If you’ve seen a bright white roof, then you may be familiar with TPO roofing. As one of the most common roof types of big commercial facilities, TPO has some of the best energy savings for single-ply membrane roofing!
What Is Single-Ply Membrane Roofing?
Single-Ply Membranes are sheets of rubber and other synthetics that can be ballasted, mechanically fastened or chemically adhered to insulation creating a layer of protection on your commercial facility.
While Single-Ply Membrane Roofing is one of the most well-known types of commercial roofing material, there are several types to fit your budget and facility needs.
There are two main types of single-ply membrane commercial roofing:
- Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO)
- Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer (EPDM)
They differ in their chemical makeup, how they are installed and their energy efficiencies. EPDM is not a good choice for Florida.
TPO ROOFING
Thermoplastic Polyolefin is a single-ply roofing membrane that is one of the fastest growing commercial roofing systems on the market. TPO roofing systems are made up of a single layer of synthetics and reinforcing scrim that can be used to cover flat roofs.
TPO membranes are manufactured in sheets that are 10, 12 or 20 feet wide.
These sheets are then rolled up and taken to the commercial facility.
TPO has gained industry acceptance with the natural reflective surface to reflect UV rays.
As reported by the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) TPO makes up 40% of the commercial roofing market share.
TPO Roofing Installation
- After the existing substrate is prepared, either by cleaning or removing the existing roof, the insulation is installed. There are a few types of insulation
- Polyisocyanurate (Polyiso) – The most used insulation type for roofing applications, Polyiso is more expensive but pays off with a higher R-value rating.
- Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) – With the highest R-value per dollar, EPS is used for roof, wall and floor insulation. EPS can be used for ground contact and does not retain water over time.
- Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) – Usually defined by the blue, green or pink color, XPS falls in-between Polyiso and EPS in the range of price and performance. XPS is semipermeable with a perm rating of 1.
- The TPO membrane can be attached to the cover board with a bonding adhesive or mechanically fastened. When the membrane is rolled out, the contractor then returns and uses a hot-air gun to hot air weld the seams together.
TPO Roofing Costs
For an average 20,000 sq. foot commercial roof, it will usually cost between $3.50 and $7.50 per square foot in materials and labor to install a typical single-ply membrane commercial roofing system.
Advantages of TPO Roofing
If properly installed and maintained, a commercial single-ply membrane roof can last 30 years.
Customer Choice of Insulation – Since single-ply membrane roofing does not include the insulation factor
Class A Fire-Rated – TPO membranes can achieve Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Class A fire resistance listings by adding fire retardant chemicals during the manufacturing process.
Reflective or Retentive – TPO is generally white and highly reflective.
How TPO Roofing Saves Money
The most common TPO material is bright white with highly reflective properties. This bright white roof installation can reflect UV rays and heat from the building, saving money during the summer months from decreased energy usage to cool the building interior.
A TPO Roof Can Be Repaired
- A TPO will last approximately 15-30 years. During this time, seams can rip apart, flashings can fail, the membrane can become punctured, etc. which will cause a roof leak.
- The first sign of a TPO roof needing repair is when water has begun to enter the building. This usually happens because the seams have been ripped open, allowing water to enter the roofing insulation.
- Once the insulation accrues so much water, it enters your roofing deck, and eventually starts leaking on the inside of your building.
During the Roof inspection, a roofing contractor will be able to tell:
- Where water is entering your insulation
- How old the TPO roof is
- How many layers the roof has
- What condition the seams are in