Two of the hardest flat roof systems to tell apart is the pvc roof and the tpo roof.
Tpo vs pvc roofing.
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.
Even though the membranes may appear to be the same pvc and tpo roofing systems are quite different.
This means that it requires glues to adhere it to what s underneath.
Petroleum or natural gas is processed to produce ethylene and chlorine is derived from salt.
Pvc has over 50 years of proven performance.
When it comes to a durable roof that is also environment friendly tpo roofing is a great option.
Pvc is definitely affected more by heat.
Just leave the heat gun in the lap a little longer and see what happens to the pvc vs the tpo.
Also pvc is slightly more flexible than tpo which some contractors like.
Unlike tpo and pvc roofs that are often mechanically attached an epdm roof is most often fully adhered.
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.
And over time pvc seams to shrink more.
Tpo vs pvc roofing.
Both tpo and pvc look similar but pvc has been used as a roofing material since the 1960s while tpo roofs started to be used in the 1990s.
The seams are either glued with the rest of the roof different process same result or they are taped.
There used to be talk about welding differences but both membranes weld well.
However while the face of both membranes and their installation are virtually identical they are very different systems on the inside.
When deciding on which would be the best for your building consider the location and the budget that you have.
Go back on a roof a year or so later and the pvc roof looks like the batter head top part you beat on a drum.
The most obvious similarity is that tpo thermoplastic olefin and pvc poly vinyl chloride are both thermoplastic materials.
A pvc versus tpo comparison chart is below.
Both are white heat welded systems that look virtually identical.
Tpo requires higher temperatures but once a crew has adapted welding is as straightforward as it is for pvc.