But they each have different pros and cons for use as low slope roofing membranes.
Tpo or pvc roof.
Pvc has over 50 years of proven performance.
Tpo is a blend of polypropylene and ethylene propylene rubber.
The most obvious similarity is that tpo thermoplastic olefin and pvc poly vinyl chloride are both thermoplastic materials.
Believe it or not tpo is actually in a broad family of rubber roofing materials.
As a roofing specialist consultant functioning frequently as a quality assurance observer as a roof is installed i have often run into the question of needed cleaning after installation of tpo primarily in my cases membranes because of installer carelessness or preventive disinterest on the part of other trades that traverse the completed roof or both.
The term tpo stands for thermoplastic polyolefin.
Two of the hardest flat roof systems to tell apart is the pvc roof and the tpo roof.
Both membranes are heat weldable which makes them more resistant to leaks than epdm because of a reduced number of instances of seam failures.
Tpo membrane can provide combined benefits of both epdm rubber and pvc roofs but at a more economical cost than pvc.
The tpo membrane was first introduced to the roofing market in the early 1990 s as a more economical and efficient alternative that was thought to replace pvc roofing products.
For example epdm is flexible and easy to work with but it relies on adhesive seams.
Tpo is a single ply roofing system that consisting of a thermoplastic polyolefin membrane.
If you are up for a more chemical resistant roofing and are looking for a cost friendly option pvc roofing is the way to go.
It s therefore not surprising that tpo roofing systems are quickly growing in popularity and demand in both residential and commercial flat roof markets.
However while the face of both membranes and their installation are virtually identical they are very different systems on the inside.
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Tpo in a nutshell a tpo membrane is made from ethylene propylene rubber.
Consider what you need for your commercial building s roofing.
A pvc versus tpo comparison chart is below.
Initially tpo roofing was designed to be an improved version of both pvc and epdm rubber membranes combing the benefits of both but without the disadvantages.
Tpo presents superior results for tear and break strengths while pvc outperforms in chemical resistance fire resistance and overall cost.
Epdm stands for ethylene propylene diene monomer.
Tpo and pvc both have welded seams which are very strong.
Pvc tpo and epdm are all very resistant to uv breakdown.
Both are white heat welded systems that look virtually identical.
Restaurants or buildings with grease traps on the roof would be better served by a pvc roofing system.
