Elasticity and Elongation

Elasticity refers to the ability of a substance to stretch, and elongation refers to how far you can stretch a substance before it breaks. As an example, think about bubblegum. It has a remarkable ability to stretch. You can pull it apart and let it get quite thin and fragile before it will break. A roof coating with excellent elasticity and elongation is ideal because it offers better protection. However, unlike bubblegum, the recovery of the stretched roof coating material is also important. In order for a roof coating to truly protect a roof, it needs to be able to regain its original size after stretching. Stretching naturally occurs due to the changing environmental conditions that affect a roof.

Environmental Conditions

As any roofer can confirm, the weather tends to be a little different on top of a roof than it is at ground level. During the summer, a roof can absorb a tremendous amount of heat. The basic laws of physics state that heat causes expansion. As the roofing materials absorb thermal energy, they will expand, or elongate. Roof coatings with excellent elasticity will expand along with the roofing materials without cracking. As the temperature declines and the roofing materials shrink, the roof coating should also shrink. The same phenomenon happens when houses shift due to soil instability.

Tensile Strength

Tensile strength is another roof coating property that is related to the material’s elasticity and elongation. It is a measurement of how much pressure the material can withstand before it breaks. Think about the bubblegum again. Bubblegum has incredible elasticity, which means it can be pulled for quite a while before it will break. This means it has a low tensile strength. The higher a substance’s elasticity is, the lower its tensile strength will be. When choosing a roof coating material, it’s important to find the right balance between elasticity and tensile strength.

Selecting the right roof coating material is crucial for the protection of a building. However, it isn’t always easy to determine which option is best for a particular type of roof. That’s why Consumer Roof Coating Reports provides objective information designed to enhance awareness about roof coating properties among professional contractors and building owners. If you have any questions, you can reach our team in Phoenix at (866) 599-1354.