Tpo Vs Edpm Rv Roofing

Rubber tpo probably the most common material for an rv roof and actually comes in two different types.

Tpo vs edpm rv roofing.

It s important to factor in the thickness of any membrane when weighing up the costs thicker will generally cost more. Epdm roofs are the most economical choice for single ply roofing membranes. Tpo and epdm might look the same when they are installed but they are vastly different in terms of construction and features. Tpo is a versatile membrane and can be installed in a variety of ways including mechanically attached adhered and with the rhinobond system.

An epdm rv roof ethylene propylene diene monomer or a tpo rv roof thermal poly olefin. Regardless of which membrane you choose it is better to spend more money and invest into a thicker membrane. Manufacturers add fiberglass and talc to tpo roofing to improve their durability. Generally speaking there are four different kinds of roofing material used on an rv.

It is a synthetic rubber derived from oil and natural gas ethylene propylene. Both epdm and tpo roofs perform better and last longer if they are thicker. For that reason epdm roofs tend to be more economical which is especially true when a single ply roofing membrane is required. Tpo also has a somewhat higher resistance to punctures than epdm.

Tpo roofing has roughly the same lifespan as epdm roofing with both usually lasting 22 30 years. Tpo is much lighter and easier to install but epdm is a whole lot cheaper and lasts longer. Tpo roofing membranes are more expensive than epdm. Epdm has a dark surface which in summer conditions will absorb heat forcing cooling systems to work overtime whereas tpo roofing reflects sunlight allowing commercial air conditioners to work more efficiently.

Tpo is a blend of polypropylene and ethylene propylene rubber. For most rv roofing projects a tpo membrane is going to cost you more than an equivalent epdm membrane. Mechanical installation for optimum roof security contractors use the mechanically attached system when installing tpo on flat roofs. During the early parts of its service life you can expect an epdm membrane to not require a lot of maintenance provided it was installed properly.

They achieve this with fastening plates to secure the roofing material. Epdm vs tpo is at par with longevity with tpo having roughly the same lifespan as epdm with 22 30 years. Epdm stands for ethylene propylene diene monomer. Believe it or not tpo is actually in a broad family of rubber roofing materials.

Tpo however requires more maintenance as you need to treat its seams with an adhesive causing it to be prone to coming apart.