Thermal Shock

02/27/2018
Snow and Ice contribute to the effects of Thermal Shock

Did you know how much the weather could affect your roof? Your entire building, including the roof, will expand and contract at different rates as the temperature fluctuates throughout the day. The uneven expanding and contracting of the roof will cause the material to weaken and crack over time; similar to the way the roads we drive on weaken and crack, eventually causing potholes. We refer to this as  thermal shock . It is more noticeable in the winter months because temperatures can be drastically different from day to night, not to mention the added weight and stress of heavy snow and ice. 

Unfortunately, there is no way to tell if your roof will be the victim of thermal shock, but we can provide a Preventative Maintenance Program to help mitigate damage caused by thermal shock. Once we perform the roof inspection, we will then provide a detailed report of the current roof conditions, as well as any recommended repairs for your building. By performing inspections on a regular basis, we can catch any membrane failures early, and get your roof repaired before larger issues arise.

A person's finger points to the numbers
February 27, 2026
Last week, after the snow and ice finally cleared here in Dayton, Cotterman & Company Inc. completed a roof evaluation on a large warehouse facility that had recently started experiencing leaks. As part of the inspection, a date stamp was located on the membrane: DL ’99. That simple marking told a big story.
January 9, 2026
After severe storms rolled through the area, our Service Department was called to a local hospital to investigate new roof leaks. Cotterman & Company responded quickly and delivered solutions that protected critical facilities with no shutdowns, no delays, and no compromises.
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