You may have learned about several types of roofing, and one of them is called TPO. What does TPO roofing stand for? If you are curious about it, don’t skip this article. Read it thoroughly so you can get a glimpse of what this roofing option is and what can be the benefits of this roofing as well as what can come as its problems.
What Does TPO Roofing Stand For?
What does TPO stand for in roofing? The TPO roofing stands for thermoplastic polyolefin. This kind of roofing is described as single-ply roofing, which is mainly made from thermoplastic polyolefin itself.
The TPO has its characteristics, which will be explained as follows:
- A typical TPO roofing is laminated. Hence, you will see that this roofing material has different top and bottom materials. Most of the time, the top part is white while the bottom one is gray. What is the white, and what is the gray part? Typically, the white part has a wearing surface as the roofing gets used, and it is what is called lamination. At the same time, the gray part is what is called filler material.
- The TPO roofing is single-layered. This means the application doesn’t require multiple layers. You can attach it mechanically, ballasting it, adhering it, or making it bonds with a plate.
- It comes as a roll. There are also sizes that you can choose. A typical TPO roll is around 8 ft wide and 50 to 100 feet long. There are also several other options available to choose from. Since it has a certain size, the seams become the weakest part of the roofing system, and this is where you should give it more attention.
TPO Roofing Installation
You can install the TPO roofing in various ways. You can heat-weld it (which is not recommended as it will be challenging), glue it with some adhesives, or even attach it mechanically. You can choose one which can be your preference.
Even if it feels easy to attach this roofing, it is important to remember that TPO roofing is as hard as a board when it comes to its rigidity. Hence, if you want to attach it to your roof mechanically, you need to get the right tool to do so. Or, you can simply hire a professional to get your roofing with TPO done easily. Sure, there will be some money involved here.
You also need to think about the seams while installing the TPO roofing. Given there is a size, if your roof size is bigger than the width, you will end up having seams to secure. To secure the seams, make sure to adhere to them in detail. Heat-welding is possible but not recommended since the roofing is quite hard, and it can be challenging to weld it.
The TPO roofing lifespan depends on the product quality itself. Some manufacturers guarantee that the product will last 30 years, but some others may have it fewer years. Hence, make sure to check before purchasing it.
TPO Roofing Problems
After knowing what does TPO roofing stand for, you may also wonder what TPO causes if it is used as a roofing option. There are several problems you can get if you opt for this roofing material:
The seams need ‘special treatment’. You need to make sure that the seams are well-secured so that there won’t be any leaking.
Some think that thicker TPO roofing means better coverage. While it is true, you should think that the thicker the roofing, the heavier it will be. It may also lead to certain difficulties while installing it. Shipping, too, will be expensive.
Hopefully, this article answers your question and gives an insight about TPO roofing. Therefore, you can decide whether to choose or to ‘flee’ from this roofing material.
