TPO is a white, heat-welded single-ply membrane used for new and replacement low-slope roofs on warehouses, plants, schools, hospitals and offices. It fits owners who want a reflective roof at a moderate cost, and it can often go over an existing roof that is still dry. Heavy grease or chemical exposure usually points to PVC instead.
Strong Contractors installs, replaces, repairs and recovers TPO roofing systems for commercial, industrial, institutional and government facilities. TPO, or thermoplastic polyolefin, is a reinforced single-ply membrane used on low-slope roofs and joined with heat-welded seams. It is commonly selected for its reflective surface, flexible installation options and strong balance of durability, energy performance and cost.
Common applications:
TPO performance depends on the relationship between the deck, insulation, cover board, attachment, perimeter securement, seams, flashings and drainage. Strong treats those components as one integrated roof assembly and maintains direct control of the work through self-performing crews.
Each method holds the membrane against wind in a different way. The deck, the building and the roof’s weight limits point to the right one.
Fastened with screws and plates. A lightweight, secure option for most building types and climates, with easy access for maintenance.
Bonded directly to the substrate, so the whole sheet stays stable and watertight, with no loose membrane for wind to catch.
Gravel or pavers hold the membrane down and keep it stable against wind uplift. A cost-effective, quick install for large roofs built to carry the weight.
Learn MoreWorn metal roof? A metal retrofit covers it with a new membrane, without a tear-off.
Survey, assembly design and seam work set how long a TPO roof lasts. Each step below shows where one of those choices gets made.
| Spec | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Membrane | Reinforced thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO), single ply |
| Seams | Hot-air welded |
| Surface | White, reflective |
| Attachment | Mechanically attached, fully adhered or ballasted |
| Thickness | Typical: 45, 60 or 80 mil; heavier sheets are common where hail is frequent |
| Warranty | No Dollar Limit (NDL) manufacturer warranties, typically 10 to 20 years depending on the system |
| Applications | New construction, tear-off replacement or recover over a qualifying roof |
| Manufacturer partners | Elevate, GenFlex, RPI and GAF |
A TPO price moves more with what sits under and around the membrane than with the membrane itself. These are the factors that shape a TPO quote.
Recovering a dry roof avoids demolition and disposal. Wet insulation found in the survey has to come out, and how much of it there is changes the scope.
A replacement usually has to meet the current energy code, and the added insulation is often a large share of the total.
Building height, exposure and roof zones set fastener density or adhesive coverage. Corners and perimeters need more of both.
Arrays, units and curbs that must be lifted, moved or flashed add labor, as do crane access and work limits on occupied sites.
A thicker sheet and a longer manufacturer warranty add material and inspection requirements.
| TPO Roofing Systems | EPDM Roofing | Spray Foam (SPF) Roofing | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface | White, reflective | Usually black | Coated, typically light colored | |
| Seams | Hot-air welded | Primer and seam tape | Seamless | |
| Insulation | Separate board layer | Separate board layer | The foam is the insulation | |
| Over an existing roof | Recover when dry and eligible | Recover when dry and eligible | Sprayed over many existing roofs | |
| Grease and oil exposure | Moderate; PVC is preferred for heavy exposure | Low; oils swell rubber | Depends on the topcoat | |
| Long-term care | Keep clean, check seams | Watch laps and edges | Recoat at end of coating life | |
No Dollar Limit warranties on TPO systems typically run 10 to 20 years, and that warranty is the figure we quote for your roof. Published lifespans vary widely, so we base the answer on your specific assembly instead of a generic number. Membrane thickness, attachment, hail, foot traffic and maintenance all play a part, and regular inspections help keep the coverage in good standing.
Often, yes. A recover works when the existing roof is dry, stable and allowed by code and the manufacturer, usually with a cover board or insulation layer in between. Codes typically limit how many roofs can be stacked on a building, and wet insulation has to be removed, so a moisture survey comes first.
The panels come off, get stored and go back on, and the solar company usually has a say in the new roof. At a 370,000-square-foot Kaiser Permanente laboratory, solar covered 75 percent of the roof. Strong removed and stored the panels, installed a TPO system the solar company approved, and reintegrated the array.
Strong installed TPO across all 370,000 square feet of the Kaiser Permanente laboratory in 15 days, using advanced adhesive application techniques that sped up the work. Your schedule will follow roof size, tear-off, access, weather and how the building operates around the work. Crew size and attachment method make a large difference too.
A white TPO surface reflects much of the sun’s heat instead of absorbing it, which lowers roof temperature and the load on cooling equipment. Actual savings depend on climate, insulation and how the building is used. Reflectivity drops as dirt builds up, so periodic cleaning helps the roof keep performing.
Hail can bruise or puncture any single-ply membrane, especially over soft insulation. On hail-prone roofs, like many along Colorado’s Front Range, a thicker membrane and a high-density cover board are commonly specified. After a major storm, have the roof inspected, because small punctures are easy to miss and slow to show up as leaks.
Seam quality depends on welding skill and conditions, so installation control matters as much as the product. Formulations differ between manufacturers. TPO is not the first choice where grease or strong chemicals reach the roof, which is where PVC fits. And like any membrane, it needs periodic checks for punctures and loose flashings.
