How The Loss Of Plasticizer Chemicals Affects Your Roof
Plasticizer chemicals are added to PVC roofing during manufacturing. PVC is a rigid roofing material, and without plasticizers, it would not be flexible. Unfortunately, over time, plasticizers can leak from the PVC roof. Weathering, lack of maintenance, and low-quality materials are the usual suspects of plasticizer leakage. In our previous post, we dealt with spotting the signs of plasticizer migration. Now we will deal with the loss of plasticizers and how it can affect your roof. We see many roofs suffering from the after-effects of losing the plasticizers, which keep it flexible. Let’s take a closer look at how the loss of plasticizers affects your roof. Contraction causes the roof to lift at the edges Once the plasticizers start to leak from the PVC, you will see some very telltale signs of damage. The material will contract and lift throughout the roof system. Any areas where there is a transition from vertical to horizontal, such as perimeter walls and rooftop units, pulling away from the wall will likely occur. This will also occur along the edge of the roof system, where the edge metal can pull back. If not fixed immediately, the roof will deteriorate very quickly. Shattering is a major issue Shattering is what you do not want to happen to your roof. The roof material will lose its structure as the plasticizers leak […]
Common Signs Of Plasticizer Migration
If you have a PVC roof system, you need to know the common signs of plasticizer migration. A plasticizer is added to PVC during manufacturing to make the polymer flexible. Without the plasticizer, the PVC would be a solid material and impossible to work into place. When the plasticizer leaks from a PVC roof, it will cause cracks, splits, and welded sections to break apart. Combining plasticizer migration with foul weather means disaster for your roof. Early spotting of the common signs of plasticizer migration helps protect your roof. Let’s take a look at some of the telltale indicators. Lifting at the edges is a bad sign Take a look at your PVC roof. If you can see the roofing material lifting in places, especially at the edges, then you have a problem. The plasticizer, which makes PVC a flexible membrane, will react with residue from an older installation, causing it to leak. The migration weakens the bond causing it to crack or split and causes the PVC to lift around the edges. Regular inspections will help you spot this problem before it causes trouble. Check for brittleness Brittleness is another offshoot of plasticizer migration, which causes significant damage. When the plasticizer leaks from the PVC, the material becomes brittle in places. Get up on your roof, or call your roofing contractor, and inspect for […]