoat was installed

In-progress:

In-progress photo of a spray foam recoat being installed at Normandy High School and Domes in 2025

After:

Image of a finished spray foam roofing recoat installed at Normandy High School in 2025

Now that you’ve seen some photos, here are a few videos of the installation:

Results

The project was completed in roughly 57 days, including many days where no work was performed due to weather and holidays.

The client’s desire to renew the existing roof before school started, maintain the current color scheme, and obtain a renewable 20-year warranty was achieved at the most cost-effective price.

Important Links

Want to learn more about spray foam recoats, such as how much they usually cost, common issues they have, and what kind of roofs are eligible for them:

About the Author

Greg Palya

Greg Palya is the Digital Content Manager of West Roofing Systems, Inc. He has a B.S. in Marketing from the University of Akron and an MBA in Marketing from Walsh University. When he's not trying to teach others about spray foam roofing and silicone roof coatings, you can find him on the basketball court or golf course. He's been with West Roofing Systems since June of 2019. All of the content he has produced has been with the help of subject matter experts (namely the internal salesman who all have decades of spray foam and coating experience.)