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Here we provide a Table of Coefficient of Thermal Expansion of Building Materials - what is the linear expansion of glass, metal, wood, masonry or plastic in response to temperature changes. Sketch at page top and accompanying text are reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss.

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Table of Coefficients of Thermal Expansion of Common Building Materials

The linear expansion of a heated solid (or liquid) is measured by α - the coefficient of linear expansion, defined such that α measures the percentage change in the length of the material per degree of temperature change. Be careful in comparing the coefficient of expansion of different materials from different reference sources for thermal expansion coefficienbts as various references quote α in degrees C, others in degrees F.

The following simple formula for the coefficient of thermal linear expansion in a building material is written to measure the percentage change in length per degree of temperature change:

α = (Change in Length / Original Length) / Change in Temperature

One can write similar formulas to calculate the coefficient of thermal expansion of a material in area (applicable, for example in thermal splitting of asphalt roof shingles - see CRACKS in FIBERGLASS SHINGLES) or to calculate the coefficient of thermal expansion of volume. But because so many building material failures and leaks derive from cracks or openings due to thermal expansion of materials in length, that is our focus here.

Readers can see from these building material coefficients of thermal expansion (also called coefficeint of linear temperature expansion) that assembling a building component that uses multiple materials requires methods that allow for these differences in the degree of expansion as temperatures change. Failing to permit movement of abutting or connected building materials whose rate of thermal expansion varies significantly will lead to separation, cracks, leaks, or damage in many instances.

Examples of the problems caused by differences in thermal expansion of building materials are particulary seen in windows and skylights (see SLOPED GLAZING DETAILS), in masonry chimneys (see Chimney Crack Detection & Diagnosis), in brick (and some other masonry) walls (see Brick Thermal Expansion Cracking), in defective asphalt roof shingles (see CRACKS in FIBERGLASS SHINGLES) and in long metal flashings in roof valleys and in copper lined traditional yankee gutters. At SKYLIGHT LEAK DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR we include an example of failure of roof flashing cement that has lost its ability to tolerate thermal expansion and contraction on the building.

As we discuss at CRACKS in FIBERGLASS SHINGLES, we have not found a source defining the coefficient of thermal expansion of asphalt roof shingles - Contact Us if you can provide that information.

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EXTERIORS of BUILDINGS
AGE of a BUILDING - how to determine
ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS
ATTIC CONDENSATION
BASEMENT WATERPROOFING
BOOKSTORE - EXTERIORS
CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR
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DECK COLLAPSE Case Study
DECK FLASHING LEAKS, ROT Case Study
EARTHQUAKE DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS
ENERGY SAVINGS in BUILDINGS
ENVIRO HAZARDS
FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP
FRAMING DETAILS for BETTER INSULATION
FRAMING DETAILS for DOUBLE WALL HOUSES
FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING
HEAT TAPES & CABLES on Roofs for Ice Dams
HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS
LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE
LEAD TEST KIT for HOME USE
LOG HOME GUIDE
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MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS
MOLD DETECTION & INSPECTION GUIDE
MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS
ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE
PAINT & STAIN GUIDE, EXTERIOR
PAINT FALURE, DIAGNOSIS, CURE, PREVENTION
PAINT FAILURE CHECKLIST
PORCHES & Sunrooms
ROOFING DIAGNOSIS INSPECTION & REPAIR
SEPTIC SYSTEMS
SHEATHING, Gypsum board
SHEATHING Homasote & Other Board
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SHEATHING, Plywood
SHEATHING, FOIL FACED - VENTS
SIDING, ASBESTOS CEMENT SHINGLES
SIDING EIFS STUCCO
SIDING HARDBOARD
SIDING VINYL
VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH INFO
SIDING WOOD
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on Building Exteriors
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on Indoor Surfaces
STAIRS, RAILINGS, LANDINGS, RAMPS
STUCCO OVER FOAM INSULATION
TERMITES, ROT
THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS
VAPOR BARRIERS & AIR SEALING at BAND JOISTS
VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in BUILDINGS
VAPOR BARRIERS & HOUSEWRAP
VAPOR CONDENSATION & BUILDING SHEATHING
VENTILATION in BUILDINGS
WATER ENTRY in BUILDINGS
WINDOWS & DOORS
  SKYLIGHT LEAK DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR
  SITE BUILT DOUBLE GLAZED WINDOWS
  SLOPED GLAZING DETAILS
  VERTICAL GLAZING DETAILS
  WINDOW / DOOR ENERGY EFFICIENT, DOE
WINTERIZE A BUILDING

• Solar Age Magazine was the official publication of the American Solar Energy Society. The contemporary solar energy magazine associated with the Society is Solar Today. "Established in 1954, the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is the nation's leading association of solar professionals & advocates. Our mission is to inspire an era of energy innovation and speed the transition to a sustainable energy economy. We advance education, research and policy. Leading for more than 50 years. ASES leads national efforts to increase the use of solar energy, energy efficiency and other sustainable technologies in the U.S. We publish the award-winning SOLAR TODAY magazine, organize and present the ASES National Solar Conference and lead the ASES National Solar Tour – the largest grassroots solar event in the world."
  
• Steven Bliss served as editorial director and co-publisher of The Journal of Light Construction for 16 years and previously as building technology editor for Progressive Builder and Solar Age magazines. He worked in the building trades as a carpenter and design/build contractor for more than ten years and holds a masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Excerpts from his recent book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com.
  Excerpts with updates and annotations expanding the original Best Practices Guide text can be found in the online review and book summary at BEST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES GUIDE and also at DECK & PORCH CONSTRUCTION, at INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE, and in other articles found at InspectAPedia.com such as HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS, SOUND CONTROL in BUILDINGS, and other topics.
• Engineering Toolbox website, provides a more extensive table of coefficients of linear expansion at http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/linear-expansion-coefficients-d_95.html
• Western Washington University Thermal Expansion is described and defined in a clear article that also gives both linear and volumetric coefficients of thermal expansion at 20 degC. for a variety of materials at http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~vawter/PhysicsNet/Topics/Thermal/ThermExpan.html

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