Our industry thrives because of leaders who commit their lives to perfecting their trade. Melvin Stumler, founder of Insulated Roofing Contractors, was one of those leaders. SPFA extends its deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Stumler, who passed away on January 25, 2026. 

Melvin’s dedication to the craft helped elevate the professional standards we all strive for today. By championing quality installations and fostering a culture of expertise at IRC, Melvin didn’t just build a company—he helped build the reputation of the entire spray foam roofing industry. We recognize his decades of service and the lasting footprint he leaves on our trade.

Learn more about Melvin Stumler.

By Jonny Suchor.  

A guide to integrating Spray Polyurethane Foam with metal roof and wall panels for superior building insulation. 

MBCI, which provides high-quality building components, knows a thing or two about applying spray foam insulation on the interior surfaces of metal panels. Using spray polyurethane foam (SPF) with metal roof and wall panels is a top choice for insulating buildings effectively. This method seals joints, creates a barrier against vapor and keeps the building warm or cool as needed.  

There are two classes of SPF products available: open cell and closed cell. According to MBCI, “Open-cell SPF provides both insulation and air sealing for the building assembly.” And while closed-cell SPF uses similar chemistry as open-cell SPF, there’s a different blowing agent used to create the actual foam, thus providing a better insulation. When it comes to best practices for applying SPF to metal panels, “Closed-cell foam is recommended due to its water-resistant capabilities,” according to research done by the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA). “Open-cell foam is not recommended for applications where the foam is likely to encounter water and an additional vapor retarder to control condensation.”However, it is essential to avoid using SPF with certain types of standing seam metal roofs that are designed to expand and contract a lot with temperature changes “due to the potential for restricting panel movement during temperature changes,” according to the (SPFA). They also suggest that metal surfaces should be clean and free of contaminants so that the SPF can stick properly and perform well. 

When applying SPF, it’s crucial to use the right technique to make sure it covers evenly and sticks well, without damaging the metal. The SPFA recommends a method called the “picture frame” technique to avoid issues and ensure the foam adheres properly. The SPFA explains this method saying, “It’s as if someone were following through the motion of picture framing, in which the applicator surrounds the interior perimeter of the wall framing stud and allows the foam to rise along the stud.” 

It is essential that certified professionals who follow SPF guidelines and understand how to apply the material correctly to metal panels are completing the installation. As the SPFA puts it, consulting with a metal panel manufacturer and using an SPFA-PCP accredited contractor or certified installer can lead to the best insulation results, keeping buildings comfortable and well-protected. 

Read the article to learn more about SPF and best practices for applying spray foam insulation.

Palmetto Spray Foam Insulation wins first-ever small business award.

The Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA), the educational and technical resource to the spray polyurethane foam (SPF) industry, today announced the winners of the 18th Annual SPFA National Industry Excellence Awards. Winners of the program, which is again sponsored by Arkema and Evonik, are contractors recognized for having some of the spray foam industry’s recent, outstanding projects. Winning contractors have demonstrated exceptional practices in the application of spray polyurethane foam (SPF) as insulation, roofing, specialty applications and concrete lifting, as well as for noteworthy elastomeric coatings applications. The SPFA recognized all winners March 5 during a classic Vegas-themed awards ceremony held during lunchtime at SprayFoam 2024 Convention & Expo in Las Vegas. 

New to the awards program this year is the Small Business Award, which was given to Palmetto Spray Foam Insulation for the contractor’s Air Force Base C-17 Hangar project located in Charleston, South Carolina. Palmetto’s project received the most total votes from both the panel of judges as well as the SPFA membership.

“Small contractors are the heart of the spray foam industry and we want to congratulate Palmetto Spray Foam Insulation on being the first among its peers to be recognized with this new accolade,” says Rick Duncan, executive director of the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance. “Palmetto, along with all of this year’s winners, have inspired us all to up our game and to do our best work this year and beyond.” 

The awards program recognized standout projects in seven categories, which include: Building Enclosure SPF Less Than 40,000 Square Feet; Building Enclosure SPF More than 40,000 Square Feet; Roof SPF Less Than 40,000 Square Feet; Roof SPF Over 40,000 Square Feet; SPF Specialty Applications; SPF Concrete Lifting; and Elastomeric Roof Coatings. The winners and runners up in each category include: 

• Winner of Building Enclosure SPF Less Than 40,000 Square Feet: Mrs. Spray Foam with supplier Victory Polymers for Aiken Railroad Museum Train Car Restoration (Aiken, South Carolina)
• Runner Up of Building Enclosure SPF Less Than 40,000 Square Feet: Peak Spray Foam Insulation with supplier Insulation Distributors Inc. for Sacred Heart Chapel (St. Joseph, Minnesota)
• Winner of Building Enclosure More Than 40,000 Square Feet: Palmetto Spray Foam LLC with supplier Huntsman Building Solutions for Air Force Base C-17 Hangar (Charleston, South Carolina)
• Runner Up of Building Enclosure SPF More Than 40,000 Square Feet: Spray Tex Insulation with supplier Victory Polymers for Fix and Feed (Bonham, Texas)
• Winner of Roof SPF Less Than 40,000 Square Feet: West Roofing Systems with suppliers SWD and NeoGard for Chardon (Ohio) Building (Chardon, Ohio)
• Runner Up of Roof SPF Less Than 40,000 Square Feet: Draper Construction and Commercial Roofing with supplier Everest Systems for Emporia Humanitarian Center (Emporia, Kansas)
• Winner of Roof SPF Greater than 40,000 Square Feet: Central Coating Company, Inc. with supplier Carlisle for Paseo Plaza HOA Roofing Project (San Jose, California)
• Runner Up of Roof SPF Greater Than 40,000 Square Feet: Draper Construction and Commercial Roofing with supplier Everest Systems for Cloud County Community College (Concordia, Kansas)
• Winner of Specialty Applications: Purefoam Roofing and Insulation with supplier UPC for Abbott Nutrition Railway (Columbus, Ohio)
• Runner Up of Specialty Applications: Spray Tex Insulation with supplier Victory Polymers for Sister Grove RWRRF (McKinney, Texas)
• Winner of Concrete Lifting: Polyseal Insulation, Inc. with supplier HMI for Deadhorse Tent Building Slab Lift (Deadhorse, Arkansas)
• Winner of Elastomeric Roof Coatings: Draper Construction and Commercial Roofing with supplier Everest Systems for Life Church OKC (Edmond, Oklahoma)
• Runner Up of Elastomeric Roof Coatings: West Roofing Systems with suppliers Carlisle and Henry for Valtronic Technologies (Solon, Ohio)

“All of these projects are a great representation of what can be achieved with spray foam,” adds Duncan. “The SPFA is so proud of the incredible work each of these contractors completed this year, whether they were winners, runners up or award entrants.”

Each year, the SPFA Annual National Industry Excellence Awards are an integral part of the SprayFoam Convention & Expo, the nation’s largest annual event dedicated to spray polyurethane foam. This year’s convention sponsors include: Huntsman Building Solutions (Platinum Sponsor); Accufoam, Elastochem, Honeywell, NCFI Polyurethanes, Thermoseal, General Coatings, Enverge, Natural Polymers, and Universal Polymers Corporation (Gold Sponsors); Carlisle Construction Materials, Energy Fox Solutions, and Red River Logistics (Silver Sponsors); International Fireproof Technology Inc., Firestable, and Johns Manville (Bronze Sponsors); NIE Award Sponsors Arkema and Evonik; Premier Media Sponsors Sprayfoam Professional, Roofing Contractor, Walls & Ceilings and Sprayfoam Magazine; Media Sponsors CoatingsPro and Roofing magazines; and Industry Partners NRCA, International Roofing Expo, Roofers Coffee Shop, Spray Foam World Wide and Western States Roofing Contractors Association.

About Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA)

Founded in 1987, the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) is the voice, and educational and technical resource for the spray polyurethane foam industry. The Alliance is a 501(c)6 trade association comprised of contractors, manufacturers, and distributors of polyurethane foam, related equipment, and protective coatings, inspections, surface preparations, and other services. The organization supports the best practices and the growth of the industry through a number of core initiatives, including educational programs and events; the SPFA ISO-17024 Professional Certification Program providing professionals with the tools to differentiate themselves from competition and a reference for customers looking to hire qualified contractor services; technical services covering publication of literature and guidelines, safety materials, and representation of the industry with various construction code bodies; federal and state advocacy; industry promotion efforts including an annual convention and expo drawing 1,600 SPF professionals, publication of Sprayfoam Professional Magazine; and research and networking opportunities for members.