One of the more common roofing systems is known as TPO or a single-ply membrane.
While its popularity stems from various benefits, consumers should also be aware of potential TPO roofing problems before making a final decision.
TPO membranes are currently one of the fastest-growing commercial roofing systems in 2024.
TPO Roofing Benefits
There are many benefits to implementing a TPO roofing system onto your current commercial roof. It has great strength, durability, and flexibility.
That means being able to stand up to a build-up of dirt, resistance to tears, and mold growth as well.
Perhaps its best trait is that it is energy efficient. TPO membrane is meant to reflect and resist those UV rays that can heat up a building, making it easier and more efficient to keep the building cooler.
This, in turn, means that the building doesn’t need to use the HVAC system to compensate.
TPO roofs are a highly efficient and effective roofing system for commercial roofing buildings, especially flat roofs.
TPO Roofing Problems
As good as these roofing systems are, there are four common TPO roofing problems to be aware of.
1) Easily Punctured Membrane
Of all the TPO roofing problems there are, this is the one that is probably the most problematic. While this roofing system can be walked on, and it is both flexible and lightweight, the membrane itself can be easily punctured.
With commercial roofs, one of the more common TPO roofing problems is a high volume of foot traffic compared to other types of buildings or roofing structures.
The single-ply membrane roofing doesn’t have a hard-top layer that is meant to protect the layer of synthetic rubber from things like gravel, dropped tools, or loose screws.
Common TPO roofing problems like this see those materials pushed into the rubber membrane, breaking or tearing it by creating holes in the rubber and insulation.
This leaves the roofing system more vulnerable to leaks further down the line.
With a proper primer, you can take this one off the list of TPO roofing problems by giving it an extra layer of insulation and protection that it did not have previously.
2) Expired Warranty
Here’s a key tip: purchase the warranty when you have a new roofing system installed. This is because most manufacturer warranties will require the contractor to perform those repairs for the first couple of years after the initial installation.
Warranties can also be anywhere from 15 to 30 years. Common TPO roofing problems can be solved by having a warranty on your side.
Stay on top of it because when your warranty expires, you could be susceptible to higher maintenance and repair bills, especially if your facility has encountered problems.
It cannot be emphasized enough that having a warranty is a great way to keep TPO roofing problems in check.
Things happen, leaks occur, damage can be done, and having a quick, reliable fix on your side is far easier than finding a repair service on your own and eating the costs out of your pocket.
Protecting yourself is a little more costly than you may have thought, but it is a great way to protect yourself from persistent problems or future repair bills. That alone makes it worth the cost alone.
3) UV Rays Degrading the Adhesives
Wear and tear is certainly one of the most common TPO roofing problems. Actually, scratch that. It is one of the most common problems with any roofing system out there.
This is because it is exposed to the elements 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
That also means constant exposure to the sun. Those harmful UV rays can significantly damage a roofing system over time.
It can happen in many different ways, but the most common TPO roofing problems occur when those UV rays degrade the adhesives used to attach the membrane to the substrate.
Not only that, but those adhesives are also what seal the seams of the membranes together to create the waterproof seal that keeps your roof safe in even some of the harshest of weather conditions. Without that seal, your roof is vulnerable.
When there are punctures, tears, or other damage to your roof, those UV rays can come into contact with the adhesive layer and cause a lot more damage when those adhesives deteriorate.
That is why it is important to ensure that the membrane sheets overlap during installation. This will block the adhesives from exposure to UV rays and prevent those TPO roofing problems from occurring, at least not consistently.
4) Longevity
Perhaps the most common TPO roofing problems are that they tend not to last as long as some other roofing systems. TPO roofing is definitely strong and durable, but it is still something of a young technology in the roofing industry.
That means that the formula that is used to produce this TPO material is still far from perfect as the manufacturers attempt to find a balance between affordability and durability.
This means that, along the way, some of these roofing systems have had common TPO roofing problems like material failures and seam cracks.
Some improvements have been made along the way, but it may be some time before the formula is perfected. Still, TPO roofing systems are affordable and tend to be durable more often than not.
All of these TPO roofing problems are fairly common, and that means that they are relatively easy to solve as well.
Keeping this in mind, it is easier to keep them working optimally and avoid having to deal with major issues or damages to your roofing system.
Final Takeaway on TPO Roofing Problems
TPO roofing systems offer various benefits to commercial properties, making them one of the most popular choices in 2024.
However, TPO roofs also come with a set of potential problems that consumers should be aware of before making a final decision.
While these problems are not severe enough to dwindle the popularity of this ascending roof type, they are worth exploring when considering all your roofing options.
