TPO Roofing is a type of membrane that has specific attributes and could be the best solution for your roof. A TPO roof system has grown in popularity over the last few decades – and for good reason.

In this article, we’re going to look a bit more deeply into exactly what TPO roofing is and why it could be the right solution for you and your roof.

If you’d like to start by simply finding out what exactly a TPO roofing system is – you’re in the right place. So let’s get started…

What exactly is TPO roofing?

TPO is short for Thermoplastic Polyolefin – and it’s a single ply roofing membrane that’s made from a couple of different combined rubbers.

TPO is normally installed by mechanical attachment, which allows a layer of membrane to remain exposed on the roof.

TPO has been in use since the late 1980s, and has become one of the most popular roofing solutions in the industry.

What benefits does TPO roofing have for your roof?

TPO roofs are especially popular in warmer weather regions – specifically where cooling equipment (like air con) is used more than warming equipment (like central heating).

They’re also better in warmer climates because the TPO membrane actually copes well with UV radiation by reflecting it and keeping the roof as cool as possible when the weather is hot.

These characteristics not only help keep the roof and home cool – they can also help save money.

That’s because cooling costs in the summer can be expensive, and when the TPO membrane helps reduce how much air con you need, you’re obviously going to save money.

One additional benefit is by behaving like this, TPO roofing will also help reduce your carbon emissions – so if that’s something that’s important to you, it’s a great choice.

TPO membranes are also really popular with companies who are trying to improve their environmental profiles.

If you’ve got a self-build with the environment in mind, TPO roof membrane is one of the best choices around.

More and more people are realizing how important both sustainability and energy efficiency is when it comes to home construction these days.

Not only is an energy-sufficient home better for the environment – it’s also better for your bank balance.

While the roof is only a small part of building a self-sufficient home, it’s still an important one. That’s why more and more people are opting for TPO in their home when they try and make their property as energy-efficient as possible.

Some people even get their properties to the point where they’re so energy efficient they pay for themselves, or even earn money by selling energy back to the grid.

While these will often be self-builds with some energy generating capacity (like solar panels), you can also renovate an old home to get it into the right shape.

Whether you’re building a new home or fixing up an existing property, TPO membrane is a great option – especially in warmer areas.

FUN FACT — TPO use is actually on the rise in popularity. Some say it’s got the biggest growth in the industry, and its use has increased 18% in the 7 year period prior to 2013.

One other reason for TPO’s popularity is how versatile and flexible it is. The thing about building and roof construction is that many homes actually move over time.

This is surprising to many people, but it’s a fact of the construction industry. This means a completely rigid structure can actually have more problems than you might think, and it’s why you need a roofing membrane that is flexible and moves with the building – but also one that’s strong and versatile and keeps water-tight even after these movements.

That’s something TPO is really good at. It’s strong, flexible, durable and versatile. It can also be reshaped multiple times, which makes it ideal for covering different roof patterns.

TPO is also relatively cheap compared to many other roofing membranes. Not only that, but it can be installed quickly and easily and doesn’t require a lot of maintenance.

What issues are associated with TPO roofing?

TPO has grown in popularity over the last few years because the negatives associated with it are minimal, especially when compared to other roofing solutions.

However, there are still a few minor issues you might want to have a look at. Some cheaper TPO solutions have had issues with reinforcement over longer time-spans.

Also, some of the lowest quality TPO providers do not provide the best cool-roof solutions.

These issues are not symptoms of all TPO roofing systems, just the very cheapest ones. While TPO was originally created as a low-cost roofing solution, it might be wise to spend a little more on a slightly better quality finish.

This can still often be much cheaper than many other roofing solutions, but doesn’t have the problems associated with the very cheapest TPO on the market.

How to choose the best TPO roofing contractor for you

As with any other type of roofing product or service, you need to take care and time to find the absolute best TPO roofing provider in your area.

There are a few simple yet effective steps that you can do to help with this. So let’s take a look at them…

Firstly, do you know anyone who’s had this work done before? While online reviews can help, nothing beats the review of someone you know and trust.

If you live in a warmer location, you might already know more people with TPO roofs than you think. Have a look at the finish on their roof and ask them about their energy costs.

Also, ask them how good the team that installed their roof was, both with regards to cost and how long it took – as well as how happy the homeowner was having them in their property.

If you are new to the area or simply don’t know anyone you can ask about their TPO roof, you can still check online reviews.

There are review sites for almost anything these days, even roofing contractors. Make sure you look at why someone rated a service high or low and don’t just look at the actual rating itself.

Some people have specific reasons for their review which may not be relevant to you or your property.

The next step is to invite a few prospective firms to your home and ask them to have a look at your roof.

They should be able to give you a competitive quote as well as a time-frame for exactly how long the work should take.

If you can, ask to see a portfolio of their previous work (or even visit some of their finished roofs in the local area).

If they aren’t able to offer you a whole host of testimonials and happy clients, you might want to look elsewhere.