How do you tell the difference between TPO and PVC?

Off the rack, no you cannot tell the difference visually. You can 'feel' a difference- PVC feeling more waxy, and feeling more pliable then TPO (unaged anyway…) PVC also has a distinct 'PVC Smell' to it.

What is the difference between TPO and PVC membrane?

TPO roofing membranes consist of an ethylene or polyethylene thermoplastic bound to ethylene propylene rubber. PVC roofing membranes are made by polymerizing vinyl chloride monomers, then adding plasticizers to increase flexibility.

Are PVC and TPO compatible?

Also, unlike TPO and EPDM, PVC is not compatible with a lot of peel and stick or self adhered patching products. As a result, a white EPDM or TPO self adhered patch will typically not adhere properly to a PVC membrane. As a rule of thumb, the only way to patch or flash to a PVC roof is to weld it with compatible PVC.

Can you heat Weld TPO to PVC?

Heat welding of PVC and TPO works perfectly around these roof units. The technicians will seal the membrane seams, stopping moisture from dripping through around the base.

How do I know if I have EPDM or TPO?

If one side is a white or a dove color and the other side is black it is EPDM. If the roofing material is all one color, top and bottom, it is TPO. Some TPO roofing has a fleece backing too, but the thing to remember is if the roofing material is all one color it is TPO.

White Commercial roofs. TPO VS PVC, are they the same?

Can you patch a TPO roof with EPDM?

Yes. Recovering with TPO is a great option for a building with an aging EPDM roofing system. It's easy. It's far less costly and disruptive than a full tear-off.

Can you glue TPO to metal?

JM TPO Membrane Adhesive (Solvent-Based) is designed for bonding JM TPO Membrane to metal, wood, concrete and certain roof insulations and should be used to adhere wall flashings or other vertical surfaces.

Can TPO be used on sloped roof?

In over 90% of residential applications, TPO membrane is applied to flat or very shallow-sloped roofs, but not always. Any sloped roof can handle the material. Costs are likely to increase though if TPO membrane is applied to a sloped roof.

Can PVC roofing be painted?

Can You Paint PVC Roofing Sheets? Yes, you can paint PVC roofing sheets, but it involves preparation and specific paints. You'll need to use a paint that's formulated for plastics, like Krylon Fusion or Rust-Oleum Plastic. For small areas, spray paint gives a smooth finish.

How long does a PVC roof last?

EPDM and TPO roofing generally last anywhere from 10 to 20 years, while TPO roofs have stronger seams than EPDM roofing. With proper maintenance, a PVC roof can last up to 30 years.

How do you repair a PVC roof?

To repair PVC, use membrane and flashing patch materials that are the same mil thickness, color and type as the existing materials. Bonding adhesives used for PVC membranes are produced with nitrile PVC base and solvents such as toluol and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK).

How long does TPO roof last?

It comes in a variety of thickness ranging from 45 mil to 80+ mil which can fit within a wide variety of budgets. 80-mil TPO roofs come with up to a 25-year warranty and with the appropriate maintenance, it is not uncommon for a TPO roofing system to last as long as 30 years.

What is a PVC roofing membrane?

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) roofing is a single-ply roofing membrane that has been used on flat roofs, besides low-sloped roofs, for more than 50 years. A PVC roof consists of two layers. Polyester is added between the layers to serve as support.

Do you overlap drip edge?

For proper water drainage, the drip edge on the rakes should always overlap the drip edge on the eaves. This works out correctly if you do the eaves first. Then, finish by installing the drip edge flashing on the rakes.

Can you glue TPO seams?

A TPO roof can be installed fully-adhered, mechanically-attached or ballasted. When the TPO roof is fully adhered it means that the membrane was glued to the substrate using a special strong adhesive that creates a chemical bond with the TPO.

Can TPO be heat welded?

Hot Air Welding Procedures

Hot air weld the WeatherBond PRO TPO membrane sheets using the Automatic Hot Air Welding Machine or Hot Air Hand Welder and silicone roller.

What temp does TPO melt?

Please utilize our Technical Service Department for more detailed information. High Temperature Resistance Polypropylenes relatively high melting point of 335°F allows continued use at temperatures up to 220°F with the material softening at 235°F.

Can you glue TPO over TPO?

If your roof is severely damaged, you may need to replace the whole thing with a new TPO roofing system. Moderate damage can often be handled by putting a new layer of TPO over the old membrane on the damaged section. Light damage may be fixed by recoating only the damaged part of the roof.

Can you overlay a TPO roof?

TPO/PVC Over Metal Roof Retrofit

Both TPO and PVC roofing membranes can be installed over top of existing metal roofs. The membrane roof over a metal roof idea is simply, in that rubberized roofing membranes like TPO / PVC are used to waterproof flat roofs successfully.

Can you put TPO over existing roof?

If the existing roof is in good enough condition, a TPO membrane can beapplied over an existing roof system after an insulation board has been applied over anexisting built-up roof system or other single ply membrane.