Thermal Shock: What Is It and What Does It Mean for Your Roof?
Sudden changes in temperature can cause your roof to experience thermal shock. Thermal shock is the damage that can occur when the roofing material on your building expands and contracts in a short space of time in response to temperatures rising or falling too fast.
How do temperature changes affect your roof?
Any objects made of metal, wood, plastic and concrete can expand and contract when temperatures change rapidly, which means you might see cracks, buckling, or enlarged fastener holes in your roofing. If your roof is made up of several different materials, each part could expand and contract at different rates, causing damage.
Over time, the damage from thermal shock can cause leaks and mean that your roof needs to be repaired or replaced. For commercial roofs, metal and older membrane roofs are particularly prone to thermal shock, as it causes the metal panel to move slightly, which opens up seams over time.
The flashing, which seals the joints between your roofing material and other parts of your home like a chimney, can become loose because of the movement in the roofing material. This creates gaps, where water can seep in.
How to prevent thermal shock.
Of course, temperatures fluctuate all the time across seasons and between night and day. These normal, everyday temperature fluctuations are unlikely to cause your roof any serious damage, especially if your roof is comprised of the right materials for the climate in your area.
No roof is built to last forever, but a well-built roof should last you for decades with a little regular maintenance. Regular inspection is essential to spot any early signs of thermal shock and to make the necessary repairs quickly to prevent future problems.
Newer roofs can withstand thermal shock better than aging roof, as the materials tend to be more flexible. Aging roofing material tends to be more brittle and less flexible after dozens of years exposure to the elements.
Using good-quality and climate appropriate materials can protect your roof from the harmful effects of thermal shock and keep any regular repairs bill low. For example, clay tiles don’t expand as much as some other common roofing materials so these are very common in hot climates. You can also apply a reflective coating to the roof, which will reduce the amount of heat the roof can absorb and protects it from excessive expansion.
How we can help
If the roof on your Philadelphia home needs repairing or replacing for any reason, including thermal shock, it’s always best to bring in the experts. We are a roofing contractor with a solid reputation for outstanding service and competitive pricing.
Whether you need minor roof repairs, or a new roof installation and roof replacement - for residential or commercial roofing systems – we can help. We provide timely FREE estimates as well as 15 year guarantee on shingle roofs, and a 12 year guarantee on flat roofs. Contact us today to find out more.