TPO Roofing for Commercial Buildings
Heat-welded, reflective single-ply membrane, the most common new low slope system on Northern Indiana commercial buildings.
TPO has become the default choice for new low slope commercial roofs, and for good reason. The seams are heat welded rather than glued, which makes them as strong as the sheet itself, and the white surface reflects a significant share of summer heat load off the building.
We install and repair TPO on warehouses, manufacturing facilities, retail centers and institutional buildings across Northern Indiana.
Where TPO performs and where it does not
TPO's strengths are welded seams, reflectivity, and a favorable cost per square foot. On a large, sunny, mechanically simple roof it is difficult to beat. Weld quality is everything though: a properly welded seam is monolithic, and a cold weld looks fine on day one and opens two winters later. That is why we probe welds rather than trusting appearance.
TPO is less suited to roofs with heavy grease exhaust or certain chemical exposures, and the reflective surface shows dirt in industrial environments. On those buildings EPDM or a coated metal assembly is often the better long-term answer, and we will say so.
Consider TPO when
- You are re-roofing a large low slope building and want to reduce cooling load
- The existing membrane is at end of life and the deck and drainage are sound
- You want a system with welded rather than adhered seams
- Energy performance is part of the capital justification
- You need a repair or seam weld on an existing TPO roof
How we install and service TPO
Weld testing
Seams are probed and inspected during installation, not just visually reviewed at the end.
Insulation and slope first
Insulation thickness, tapered crickets and drainage are corrected as part of the assembly, not after.
Attachment matched to the building
Mechanically attached, adhered or ballasted is chosen based on deck type, height and wind exposure.
Service on existing TPO
We repair seams, punctures, curbs and terminations on TPO roofs regardless of who installed them.
Common questions
- How long does a TPO roof last in Indiana?
- A properly installed 60 mil TPO assembly with good drainage commonly performs for twenty years or more through Indiana freeze and thaw cycles.
- TPO or EPDM for my building?
- Broadly, TPO for reflectivity and welded seams on large sunny roofs, EPDM for durability and simpler detailing on complex or heavily penetrated roofs. Building use and exposure decide it.
- Can a TPO roof be coated later?
- Yes. A sound TPO roof approaching end of warranty is often a good candidate for a restoration coating instead of a tear-off.
Keep reading
Related guides: TPO Roofing Guide for Indiana Buildings, EPDM Roofing Guide and Commercial Roofing Costs in Indiana.
See this work on a real building: Emergency Flat Roof Leak Repair, South Bend Office.
We provide tpo roofing in South Bend, Elkhart and Warsaw, and across our full Northern Indiana service area. When you are ready, request a free roof inspection.
Let's look at your roof first.
Free inspection, photo-documented findings, and a straight answer about repair, restoration or replacement.