Are you in the middle of searching for the right roofing system for your house? You might ask, what is TPO roofing? Before that, maybe you should list any specific need or preference you’ll want to have from the roofing. Once you’ve got that, the next thing is you might want to compare some types of roofing and choose the one of them that meets your needs the most.
As the most popular type of roofing, TPO roofing might come first to your mind. There are some positive things about this roofing, such as durability and reflectivity. Besides, you’ll have it at a reasonable price.
TPO vs. PVC roofing
So, what is TPO roofing compared to PVC? Whether you’ve listed your need or not, you should know some basic comparisons among different roofing types. The first one is TPO and PVC. They have some similarities that you might want to keep in mind.
Firstly, they are similar in materials. They are both made of thermoplastic polyolefin, making them resistant to leaks. When installing them, you’ll need fewer seams, making them less likely to leak because there is less penetrable area.
Secondly, they both are white in color. It provides them with a reflective surface that makes them heat-welded and energy-efficient. No need to worry about the sun’s ultraviolet rays anymore! Also, they both are flexible. They can conform to the movement and the shape of your roof.
Another thing to keep in mind is that they’re resistant to chemicals, oil, and grease. You might want to choose PVC if you need roofing with better holding up underexposure.
Speaking about TPO, there are various benefits you should know, such as that it is less expensive than PVC. You’ll absolutely want to consider it if you’re on a budget. When it comes to weathering, you might also need this roofing.
It is slightly better at resisting tear and break than PVC. Another benefit is that you don’t need an additional plasticizer to keep the roofing flexible, and it offers longer-term durability than PVC.
The next one is the benefits of PVC. Even though it costs more money, it is a type of roofing you want to have above your restaurant. It doesn’t get weakened by oils, grease, and chemicals. You might also want to pick this roofing because of its greater flexibility than TPO.
It’ll help you so much in processing the installation. Another benefit is that PVC holds more intense heat and sunlight exposure. This roofing might be your best choice if your commercial building is located in a high-temperature area.
TPO roofing vs. EPDM
There are other roofing that you’ll need to compare with TPO. Yes, EPDM. One similarity between them is the rubber material. Even so, there are some significant differences you should notice.
Firstly, EPDM is the most affordable option. As a business owner, you’ve probably set a budget for roofing, and this might be your best choice.
Besides the cheap material, the labor cost is lower than that of TPO. But, if you’re considering a long-term roofing investment, you’ll need something thicker like the EPDM. Even though it’s pricier, with its thickness, it’ll absolutely protect your roof longer.
When it comes to durability, you’ll need to pick EPDM. It can last up to decades and hold up with environmental factors that might cause your roofing to crack. TPO doesn’t resist water, and EPDM roofing can’t deal with cold temperatures or EPM.
If the price isn’t something you’re considering, EPDM might be your best choice. You can save more trouble along the way if you pick the most durable roofing, even if it costs you more money.
TPO roofing installation
Regarding installing TPO roofing, ensuring that your commercial roofing contractor provides the service for you is important. Whether you have it or not, knowing some basics of the roofing installation process is just as important as comparing each roofing type’s benefits.
- You’ll need welds testing and do it twice a day at least: this is important because, during the welding, you need to prevent the roofing from overheating.
- You won’t need a welder drag to make the installation more proper: your contractor’s job is to straighten the tip part of the roller with the inside part of the nozzle, so make sure he does the job correctly.
- It is important to stay careful when probing seams: you might face some problems when the probing is incorrect. You don’t need to sharpen the probing. Instead, use the blunt one because once it’s used, it will sharpen.
For the sake of safety in the future, the membrane should not be created during the installation: folding over the membrane can cause creases and cracks. You’ll need to fold back the membrane to avoid this.
