Does it leak? Or is that what you are installing on it?

 

New install, it was recommended by my roofer and I was just trying to find out a little about it.

 

TPO is a great product. It's the most popular single ply in our area, go with a .60 mil over densdeck or iso. Depending on the area, you may want to fully adhere instead of mechanically fasten.

 

TPO is not a GREAT product! It is the status quo of flat roofing. With that said it can be a viable solution to your roofing needs. TPO WILL fail faster in higher uv exposed areas. If you have a parapet or window that will reflect the suns uv rays back onto the sheet itself. The area that the uv's are hitting will show accelerated signs of aging.

With that said TPO is again, a viable solution for your roof. You can figure that the 60mil TPO will fail naturally at around 15yrs. We are certified by the largest single ply producer in the world and they have literature stating that the thicker the sheet the longer it will last. Simple right? Of course it is. However this comes from 20 years of failed roofing. Most of these guys are on their 3rd or 4th generation of the product. They can't seem to get it right.

As Brandconst said, I would also recommend a minimum of a 60mil over dens deck but would like to see something thicker installed for longevity. If quality is what you are after then I would turn to PVC. If you are forced to buy over the counter goods then you can use the Versico or Carlisle PVC systems. They are produced by a well know manufacturer and will create a long term roofing solution.

If pure quality is what you are after then I would recommend an IB Roof System 60mil PVC. or a Fibertite 60mil PVC. You will have to hire a certified installer but it will last for at least 25 years. I believe these to be the absolute best flat roofing systems on the market. They both have roofs that are over 30-35+yrs old that are still in service.

If you do install a TPO system I would recommend showing the homeowner how to roll on an elastomeric cool roof coating. Carlisle actually has coatings available for their TPO's. This will help prevent the UV's from hitting the actual sheet. I would recommend re coating the roof every 5yrs or so. I think if this is done than the roof will last a very long time. Remember, UV's are your worst enemy in roofing.

With any roof. A bit of maintainance goes a long way!:thumbsup:

 

Some of the home depots in our area were roofed with TPO about 15 years ago and they recently had to re do them and this time they put PVC. We are certified installers of IB PVC. They will give a 25 year no dollar limit warranty if you are certified and know how to install it.

 

Us too. :thumbsup:

 

PTO has come a long way over the years. The new stuff out now is good. I would still go with a PVC. Carlisle has a good, affordable product that you can buy with out being a certified installer. If you know people in the trade, get yourbhands on some Sarnafil. In my experience its the best product on the market.
Another thing to keep in mind is welding the seams. If you've never done it, it can and will be a challange to do it right. Again, its just my opinion on it.

 

Lot's of opinions here and all good points but the fact of the matter is where you live. TPO and PVC are great products as I hear so many people rave about EPDM as well up north. Fact about south TX, you can't hardly find a place around here that stocks EPDM because it doesn't hold up in TX heat as well PVC doesn't either, the plasticizers in PVC break down making the membrane weak. A place like california, I would say either is good but down here it's TPO, yankeeville its epdm.

 

I know that in East TN the king of roofing is TPO. Any job put out for bid is for a TPO roof, more times 0.60 than 0.45. We have been installing Versico TPO for around 12 years now and have seen no major problems so far. Now i have heard as everyone has that PVC is a superior product, and i am not saying it is not, but the ones i have come across personally have failed here around 15 years. This could have alot to do with installation, manufactures, or a whole list of things. But that being said I have heard from mulitple people on these sites that PVC is the better choice and that TPO will fail around 12 to 15 years. I actually always spec a TPO roof when someone calls us for a re-roof. I have looked into using PVC before but around here people always talk bad about it. But I like to take the word of people i dont compete directly with and really have no reason to feed bull**** to me and kind of get as many oppinions as i can from as many as possible. The best advice is to make sure it is from a reputable manufacturer who has a track record. Thats just my 2 cents

 

It is funny to hear that TPO is the "king of the south" ( the hot regions such as TX, TN, etc), since MRCA issued a warning about TPO failing prematurely in hot areas due to heat and UV exposure.
http://mrca.org/uploads/files/technical/TR_Advisory_on_TPO_2-10-2010.pdf

And although ASTM standard for TPO has finally been "created", requiring at least 15 mil top ply, and better thermal and UV performance, who knows what you are getting - they don't mark membrane as "up to standard" :laughing:

here is more on this: http://www.tporoofing.org/should-you-install-a-tpo-roof-in-2013/

Also, when you say plasticizers leech out of PVC - which PVC would that be?

I also install IB PVC Roofing (hey LCG and drumster21), and IB is moving their HQ to Dallas, because TX is one of their hottest (biggest) markets along with CA.

And in 35+ years there have been no major failures of IB roofs ...

So yeah - go with PVC

PS - LCG and drumster21, do you guys have websites?

 

To be quiet honest, publications are great but first hand experience is what I'm speaking from. Just walked a PVC on Monday, it was so worn it looked like a worn out white tarp on their roof and it was only 8 years old. TPO is the only single ply that holds up around here, I wish more people would go with old school torch down but times have changed.

 

The same way Trocal fails. The UV decreases the plastizers and the stuff shatters like thin ice in the cold. I have also seen Trocal shrink so much it pulled the block wall inward. It's some crazy stuff. Did it do the same down south?

 

DUDE, Trocal was non reinforced. It had nothing to do with plasticizer migration. It was a STUPID idea to begin with!

I have seen TPO fail in 7 years with no reasonable explanation other than its CRAP!

I do think they are working it out. I guess in another 30 years we"ll see.:laughing:

Then again in another 30 years IB, Fibertite, and Sarnafill will have been around for more than 70yrs. Maybe then we will actually be able to see the limits of PVC. To date I know IB is running 34+ years on a single 50mil sheet. I belive Fibertite and Sarna are in similar boats!

You would be hard pressed to find a TPO that is more than 15yrs. If you did would you say it would go another 15? I think not.

I must admit... I am stubborn and unwilling of compromise when it comes to this subject. Don't take it personel.

 

In Wyoming 90+% of "government" work is spec'd PVC.:clap: There is a reason for this! It simply hold's up to the intense UV exposure that TPO doesn't. Also PVC has a better performance record when it comes to DISMAL weather conditions. High UV exposure 9months a year, punishing snow storms, sleet, hail, and lets not forget WIND.

TPO is king, by and far...

Just because TPO is the industry standard doesn't mean is a quality product compared to other systems.

TPO is a "commodity roof" at best. I don't have any problems installing TPO. To be honest 90% of our new construction is "spec'd" TPO. If a customer wants the crap than they are sold the product with no preconditions on our part. We sell it as a commodity roofing product and let them know that a 15yr lifespan is about as good as it will get. We are at least honest about it.

With that said. If a homeowner is willing to coat the roof with an elastomeric coating every 4-5 years I think the product can sustain a more serviceable lifespan. "Serviceable". Unfortunally we all know how most people treat their roofs!

The simple fact that TPO is a commodity roof doesn't mean it is the best flat roof around. It's like saying asphalt shingles are the best roofing material available for the steep slope market. Just because they own the "market share" doesn't mean chit'. They will not hold up in the same fashion as a 26ga SSCF. Nor will a 26ga SSCF hold up as well as a slate roof. There are too many variables.

The "FACT" is... Most cannot afford PVC. When someone looks at a 45mil TPO sample for 45.00sq and comapres it to a 50-mil PVC sample for 105.00sq they usually cannot justify the means.

Another thing to ponder is; Most contractors who install TPO are NOT certified. They are simply buying it from the local roofing supply house and installing a roof without warranty.

If you want an IB, Fibertite, Sarnafill roof installed in Wyoming you may (if your lucky) have 3-5 guys to choose from throughout the entire state of Wyoming in each brand mentioned. Do you really think i'm going to show up for pennies. Most certified guys won't. We have the tools, the credentials, and the support from the manufacturer to offer full warranties. Usually the smaller the job the easier the up sell. It's the larger projects that are tough. TPO is hard to compete with when bidding a 200sq project. Thats we are certified TPO.

Don't get me wrong. Budget has a lot to do with the decisions made. If a customer is going to seel their building in a year. I DO NOT recommend installing PVC. If you are going to keep the building for 30 years than OVC is the only option in my book.

I'm a whore for roofing. We will install whatever you want. Your going to pay top dollar no matter what you choose!

PS coolflatroof. www.atlaswyoming.com we will be upgrading our site to a SUPER site in the next few months so check back.:laughing:

 

I knew it was non reinforced, I was just wondering if the warmer climates had the same effect. I like trocal because it's making me money replacing it.

 

:laughing: I have made some money replacing it as well. The last one we did I was like a kid in a candy store. That roof was so far gone it was like walking on thin ice. It was braking up into little 6" pieces. I have never been so excited to do a commercial tear off. I had thought they were all gone so when we actually found one I was ecstatic.

I discarded all of it leaving no trace for anyone to find! Trocal. The thorn in my side.

 

I don't know a lot about trocal, I know the product went around to a few manufactures. But didn't they offer a reinforced? I seems to me I've ran into it somewhere...?

 

Not entirely sure. My roofing lineage is only so deep. It think they did, after the fact. Too little too late.

I'm sure someone around here knows off hand. I'm too lazy to look it up or call anyone I know to ask.

 

I try to stay away form roofing if I can. I do offer flat roof repairs and maintenance. Were I am at we have 3 big commercial roofing outfits. So I'm left with the scraps and what ever the big dog in town throws my way, mostly small residential gigs. The way it looks, any roof put on in the early 80's to early 90's was a trocal. We also have an outfit in town that covers with Dura-last. I have also had the pleasure of repairing lots of that. The stuff seems to " tornado" crack all over the place. Not sure why. I've seen it in shady areas and in sun exposed areas.

 

We are still certified Duro but stay away from it. I would say we did around 70 roofs over a 3 yr period in Duro. Then we started seeing failures in other Duro roofs. Older roofs 10-13yrs. That's when we ran like hell. They have come out with some "new" rolled goods that are reformulated. I guess we'll see in 15 years if they can hold up.

Duro has had such a bad run lately. I think some of the issues stem from the grip pulls people are using to install them. Installers are literally thinning the mil of the roof pulling so hard on it.

We won't be going back! That is unless someone asks for it and we can't convince them otherwise. We have a local guy who live a dies by duro. I simply tell the customer the truth. We used to install it now we don't. Here's why!

I fear duro is the next Trocal. I hope not.

 

Of all the TPO's. Firestone and Genflex are the best in my opinion. Just make sure its installed right and you'll be ok.

TPO is not the big evil. We all have our favorites.

TPO will due just fine! For 15years....:laughing:

It will be 60 mil over 1/4 densdeck

 

Fine!!! 16years....

Kidding. You'll be fine. Just make sure he a reputable installer and knows his game. That's half the battle!:thumbsup:

 

Fine!!! 16years....

Kidding. You'll be fine. Just make sure he a reputable installer and knows his game. That's half the battle!:thumbsup:

It just gets better, :laughing: thanks for the info LCG

 

It seems like the best solution to your problem would be tpo with a nice thick layer of sunscreen.

 

If you are going to put tpo with coating - might as well go with pvc - it will be the same money.

installation is the same, so your roofer can just get carlisle / versico over the counter at any roofing supply - the cost difference will be $30-40 / sq. that is all


as for trocal - i did extensive research into it over the years - not on purpose, but jus so happened that I talked to a lot of former trocal managers and regional reps.

their unreinforced sheet that was and still is shuttering, was imported from germany, where they do not have such harsh winters as we do. their US made sheet did not have these problems (at least not to the same extent).

the later contained the issues with shattering, and started doing reinforced stuff, and then were scooped up by johns manville..

but yea - there are still trocal roofs out there - we recently repaired some - and they weld just fine! http://www.coolflatroof.com/flat-roofing-blog/pvc-roof-repair/

 

Tpo will last longer than 15 years if its maintained. I usually have my customers get on a maintenance program that lets me inspect it every 6 months and put a coating on it after 5 years. No slope is a good product for flat roofs and it can handle ponding water. If its sloped, I use sbs coatings. And I second the statement that you should fully adhere it.