TPO Single Ply Roofs

Why Customers Prefer TPO

Inexpensive. Durable. Great warranty. Highly reflective, so it saves energy. It’s a cool roof, in more ways than one.

TPO, PVC and roof coatings are the three most commonly installed commercial roofs in California. Of those three, most customers prefer either TPO or roof coatings because of their durability and cost effectiveness.

TPO is the most popular single ply membrane installed on commercial flat roofs. Close to 1 billion square feet of TPO are installed annually. That’s more than 50% of single-ply roofs installed every year, according to the industry experts at GAF.

TPO is a reliable, flat roof system that offers excellent performance at a low cost, if your roof meets the criteria.

Keep reading to learn more about the strengths and weaknesses of this popular flat roof, our preferred brands and performance tests. 

Project Highlight: Carlisle TPO, Republic Flooring, Antioch

This is a 100,000+ square foot TPO roof we did for Republic Flooring in Antioch using  Carlisle TPO. 

9 Reasons To Choose TPO for Your Flat Roof

Thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) single-ply roofing membranes have many distinct performance and installation advantages for commercial properties.

• Affordability – It is one of the most cost-effective roofing materials available. It’s easy install also keeps labor costs low.
• Eco Friendly –  It’s made of 100% recyclable material, so it won’t end up in a landfill.  Because it reflects heat from the sun, it greatly reduces energy costs associated with A/C.
• Clean Install – It has no obnoxious odors, making it suitable for install on sensitive buildings such as hospitals and skilled nursing facilities.
• Coating Compatibility – It is compatible with silicone and acrylic roof restoration systems that can greatly prolong its lifespan.
• Wide, Lightweight Sheets – It saves time and labor costs on installation. Fewer seams also mean fewer places to leak.
• Strong and Flexible – It is extremely resistant to tearing, mechanical shearing, natural elements, and punctures. Heat-welded seams provide great seam strength if installed properly. Because of its flexibility, it can accommodate movement that occurs as a building settles.
• Exceptional Warranty – Manufacturers offer 20 year warranties.
• Mold Resistant – The most important mold to resist is mildew, a black mold that can cause health issues in addition to smelling bad.
• Color Options – TPO comes in a variety of aesthetically pleasing colors such as those pictured below.

Top 3 Reasons to NOT Choose TPO For Your Flat Roof

It’s Still a Relatively New Product – TPO entered the market in the 1990s. Ideal formulations are still being worked out by manufacturers, unlike PVC which has been around since the 1950’s.

Variability in Manufacturing Quality – Some manufacturers sell thickness as strength. This doesn’t guarantee durability if the material is non-uniform. There’s a lot of variance in the quality of material. See the following section for which brands we prefer.

Chemical Resistance – It has a low resistance to animal grease, acids and airplane fuel as seen below.

TPO was the wrong choice for this roof. We replaced it with a chemically resistant Tremco AlphaGuard Bio roof and gave them a 20 year warranty.

We installed this 66,000 sq ft Firestone TPO roof for a skilled nursing facility in Novato. See more installations »

Which Brand of TPO Do We Recommend and Why

Our Recommendation: We use either Firestone or Carlisle TPO. Both are cost effective, backed by big companies and come with a 20 year warranty. 

 In Conclusion

TPO is the de facto choice for many commercial flat roofs because of its affordability, durability, ease of install and aesthetically pleasing colors.

Got Questions? Need a Commercial Flat Roofing Expert?  

Don’t Delay! Call Us Today at (925)724-2324.