Laser heating and melting is studied considering the laser‐induced reflectivity variationsR(&tgr;). The study is made for time intervals less than or equal to the transit time using the Fourier series expansion technique together with the differential and integral forms of the heat diffusion equation. The equations obtained for the thickness of the molten layerZ(&tgr;) and the rate of meltingZ’(&tgr;) are no longer quadratic. Computations for a thin silver film of thickness 5×10−5m, subjected to constant laser irradiance of valueq0=9×1010W/m2are carried out. Smaller threshold times required to initiate melting (i.e., damage) than those for the case of constant reflectivity are obtained. It is also found that melting occurs with nearly a constant rate.