TPO Roofing

TPO roofs are durable, and resist dirt, bacteria, algae, and debris build-up. They are also remarkably flexible, which means that these roofs are very resistant to tears, punctures, and the damage that can occur from impact. Because roofs and buildings naturally move, this flexibility makes it a desirable roofing system.

Moreover, a TPO roof can withstand damaging ultraviolet, ozone and chemical exposure. Hot-air welded seams are very strong, with seam strengths being as much as 3-4 times greater than EPDM adhesive and tape seams. A TPO membrane is considered to be a cool roof and is Energy Star rated.

TPO membranes and EPDM can achieve Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Class A fire resistance listings by adding fire retardant chemicals during the manufacturing process.

In the family of roofing materials that are related, TPO and PVC are both in the thermoplastic single-ply family. That said, they are different with regard to their base chemical composition. It is also true that TPO and PVC look very similar.

However, PVC has been used as a roofing material in America since the 1960s, and TPO has been in use since the 1990s.

TPO is a type of roofing membrane that can come in a variety of thicknesses. The most common thickness is probably 60 mils. (A mil is a unit of measure where 1-mil is equal to 0.001 inches. So, a 45-mil roofing membrane is actually 0.045 inches thick; whereas a 60-mil membrane is 0.06 inches thick, and so on.)

TPO membranes have hot air-welded seams that are three times stronger than conventional rubber roofs that use tape systems. It’s also six times stronger than roofs with glued seams.

This increased strength gives TPO roofs unmatched weather resistance, making it the best choice for larger roofs that would otherwise require multiple layers of tape or glue systems to fasten the membrane roof.

On top of increased strength and weather tolerance, TPO roofs are also more compatible for mechanically attached roofs, such as fully adhered and ballasted roofs – two of the trickiest commercial roofs to which to fasten membranes.

These benefits, on top of the higher energy efficiency, make TPO one of the most cost-efficient and effective roofs for commercial properties.

The TPO membrane is attached to the cover board with a bonding adhesive or mechanically fastened. When the membrane is rolled out, a hot-air gun is used to hot air weld the seams together.

Use a soft-bristled, long-handled brush or floor broom with a cleaning solution consisting of a mild, non-abrasive household detergent and water to clean the surface of the roof membrane, taking care to not damage the top surface of the membrane.

Yes. TPO roofing membrane repairs can be made by several methods, depending on the type of repair needed.

While TPO has superior weathering and slightly better tear and break resistance, PVC is slightly more flexible, which some contractors like.

Yearly roof inspections can help your TPO membrane roof last longer than roof life estimates stipulate. Generally speaking, a TPO roof will last between 10 to 20 years.

One of the noticeable problems with TPO roofs is pulling away around the seams and edges. Over time, this can cause roof leaks, which will need to be quickly and expertly managed.