As an Elizabethtown TPO roofing contractor, we install white heat-welded TPO over new insulation, probe every seam, and weld the flashing at each curb and wall.
Most roofs that call for an Elizabethtown TPO roofing contractor fit standard TPO, but roofs near grease or process exhaust get compared with PVC first.
A white thermoplastic sheet welded at every seam.
Also welded, with better resistance to oils and grease.
These TPO problems turn up on roof walks, and each one traces back to a weld, a detail, or the surface under the sheet.
A seam that opens later traces back to a weld made too cold, too fast, or over a dusty or dewy lap, which is why test welds start each day.
When fastener rows sit too far apart, wind lifts the sheet between them; corner and perimeter zones get tighter spacing or full adhesion.
Curb flashing that stops low on a unit lets wind-driven rain behind it, so new wraps run high above the finished roof and end under a bar.
Dirt near units lowers the white sheet's reflectance, and grease from kitchen exhaust softens standard TPO over time.
Three kinds of TPO jobs cover most roofs, chosen by what sits under the current membrane.
Where insulation is wet or layers have piled up, the old roof comes off, the deck is checked, and new insulation, cover board, and welded TPO go down.
Flat roof replacementOne dry, well-attached existing roof can take a cover board and new TPO on top, which saves removal and keeps the deck covered during the work.
Tear-off or recoverCurbs, walls, drains, and scuppers get welded TPO pieces, pre-formed corners, pipe boots, and walkway pads on the service paths to each rooftop unit.
Repairs on existing TPOA welded white roof changes three things: how water and heat meet the roof, what happens inside, and how you plan upkeep.
Welded laps cool into one piece of plastic, so the seam is part of the membrane rather than a glued joint that can creep.
Pre-formed corners, curb wraps, and pipe boots made from the same TPO keep the flashing consistent with the field sheet.
White TPO reflects much of the sun's heat, so less of it reaches air-conditioned space; the DOE Guide to Cool Roofs explains this with reflectance and emittance ratings.
Walkway pads to each unit keep technicians off the open field, so service calls stop scuffing and puncturing the sheet above offices.
The Cool Roof Rating Council directory lists tested membranes, so you can compare reflectance figures before a sheet is ordered.
Rinsing heavy dirt near units and walking the roof after storms keeps the surface working the way it was built.
Call with how many laps are lifting and where they are, and we can talk through whether a repair or a new sheet comes next.
Six steps take a TPO roof from the first walk to the final seam probe.
We check the existing sheet, the deck from inside, rooftop unit curbs, and drains, and cut cores to see how many layers exist and whether the insulation is wet.
Steel decks with lighter loads often take mechanically attached sheet, while high-wind roofs and corners get full adhesion over a cover board; ballast is rare with TPO.
Insulation, tapered boards where water needs slope, and a cover board against hail and boot traffic go down before any membrane.
Test welds are cut and pulled at the start of each day, laps are wiped clean, and each finished seam is probed with a blunt tool for gaps or cold spots.
Membrane runs up each curb, wall, and parapet as a separate welded piece and ends under a termination bar or metal counterflashing; drains get clamping rings.
Pads go along the service paths to each unit, and you receive photos of the seams, curbs, and drains as built.
Two other services often come up during a TPO roof walk.
Big, plain roofs with few penetrations, or buildings that run little air conditioning, sometimes fit wide rubber sheet better than TPO.
EPDM roofing
Plant roofs with process exhaust need a membrane checked against the residue, which can mean PVC zones beside the TPO.
Industrial roofingAnswers to the questions owners ask about welded TPO roofs.
TPO is a single-ply thermoplastic sheet, usually white, rolled out in wide sheets and heat-welded at each seam. It covers many warehouses, retail centers, offices, and light industrial buildings with flat or low-slope roofs, and it also works as a recover over a dry, firmly attached existing roof.
A hot-air welder melts the two overlapping sheets together, and once cooled the lap is one piece of plastic. Crews probe every seam afterward and pull apart small test welds each morning to confirm the welder settings. Clean, dry laps matter, since dew and dust weaken a weld.
Deck type, wind exposure, and edge height decide. Mechanically attached sheet uses plates and screws in the laps and suits steel decks. Fully adhered sheet bonds to a cover board and suits corners and high-wind roofs, but it needs dry weather and set temperatures. Corner and perimeter zones get tighter fastening either way.
A white TPO roof helps most where the roof is large and open, ductwork runs just under the deck, or the insulation over a steel deck is thin. The white surface reflects much of the sun's heat, so less reaches cooled space. Dirt lowers reflectance, so rinsing buildup near units keeps it working.
Each curb is wrapped with membrane and pre-formed outside corners, welded like the field seams, and run high enough above the finished roof. Walls end under a termination bar with sealant or metal counterflashing, drains are clamped with a ring, and scuppers get a membrane sleeve through the parapet.
Sometimes. A recover fits when there is one existing layer that is dry and firmly attached, which core cuts and a moisture survey show. A cover board goes between the old roof and the new TPO, and the local building official decides whether that roof can be recovered.
Start with a roof walk and core cuts, then see the attachment, insulation, and flashing plan in writing.
Leave a name and number, or call (930) 201-3950 now.