Thermal Shock And Your Commercial Roof

The roof on your commercial building is one of the most valuable assets you have. Without a quality roof, leaks could damage inventory, computers, and other items housed inside your commercial space.

Thermal shock is one form of damage that can plague a commercial roof. Learn more about what thermal shock is and how you can protect your roof against damage caused by this phenomenon in the future.

What Is Thermal Shock?

Thermal shock is a term used to describe the lateral movement of roofing materials during temperature changes. Whenever outdoor temperatures increase or decrease rapidly. roofing materials can expand and contract. This movement puts stress on your commercial roof, increasing the risk of damage that might lead to water leaks over time.

Thermal shock is not just a winter-time worry, however; damage can be caused by thermal shock throughout the year.

How Does Thermal Shock Affect Your Roof?

Newer roofing materials are less likely to sustain any serious damage as a result of thermal shock. New commercial roofing materials are relatively flexible, but this flexibility often decreases as the materials begin to age.

As your commercial roof becomes more brittle, the materials cannot absorb the stress of expansion and contraction. This leads to the formation of cracks and fissures in the surface of your roof.

Water can easily seep through these cracks and fissures, damaging the structural integrity of your commercial building as a whole.

How Can Thermal Shock Damage Be Repaired?

An experienced roofing contractor can inspect your roofing system and identify evidence of thermal shock. Once thermal shock has damaged your roof, you will need to take immediate action to make the necessary repairs.

Your contractor may suggest a roofing renovation, where the damaged materials are removed and replaced with newer materials. Many contractors will also use roof coatings as a way to combat the damage caused by thermal shock.

A roof coating can create a watertight seal across the surface of your commercial roof. Some roof coatings can also increase the energy efficiency of your commercial building, helping reduce utility costs and prevent heat transfer over time.

Sudden temperature changes can occur during any season. Work closely with your commercial roofing contractor to ensure that thermal shock doesn't cause serious damage to your commercial roofing system. Timely repairs can combat the negative effects of thermal shock and extend the life of your commercial roof well into the future.