3 Ways the Summer Heat Affects Your Commercial Roof (And What You Can Do About It)
By Central Roofing | Serving Los Angeles & Orange County
Summer in Southern California doesn’t just affect your energy bill — it affects your commercial roof, too.
At Central Roofing, we’ve seen what intense sun, UV rays, and triple-digit temperatures can do to commercial roofing systems over time. If you’re a property manager or building owner in Los Angeles, Orange County, or nearby, this article is for you.
Here are 3 ways the summer heat could be damaging your roof — and what to do about it.
1. 🔥 Thermal Expansion & Contraction on your Commercial Roof
As the sun beats down during the day, your roof heats up — often reaching 150°F or more on the surface. At night, the temperature drops. This daily expansion and contraction cycle stresses your roofing membrane and seams.
Over time, this can cause:
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Cracking at seams
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Blistering or bubbling
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Premature failure of coatings and flashings
What You Can Do:
➡️ Schedule a commercial roof inspection before peak heat hits. Our team can spot vulnerabilities early and reinforce seams or flashings before they fail.
2. 🌞 UV Degradation of Roofing Materials
Ultraviolet rays don’t just give you sunburn — they also break down roofing membranes like TPO, PVC, or modified bitumen. This degradation leads to brittleness, color fading, and loss of waterproofing ability.
Even roofs with coatings can become chalky or lose reflectivity under prolonged UV exposure.
What You Can Do:
➡️ Apply or reapply a cool roof coating, like silicone, to protect your roof and reflect heat.
Read our blog: 3 Good and Bad Things About Cool Roof Coatings
Bonus: You may qualify for Los Angeles cool roof rebates
3. 💨 HVAC Units & Rooftop Equipment Work Harder
The hotter it gets, the harder your building’s HVAC units work — and most of them are installed right on your commercial roof. Increased foot traffic from maintenance crews, combined with vibrations and heat discharge, can stress the roof around units.
What You Can Do:
➡️ Install walk pads, reinforce penetrations, and have your roof checked mid-summer.
Explore our commercial roof repair services for proactive solutions.
Final Thoughts
The summer heat doesn’t just affect your comfort — it affects your roof’s lifespan, energy efficiency, and repair costs.
At Central Roofing, we help commercial property managers across Los Angeles and Orange County stay ahead of costly surprises. Whether you need a mid-year inspection, coating reapplication, or full restoration, we’ve got you covered.
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