How LA’s Heat Impacts Commercial Roof Lifespan – What to Know
Lying bare to high temperatures, strong ultraviolet rays of the sun, and fluctuations in day-night temperatures, commercial roofs are prone to degradation as the materials they are made with start disintegrating over time.
As a result, such materials dry out and become brittle. They lose their flexibility, which, in turn, causes cracks, leaks, holes, and fissures on the roofs. If the roof turns weak due to these degradations, the entire commercial structure also turns weak.
You should know that the roof of a commercial property is constantly exposed to heat and cold.
As materials expand in heat and contract in cold, they develop cracks. This can also result in the collapse of parts of the roof over a long span of time.
Scientifically explained as thermal shock, the materials used in commercial roofing expand due to daytime heat in summer and contract in winter. This blow-hot, blow-cold condition weakens the integrity of commercial buildings. The degradation of materials causes them to lose their ability to resist moisture.
How Does LA’s Heat Impact Commercial Roof Lifespan
Builders and architects in Los Angeles are increasingly opting for cool roof technology to sustain commercial structures.
They have realised that unless scientific steps are taken, keeping in mind the vagaries of weather and changing climatic conditions, buildings used for commercial purposes in Los Angeles can not last long. Ask a commercial roofing contractor Los Angeles; he will explain, highlighting scientific aspects, how heat and cold react with the building materials used in creating the roof.
Now a question arises,
How does LA’s heat impact the lifespan of commercial roofs?
Here are the key points that can answer this question:
Roof’s Integrity Directly Related to Temperature Conditions:
The heat conditions in Los Angeles can cause structural damage to your property. The ultraviolet radiation (of the sun) gradually breaks down the materials used in building the roof. The materials turn brittle. Once this happens, the roof starts developing cracks. If the cracks widen, the roof or parts of it will collapse. The only solution is the application of the cool building concept, which fits perfectly with Green Building stipulations.
Roof Leakage Can Endanger Your Life:
Once the building materials degrade due to heat (and cold), the roof of a commercial structure may develop holes and fissures. Such fissures and holes expand, increasing their diameter. As a result, water may leak during the rainy season. This, in turn, further disintegrates the building materials. This further speeds up wear and tear, weakening the whole roof. Eventually, the entire roof or parts of it may cave in, causing death and injury.
Thermal Expansion and Contraction:
The intense heat conditions in Los Angeles often lead to thermal expansion and contraction of roofing materials. Commercial roofs cannot tolerate this over a long period. This process causes stress on the structure of the roof. Ultimately, the roof succumbs to warped or split roof syndrome. Being exposed to both high temperature and humidity, the roofing materials disintegrate. Protective oils and other chemicals are used in commercial roofing. Due to intense heat, the protective oils are degraded. This poses dangers.
Rain and Hail Damage Commercial Roofs:
Since you cannot control weather or seasonal changes, you must protect your roof against rain and hail. Heavy rainfall can cause water pooling. As a result, the building materials degrade quickly, causing the emergence of dents, holes, or cracks. Initially, they appear innocuous but grow big enough to weaken the commercial roof. If water is collected in the corners of your commercial roof, it starts pressurising the overall structure. The pooled water also tends to seep in, further degrading the materials.
The best practice in protecting the roof is to reduce heat impact by using high-quality materials. You can use APP Modified Bitumen and rubber membranes to prevent degradation of materials due to heat.
According to the latest report published by Grand View Research, the demand for cool roofs is growing globally. The report says: The global cool roof market size is to be valued at USD 27.1 billion by 2025 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.7% during the forecast period.
Final Thoughts
The degradation of materials used in commercial roofing can be stopped by using high-quality, heat-resistant materials. Opting for a Green Building can also offer a good solution to this. For this reason, the cool roof concept is fast gaining momentum among architects and builders. Architects are increasingly going for Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) and metal, which are more resistant to the ultraviolet rays of the sun.
