First of all, a TPO roof is a kind of roofing material that is generally used on the flat roofs of commercial buildings. The acronym stands for a thermoplastic polyolefin, and it’s a type of roofing material that has been gaining popularity steadily in recent years because it’s extremely durable against severe weather conditions, it has tremendous reflective properties, and it’s also very affordable as well. The natural reflectivity of a TPO roof doesn’t allow for heat build-up to occur, and it can save a building manager a ton of money on energy costs.
What exactly is TPO?
Despite the fact that the word plastic appears in its name, a TPO roof is not actually made from plastic, but is instead made of rubber. This rubber material covers the surface of a roof with a single-ply membrane, and is most often used on flat roofs. It actually started gaining widespread popularity in the 1990s when building owners began recognizing its protective capabilities as well as its reflective properties.
The ideal types of commercial building that are best for installing TPO are either flat buildings or those with a very low slope. Most other roofing materials are more effective when used on roof systems that have some slope, but they’re far less effective on flat-top roofs. TPO on the other hand, is ideal for use on flat roofs, and it provides much better protection than almost all other types of roofing material.
Benefits of TPO Roofing
There are actually quite a few benefits which a TPO roof can supply to a building owner, starting with its low cost. It’s one of the least expensive materials you can buy for a roofing system, although the total cost of installing will be increased by the need to remove and dispose of your current roofing system. You can count on a TPO roof lasting 20 years or longer before any kind of replacement will be needed. This may be a shorter time frame than metal roofs or tile roofs, but this is offset by the fact that a TPO roof costs much less.
Another benefit of TPO roofing is that there’s a great deal of flexibility in applying the material to your roof. It can be fastened with adhesives, it can be heat-welded on, or it can be attached directly to the roof. Heat-welding is often used as an installation method around protrusions on your roof, such as skylights, chimneys, or air conditioners. TPO roofs are also resistant to mold and mildew, and will not corrode or break down. You won’t have to pressure wash them, because they’re very easy to clean with ordinary cleaning methods.
You can count on a TPO roof holding up extremely well under adverse weather conditions, as well as constant exposure to the rays of the sun. This is a waterproof material that is also resistant to tears and punctures. Another benefit of TPO roofing is that it’s usually colored white, and that’s the most reflective possible color. That prevents the buildup of heat underneath the roof, which increases the energy-efficiency on the interior. Some types of TPO roofing are colored gray or black, but they still have the reflective capabilities of the more popular white material.
