TPO roofing is a widely utilized material in the roofing business today. Despite its prevalence, most homeowners have no idea what it is or how to deal with it.
If you’re like everyone else, you’ve come here because you don’t know anything about TPO roofing. We realize how uncomfortable it is to spend your hard-earned money on something you don’t understand.
At Bill Ragan Roofing, we use our 30+ years of experience to help you understand all areas of the roofing industry, including material alternatives. Today, we’ll apply this knowledge to dissect TPO roofing.
In this post, you will learn about TPO roofing, why you might need it, how long it lasts, and how much it costs.
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What is TPO roofing?
TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) is a single-ply white membrane that is commonly used in commercial and residential roofing. TPO is a white membrane, thus it reflects heat rather than absorbs it.
If you have a flat roof or a low-slope dormer above a bedroom, TPO is an excellent choice because it keeps the room beneath cooler. It can also be used over non-living areas such as a garage or covered patio.
However, if you can view the roof via a window, you should consider the appearance of TPO’s white membrane. If the window views across the membrane, white will become filthy much faster.
If you don’t care about the appearance or can’t see the roof at all, it’s not a huge concern. It’s just something to consider when making decisions.
Why do you need TPO roofing?
After understanding about TPO roofing, you should understand why you would utilize it in the first place. Low slope is defined as a roof or roof facet with a pitch (also known as steepness) of less than 2:12 (less than 2 vertical units up for every 12 horizontal units out).
Water will not run off a low slope or flat roof as quickly as it would from a greater pitch, hence it must be waterproof. As a result, you cannot use asphalt shingles because they are not designed to hold standing water.
This isn’t something roofers made up one day; it’s a building code. According to the shingle manufacturer’s installation guidelines and building requirements, asphalt shingles cannot be installed on a roof with a pitch less than 2:12.
This is why a TPO roofing membrane (or another flat roof system) must be used on low slope or flat roofs. If a roofing contractor even mentions placing shingles on a low slope roof, do not hire them.
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How long do TPO roofs last?
A roof’s lifespan determines the return on investment and when it needs to be replaced. This brings us to the following question: How long will TPO roofing last?
TPO roofing membranes can last up to 25 years if correctly placed. However, just because it says 25 years does not imply it will reach its full life expectancy.
The reason for this is because many elements influence how long a roof lasts. These criteria include the weather in your area, the amount of direct sunshine that hits it, and the quality of the installation.
However, as long as your TPO membrane roof is properly placed, it will come close to reaching its full lifespan.
How much does TPO roofing cost?
Now for one of the most significant aspects of your TPO roofing research: cost. A decent rule of thumb is to budget between $14.00 and $17.00 per square foot for a smaller TPO membrane roof and $12.00 per square foot for slightly bigger projects.
A TPO membrane roof’s cost is determined by a number of factors, just like the cost of other roofing materials. One of these variables is the type of insulation employed beneath the membrane.
For example, employing insulation thick enough to insulate the entire building will be more expensive than simply using fabric insulation and bonding the membrane onto it. Another important issue is the size of the roof that will get the membrane.
This may appear counterintuitive, but on smaller projects, the cost per square foot will tend to be greater. When it comes to larger commercial projects, however, the cost per square foot reduces dramatically.
The ideal roofing materials for a flat roof
Now you understand what TPO roofing is, how long it will last, and how much it will cost. After reading this, you might be ready to call a roofing contractor.
But first, you need learn about the alternative flat roofing materials. After all, you need to be aware of your various possibilities in order to make an informed purchasing decision.
That’s why we prepared another post comparing the four finest roofing materials for a flat roof.
Bill Ragan Roofing has been providing homes in the Nashville region with a unique experience since 1990, combining education, customer care, and meticulous attention to detail. Whether you need repairs or a complete roof replacement, you can rely on workmanship backed by a lifetime warranty to protect your investment.
