Canadian winters can have a strong damaging effect on commercial roofing systems. No matter the material your roof is made of, constant exposure to extreme winter elements like cold temperatures, snow, and ice make it vulnerable. Cracks, leaks, blistering, and overall deterioration caused by winter elements can prematurely age your roof and lead to expensive repairs. Preparing your roof by applying polyurethane coatings in advance helps protect it against even the harshest Canadian winter elements.
How Do Winter Elements Impact Your Commercial Roof?
Snow, ice, and frigid temperatures are among the most common destructive winter elements that can damage your roof—sometimes, even beyond repair! Temperature fluctuations and the freeze-thaw cycle are particularly damaging.
Temperature Fluctuations
Cold air makes your roof materials contract whereas warm or milder temperatures cause expansion. This shifting effect caused by various temperature fluctuations can place a great deal of pressure on your roof and cause it to crack.
Freeze-Thaw Cycle
Along with the temperature fluctuations, your roof is also susceptible to the natural freeze-thaw cycle of winter weather. Accumulated snow and ice on your roof melts as a result of the heat coming from the inside of your structure. That melted snow and ice can penetrate the surface of your roofing material, eventually breaking it down and weakening the structure. Cracks that are already on the roof act as a gateway for water to make its way in.
On colder winter days, the water inside your roofing system will freeze again and expand, causing further damage and allowing more snow and ice to accumulate. This cycle continuously repeats itself until the damages are appropriately addressed, but by that point, it may already be too late.
Why You Should Look into the Roof’s History
In order to perform an accurate roof assessment and properly address any potential problems, roofing contractors need to know the complete history of the roof itself. This includes when it was installed, how frequently it’s maintained, when it was last serviced, whether any repairs were performed and if you’ve applied any protective measures.
How to Prepare Commercial Roofs for Winter
Schedule Professional Commercial Roof Inspections
Routine inspections should take place at least once or twice a year—once in the spring to identify potential damages from the previous winter and once in the fall before the first frost. This will help identify and repair damages in advance and save you a lot future headaches.
Apply All-Weather Polyurethane Protective Coatings in Canada
Polyurethane liquid roofing systems dry within minutes and form a heavy-duty completely seamless membrane that coats and protects whatever surface it’s applied to against destructive external elements. It also acts as a long-lasting insulator that prevents cold air from getting into your commercial property.
Perform Recommended Repairs ASAP
Commercial roofing coatings in Canada only work as a preventative measure. To guarantee their effectiveness, it’s important to assess the condition of your roofing system and repair any damages before applying polyurethane roofing solutions.
Where to Get Polyurethane Protective Coatings in Canada
IMC Distributors is the exclusive partner of ISOMAT and Everroof in Canada, including polyurethane protective coatings for roofing systems. Our waterproof polyurethane protective coatings are suitable for metal, concrete, modified bitumen, built-up, fiberboard, DensDeck, plywood, PVC/TPO, and EPDM roofs. Contact us today to learn more!
